Again you getting this all wrong Martin O'Neill was finishing mid table in the PREMIERSHIP We are in the CHAMPIONSHIP
Let me spell it out - Premiership / Championship - makes no difference to me - play your best available side in every game and try to win it ... that's my ethos - obviously not yours. I don't buy 'players need resting' - they don't, IMHO - never once met a player at any level I've played at who has asked to be rested - injuries are a different matter. ... and you conveniently skipped over the fact that we went to an FA Cup semi-final whilst in the second division - and, for the record, built on that momentum to get promoted the very next season.
It certainly does make a difference because you can play up to eleven games a season more. And no offence but unless you've playing in the top two divisions of England in the last 20 or so years - in which the speed and quality of the game has increased no end thanks to foreign imports making it super-competitive - you really haven't a clue how much the modern game takes out of you. So if the manager says a players needs a rest, they know. I have seen some young and fit players in this league look absolutely shattered after something like 40 minutes. Football players are not superhuman, they're just a (fair) bit fitter and skillful than you or I. Besides, the main reason I would like to see players rested in meaningless matches (and lets face it, until we are good enough to finish in the top two of this league, that's what cup matches are) is to avoid injury. I wouldn't want Morgan out for six months because "we could have got through to the final 16 of the FA Cup". It would be a heavy price to pay for such scant reward.
First point - players have far more protection from officials these days, plus the advantages of sports scientists dieticians, pysiotherapists, wonderful rest and rest and recuperation facilities etc etc - so I'm sorry I just don't buy that they are more tired than the players of old - they are suppoosed to be athletes (many are softer I'll concede) - and with all due respect you rreally haven't a clue what playing in the modern era does to a person either - so your opinion is only as valid as mine (no more no less). Secondly - you are just as likely to get injured in a league match as a cup match - but a good cup run will not only breed confidence and excitement to both club and fans but it 'should' also add to the momentum and building a winning mentality. As I've said time and time again it's all about opinions...
I agree. That's why I said we have to trust in the manager when he tells us players need resting or not. He's IS an ex-pro after all. He knows the stresses and strains of modern football. He also knows when a player like Beckford is taking the piss. Again I agree, but getting injured in a potentially future defining league fixture is very different to getting injured in a meaningless cup match.
Why so, Vivienne of Leeds? (Sorry Fosse for stealing your joke but it immediately came to my head so I went with it ha!)
My thoughts on the matter... Back in the day, players used to drink and smoke as much as they liked. Then someone came along and realised he could gain an advantage over other teams if his team didn't drink or smoke at all, so he stopped it. Then another realised "hang on, his team don't drink and smoke, ours shouldn't either." Then it was taken to the next level, and now, players are under a very strict regime. Now taking that in to this debate... Two teams played other opposition on a Saturday, both had cup games midweek, and then played each other the Saturday after. One manager thought "hang on, if I completely change my team for the midweek game, my first team can have a week off whereas theirs will most likely play an extra game." Who's in a better state come the following Saturday? The team who played 90 minutes (potentially 120 minutes) and who may have won, and possibly "gained some momentum." (On the other hand they may have still lost...) Or the team who have had a week off? And now everyone has jumped on that bandwagon. It's not that they're "too tired", but when you have the option for rest, why shouldn't you? And I know "you should never change a winning team", and "success breeds success" and "when you're winning you want to play every game" and all that balls. But the previous two champions of this division have gone completely against that ethos, and I suggest we do the same
Well made points Jack - but as you might suspect, doesn't change my thinking - nothing will, you believe what you believe or, as another poster is fond of saying " I believe".
I like how Leeds fans think Pearson is a bad manager for not getting 'the best' out of Beckford. So i'd like to ask this question to them. What do you all think of Grayson?
Yep. Apparently we've settled his loyalty bonus (despite the fact he didn't give two ****s about us) and he's on his way to Bolton for 1m ish.
Sky are now running with the story that Beckford is close to signing for Bolton. Bolton's chairman has said he should sign within the next few days
Dougie Freedman has said Beckford is a done deal and will be annouced this morning http://bit.ly/14Xkvj5
sounds like there are some add ons for us if he gets a few goals and if Bolton go up. Don't worry Gartside, based on past evidence, your money is safe!
Do we get a quid for every drop of sweat he produces on the pitch as well? Wouldnt be enough to buy a pastie.