Now as you know i am a big AVB fan, but if there is one thing that winds me up its his insistence to play unnecessarily strong teams in the group stages of the Europa.
i am sorry but why the fack does avb insist on taking such strong squads to play these Europa league group games. whats wrong with him ffs. Anzhi are bottom of the Russian league after 11 games and haven't won a game all season. Yet still we feel the need to travel with all our big boys.
ffs
its not even the game that causes fatigue, its the travel, so even if the main players don't play, they are still going to feel the affects. we only need a draw to still be bossing the group, as we should win all our home games.
AVB should have travelled with a shadow side, and lots of kids.
its ridiculous tbh.
after dropping points v Chelsea we simply must beat west ham. and OK, we know that west ham are completely shiiiit, but still, we need to give ourselves the best opportunity.
there is absolutely no need to play a strong team in the Europa league until the knockouts. the group we are in is a total joke.
last game we lost rose to injury and it messed us up a bit.
that was the warning....
sort it out AVB.
Travelling WAY too strong -Sort it out AVB!
posted on 3/10/13
comment by HRH (U15236)
posted 1 minute ago
Not playing first XI doesn't mean kids.
25 minus 15 (current first XI and Gomes, Lennon, Capoue & Lennon) = 10
That's 10 players of our very strong 25. The one we have all been racing about.
Either we believe what we say about it, or we think the likes of:
0m Brad
9m Kaboul
8m Chriches
5m Naughton
3m Fryers
9m Sandro
1.5m Holtby
30m Lamela
8m Chadli
0m Kane
16m Defoe or 26m Soldado
...aren't enough to beat a team that has essentially done a Leeds and are bottom of their league without a win in 11.
If they can't then we don't have a squad
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I agree with this. Kabul and Sandro need game time and fitness. Everyone else knows this is a chance to put pressure on whoever occupies their position in the pl team currently. Much like JD is doing.
I think this is an important reason to start JD on Sunday. It lets the rest of the squad know they have a chance of breaking in to the first team if they perform in the cups.
posted on 3/10/13
You deleted me
such a pr!ck
posted on 3/10/13
didn't notice your apology Chronic
My point is that however easy a game on paper we can and should take it seriously. Player confidence and form should carry over (or in the case of Soldado maybe improve..) and we haven't won anything yet - secure qualification, then rest.
I see what you're saying though - I wouldn't want a first XI out there tonight - but I think the "right" thing to do is somewhere in the middle. The way Harry used to play kids out of formation, with his neglected deadwood, helped no-one and was dire to watch.
COYS
posted on 3/10/13
Difference is we don't actually have a definite first XI as we have done in the past.
We have 3 established CBs and one hot prospect, all of who will think they should be in.
We have two young RBs and LBs who'd while to nail a place as the season progresses.
We have quality in CM, who if you asked people in here would garner all sorts of different permutations.
We have 38m worth of wide player in reserve, and Lennon.
We have Holtby who has been superb.
We have Defoe and Ade
We don't have a first XI, we have a squad
posted on 3/10/13
"Perhaps "kids" was the wrong word to use."
If you believe the premise that sending players on these long-haul trips somehow fatigues them, then in addition to the chance of injury risk in a 'lesser' game if they play, then you will have to look to the Academy eventually.
"We know AVB demands qualification. Playing Kane, Fryers, Stewart etc does not guarantee a win tonight."
No starting XI does that.
But in the context of the above, playing those players may be necessary. At the moment, getting all of the squad as much game time as possible is quite important.
Come the KO stage, PL commitments + the injury totals will make it a different story.
posted on 3/10/13
comment by SameOldSpurs (U18682)
posted 1 hour, 49 minutes ago
It would send out a bad message to leave the first eleven at home and replace them with kids. Right now, we have 20 players believing they can cement a regular starting place. Defoe pushing for a start over Soldado. Lamela pusing Siggs/Townsend. Paulinho, Dembele, Capoue, Sandro all fighting.
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this is a reasonable point
posted on 6/10/13
posted on 6/10/13
Why play Defoe if he was going to start today? The mind boggles. Fully expected Soldado to start after JD getting the Anjhi gig.
I thought Dembele looked a bit off of it too mate, you?
posted on 7/10/13
HRH,
Why play Defoe if he was going to start today?
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Yes, the mind boggles. I admit i was pleased to see Defoe in the starting line up but why take him all the way to Russia on Thursday, and play him for 90 minutes, if he was going to start against West Ham?
Very strange.
posted on 7/10/13
it was just so obvious what was going to happen.