Tommy Elphick

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Article in Friday's Argus makes it clear that Tommy and Adam expected to be the centre back pairing on Saturday. So I wonder what made Gus change his line-up? He's not normally one to change a selection if the team's doing well. We know that Gus picks players based on their performance in training - so has GG just been head and shoulders above?

Has anyone heard anything about Tommy's reaction (obviosuly he can't have been happy, but beyond that)?

Tommy has had rave reviews but Greer stepped in and played what many think was a blinder. Maybe it's rotation? Something to do with the potential fifth yellow card (which won't go away by not playing).

Interested to hear if anyone has any insights on this.

 

[SE4 GULL]

I personally think Tommy made a big mistake flapping his hand at the ball against Borunemouth. Yes it was outside the box but Tommy did handle it and it was a bad mistake to make.

 

[algie]

Article in Friday's Argus makes it clear that Tommy and Adam expected to be the centre back pairing on Saturday. So I wonder what made Gus change his line-up? He's not normally one to change a selection if the team's doing well. We know that Gus picks players based on their performance in training - so has GG just been head and shoulders above?

Has anyone heard anything about Tommy's reaction (obviosuly he can't have been happy, but beyond that)?

Tommy has had rave reviews but Greer stepped in and played what many think was a blinder. Maybe it's rotation? Something to do with the potential fifth yellow card (which won't go away by not playing).

Interested to hear if anyone has any insights on this.

He's not normally one to change a selection if the team's doing well.?

You have that completely wrong.I don't think we have played the same team for two matches in a row.Gus is always tinkering with the squad.

 

[Lush]

Perhaps the defence is also now being judged on their distribution from the back, as well as keeping a clean sheet.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I was surprised when I got to the game on Saturday and found Greer had replaced Elphick, but having given it some thought it's perhaps not quite the shock it first seemed.

Both Elphick and El Abd have been playing well, but Elphick in the last couple of games has been the weaker (not to say he was bad) of the two, and maybe the Bournemouth equaliser swung it a bit for Poyet, no matter how bad a refereeing decision that was.

I do fel sorry for Elphick having missed out after one seven out of ten performance (as opposed to El Abd who was an eight or nine) but Poyet has always been very clear that he swaps things around regularly as he sees fit, and so far it's working brilliantly. None of our players can honestly feel they have an automatic right to selection, and it's a good thing.

Let's be honest, Poyet completely threw Charlton by leaving Lua Lua on the bench. They planned for it, they organised their tactics for it, and then Gus went and dropped the bomb, leaving them all at sea. And then brought on Lua Lua late on just to take the piss a bit.

I'm sure Elphick was disappointed, but if he's the professional that I think he is, then he'll take it the right way and react accordingly. He'll also know that what happened to him could just as easily happen to the other centre halves, and so he'll get another chance soon enough. For what it's worth, I think Poyet was handsomely proved right by the performances of Greer and El Abd.

Seriously, with the brilliant Dunk in the wings too, how well off are we for quality centre halves at the moment?

 

[algie]

I personally think Tommy made a big mistake flapping his hand at the ball against Borunemouth. Yes it was outside the box but Tommy did handle it and it was a bad mistake to make.

Think you nailed it there.Also we conceded a late goal at Tranmere so perhaps Gus wanted to tighten things up at the back and give Tommy a rest.I very much doubt it's anything to do with him being a booking away from being banned.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

He's not normally one to change a selection if the team's doing well.?

You have that completely wrong.I don't think we have played the same team for two matches in a row.Gus is always tinkering with the squad.

Indeed - but not the defence. He's said more than once that he won't change it whilst they are doing well. I guess Edna has nailed it - two weaker games (in two draws) and Gus wields the knife. Sad for Tommy, great for the team.

 

[Lush]

It will be an interesting challenge for Gus, keeping experienced quality players happy about being on the bench/in the reserves.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Indeed - but not the defence. He's said more than once that he won't change it whilst they are doing well. I guess Edna has nailed it - two weaker games (in two draws) and Gus wields the knife. Sad for Tommy, great for the team.

I think Poyet has always been a tinkerer though.

Half the team have been in and out this season. Lua Lua- who opponents generally perceive to be the star- has been in and out. Sparrow, Barnes, Jamie Smith, plenty of them have been in one week and either on the bench or nowhere to be seen the next. The only ones to have really been permanent fixtures have been the full backs, Bennett and Murray. And I don't doubt for a second that even someone like Murray would be benched if Poyet thought he wasn't pulling his weight.

