look i didn't see it - but was the second half so bad? We ended up with a better xg than Brighton, who were bang on form and one of the best away sides in the league
There is only one winner Doc, and thats the faithful FANS, give it there all every game, home and away.
I guess the argument and it's the same with us is, you make your own bed by being in the relegation mix in the first place. Also in a professional world you want to look after yourselves first and the time to try young players is 'dead' games (dead for your team). That said, there is an obligation to put out a competitive side - the scunthorpe game was a disgrace. Club bonuses, manager bonuses, player bonuses etc are all higher the higher up the league you finish - reputations are made on league position. I don't think Vieira or Gerrard, two of the biggest competitors you will meet will chuck out weakened sides. Testing a kid or two? Not beyond the realms of possibility but they will want to win.
I’ve MOTD recorded and will watch when home. General consensus among our group was it was fairly dire
First half the occasion got to us and we looked like a side heading down. Second half much more composure and with a little bit of luck we might have won the game. Of course Brighton had chances to put the game to bed as well but that's just PL football and they're a good well organised team. To be honest I'm not sure what you and the rest of the gang were expecting to see ?
To be fair to them they have earned the right to blood some of their youngsters in the prem by getting enough points on the door early in the season. It's wrong for us to expect other teams to get us out of the mess we got ourselves in.
To some extent yes but Bielsa always said the integrity of the League was more important and that he'd never put out a weakened side. Viera and Gerrard are proper professionals and will think the same. Of course there will be a few changes as they both play 2 matches in 3 days but the PL is a squad game anyway these days. Fpr example Coutinho will be rested and saved for the Man City game but that means Buendia will take his place.
what a pity ours is so paper thin..... to the point of you don't need to stretch it to far before you are in the ****
Yesterday we put our 11 most experienced players on the pitch and then used 3 young subs who all did well when they came on. Now you and others may strongly disagree but the squad is actually strong enough if we hadn't suffered so many injuries. Players mssing yesterday were; Bamford Ayling James Dallas Forshaw Roberts We now have 5 centre backs fully fit where at times this season we've only had one if we were lucky. Not sure how you can plan for that and we also had the situation where injured players were forcast to come back in early March so signing replacements for those players in January would have been very short term. Bamford out Joffy in ? Not so simple when Gelhardt has repeatedly been unfit himself at all the wrong times. Not saying a couple of extra quality signings weren't needed by the way but our squad isn't paper thin.
Gerrard will play his strongest team against City with the hope of his scouse mates winning the league. Plus Gerrard would be an even bigger hero on scouseside. A 2 pronged attack on yhe league title ffs