And set out a benchmark with their Sunderland team selection: "You've got to earn it" It took us 13 games in the 12/13 season to revert to our club stalwarts (away to ManUtd after the Hughes sacking). Lets not make the same mistake this time. This season is two games old- the situation is not unsalvageable. Green Simpson Caulker Rio Onouha Traore Barton Hoillet Faurlin Austin Remy We owe Fer/Mutch/Isla/Vargas nothing. They're our players, we're paying them a fortune- and they'll do what we tell them. If they're the "right sorts" they're reputed to be, they'll see being benched as a challenge- and then fight tooth and nail to regain their place (this isn't an unusual scenario for new signings at clubs to find themselves in). People say we've got competition for places in the squad. Whilst players aren't being picked on a meritocratic basis- this is entirely untrue. I think the new boys are great acquisitions and they'll come good. The 4 I've mentioned probably aren't even fully match fit yet though. I'm not sure whether we need to play our 1st XI Vs Burton on Wednesday to get confidence, or whether the unfit players should get minutes. Albion are W4 D1 from their last five games, so it'll be no pushover. [I don't know how physical S'land are, so maybe Hoillet should be replaced by Henry/Mutch in the above lineup. We're at home though so it'd be nice to see the inclusion of an out+out attacking player like him.]
Good post mate I was thinking the same we need to back our winning players and slowly integrate the new ones , team morale has taken a massive nick though do you think we will recover from this though ?
I think we will mate, we've got a lot more Leaders in the dressing room than the 12/13 season. Clint Hill now club captain, Joey Barton, Rio Ferdinand, Harry, Hoddle, Steve Black. I don't think the new signings will give-in like Park/Mbia/Granero/Diakite did. We only need roughly a 1pt a game to survive- so if we beat S'land we're 3 for 3 and back on track.
Not sure this thread makes sense Why do you chose which players to go back to Why not Dunne and Hill instead of Caulker and Rio Is this the same board that is slagging of Traore as not fit for purpose How come Remy gets a look in...when he was nowhere near the place last year A little "slow-down" and a little sense here Play players that are playing well Onuha in for Dunne Isla for the tragically out of touch Simpson. LWB is more of a problem....Traore or Yun or SWP Hoillet in for Philips, Faurlin has earnt his place (not because he was here last year....not in body he wasn't...but because he is playing quite well Austin yes...Remy ????
I agree with the sentiment and posted Fer shouldn't play, yet I think Isla should play and also Yun, apart from that happy with the rest being on the bench. Mutch, Fer and Vargas (unless Charlie is still injured) having to earn there places rather than just be given them. ease them in 20 mins at a time when we can. Fer was a headless chicken yesterday and will have to do a lot in my eyes to make up for that performance.
I don't agree with this Beth, while he wasn't good (gods no-one was) I though he got into the positions a wing back is supposed to, he is used to having covered behind and as there was little it made he look worse, I think he showed potential.
That lineup was just my opinion really- everyone will have their preferred selection. The crux of my point is that the management have got a load of new toys- and they want to play with them all at once. We know how that went during the 12/13 season, so (on the whole) we should gravitate more towards settled QPR players. I wouldn't suggest picking players who're unfit for purpose (Dunne/Hill) over new signings for the sake of it. Remy's not a new signing in my opinion, he's been our player for 18months and has played 17 games for us (and he's fantastic!). I'd have no objections to seeing Yun in the side, he looked competent for S.Korea, and was good Vs Wigan in the playoffs. Traore was alright Vs Hull though so i'd keep him for consistency personally. One thing I'd object to though is that Simpson is "tragically out of touch". He was a consistent 7/8 out of 10 last season and was solid enough V Hull. Isla looked like a lost little boy yesterday in a first half during which we conceded 3. Sure... he might offer more in attack. But we can't even defend at the moment! Simpson's earned his place until Isla demonstrates he's a significantly better player. Give him a run-out V Burton maybe?
I see where your coming from Beth and don't disagree with you apart from Triore. He seems to be shouldered off the ball far to easy for someone that plays near his own goal. I'm not saying he doesn't try or give his all but for his position he needs to be stronger on the ball. He does intercept well but that doesn't help if he loses it again or doesn't get it to another rangers player. Edit: Worth me saying that I wouldn't single him out for yesterday, as apart from Ale when he came on, no one really covered themselves in gory.
We are in danger of making the same mistakes over again. We can't introduce so many new players all at once. I also agree that Hoilett should play in behind Remy and Austin/Vargas on Saturday.
I have watched the preseason matches on stream and PAOK in the flesh. IMHO Simpson was out of touch with the 3-5-2 formation He was not able to cope Simpson, is the fallguy for the formation I think a few of them covered themselves in gory Quality! Or was that a Freudian slip
Great post Grifter. I feel we have to give playing time to those players that need match time most urgently.
