Southampton were struggling against a threatening Swansea side. What did they do? They brought on Fraser, Adams and Mara with 20 minutes to go. Result? Fraser got two and Adams got one.
Lucky?
Russell Martin values the squad as a whole and looks to encourage all of his players with minutes on the pitch, even when others are playing well. He said, ‘ Everyone is important but you need to show that by putting them on the pitch and trying to give them opportunities.’
Everyone is important.
Ultimately, this may be the difference between Southampton and Leicester, and us. There is not much difference in our squads, but a hell of a lot of difference in how we use them. We have players who are not being bedded into the team even though our regulars are showing signs of fatigue. Ampadu, Rodon, James and Summerville have taken on a huge playing load this season. Gruev, Anthony, Cresswell, and Gnonto have not. So when they come on for a few minutes at a time, they look out of place. Ryan Fraser didn’t look out of place against Swansea and he can’t hold a candle to Gnonto.
This issue is not about the quality of our players, but the mentality of our manager. I hope Farke recognises something has to change. It’s not the players. It’s him.
Rotation
posted on 28/12/23
And this is why league cup so important for team like us.
gives chance for squad players to get valuable competitive minutes.
The league cup matches should really not be an extra toll on us, yet we always dismiss the competition and then wonder why Joseph, Gruev, Bamford, Ayling, Gelhardt and dareI say it Gyabi, can't seem to make a difference.
I dont advocate making wholesale changes for it, but chance for 2/3 players to get full match and then 2/3 others to hopefully come on with 30 mins to go should we have found ourselves in a comfortable lead....which we really should bearing in mind some of competition we've faced.
posted on 28/12/23
Farke seems very stubborn. The whole world could see Archie was struggling against PNE and he kept him on. It felt almost inevitable if they scored it would be from that side. I wouldnt be too happy being a squad player knowing Im never going to get starts. Subs seem strange. Puts Gnonto on - plays him RWB
posted on 28/12/23
Teams keep targeting Gray. Sunderland did with Clarke recently. If we were managers, we'd probably do the same, target Gray, or if Firpo's playing, go at him. Got to play Byram LB and Spence RB, with Gray being cover for Amps and Kamara.
posted on 28/12/23
It’s a catch 22, he could’ve rotated players and we get the same results and then we are all over him for not keeping a winning side. Agree with Shaun and Outwood about Archie…should’ve been pulled, it was there for all to see!
posted on 28/12/23
I suspect that had he dropped Gray to the bench or moved him to midfield and dropped Piroe instead, moving Spence over to the right and starting Firpo, most would be complaining about decision making on the basis that it made little sense to break up the squad that had just given Ipswich such a torrid time.
I think for tomorrow's game we will see changes like the above be interesting to see just how people react.
posted on 29/12/23
comment by Dennis - Always Leeds - Always Loyal. (U23086)
posted 16 hours, 50 minutes ago
I suspect that had he dropped Gray to the bench or moved him to midfield and dropped Piroe instead, moving Spence over to the right and starting Firpo, most would be complaining about decision making on the basis that it made little sense to break up the squad that had just given Ipswich such a torrid time.
I think for tomorrow's game we will see changes like the above be interesting to see just how people react.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’m all for starting with the same line-up that played so well the previous game - it’s the stubbornness/blindness in refusing to take off players who everyone else can see are struggling that is so infuriating. And when changes are made, not usually making them till after 70+ minutes shows how old school Farke is in some respects. At the end of the day, though, it was the players who ultimately let us down against Preston - from the all-round poor performances to Meslier brainlessly self-destructing. We have a team who show up two thirds of the time but two thirds won’t get us automatic promotion.
posted on 29/12/23
Yep, completely agree Farkeness that our fringe players aren’t getting a look in atm and so it’s difficult to judge them with just a few minutes game time every now and then. I think the 2nd-half of the season will force DFs hand to use them more to cover for injuries.
posted on 29/12/23
comment by Lorralorimer (U18994)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
comment by Dennis - Always Leeds - Always Loyal. (U23086)
posted 16 hours, 50 minutes ago
I suspect that had he dropped Gray to the bench or moved him to midfield and dropped Piroe instead, moving Spence over to the right and starting Firpo, most would be complaining about decision making on the basis that it made little sense to break up the squad that had just given Ipswich such a torrid time.
I think for tomorrow's game we will see changes like the above be interesting to see just how people react.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’m all for starting with the same line-up that played so well the previous game - it’s the stubbornness/blindness in refusing to take off players who everyone else can see are struggling that is so infuriating. And when changes are made, not usually making them till after 70+ minutes shows how old school Farke is in some respects. At the end of the day, though, it was the players who ultimately let us down against Preston - from the all-round poor performances to Meslier brainlessly self-destructing. We have a team who show up two thirds of the time but two thirds won’t get us automatic promotion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
True, Lorra, you could see from the start who wanted it more. But as others have pointed out, there was a decision needed about Gray, and Farke couldn't make it. Is he just stubborn or does he not trust his squad? Either way, it resulted in an avoidable loss.
posted on 29/12/23
comment by The heart of Farkeness (U19827)
posted 1 second ago
comment by Lorralorimer (U18994)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
comment by Dennis - Always Leeds - Always Loyal. (U23086)
posted 16 hours, 50 minutes ago
I suspect that had he dropped Gray to the bench or moved him to midfield and dropped Piroe instead, moving Spence over to the right and starting Firpo, most would be complaining about decision making on the basis that it made little sense to break up the squad that had just given Ipswich such a torrid time.
I think for tomorrow's game we will see changes like the above be interesting to see just how people react.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I’m all for starting with the same line-up that played so well the previous game - it’s the stubbornness/blindness in refusing to take off players who everyone else can see are struggling that is so infuriating. And when changes are made, not usually making them till after 70+ minutes shows how old school Farke is in some respects. At the end of the day, though, it was the players who ultimately let us down against Preston - from the all-round poor performances to Meslier brainlessly self-destructing. We have a team who show up two thirds of the time but two thirds won’t get us automatic promotion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
True, Lorra, you could see from the start who wanted it more. But as others have pointed out, there was a decision needed about Gray, and Farke couldn't make it. Is he just stubborn or does he not trust his squad? Either way, it resulted in an avoidable loss.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
What I'm at a loss about is everyone could see that Gray was out of depth up against Millar and we needed a natural right back on that side. All the damage is coming down that side.
In the 68th minute he switches to a back three taking a defender off.
The defender he takes off defies all logic, the one who is a natural defender who has the potential to deal with the threat.
By all means switch to a back three but take the kid off surely.