Playing Enzo centrally makes a huge difference and that's where RLB will play him. Even standing Mundle out wide, on crutches, would occupy two defenders ... ... leaving Mayenda space to run into. Easy peasy
Slept on it. Wanted to take my time to write something with more sense instead of pure emotion. I understand both sides of the coin. I get people wanting momentum or more effort. Just as I understand the people who say they’re nothing games. In my view the players are evidently trying very hard to be fit for the play offs, they aren’t going full tilt in games, they aren’t flying in to tackles, they aren’t burning themself out, we’re making sure we get to the play off games in a strong position. I don’t necessarily mind this. Now a lack of effort on the pitch is frustrating to watch there’s no doubt about that. But I’m proud that we’ve got to a position where we’ve had 5/6 games that don’t matter. We’ve essentially turned out 46 game season into a 40 game season whilst all the other teams are going at it full pelt to secure their slots, whilst also still playing pretty poorly might I add. Now people can say you can’t expect them to just play better in the play offs. Maybe you’re right, maybe you’re wrong. But you can certainly switch on a mentality of do or die in a play off game. This is something you can’t replicate in a dead rubber league game whether you like it or not. Look at the FA Cup. Plymouth who are now relegated knocked out two premier league sides, they switched mentality in a do or die cup competition and got it done. Just as Southampton did last season, or Crawley last season. Who both went into the play offs in poor form but got the job done. There may or may not be signs of rust with some players, but these lads have played together all season. They know each other, they know what they can do. We also know we have a tendency to switch mentality for the big games. We turned up both times against Sheffield United and Burnley. We beat boro home and away for the first time in how long? The only team to truly best us over two games is Leeds and without meslier I think they’d have walked the league. So to summarise yes, it’s frustrating. But when it comes to those play off games we have to be there in numbers, behind the lads. I don’t care if you think the game plan is boring or if you don’t agree with the teamsheet or if you don’t like RLB or whatever the reason. Get behind them, every kick, if we go 1-0 down, if we go 1-0 up, we have to fight til the end and there is absolutely no reason we cannot turn up and win these play offs. The players and staff don’t seem stressed about it and all look calm, so why can’t we? Keep the faith. Haway the lads!
If we have been holding back, avoiding tackles and generally taking it easy for these last few games there’s a potential danger when we return to a full on give everything attitude where we go in to tackles meaning to win them. We could sort of over compensate and end up getting lots of yellows and some red cards once we’re let of the leash.
Didn't see the game as we had a family weekend away. Stayed away from the forums and social media, albeit my son was saying there were some whoppers asking for RLB to be sacked . People can have their opinions on all of this, but much like those who twist halfway through the transfer window, the time to judge is once the play offs are done. Win and RLB is a genius. Lose and people will question his judgement about the approach to these dead rubbers. Anything between now and the play offs is pointless hand wringing.
Im chuffed Alese is back. Like Cirkin he frustrates me massively but if i could only keep one id have him over Cirkin, due to the fact he is an excellent CB and LB at this level where as Cirkin is predominantly only a LB. I really rate the lad, and i dont expect anyone to agree but hey ho its my personal opinion.
Glad you agree mate. Yeah hes top draw, physically he's looked brilliant this season before his injury.
Alese a lot worse. League appearances for Sunderland… Cirkin = 108 in 4 seasons Alese = 41 in 3 seasons
I can see the reasoning, rotate give players game time don't risk injuries. Treat as pre season. The all fresh to go when we get down to the real business. Just hope it works out.
Fair enough mate, i dont do stats. Both would be in the Prem now already if it wasn't for their constant injuries
Lots of players have had a series of injuries then gone on to have years without any. Clubs have extensive medicals, to make sure players aren't inherently 'feeble', but it's a high intensity contact sport. Cirkin has had a broken nose and a broken hand so it's not exactly a specific weakness.
Stick Alese at CB where he was great at the start of the season and I think he'll likely have far fewer injuries assuming he gets a full pre-season. His current injury was just bad luck in breaking his leg and the rest were made a lot worse by being continually rushed back, hoping we aren't rushing him back at the moment.
I’d want Alese replacing if we went up, 24 now and he’s hardly played. He’s fine at championship level, when fit
