The Squad

[vkn17]

We seemed to do alright last night didn't we?

Does this show that the fitness stuff and lack of rotation stuff was a load of rubbish? We've gone to a ground in mid-week, unchaged from the previous game and we've won 4-1, playing excellent football.

The players weren't rotated and they weren't tired. Shock horror they were capable of playing a game 3 days after playing another one!

Last night doesn't prove anything. The fact is that we have had a horrendous dip in form over the past 2 months, most likely because of lack of rotation and tiredness. Winning 2 games in a row with the same team doesn't really change anything. If fitness issues were rubbish, I could argue that we would have never gone on a bad run.

 

[The Moonlit Knight]

Last night doesn't prove anything. The fact is that we have had a horrendous dip in form over the past 2 months, most likely because of lack of rotation and tiredness. Winning 2 games in a row with the same team doesn't really change anything. If fitness issues were rubbish, I could argue that we would have never gone on a bad run.

In terms of performances, intensity of our play, the amount of possession we had, the distances the players would cover each match etc. Nothing changed during that bad run of results, other than the results. Tiredness is not an excuse we can use.

 

[The Moonlit Knight]

We seemed to do alright last night didn't we?

Does this show that the fitness stuff and lack of rotation stuff was a load of rubbish? We've gone to a ground in mid-week, unchaged from the previous game and we've won 4-1, playing excellent football.

The players weren't rotated and they weren't tired. Shock horror they were capable of playing a game 3 days after playing another one!

I'd be interested in knowing how much Saudi Sportswashing Machine have rotated this season too.

 

[Gazza Dazzla]

In terms of performances, intensity of our play, the amount of possession we had, the distances the players would cover each match etc. Nothing changed during that bad run of results, other than the results. Tiredness is not an excuse we can use.

Didn't Harry say himself that the distance covered stats were not as good, he mentioned that the players just aren't running as much as before, but it was nothing to do with tiredness.

 

[vkn17]

In terms of performances, intensity of our play, the amount of possession we had, the distances the players would cover each match etc. Nothing changed during that bad run of results, other than the results. Tiredness is not an excuse we can use.

Disagree. I think that we haven't moved the ball nowhere near as fast as we have in the first part of the season. Last night was the first time in ages that I have seen Lennon make a run and receive the ball while moving, which is what makes him deadly. I can not understand why he doesn't to this more often. And when he gets 2 defenders on him, the same play should be switched to the left and Bale.

 

[The Moonlit Knight]

Didn't Harry say himself that the distance covered stats were not as good, he mentioned that the players just aren't running as much as before, but it was nothing to do with tiredness.

Not that I am aware of, and the stats I have certainly don't show that either.

 

[The Moonlit Knight]

Disagree. I think that we haven't moved the ball nowhere near as fast as we have in the first part of the season. Last night was the first time in ages that I have seen Lennon make a run and receive the ball while moving, which is what makes him deadly. I can not understand why he doesn't to this more often. And when he gets 2 defenders on him, the same play should be switched to the left and Bale.

It's funny because we were winning I don't think people noticed or cared. One of the things I loved about us this season, including the first half of the season, is how patient we were. We score most of our goals between 61st and 75th minute, and in the first half of the season quite often we were just keeping the ball moving on the deck, not really going anywhere and then the opposition would get tired chasing shadows and bang we'd hit them hard. Other than when we counter, I've never really thought we've played at a high tempo this season at any point really.

 

[Gazza Dazzla]

Not that I am aware of, and the stats I have certainly don't show that either.

Page 5 of this thread:

""No players have ever come to me and said: 'Gaffer I feel tired'," he said. "If they said that then I would have left them out. Some of their stats have gone down but that's because they have not wanted to run about enough, it's not because they are particularly knackered."

 

[metalgear]

Last night doesn't prove anything. The fact is that we have had a horrendous dip in form over the past 2 months, most likely because of lack of rotation and tiredness. Winning 2 games in a row with the same team doesn't really change anything. If fitness issues were rubbish, I could argue that we would have never gone on a bad run.

you could say the same about the dip in form.
there are several ways to view our performance, i'll make my assessment across the 38-games over the entire season, to try to even out the good and bad anomalies.

