Valencia are going through a tough time with a new manager and the old one really missed by the players. Spanish football is another world with bizarre payments to top clubs and bugger all to everyone else. Barca and Real look to be self destructing with their ludicrous expectations and spending and Atletico rising because of great management and buying decisions. I have long asked for the Atletico scouts to be bought by Chelsea. So Valencia. Very big game( again ) for Franks' young team. We will not be given any mercy if we sleepwalk the second half this game, so a big test for the mental strength of the young players and the collective team. Hope we don't go in overconfident, because no CL game is ever easy. Focused, committed, determined and adventurous should see a win. Expect no changes or maybe Pulisic for Willian, though I'd play Willian.
If we have Rudiger and Kante back with the rest of the team at Wolves I'm confident of a positive result.
Tough game for our fledgling team, and in the end we were just not good enough to go and win it. Not that Valencia were any better than us, they just stuck to the plan and scored a very well rehearsed goal, while we kept "just missing". That said, Barkley showed once again why he should never pull on our shirt. What a second rate, big headed dope he is.He just cannot ever contribute to the betterment of our play and too often stuffs things up, just as he did this time. Jorghino, Willian or Barkley as penalty taker?? Absolutely no contest. Where was the Captain during this discussion ?? Play anyone against Liverpool but please not Barkley.
With Mounts injury you know he’ll be there. The game against Liverpool is already over I fear and subsequently 10 points for my fantasy team!
Mental strength is not there yet, especially without Rudi and Kante Where was Dave when penalty argument occurred?
Interesting points esp Dave I get a sense of deja vu this is the league cup final all over again; if there is a problem to sort out on the pitch it must surely fall to the captain to adjudicate, not to hide and allow Barkley to elbow Jorginho out of the way......shambles, sort it out skipper.
I think this is where the British sense of what a captain should do is different to what Dave thinks it is. We believe a captain should lead. For most other countries that captain is simply the most experienced player and leaders on the field do their part. Perhaps he thinks it isn’t his job.
Dave is an absolute wet fart as a captain. Never thought I would say this, but give it to Jorginho imo.
Shouldn’t be open to interpretation; coach can’t wander on to the paddock and start issuing orders - it is precisely why one of the team is given the armband as a mark of authority, moreover it’s up to the coach to clear up any ambiguity on the role of the skipper so the team are left in no doubt who kicks butt. If on the evidence Dave is reluctant to show leadership, then perhaps it’s time to pass the baton to someone else.
