It’s not looking good - after 62 minutes Stoke are 3-0 up! Only 6 usual first teamers are in the side due to international duty, but you would think Ayling, Bamford, Douglas, Harrison, Hernandez, Costa and Casilla should be doing a bit better?
posted on 1/9/20
Very true Shaun.. but when your sparring you could get hurt, putting you in a poor physical shape... not able to train the next day etc etc .. . I doubt very much the score was noticed that much, do we know which players played where, who got switched etc etc .. because if there was shifting about I reckon Bielsa was trying stuff out... even had your right arm behind your back when on the pads?.. helps to arrow you’re jab mate..
I actually fancy costa to do well this year.. just a punt though!.. I’d just be very wary of changing too much .. quality over quantity
posted on 1/9/20
Shaun, why do you always bring boxers into it?..
Boxing is one man against another, they don't have a arm or leg sent of to fight another fight when they're fighting, we played today with how many of the first team out?..
If our first team had been there I don't think the scoreline would have ended as it did!..
"Costa, Harrison, Douglas, Roberts, Forshaw, Bamford could be benched for better players. Not saying we should, but I didn't rate Costa for 90% of last season and Harrison and Roberts weren't much better in terms of goals and assists which is what they are measured on."
Its good the players you always have a shot at were good enough to get us where we now are, just think, if they'd been at Brentford we might be where Brentford now are!..
"Costa, Harrison, Douglas, Roberts, Forshaw, Bamford"
Hopefully we'll have a 3rd in to place some of them you've mentioned on the bench, but it seems you want the club to do exactly what Lowfields does, another Ridsdale!..
posted on 1/9/20
For what it's worth, we always seem to do badly right before we start playing after a prolonged break. Both pre-seasons we have had under Bielsa have seen indifferent performances, and we looked sluggish against Cardiff after the restart.
Reckon it just takes time to get back up to the intensity levels he demands after a break, which is why playing friendlies is important.
posted on 1/9/20
Costa, Harrison,Klich, Dallas,Casilla plus Ben White replacement.
posted on 1/9/20
Lowfields, you missed out Bamford!..
posted on 2/9/20
Lowfields.. partly agree in truth.. those players could / should be benched or squad players.. you’re missing the point though.. replacing every player in one foul swoop won’t do is any favours!
Let’s keep the continuity, by adding 2 or 3 quality players at a time!.. that way you see who steps up.
You want to replace costa now? .. what if he hits the improvement curve like KP has?.. we’d of missed out.
posted on 2/9/20
the sparring analogy is quite apt - boxers spa for a variety of different reasons, are often working on one particular thing and may be sparring at the end of a long training session.
I agree that getting a hammering even in a friendly can be bad for confidence - but the guys may have been instructed to work on a particular move or formation - they may have had a murderball session the day before, it may have been used entirely as a fitness work out.
Too many intangibles. Nothing to worry about
... he says with his fingers crossed
posted on 2/9/20
Totally agree big milks..
Davis started as CB, who is LB.. tells me Bielsa is checking his hands are the perfect guard position for when he's needed to cover up
posted on 2/9/20
Actually quite like Bamford.
posted on 2/9/20
don't worry guys n' girls bielsa knows what he is doing, is going to relish pitting his wits against some top managers