Match Day Thread Hull City v Portsmouth

I agree with this 100%, there’s a time for Joseph, especially away from home and in game where he can come inside with Oli and let Giles hold the width. I still think that’s very different from saying he’s had a huge influence on the team, which I’ve seen a lot over over the past few weeks.

 

Well we shall see as I expect our resolve is about to be tested in January and I don’t think we can afford to turn down the money.

 

He may well not start when everyone is fit but having him come on when we’re either holding on to or chasing a game, with those energy levels and effort, against a tiring opponent would be potentially very useful.

 

We’ll see who the gaffer favours when everyone’s fully fit.

 

Spot on - his gut busting run in the 98th minute against Pompey to close keeper and defender down shows how important a squad/team player he is. He's never gonna be a Waggy or a Keith Edwards but anyone who can't see what he brings to the side just doesn't want to see.

 

Agreed, there’s just a big distinction between integral meaning essential / absolutely necessary / incredibly important, and probably won’t start when everyone’s fit. Both can’t be true.

 

Depends whether you’re referring to team or squad. I think, these days, that the latter is much more important, especially with the number of subs and places on the bench.

 

I think McBurnie will be back for Stoke, perhaps on the bench for Ipswich at best.

From the 1904 pod you got the feeling that unless his recovery picked up in the next week he wouldn’t be ready for QPR and if he’s not risked for that it would seem a game 3 days later would also be too soon.

We have 11 games until the FA Cup game in quick succession coming up. They want to give him every chance to feature in most of these and won’t risk it by taking a chance too early.

 

It will depend on who's available to play in midfield. If we have Lundstram and Matazo (or Zambrano) back then we could well see those 4 together n the attacking roles once all fit. And that is something to look forward to. It just wouldn't work though with 2 out of tree, Amir and Slater.

 

Yeah that’s a fair point, I don’t hate Joseph, I just think this shower of praise in recent times is unjustified. He’s got a part to play for sure, just certainly not as influential to us as many seem to believe in recent weeks in my opinion.

 

While this is a fine video, it’s a glaring error to omit Slaters run, without which, the cross is probably cleared at the front post.

 

2 out of tree ain’t bad.

 

I think what you’re missing is that Joseph is an integral part of why a team without several first choice players is still picking up some excellent results. He does a lot of the donkey work to allow others like Gelhardt to work their magic.

 

Comparing Joseph to Millar and Belloumi is missing the point. That's an issue for when the three of them are all available, if ever. The point with Joseph is that, in the absence of those two, he's been our best available winger (despite not being one) keeping natural wingers out of the team because they aren't as good as him. If we want to moan about anyone not being good enough, it should be those. I wonder what Joseph earns compared to Akintola...

 

Now unlikely to be in time for QPR according to Baz.

 

Ndala has been injured and has only just come back. Akintola has looked poor whenever he’s come on, and also tends to play on the right-hand side, and he’s not getting in ahead of Gelhardt (who actually is our best available winger). So no, he’s not been keeping actual wingers out of the team, Ndala hasn’t been fit and Akintola plays the other side, so the manager has gone for Joseph because he works hard, and can come inside as another striker and let Giles provide the width. Also, it’s nothing personal, id sit here and say Akintola hasn’t looked good enough either because he hasn’t. Doesn’t run as much as Joseph too so it’ll probably be better received by most on here.

 

Akintola is a poor man's jason lokilo!

FACT

 

Damned with faint praise

 

Stepson said the same. Back to Joseph. I'd definitely start him at QPR. Run the buggers down.