The fact that we are not in big trouble right now, may suggest that Ron dos ok with his selection. I think we looked pretty dangerous in the second half and I am happy with what Ron did last night. As FR picking Cafu and Lahm, there may well have been games when a coach decided to change things tactically. As Tom said, we're hardly comparing dropping the best RB in the world are we? I just don't understand why people are moaning about the RB selection when the result isn't a bad one and it was pretty clear why he did it. As for your other comment about us scoring at least another goal, purely speculative and so so easy to sit there and say so. You don't know that. We might not have. I can sit here and say that if Pelle hadnt fallen over the defenders leg (accidentally) from a brilliant Yoshida cross, he'd have scored and we'd have won the game with Maya assisting the winner - I wonder if people would have moaned then. It's all ifs and buts. People need to remember that Ron doesn't make his selection with the wonderful power of hindsight.
You don't need hindsight to tell you that Maya Yoshida, a left footed centre back, will be poor going forward when played at right back.
Missed my point entirely, in fact so wide of it! You, me, Ron everyone knows that! My point was that the hindsight is everyone saying afterwards he should have played the attacking RB and Ron makes his decision based on what he wants from the game and how he thinks it will play tactically. I still think it wasn't a "wrong" decision and safety first in a two-legged tie against a relatively unknown opponent who play direct physical football was not a bad tactic.
Pros and cons to both Cedric and Maya at RB: Cedric (appreciate that this is based on only a handful of games): Mobile, likes to get forward and put crosses in, but can be caught out with space behind him, and also hasn't got much strength to hold off powerful attackers. Maya: Good positionally in defence, and competent in the air, but doesn't like to get forward as much and isn't as mobile. Listen, nobody knew a great deal about Midtjylland (yes I did copy and paste it) before the game, other than their coach saying that they like to be compact, direct and use set pieces to their advantage. All that pointed to height being needed, so I can totally see why Maya played as well as Caulker and Jose. Sure, we can say that ironically we hit the ball long to Pelle very frequently in the second half, and that maybe a 3-5-2 system may have made more sense, but Koeman made an understandable team selection in my view, especially considering our frailties vs Everton and Newcastle. Obviously doesn't fancy Martina too much.
Given the username I'm becoming concerned for Maya's safety. Osvaldo probably used these very words as Jose lay on the ground in a pool of blood.
In fairness, I chose this name when I was excited about signing Osvaldo.. But in my mind it's now sort of a curse that anyone I name myself after on here will go on to be terrible
No qualms with playing a bigger man at RB; Soares can't start every game. Still would prefer getting another real RB in, however, even if just on loan...a bigger sort, similar to the dynamic we had with Clyne and Chambers.
