Replacing Hoillet with Mutch Vs Hull: Mutch had looked unfit and poor Vs PAOK, and Junior has been red hot during preseason. But after about 3 days with the squad, Mutch was chucked straight into the lineup. He looked abysmal today against spurs; his touch absolutely atrocious. He's not had to earn his place in the squad, and it shows. Replacing Faurlin with Fer today: Fer's been with the squad for 3 days, but he's immediately replaced one of our best performers from last week. Worse, Fer admitted in his QPR-player interview that he's only fit for 60-70 mins at the moment. Is this for real?!! An unfit player who has no understanding with his teammates yet replacing a potential MOTM from Hull. Isla for Simspon: Isla was all at sea during a first half in which we conceded 3. He's never played with these teammates in a competitive fixture before, but we chuck him straight in for 90 mins V spurs? He needed to be integrated from the bench, like most new players at most clubs are. Whatever you say about danny, he's a pretty solid defender- and was one of our most consistent players last season. Too many unfamiliar faces when the chips are down. Dunne for Onouha: You might also describe this as Caulker/Rio in for Onouha. There was no need to replace him- no need. He was one of our performers who suggested he could make the step up. For the sake of consistency, you don't replace those players. I've done the Dunne Vs Onouha comparison to death so won't go over that. Here's a quote from a spurs fan earlier in the week: Why is it that the fans could spot this but Harry couldn't?! Factor in Matty Phillips being completely ineffective in an unfamiliar position(an unfortunate result of Vargas' delayed visa), and our team was 5 selections away from where it should've been. Traore looked poor overall, and I wish Suk-Young had been given more of a crack during pre-season. Here's our playoff final lineup: Green Simpson Onouha Dunne Hill Kranjcar Barton O'neil Hoillet Austin Doyle This team would've given spurs a better game today. I know we need to move on, and need to progress in order to compete in the PL. But it needed to be done in the right way... Imagine if Remy had replaced Doyle, Caulker for Dunne, Faurlin for O'neil, and a fit M.Phillips for Kranjcar. I'm not saying we'd have won, or that this is a team which we should ultimately settle upon- but it would be a good first stage of improvements. Let the likes of Mutch/Fer earn their place slowly. I'd also suggest that the only reason we've switched to 352 is so Harry can crowbar his trffic' pal Rio into the team. Is it a formation that really suits us? That's opening up a whole can of worms though...
This thread could die very quickly as you can't argue with any of that. The only positive was watching it in a beach bar in Majorca!
Totally agree, too many changes too quickly. Top teams play with a consistent starting line up wherever possible, I don't believe any of the team from last week needed to be changed except Charlie due to slight injury. Harry will waste weeks on deciding his best starting line-up, by which time we'll be stuck at the bottom. Pick a consistent team who get to know each other and have a formation that suits the team. I don't believe 3-5-2 suits our team except Rio. It's down to Harry to wake up and reward loyalty to generate a consistent team performance. We saw how well the team played last week and created chances. Contrast that to this week. I don't think I need to say anymore.
Harry post match on Talksport- "The squad obviously still needs a bit more quality...you've seen that today" Ah I see, more players is what we need. Presumably to replace green, barton, Austin and traore. Coach what we've got ffs. Harry: "We looked like strangers out there at times." No s**t
Grifter, I agree with your main point that Arry has thrown the new players in too quickly, if not all the specifics changes you suggest. Much was hardly in the game, and Fer was very lost first half. Apart from the defensive shambles, we created next to nothing today before Spurs were already thinking of their next game. Arry needs to use the man we have, or acquire someone that can open a defence. The only genuine creative defense opening ball I remember today was Barton's (I think it was) pass to Phillips in the 1st half which he controlled well before shooting over. We need a hell of a lot more than that to stay in this League.
Top post. 100% right. It hasnt taken Harry long to get back to last seasons pre play off's level of performance. That said I'll be there next week, and every week thereafter, but god its painfull.
I watched the game in the USA today. The MSNBC match commentator - said we were a team full of talent and promise - with a weak and old fashioned manager - he focused on the need for the management team to use modern management techniques vs any signings.... but what does he know...
Totally agree with the OP. This was the exact mistake we made last time - so much for learning! Its all well and good brining new players in, but they have to earn their spot in the side and displace the current starters. Also, we played very well last week against Hull and were unlucky - what was the reasoning to change that? The only change I would have made would be Onuoha for Dunne (we are all saying that).
