Izzy only had 3 weeks training before he came to us so he's now had 5 weeks, but as yet isnt playing in practice matches as his job is to get fully fit before playing with the team. Bamford and Izzy will be like 2 new players after Xmas, so dont know whats not to like, especially if we aint paying for Izzy until he plays a game for us.
He's training with the others,will take a while to get into the system like the others,and also getting used to being kicked etc again,it's been a serious injury.
We might get to keep him if we go up, he's not going to get in the Chelsea team is he? You really need some cheering up ffs, where are we meeting on Saturday?
Today I somehow managed to get in between the 2 dugouts & incredibly watched everyone else getting chucked out & forced over to the plebs side. I found myself standing beside an england scout. He seemed to be struggling to understand what was going on a bit, so I explained Plan A to him. Not that it helped a great deal - he gave up taking notes after about 80 mins. I asked him why & he replied "I'm confused". Asked what he was confused about, he replied "lots". And I understand him fully, as players were swopping positions all through the match. An example is the back 2/3 - we lined up with Halme & Pearce as our CBs, with Nessi 'being Phillips'. Then LB Davis got injured, so Diaz came on. Pearce moved to LB, Diaz became 'Phillips', & Nessi moved back to line up with Halme. 5-10 minutes later, Nessi had swopped with Diaz! Halme went off at half time, so Diaz dropped back & McCalmont started as Phillips. Then McCalmont got replaced by someone else (surprised I remembered this much!). Then Nessi got injured, so we were down to 10 men, as all subs used. So we ended up with Diaz & Pearce, I think. I say 'I think', as I'm not quite sure of the formation. On paper, it was a 3-3-3, but Diaz, as our only dedicated CB, was more like a CF at times. I kid you not! It's wasn't just moving up with the ball, it was headlong into the box for the return too, umpteen times. It actually was a bit more complicated than that, so it came as no surprise that the scout was bamboozled. I wasn't far behind, even though I know the system (-ish) & the players (-ish). A final comment - no instructions came from the dugout for all these changes, as far as I could see. A point to ponder. Have to say that Corberan was superbly entertaining. Muddling up names, speaking in Spanish & english, & often speaking so quickly, you had no idea what language he was speaking. Animated wasn't the word for him. It was truly comical, & I would not have been surprised if John Cleese had appeared & bashed him over the head with a drinks tray. As requested: Halme - only played the first half. Liked what I saw defensively. Didn't catch my eye offensively. Stevens - I have no idea what position he played in. I couldn't keep track. Very industrious on & off the ball & always available when not creating himself. He can't be that far away from breaking through, surely? Dalby - was striker in the first half, & LW second half when Edmondson came on to play up front. Didn't really do anything wrong, but didn't shine. Hadn't realised this until Edmondson came on in the second half & showed him how it should be done. Edmondson was immense & probably worked more in the second half than Dalby did in the whole match. Btw, not sure if anyone realises this, but Edmondson has got some turn of speed on him. His size screams out that he cant possibly be fast - but he is. And loads of stamina too. And deliciously fighty. I also think he's lost a good bit of weight since I last saw him at eye level in York. Clarke - I so hoped he'd get subbed. Really! But only because I wanted him to play tomorrow night! What a player! He & Edmondson really excite me. I think they're both ready. Hope they don't go stale waiting. Blackman - I have to mention him too, although not requested. Made a couple of decent saves, and managed to find a player with one kick out. Missed with all the others! (I may be exaggerating a little). His distribution was awful! He almost gave me heart failure a couple of times too. Thinks he's a bit of a dribbler. In his penalty box. Surrounded by opposition tackling him. He's done it before for the 1st team. He got lucky. Again. They could easily have scored. He really needs this knocked out of him. Was disappointed to find out that Struijk was injured. Think he's going to be a player too. Final comment - the 1st team watched the 2nd half, as did Bielsa. If you think Alioski has had some strange haircuts in the past, wait until you see this one. He seems to have found a use for Hilda Ogdens big curlers. You couldn't make it up! Can only hope he was doing it for a bet or charity.
Blackman - I have to mention him too, although not requested. Made a couple of decent saves, and managed to find a player with one kick out. Missed with all the others! (I may be exaggerating a little). His distribution was awful! He almost gave me heart failure a couple of times too. Thinks he's a bit of a dribbler. In his penalty box. Surrounded by opposition tackling him. He's done it before for the 1st team. He got lucky. Again. They could easily have scored. He really needs this knocked out of him. didn't you want to read all WJ's post elland ?
Early on he said it is normal in a squad to have 4 players injured at any one time. I think we have more at the moment.
Don't think that is the problem with Alioski, he is a good player against footballing sides but becomes a bit of a passenger and is very lightweight when played against big physical teams like Millwall imo.
Cheers mate, so its not just me who thinks we have some decent players coming through. Hossanah is still out injured and hes supposed to be the best right back at the club including Ayling? Halme Stevens, Gotts, Dalby Edmondson, Clarke, Pearce, Miazic, plus a couple of Spaniards
Is that what it is? I understand that he is over his injury but Bielsa wants him fit to play his style of football, he went on to say he hasn't trained in how we play (or words to that effect). I presumed he meant he had him on a like a preseason fitness regime. I could have misinterpreted what he said of course.
McCann on Wilks. Anyone needing translation let me know and I'll tell them to "feck off" too. https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/foo...ee-mallik-wilks-admits-grant-mccann-1-9353972
