Quick stats to make a point I think we all already knew: Games with Tettey: Played 11 Scored 12 Conceded 9 Games without Tettey Played 9 Scored 11 Conceded 20 (I am cheating a little because I'm not counting the Liverpool match where he only played the last eight minutes or so...)
I think there would be other factors in there too, not least that the nature of opposition in the games; in lots of these games we haven't done so well without him the opposition has usually played very well too. But yes, he is an important player for us and it would be good to have him back ASAP.
I'd also say our defence has been a lot more settled in previous games take tonight for an example we had no Garrido, Turner, Ryan Bennett or Whittaker.
Barnett was criminal in the 4th goal. Please lets hope that Garrido doesnt get injured as Tierney is pretty dire atm. Positives: Morison scoring, Whittaker Turner Garrido Tettey Hoolahan to return, its not the league and villa can still get relegated (remember birmingham?)
to be fair rob, you could include the liverpool match because in the 8 minutes he was on the field, we won 1-0 he is probably, along with bassong, hoolahan, holt and ruddy, our most important part of our team. interesting that three of them were missing last night...
Don't forget in all of this that we had a good number of chances, two really big opportunities, to score at 1-1 before the last 10 minutes of pain that could have changed both sets of players' mindsets so even the "squad team" put out last night probably should have won. Also, the subs were too little too late for me - for example, everyone in the Jarrold could see that Pilks was just not running like he should and can for a lot of the second half.
It also would be interesting to see the stats about goals conceded when Leon and Rusty have been playing - they were certainly involved in each of our 5-0, 5-2 and two 4-1 hidings. I hope Whittaker is back on Saturday because (despite me having unqualified doubts about him in the summer) he has been excellent and as much as it pains me to say it because I love the bloke, I fear Rusty is going to be a potential weak link this season as long as he plays at right-back.
Have you been earwigging on my conversations????? Just had exactly the same discussion with a fellow fan - Rusty at CB is OK, but not at RB!!
I might have been..... can't believe what you just said about Dave behind his back though, shocking language that
i don't think its a coincidence that every time barnett plays we let in lots of goals. martin is a good player but whittaker is much better - agree about martin at centre back but we should have turner and r.bennett back this weekend
Tettey is genuinely a quality player, nice and easy passing, great running with the ball, he is someone nobody else in the squad who can compete with that skillset. Fox can do the nice passing, Johnson can do the hardwork but neither do both nor have fantastic acceleration and mobility and run with the ball as well. He was bang on the type of player needed and an absolute bargain. I think if neither he or Bassong were here we'd be where Reading are, they have genuinely improved the team massively.
Good news he is back in sat vs Wigan by the looks of it Can we have another one like him in January please mr Chester
