please log in to view this image ....nice Rolly! On a more serious note, and the intended use of watch, I've noticed Paulinho is clocking up airmiles at the rate of a Quantas trolly dolly, his friendlies during this international break taking him to Korea and Beijing. AVB has to keep an eye on his fitness levels as he's being used in all that I've seen, and must play some part in his slightly jaded performances for us of late. Imo he really should get Thursdays off in these early EL rounds, not just the away legs, also used for an hour in the LC. I know Capoue is out but surely our illustrious squad can provide an option here that doesn't involve him. On a better note he played in Korea at the weekend and was a key part in Oscar's goal, he intially hunts down and wins the ball in his own half, and the pass when he gets it back 2 passes later from Neymar...well, just watch and enjoy a technically exquisite goal. [video=youtube;F-TH8tQ4Vy0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=F-TH8tQ4Vy0[/video] Brazil take on ACON champions Zambia today in Beijing. For anyone wanting to watch it, its live on BT Sport at lunchtime, KO. is 12.45. I've noticed this malarky too, you see they have a fixture, but they're not necessarily in either of the two countries playing, in this case either continent!
Not just Paulinho, but I think AVB has used quite a few key players too much. I admire the fact he wants to treat all comps with respect and I truly back him on that but we've got enough depth in the squad - players who could do with the game time too - that can do a job on some of the teams we've faced. Lloris has played two Europa's when Brad/ Gomes are more than capable of playing, Vertonghen, Paulinho, Walker, Rose and I think one or two others have also featured when I don't think it was necessary. He also took pretty much a full strength squad to Russia which I weren't entirely happy with, especially with West Ham on the Sunday which was a bigger game (and look how that panned out!). I'm not saying play a full team of youngsters but we've got at least one back up - pretty much of international quality bar LB & RB - in reserve who can step in for the less important games. Lets hope Paulinho doesn't play the full 90 and can get as much rest as possible prior to Villa, though the air miles aren't exactly going to help. Maybe we'll see Dembele and Sandro start on the weekend? Would make sense to me.
Neymar passing it? Barcelona's definitely changing him! Good to see Paulinho doing well but on the EL stuff, I'm pretty sure there were some articles before the Anzhi game saying that both he and Vertonghen were left at home. I agree with the general point about resting players but Paulinho seems to have been treated okay so far.
He was left at home, thats my point! he wasn't used in the return Tblisi game after being 5 nil up either, looks like we can abandon that part of the article and concentrate on why he looks jaded with all this rest! Thursdays off including the home games, I don't think he's needed in these ones tbh. Next one's away in Moldova, we'll see happens with that one.
I agree. We're in a situation now where we can afford to lose a game in the EL and still win our group. If our backups aren't good enough to win at least 3 out of 4 against Anzhi, Tromso and the other one then I'd rather we find out now in the EL when injuries set in and we have to start using them in the league. I'm more concerned about Dembele than Paulinho at the moment though, he always seems to pick up some kind of knock in a game and is playing very well at the moment so he'd be my priority to rest. I don't mind if Paulinho gets pushed a bit harder as he's a natural athelete and if he's playing badly then all the better, it gives him more chance to improve. Another thing AVB needs to work out is what he does with the backup players who do well in the EL. Townsend got in after Lennon's injury and Defoe has been given one league start so far which almost creates a bigger problem for AVB in the next game. With Capoue and Lennon coming back it's going to become even more difficult to keep everyone happy.
If the results between our opponents in that group keep going as they are then we've already qualified. They really are helping us immensely
Technically not, we can still finish bottom. They each have 4 games against eachother and if they draw all them then they have 4 points and if we lose to them in our last 4 games then 2 will have 7 points and the Moldovan side we haven't played will have 10. 3 points away to Tirimisu though and we've pretty much won the group, we'll be at least 5 points ahead of second with 2 home games and an away game left. That would mean that all we'd have to do is draw in our home game against the second placed side and either pick up a win or 2 draws in our other 2 games.
Is it just me or are the Brazilian FA taking the piss with this round of friendlies? Their whole squad play in either Europe or their home country, so where do they go? Asia. A massive pointless trip to play irrelevant games, but I'm sure they made a few quid out of it.
Anyone know if Sandro is back in their squad yet? If not, he has to start against Villa, assuming he is nearing full fitness (surely is now?)
Thanks , blimey wiki gets everywhere. I see from that, that WIL.I.AN hasn't been called up in over a year. What are these work permit rules again?
He's only got 2 caps full stop!....I think he got the work permit for being in Europe as long as he has, not 100% sure, but its something like that.
Quite tellingly he doesn't even make the recent call-ups section, which features 37 players, which is in addition to the 23 man squad. It contains players that haven't had a national call-up since November of last year, a couple of players who now ply their trade in the Middle East and at least one player who now wants to play for another country! Willian's never played a competitive game for Brazil, so he could still change to someone else, and he's been on the pitch for them for about 35 minutes in total. 0 starts, 2 sub appearances.
I didn't like starting Walker and Dembele in Russia at all. The Europa group we're in is as easy as we'll ever see. There's no excuse for burning out starters who will be needed on the weekend. We could have played Fryers and Naughton at RB, and a number of different players instead of Dembele. Fair to say that teams that win things have starters who are able to play twice a week, but they shouldn't do it if they don't need to, and they don't need to now. Honestly, it seems AVB lacks a little nerve about this. We can play the weakest eligible players on our squad and have no trouble getting through the group.
