Not good news!

comment by LIW Radchancer (U8453)
posted 8 minutes ago
bamford was nowhere near fit, when he came on
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He came through 90 mins for the U23's unscathed he was fit enough to cope with the rigours of that, we all know that you can train and train but it isn't like playing in a proper match, there's always a risk that what looks good enough in training will not prove to be so in real life match conditions.
Half an hour give or take a few minutes was always the plan with an aim of getting back to full fitness, it is unrealistic to expect anybody to come back fully match fit, he just needed to make sure he didn't do anything stupid.

he could barely run, miles short of fitness

shouldnt have been on bench

Bielsa is very coy on transfers. Never says really much anything about them. Doesn't mean we aren't interested.

Really gutted about this news, I was pretty optimistic we would be mid table after recent results and performances, but we don’t have the squad for this. Especially as Phillips’ replacements are Forshaw who has been great but can’t rely on, Struijk who we need in defence and Koch who doesn’t seem close to a return at all.

Our record without Kalvin is awful and imagine the situation if Forshaw breaks down now. We have 16 points - need around 30-40 to stay up. That’s like 6 more wins and a few draws - we can do that, but it’s going to be tight.

Bielsa needs overruling. That's what a sporting director is there for. It works fine when everyone is fit and firing, but this season is a far cry from that. We have a low championship level bench and it's going to cost us.

comment by Shaun M - Everywhere you go, always take Raphinha with you! (U9955)
posted 7 minutes ago
Bielsa needs overruling. That's what a sporting director is there for. It works fine when everyone is fit and firing, but this season is a far cry from that. We have a low championship level bench and it's going to cost us.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Quite possibly.

But the blame is still with Bielsa.

Also a very risky game given Bielsa's past record.

Its also not what a sporting director is there for.

Didn't Bielsa say a few weeks ago that he was wrong about having a small squad and additions were needed?

comment by Lubo - Struijk of Genius (U14008)
posted 7 hours, 40 minutes ago
Its also not what a sporting director is there for.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The sporting director is responsible for the philosophy installed at a football club from top to bottom and is a link between the manager and chairman. So imo, one of his oversights should be squad depth and quality, he's not a scout anymore

"Bielsa needs overruling. That's what a sporting director is there for. It works fine when everyone is fit and firing, but this season is a far cry from that. We have a low championship level bench and it's going to cost us."

That's good to know Shaun, as far as I know the sporting director is there to work with the manager and do all he can for the manager, he's the link between the chairman and manager and that being the case its a very important job!..

He's not there to overrule the manager unless the manager has been given notice to leave!..

And this seasons problems have been injuries and the odd red here and there, funny but anyone looking in from the outside can see that, a shame that some on the inside can't!..