As you will all know, as the criticism of Gallagher rained down, I popped my head above the trenches and said he was a good player being used completely wrong. I even quoted a Chelsea fan who said he needed to play as a 10 who leads the press, he said it is the only way to use him to his full potential.
This was quite obviously correct.
So why did the likes of Frank and Tudor do everything but, when Frank put him wide right, I simply could not believe the sheer stupidity. How could any professional manager think this was a good idea?
Was he too scared to replace a creative player in Simon's at number 10 with a functional one, who better suited the team and situation. If so, that is terrible.and shows the gutless man he may be.
In January, I also said I would make Gallagher our Captain. This was simply because he was the only Captain material we had as he had Captained both Crystal Palace and Chelsea and it burns me that either Romero or VDV wear the armbands after their attitude this season (VDV since this season, I never thought Romero was Captain material).
On a side note, I also stated Tel will go on to be a really good player, I wasn't sure it would be with us, due to complete mismanagement, but now I'm hopeful it will be with us.
Stupidity of Managers!
posted 6 days, 9 hours ago
comment by Bored As Fudge Again (U21998)
posted 1 second ago
comment by Blackpolespur (U9242)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by Bored As Fudge Again (U21998)
posted 15 minutes ago
comment by Blackpolespur (U9242)
posted 1 minute ago
Xavi was playing left with Gallagher as 10 when Xavi was fit
So yeah….he was playing there anyway
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Nope, Gallagher more withdrawn and Xavi floating inside, so Gallagher could not lead the press.
Where people stand at the kickoff isn't representative of where they are actually playing in real time. You need to watch the game to know that.
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Not sure it needed such a condescending reply ….i watch every game thanks
Just my take
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Wasn't meant to be condescending, just saying line up doesn't equal position or tactics.
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Me knows
posted 6 days, 9 hours ago
comment by Luka "The List" Brasi (U22178)
posted 25 minutes ago
comment by Spurtle (U1608)
posted 10 minutes ago
Would he have still played yesterday were it not for Xavi's injury?
Makes me question whether Xavi's injury has been a blessing in disguise.
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Out ball retention improved alot yesturday. The whole thing about needing a creative 10 was dismantled yesturday by the system. When everyone understands the system you don't need one player to be the creative spark. The system will create chances.
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Gallagher was more of what we needed yesterday, I agree.
Xavi is making progress but for all his good moments he has in matches, he is equally guilty of those really poor moments, the sorts of things Gallagher did very well yesterday.
posted 6 days, 9 hours ago
Don’t think I’m going ott but Gallaghers display was individually probably the best from any player all season
posted 6 days, 9 hours ago
comment by Blackpolespur (U9242)
posted 7 minutes ago
Don’t think I’m going ott but Gallaghers display was individually probably the best from any player all season
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Agreed
posted 6 days, 9 hours ago
comment by Blackpolespur (U9242)
posted 10 minutes ago
Don’t think I’m going ott but Gallaghers display was individually probably the best from any player all season
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It's the most promising aspect of the performance. The guy got panned recently for his failure to close down for the Sunderland goal. Last night however we got the player we thought and hoped we were signing. The fact we have a manager who rates him highly and already saw this capability in him means he should now be integral to our play for the next games.
I actually can't see us not winning our 2 home games with a repeat of that performance.
posted 6 days, 7 hours ago
De Zerbi has had a massive impact on this group of players. They are playing with belief, passion, aggression and desire, they look fitter and sharper than we’ve seen for a long time. He has elevated everything at the club, mentality and football wise, within a few weeks of arriving. Im really impressed and if we had just done the smart thing and made him the offer he couldn’t refuse when we sacked Frank rather than taking the ludicrous Tudor gamble then we’d be home and hosed safety wise by now.
It does feel a bit like the injuries to Xavi and Solanke have benefited us in a way as Gallagher and Richi are the better options in our current predicament. But it doesn’t feel right to think that way given the seriousness of the injuries, particularly to Xavi. Shame they aren’t just knocks.
posted 6 days, 7 hours ago
comment by Ace (U14461)
posted 2 minutes ago
De Zerbi has had a massive impact on this group of players. They are playing with belief, passion, aggression and desire, they look fitter and sharper than we’ve seen for a long time. He has elevated everything at the club, mentality and football wise, within a few weeks of arriving. Im really impressed and if we had just done the smart thing and made him the offer he couldn’t refuse when we sacked Frank rather than taking the ludicrous Tudor gamble then we’d be home and hosed safety wise by now.
It does feel a bit like the injuries to Xavi and Solanke have benefited us in a way as Gallagher and Richi are the better options in our current predicament. But it doesn’t feel right to think that way given the seriousness of the injuries, particularly to Xavi. Shame they aren’t just knocks.
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Xavi is now not a consideration for next year. Will the faithful accept Gallagher in the role he played yesterday as a starter all next season?
It would probably mean Madders having to move to the left or more scandalous, play each in the games that suit the and the team. Fergie used to do with a Korean player, I think for the really important games.