 

[porkypie]

I think might it have a lot to do with gg being team captain and our big summer purchase, dont think tommy deserved to be droped buts thats football and he wil get his chance again soon enough!

 

[CheeseRolls]

For me, there is a definite advantage to having a left footed, right footed centre back combination, when you are looking to do more than hoof the ball at Row Z. Rochdale at home summed this up perfectly. Lua Lua didn't start and Rochdale chased down everyone bar El-Abd who they forced left on every occasion. He actually did okay, but it was the one occasion all season where I have seen us look less than comfortable in possession.

Which just goes to show quite how unlucky Elphick was to miss out.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Poyet said that against Bournemouth & Tranmere we didn't keep the ball well enough once we went one up. Four dropped points from that, and Greer was the obvious one to change that. Elphick made the mistake against Bournemouth & was involved in Casper's clanger against Rochdale, while El Abd hasn't made a mistake this season. Once Gus made the decision to bring Greer in, Elphick was the obvious candidate to drop out.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

To be fair, Greer justified his selection with a very good performance, so I imagine he'll hold on to his place for next week.

I know he essentially does the same as Elphick, but there was something about Greer's game- can't quite put my finger on what- that reassured me, and I liked having him there.

 

[Mellotron]

It shows how high a performance Gus wants from his players. El Abd, Greer and Elphick all know they need to be putting 8/10 performances in to be sure of keeping a place in the team.

Edna - Murray WAS benched a couple of weeks ago if you remember? Sandaza and Barnes started a game recently. Gus IS a tinkerer but he is very good at it.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Edna - Murray WAS benched a couple of weeks ago if you remember? Sandaza and Barnes started a game recently. Gus IS a tinkerer but he is very good at it.

Cheers....I had a distinct feeling he had been, but I couldn't remember a specific game and couldn't be arsed to look it up

 

[Papa Lazarou]

To be fair, Greer justified his selection with a very good performance, so I imagine he'll hold on to his place for next week.

I know he essentially does the same as Elphick, but there was something about Greer's game- can't quite put my finger on what- that reassured me, and I liked having him there.

I would the say the thing Greer does best is exude reassurance/confidence. He looks in control all the time, which you can't say about Tommy, especially with the ball at his feet.

 

[Chesney Christ]

I was surprised when I got to the game on Saturday and found Greer had replaced Elphick, but having given it some thought it's perhaps not quite the shock it first seemed.

Both Elphick and El Abd have been playing well, but Elphick in the last couple of games has been the weaker (not to say he was bad) of the two, and maybe the Bournemouth equaliser swung it a bit for Poyet, no matter how bad a refereeing decision that was.

I do fel sorry for Elphick having missed out after one seven out of ten performance (as opposed to El Abd who was an eight or nine) but Poyet has always been very clear that he swaps things around regularly as he sees fit, and so far it's working brilliantly. None of our players can honestly feel they have an automatic right to selection, and it's a good thing.

Let's be honest, Poyet completely threw Charlton by leaving Lua Lua on the bench. They planned for it, they organised their tactics for it, and then Gus went and dropped the bomb, leaving them all at sea. And then brought on Lua Lua late on just to take the piss a bit.

I'm sure Elphick was disappointed, but if he's the professional that I think he is, then he'll take it the right way and react accordingly. He'll also know that what happened to him could just as easily happen to the other centre halves, and so he'll get another chance soon enough. For what it's worth, I think Poyet was handsomely proved right by the performances of Greer and El Abd.

Seriously, with the brilliant Dunk in the wings too, how well off are we for quality centre halves at the moment?

Your posts are always so measured and thought-out. They have no place on NSC....

 

[magoo]

I can't believe he was dropped because of the hand ball. It was accidental, both players had their arms up and they were both trying to head the ball using their arms as leverage.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I would the say the thing Greer does best is exude reassurance/confidence. He looks in control all the time, which you can't say about Tommy, especially with the ball at his feet.

It's early days for Greer, we've only seen one and a bit games from him, but that is the impression I got from him on Saturday. I'll reserve a judgement for the longer term, but I liked what I saw in that game, and let's hope he carries on that way

He's also massive, which has got to be an asset- El Abd wins his fair share of the ball but is only 5'10" I think, not much fun when you're playing against some fat old HGV like Steve Fletcher.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

To be fair, Greer justified his selection with a very good performance, so I imagine he'll hold on to his place for next week.

I know he essentially does the same as Elphick, but there was something about Greer's game- can't quite put my finger on what- that reassured me, and I liked having him there.

I agree with your latter point. I made some comments about his style in another thread. I think it's the calm and effortless way he goes about his job.