The thing is those fringe players are more than good enough to slot in every now and again, as we've already seen. The wholesale change yesterday was never going to work because every one of the 'slot them in every now and again' players needs to play alongside a first team player not each other to get the best out of them.
I'm not sure that's entirely true. There's a difference between bringing one or two into a functioning team and throwing several in all at once and expecting it to work. We've seen with our own team in the past and several others currently that constantly changing the team isn't as effective as keeping a consistent line-up. Of course the down-side of that is the risk of burn-out, but I think it's a gamble you have to make to win.
There's also a difference between 1 or 2 in perphiperal positions coming in and key central positions being upset. Kelleher did really well because he didn't upset anything. You can put in tsimikas and carry him out wide. Same for Bradley. It's not the same with Jones and it is entirely hit or miss at times what kind of day he has, better as impact sub. Diaz or nunez or Jota. If only Jota could stay fit. Each does different things. Diaz is miles deep and there's no finisher in the box. Nunez runs all over and there's still no finisher in the box because while he might run the line to get behind he also runs out of the zone where you might pick him out at the end of a move. When maccallister or Szoboszlai don't play it shows big time. Gakpo has forced his way into no 1 at lw. Diaz offers something different. We can't afford to lose konate as he is thr only guy capable of dealing with an entire half of the park in his own But most of all the leaders can be missing. Vvd leads. Salah leads. The midfield trio all lead.
You're correct. The game yesterday was the only full game this season that Jota and Diaz have played together and only the fourth ever full game they've played together. Chiesa isn't really part if the equation. I think it's well accepted what a team that's never played together means. Solid
Nope, but I never claimed it did. I merely responded to the "not played together before" aspect. The seniors didn't show any desire or lead by example. Very disappointing from them, they should be fighting to get into the first team.
Given they started the season as first choice and played all preseason and played last season those two have no excuse. But again a blanket defence that has all day to get set is difficult for a forward to do much. Diaz ran at them, recycled the ball, looked for anyone's but had nothing to work with and 3 or 4 markers as they didn't need to worry about anyone else. Jota didn't do too.much all gsme tbh but had a snap shot well saved which is classic jota. He needed to do more. Chiesa couldn't run or accelerate so while he gets the base credit of trying hard he was easily marked out of it by 1 and 2 players and often he was falling over it. Hardly a classic performance. Whenever we meet these types of defences it's down to a salah or a bit of brilliance or a run through that's needed to break it down. When vvd can find salah from 60 yards you've always a chance to turn a side. That's the difference. We were blunt and plan b had forwards in the box bit poor crossing or worse woeful punts from half way. Meat and drink to cbs, no matter what league.
i didn't expect much and that got less the moment Gomez got injured but the front 3 were personally all well off the levels required and that cannot all be put down "not playing together"
Its really hard to judge Chiesa until he has had a few games with the 1st team. Most of his games have been with the second string youth teams. Would be interesting to see how he performs playing along Mac, Trent, Grav and Szob. Being from Plymouth any result would of been fine for me. It was annoying how poorly we played but we are due a couple like that before the end of the season so this was one of the best games for that performance better the a crucial league game or chamions league Quarter/semi final. Argyle will get relegated barring some miracle but thats down to taking a stupid gamble on Rooney so only thereselves to blame.
You're correct. I agree. I haven't intimated otherwise. I never expected my joke to be taken seriously.
I don’t accept excuses that 3 international players like Diaz, Jota and Chiesa haven’t played much together this season. What do they do when training? It’s not like they were playing a top side
Yeah, very much this. Apart from Joe getting injured again (anyone know how bad it is yet?), Diaz seemed to not like getting bullied, Jota only played for the last 15 minutes, and Elliott seemed to morph into an end-of-career version of Thiago, but without the passes. Thought Tsimi was woeful too. I'd give the captain's armband to Kelleher next time if those circumstances come up. Nyomi and O'Connel looked out of their depth, tbh, but you're right that this is because they're all playing together and not being eased in one at a time alongside Macca and Gravy. But I do know this - we need Virgil and Ibu to stay fit from now until the end of the season, as Quansah has gone back from his breakthrough season last year, and Joe looks like he's going to keep breaking down.
I think it'll be a bit like Shaquari with Chiesa. He was always going to be a fringe player, but used as an impact sub or games when we had injuries (he was ace in the Barca game when Bobby and Mo were out). The problem was though, I saw him in a few LC ties and early FA cup games when we had our second string out and he stank the place out. He just dropped to the level of the kids around him, not dragging them up. The same with Chiesa yesterday, though he was far from being the only one yesterday.
I don't think a single person has made any excuses for the performance we saw. I made a joke - 'it's like they've never played together before' - which opened up a discussion about the amount of times a couple of the players had played together. No excuses made or intended
3 up top can’t do much if they aren’t getting the ball. build up was so slow Plymouth got 11 behind the ball every time we had it so any time Diaz or chiesa got the ball they had the wing back, the wide cb and a midfielder around them while they’re standing on the touchline. There’s not an awful lot they could do with it other than something magical and beat 3 or play it back inside or backwards to keep the ball. The front 3 are only as good as the service they get and we didn’t have a midfield to get the ball to them quickly.
Basically this. I've seen Salah put in an equivalent to Chiesa's performance yesterday against low blocks when service behind him was non existent. That's on Slot, but I see his POV. He took a gamble on that team and lost. It happens.
Salah would recycle the back and not and not fall over it though Diaz was no better positioned than cheisa to impact the game in exactly the scenario you decided with 3 and 4 players covering but he didn't lose it much and earned us a few throws or corners or recycled. .