I think, there are people on here (who are perfectly allowed their opinions) who would lose their poo if a fit Madders was on the bench with Gallagher playing in the 10.
posted 6 days, 7 hours ago
comment by Bored As Fudge Again (U21998)
posted 3 hours, 9 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 3 minutes ago
We bought him for Frank....but not to play at 10 where we already have 2 in the squad.
We bought him for a battle and he had shown that that was a good thing, although it has taken all this time for him to look energised and fit enough to do it.
Top performance from him. Still not sure hes the future. Hes ideal for the situation we're in and will be a decent squad player in a team that's hopefully aiming a lot higher in future.
Technically hes a little.bit behind some and that showed at times yesterday
..although his goal was great tekkers
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The composition of a good team relays on different players of different styles and attributes. You cannot have 11 ball playing Hoddle wannabes all over the shop. That is where this club has gone wrong.
If I'm understanding your logic correctly, you wouldn't want Roy Keane in the team (I'm not comparing Gallagher to Keane) as he wouldn't suit the technical ball playing you desire.
As much as you don't like it, every team needs a water carrier, as a certain french genius snob once denounced
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No. In a midfield that is pretty short on passing and technical ability, I dont think Gallagher is the answer and if his best position is 10 is he really going to play there when we have Madders Deki and Xavi fit
Keane was a 6 who could drive forward from deeper. Gallagher is not that, although that seems to be what was in the mind of Frank/Lange in buying him.
If you think back to pre season Sarr was very good at 10, leading the press, unlimited energy strong running. He could do the Gallagher job too, albeit that may be his personality is not quite so "British Bulldog spirit"
With Sarr and Paulinha already there (2 water carriers) i just didn't think Gallagher was needed, you can see the class of Bentancur since hes come back, technically very smooth. It was his injury that prompted the Gallagher buy but they are very different players.
Looking forward, a RDZ squad will need to be quite large as we will play that high energy game. So I would see Gallagher being important in that but not necessarily a starter most weeks if we have Madders or Deki to chose from, Xavi later in the year.
posted 6 days, 7 hours ago
comment by Bored As Fudge Again (U21998)
posted 39 minutes ago
comment by Ace (U14461)
posted 2 minutes ago
De Zerbi has had a massive impact on this group of players. They are playing with belief, passion, aggression and desire, they look fitter and sharper than we’ve seen for a long time. He has elevated everything at the club, mentality and football wise, within a few weeks of arriving. Im really impressed and if we had just done the smart thing and made him the offer he couldn’t refuse when we sacked Frank rather than taking the ludicrous Tudor gamble then we’d be home and hosed safety wise by now.
It does feel a bit like the injuries to Xavi and Solanke have benefited us in a way as Gallagher and Richi are the better options in our current predicament. But it doesn’t feel right to think that way given the seriousness of the injuries, particularly to Xavi. Shame they aren’t just knocks.
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Xavi is now not a consideration for next year. Will the faithful accept Gallagher in the role he played yesterday as a starter all next season?
It would probably mean Madders having to move to the left or more scandalous, play each in the games that suit the and the team. Fergie used to do with a Korean player, I think for the really important games.
I think, there are people on here (who are perfectly allowed their opinions) who would lose their poo if a fit Madders was on the bench with Gallagher playing in the 10.
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Think you summed it up….play in the game / positions each game dictates
Nice problem to have and one we wanted but never got this season
posted 6 days, 5 hours ago
comment by Bored As Fudge Again (U21998)
posted 1 hour, 58 minutes ago
comment by Ace (U14461)
posted 2 minutes ago
De Zerbi has had a massive impact on this group of players. They are playing with belief, passion, aggression and desire, they look fitter and sharper than we’ve seen for a long time. He has elevated everything at the club, mentality and football wise, within a few weeks of arriving. Im really impressed and if we had just done the smart thing and made him the offer he couldn’t refuse when we sacked Frank rather than taking the ludicrous Tudor gamble then we’d be home and hosed safety wise by now.
It does feel a bit like the injuries to Xavi and Solanke have benefited us in a way as Gallagher and Richi are the better options in our current predicament. But it doesn’t feel right to think that way given the seriousness of the injuries, particularly to Xavi. Shame they aren’t just knocks.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Xavi is now not a consideration for next year. Will the faithful accept Gallagher in the role he played yesterday as a starter all next season?
It would probably mean Madders having to move to the left or more scandalous, play each in the games that suit the and the team. Fergie used to do with a Korean player, I think for the really important games.
I think, there are people on here (who are perfectly allowed their opinions) who would lose their poo if a fit Madders was on the bench with Gallagher playing in the 10.
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The balance is far from perfect at the moment but if you add Kudus and a quality left attacker then we have creativity even with Gallagher at 10.
But I think the problem will more often be playing vs a deep sitting defence. Gallagher is not ideal for that so fans will be shocked if we have him "pulling the strings" vs an Ipswich with 11 behind the ball. That's where a Madders Deki or Xavi will need to be involved.
In most situations I'd see him more as a finisher, lastv20 minutes, high energy, see out games as opposed to his role yesterday.
He's ours now so if we stay up he's staying so I'd expect him to be an important squad player