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Why did we not play the same team that almost beat Reading Tuesday?
- Thread starter Barry M
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #3
I don't get this changing the team every game even after a good performance. We played Bridcutt who'd been out for 2 games, Dicker who's just making a come back, and against the team who he did his injury against, Assulin who's hardly played at all and been injured and Painter who played his first game in months. So 4 of our starting 11 had hardly any game time between them they get thrown in against the best side in the division! All I can think is that certain players must be terrible in training and get benched or dropped.
The Large One
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Principally, I'd have said - because Reyes was SHIT, and Buckley was a PANSY.
This match was an opportunity for Gus to look at Assulin, especially after Buckley's non-performance on Tuesday.
I'd say he is looking at what is required for next season. A pre- pre-season, if you like.
This match was an opportunity for Gus to look at Assulin, especially after Buckley's non-performance on Tuesday.
I'd say he is looking at what is required for next season. A pre- pre-season, if you like.
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It took that long, I said it half an hour before kick off
Lifelong Supporter
Well-known member
One of the best posts I have read today. I agree entirely (well except that West Ham are not the best just one of the best) and we were caught cold with the game lost in 10 minutes.
- Thread starter
- #7
I agree with reyes and buckley being dropped for yesterdays game going on tuesdays performances from them, but on the other hand the team worked on tuesday and obviously having them in the side helped the rest of the team play well against reading.
I think we have kept the same side once all season from one game to the next. The other worry is the last 3 games we have lost were against teams who have done the double over us this season, Watford on Tuesday are another side who can do this to us too!
I think we have kept the same side once all season from one game to the next. The other worry is the last 3 games we have lost were against teams who have done the double over us this season, Watford on Tuesday are another side who can do this to us too!
I think he's been doing this for a while, but hasn't admitted it because we've got too close to the play-offs!
The Large One
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Mutts Nuts
New member
- Oct 30, 2011
- 4,918
This ,i could have saved £130.00 had i known Gus was not playing a team to win
It is frustrating. Gus has been tinkering and dropping players for seemingly inexplicable reasons all season. I'd prefer a more settled line up. I do not agree that Gus was somehow preparing for next season. I'm sure Tony would be properly hacked off if a make-or-break play-off/promotion game was used for such a purpose.
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I think Gus' selection yesterday was intended to extentuate our strengths. Obviously it didn't work but I think he knew we wouldn't be able to compete with West Ham's physicality. So instead of trying to use our bigger, quicker players he went for the more technical players, hence Vicente and Assulin starting out wide and Barnes leading the line as he's very good at dropping in and helping the team moves progress.
Personally, I don't think a different team selection would have made a huge difference, because our failings came from our defence and their inability to compete with the power of West Ham who started the game with a massive tempo and went straight for the jugular. Calderon has been consistantly poor over the last two seasons in terms of his ability to defend high balls. We tried to address that by bringing in Reyes, but Reyes hasn't really been at the races recently. Additionally, if it wasn't for Mattock's injury, we wouldn't have had Painter at left back.
I don't want to be too harsh on Calde and Painter. Calderon has been decent recently and it was Painters first game back from a long injury lay-off but it is no coincidence our change in fortune from 16th? in December into Play-Off contenders came when Gus brought in Reyes and Mattock.
Where I possibly would question Gus this time, is the midfield, and not including Sparrow (unless he was injured). We found before Christmas and into the new year how we needed a bit of bite in midfield in terms of someone who would snap at peoples heels a bit more in higher areas than Bridcutt. Sparrow did that really well, and Razak looked like his natural successor but despite having that ability, needed more time to adapt to our style to make the right decisions on and off the ball.
I don't think its worth fussing too much about yesterdays game though, because whatever side we put out, West Ham have a ****ing amazing squad of players and they really went for it and played well. When players of that quality play that well, it's always going to be a tough afternoon. Nolan's positioning, in particular, was incredible, caused our back four all sorts of problems.
Personally, I don't think a different team selection would have made a huge difference, because our failings came from our defence and their inability to compete with the power of West Ham who started the game with a massive tempo and went straight for the jugular. Calderon has been consistantly poor over the last two seasons in terms of his ability to defend high balls. We tried to address that by bringing in Reyes, but Reyes hasn't really been at the races recently. Additionally, if it wasn't for Mattock's injury, we wouldn't have had Painter at left back.
I don't want to be too harsh on Calde and Painter. Calderon has been decent recently and it was Painters first game back from a long injury lay-off but it is no coincidence our change in fortune from 16th? in December into Play-Off contenders came when Gus brought in Reyes and Mattock.
Where I possibly would question Gus this time, is the midfield, and not including Sparrow (unless he was injured). We found before Christmas and into the new year how we needed a bit of bite in midfield in terms of someone who would snap at peoples heels a bit more in higher areas than Bridcutt. Sparrow did that really well, and Razak looked like his natural successor but despite having that ability, needed more time to adapt to our style to make the right decisions on and off the ball.
I don't think its worth fussing too much about yesterdays game though, because whatever side we put out, West Ham have a ****ing amazing squad of players and they really went for it and played well. When players of that quality play that well, it's always going to be a tough afternoon. Nolan's positioning, in particular, was incredible, caused our back four all sorts of problems.
The Large One
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He was playing a team to win - he wasn't actually throwing the game. He just picked a side of fringe players.
Sorry about your £130. Ouch.
The Large One
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"Seemingly..." This is where, for most of us, our arguments fall down. There would be reasons for these, and I am sure he could justify most of them if pushed. The answer may or may not make sense - who knows? Sure, he doesn't always get it right, but making 'seemingly inexplicable change' doesn't necessarily make it wrong either.
Did he get credit for bringing JFC or Toby in, for instance? No, the players themselves got the credit (rightly too), but he also deserves the credit as much as he deserves blame on this issue. When it goes right - it's genius etc. etc.
Why? He's the property of Manchester City and on loan, No way could we afford him so why play him.
The Large One
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Says whom?
I mean, yes I know he's a Citeh player but I meant what's to say there isn't a deal to be struck if both clubs and the player are interested?
i thought it was a really strange team selection... assulin was good and i was surprised when he was subsituted. I have no idea why the starting 11 against reading wasnt used with the message same again please lads. I was very dissapointed. I sincerely hope he didnt use it as some point to prove about the weakness of the squad. It was a game we need win if not get at least a point. As an aside my mate is a jurno for the express and was covering the game yesterday, he asked Poyet in the post match press conference why he made the changes and why he didnt start with the same 11 as against reading. Poyets answer.... I am the manager. All very dissapointing.
The Large One
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I refer an opinion on that to the first line of post no.4.
I await to be flamed, but does anyone think Reyes wasn't anything other than utterly lightweight on Tuesday?
Why experiment when there was still a chance to grab a playoff spot?
Quite. It does not make sense.