At least we have McShane fit again so he can slot in at the left side of the 3 centre backs if Hobbs isn't fit. No Gedo means Boyd will definitely start up front with Simpson, IMO.
I'll go left field... and say why not start Fryatt and Simpson together and bench a to be honest, tired looking, Boyd?
I know fryatts not 100% but that long run out on Friday and a weeks training after will have done him some good, I'd like to see a predator type up there to cause some chaos rather than the unbalanced front line with 2 link up players, and Boyd is looking knackered.
Boyd looking knackered ffs!!! What would these players do if they had to work for a living, his adrenalin and ambition to play PL football should get him through these games
Stockdale Chester Faye Hobbs/McShane Elmo Meyler Evans Quinn Brady Boyd Simpson Don't even know why I posted that, no one's going to disagree. The only thing I'll add to it is that someone needs to have a word in Evans' ear about trying 110-yard passes when there's someone more talented next to him he could easily give it to.
No denying it though, his performances and sharpness seem to be getting worse by the game. Maybe he's got a slight knock or something.
Boyd for me was just playing out of position, if he is forward with Simpson, then you will see a different player.
No one seems to realise how physically difficult playing English football is. Yes it's better than working for a living obviously but that doesn't mean their performances aren't going to drop at the end of the season when they've played 46 games at such ridiculously high tempo. Yes I know all the other boring slow sports have a lot of competition days in the season too but they simply aren't as bad for the body as football is.
Maybe he needs a goal but yeah he hasn't looked that good recently he looked low on confidence against Bristol which is strange as he had started well since he arrived
He couldn't pass or trap a ball against Bristol. That can't be down to his position. That's just having a bad game. If we asked a Peterborough fan they'd say he's more of a midfielder or a winger anyway like Koren. Just because he's played his first few games for us up front it doesn't mean that's his best position.
Don't you see where I'm coming from though? Why would standing 10 yards further back mean that he suddenly can't trap or pass a football? It isn't like FIFA where a player's ability suddenly drops because you've moved his position. If you can't get the basics right then the position doesn't even come into it surely?
Without Koren, Boyd has to be in. He's the only player capable of that 'moment from nothing' type goal. The rest of the team are pretty functional and will grind you down.
Going to be difficult here - I hope Bruce plays his best 11 in the correct positions as it is a must win game for us therefore we want no excuses come 4.53 on Saturday as to why we haven't beaten Barnsley. And sorry if I sound arrogant or "typical of a fan thinking other teams in the division are beneath us", or "putting the voodoo curse on us due to my comments" but we have got a squad of better players than Barnsley and i want our players to not be thinking about a nice beach holiday somewhere on the coast of Portugal but to be thinking about the thousands of fans who would be overjoyed if we got up especially those who are in difficult situations both medically and financially - do it for them
I'm not saying your wrong I just don't buy it maybe if they could swap lifestyles for 2 weeks and see how the other half live to pay bills etc tiredness would never become an issue again
No doubt Brighton, Watford, Leicester, Palarse, Cardiff, Derby and the Florist fans all thought the same recently.
Honestly, you or I or in fact our mates we think are fit, would not be fit enough to reciprocate within 2 weeks. Which should give a clue at the level at which the majority of the players operate at. I'm not saying there aren't some lazy bastards, there are in all walks of life, but they're not just turning up to a laugh a sec training session mid week, then poncing about on a pitch for 90 mins once a week, twice sometimes.
I can understand were you are coming from, that basic ball control wherever you are on the pitch shouldn't matter, and generally I agree. At the Brizzle game a few of the players were having problems controlling the ball as the pitch was ****e. In addition as far as position is concerned, if you are not playing in your natural position, then you are out of your comfort zone, which can make the difference to playing well or just not playing at your best, which can just but that doubt in your mind. It is fine margins, but that is why players suit different positions on the field.
It's a different sort of tiredness, our working tiredness is a mentally ****ed, aching muscles, just crash out early and not want to get up next morning tiredness. Theirs is a completely physical tiredness, taken a kicking for the best part of a year, bruises, twisted ankles etc that just have no real time to recover. Not saying they look gasping for breath and fighting off stitches which is what I think you mean, more their bodies are on the limit and its a fight to get them performing 100% effectively to do these simple things like trap a ball and play an accurate pass if you know what I mean...
