Which is why fans getting on his back at games really annoys me.
I've no problem with people thinking he's a bad player or a bad fit for the team.
I agree with them. He doesn't work well in the system and I think that's clear to see.
Fans get upset when he's in the starting lineup and are vocal about it.
That's not only unhelpful, but it's not even his fault. He can't improve miraculously.
If people are pissed off at him being in the team, then they should fault Conte.
He picks him all the time.
This leads us to either an interesting point about Djed Spence and r/coys...or a horrific rabbit hole, one or the other
After the Brentford and Villa games, they were lauding Spence as the first born of the union of Kyle Walker and Stephen Carr and that Conte was a prick for not picking who was clearly the best RB we have on our books
On the other hand, after the Palace and Pompey games there's been a 180, instead settling on Spence clearly doesn't try hard enough in training to meet Conte;s high standards, and because he isn't a trier that is why Conte doesn't pick him
And why that 180? Simply put, because Gil and Sarr have got Conte's attention during the midseason break and are that faith is paying off both for them getting playing time and for Conte as both have shown to be useful parts of the setup (which couldn't be said six months ago, it has to be said) - but the real telltale sign is Doherty getting into the team lately, which indicates he got Conte's eye during the midseason friendlies and that's got him into the team, while Spence gets a cameo against Pompey and that's it
And let's be honest, it's not like Emerson is the first guy who gets the manager's eye through sheer graft so plays regularly. After all, remember how Michael Brown was a regular starter in Martin Jol's first season in spite his playing style being best compared to a terrier humping somebody's leg the entire length of the living room?
Wouldn't put it past any of them.
