It's not like the FA were whiter than white at that time, given their HQ was raided by the police when it was discovered members were hoarding Euro '96 tickets to make a tidy profit on. But, of course, we're supposed to look the other way aren't we? And don't get me started on the collection of people charged with assault, GBH and racial abuse in the squad that make it impossible to take the moral high ground.
I think they "learned" from the Venables era. Ironically he was the best manager they've had in the last 20 years and Harry would be good too. Seems the appointment is made on more than footballing grounds.
I hate being right on occasions like this, but I think we saw last night exactly the kind of thing that I most feared. We put out a very strong side last night, and we were out-played by a side that is struggling towards the foot of the Championship. It was only some dogged defending, a touch of class from VDV, and lots and lots of luck that we got through. If we play like that in the EPL, we will get slaughtered and we can kiss goodbye to a top 4 slot, let alone any challenge for the title. I truly hope that the faith we have all so willingly placed in Harry does not come back to haunt us. Blimey! I've suddenly turned into this boards Jayram! Quick! Someone shoot me!
i think last night was a one off,we underestimated watford because they are in the Championship.plus Watford raised their game because of the chance of a giantkilling,always an incentive,i don't think Harry will let that happen again
Just for debate, an argument against rotation is, I think its widely accepted our first 11 on its day is a match for anyone, would you describe our 2nd, 3rd, 4th choice 11's the same way?....I'll answer it for you....no.
I'd say yes, Notso. The likes of Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Bassong, Huddlestone, Sandro, Kranjcar, Defoe and Pavlyuchenko featured heavily when we last finished 4th, didn't they? Pienaar has consistently finished in the top 8 with Everton, too.
I think that's down to the system though, Totsfan. We use on that requires proper wingers and we don't have any in reserve.
2 + 2 = 5 We put out a team with no width in midfield, which caused us to struggle - that's got nothing to do with the trial. Remember around Christmas where we didn;t have width on both flanks against West Brom and Swansea? Similar performances, and nothing to do with the trial.
We've been saying this on here for a while - if Lennon's out, deploy Walker on the right wing with Corluka at right back. Or utilise Kranjcar, GDS, Pienaar or (before he was loaned out) Townsend.
It'll be interesting to see where Sandro and Huddlestone fit into this, when they return to full fitness.
Well I'm with Spurf and I say no, its not needed, our first 11 is a class apart from the cover behind them, Parker/Sandro an exception, and thats the difference between us and those above us. This season our first 11 has had only PL games to worry about, no Euro, no early Cup rounds till last night. Pretty much played once a week, so I won't listen to anyone who tells me thats tiring. Our front four of Bale, Lennon, VdV and Ade on their day are mesmerising, replacing any one or two of them with what we have, has not and will not have the same effect...I'm pretty sure a poster like yourself can see that. Take Sandro out of your list and none of the others would get a starting berth in one of the 2 teams above us, so why ours? I'm not interested in finishing 4th talk before or now either, as for Pienaar, again, just not a relevant comparison. Our subs are for injury purposes it would seem, thats cover and prevention. Not for fiddling around with different starting names every week, I've seen enough evidence so far from Niko to not start ahead of VdV, and JD ahead of Ade for example, Bale and Lennon are irreplacable the way we play best. I see little room for any debate on this and I'm just not listening to the odd run of good games any of those others have had. They're nowhere near as effective when they play, and thats because they're all round game isn't good enough, and thats that. Example, Gio, 2 TW's if not 3 to unload him and we're having enough trouble getting a midtable La Liga side to take him....to think this was the player some wanted to see while resting Lennon...laughable!, along with many other suggestions I see on here. Anyway, mild rant over, not taking anymore of your bait PNP!
Fully agree with this. Although I have to add that, whilst I think maintaining our current position is nigh impossible if we have to rely on the 'backbenchers', they are- on average- of higher quality than the sort of dross our closest rivals have in reserve, with the obvious exception of Man City (and even they're far from true 'strength in depth'- cf. a certain defender by the name of 'Savic'!). If you were to compare our reserves to other teams' reserves, I feel we are overall superior. Arsenal and United would kill to have the likes of Niko, Daws, THudd and Defoe sitting on the bench!
I don't like the fact that we are so one-dimensional. Surely, we need a greater diversity of tactics to call on, if we are going to push on as a club with serious title intentions?
On paper, we do have another player who can play in this role - GDS, who is utilised this way for Mexico. But he's on the next flight to Villarreal.
On the one hand some of it rests with Gio for not putting in the effort when he gets his chance (apart from Cheltenham and Shamrock at home, he seemed reluctant to get involved), partly on bad luck as he seemed to get injured just when he had an opportunity due to injuries to Lennon or VDV, but the unwillingness to rotate the squad can't help, nor the fact we've basically been saying he's a transfer fee away from leaving for the last year.
Ramos was mugged off by Barca on Gio, do you really think they'd have let their best protege go? Of the bunch that he came through their ranks with, he was the worst...quite clearly. He's had chance after chance against all manner of opposition, and never shone, he's average. Of course Barca gave him a star billing, but it was no more than a punt that didn't pan out, it happens all time, I do not understand the dismay.