 

[vkn17]

you could say the same about the dip in form.
there are several ways to view our performance, i'll make my assessment across the 38-games over the entire season, to try to even out the good and bad anomalies.

Who says that we would have had a dip in form had we rotated our squad? I mean, we probably would have but I'm fairly sure that it wouldn't have lasted for 2 months.
Either way, everything will be forgiven if we finish in top 4 and lessons from this season are learned (which I doubt).

 

[spurspinter1]

You can generally tell how good a player is by the clubs that would be interested if the player was available for transfer.

 

[metalgear]

It's funny because we were winning I don't think people noticed or cared. One of the things I loved about us this season, including the first half of the season, is how patient we were. We score most of our goals between 61st and 75th minute, and in the first half of the season quite often we were just keeping the ball moving on the deck, not really going anywhere and then the opposition would get tired chasing shadows and bang we'd hit them hard. Other than when we counter, I've never really thought we've played at a high tempo this season at any point really.

still it got us this far. but i understand your point.

in my view, harry has shifted alot of resources to the midfield. he may have over-strengthened the midfield, leaving us with little in attack.
- with modric and parker, i don't see the need for VDV to track back for instance. keep him fresh to support ade.


And there's a lot of inefficiencies to question:
- bale going to the centre doesn't do anything because he still hasn't fool the defence with his running.
BAE takes a lot for the team when that happens.
- walker pushing up when lennon is there is another area of overlap...if lennon's out, walker attacking and corluka defending might have worked better

Harry got what he wanted - a strong midfield... but my assessment is that he failed to find the synergies that a good coach does... when a team plays better than the sum of the invidivuals. that's how big teams dominate consistently - to the opposition its like they always have that extra man.

 

[BrainOfLevy]

Last night doesn't prove anything. The fact is that we have had a horrendous dip in form over the past 2 months, most likely because of lack of rotation and tiredness. Winning 2 games in a row with the same team doesn't really change anything. If fitness issues were rubbish, I could argue that we would have never gone on a bad run.

Most likely due to injuries, a lack of confidence, and speculation that our manager was due to leave the players behind undermining the confidence in him.

I fail to see how we can be somehow tired in mid-season, yet those same players that apparently were poor because they'd always been picked when fit (Walker, Kaboul, Bale, Modric, Ade) have now given very good performances in some of the last 2 games, when they haven't been rotated, have continued to always be picked...and it's later in the season.

The tiredness issue is an excuse, is something people easily jump to so they can rationalise something. When we played Chelsea at their place, they were apparently tired. Then they have 3 massive games in the space of 6 days with us and Barcelona, and win them all. They are somehow not tired then. Then last night they lose to Saudi Sportswashing Machine and I've read some reports that they were tired again. Or the fact that when Barcelona lost to Madrid they were apparently more tired than Real, but then when Madrid lose to Bayern on pens some reports say they 'looked tired'. It's so, so stupid.

Maybe when teams lose games it's because they weren't that good? Maybe they were outclassed tactically? Maybe their confidence was low? Maybe they were off form? Tiredness as an excuse just does not make sense when teams fluctuate with good to bad results with no correlation to what time of the season it is.

Form and confidence have way bigger effects. MK made an excellent post on it yesterday. At the top level, these guys are all hyper competitive, highly motivated and well prepared by their elite coaching teams. It's confidence which is intangible, can't really be prepared for and can't just be 'given' to a player. It comes from success, and it breeds a state of mind where good play flows naturally.

 

[thfcsteff]

No-one has mentioned o e of the mos significant facts about last night; our wide men stayed wide for far more of the match, and stayed on their respective sides of the pitch fir far longer thannusual. It meant we could break quickly and effectively... Also felt that breaking fast without Parker saw quicker, more decisive attacks...

 

[The Moonlit Knight]

No-one has mentioned o e of the mos significant facts about last night; our wide men stayed wide for far more of the match, and stayed on their respective sides of the pitch fir far longer thannusual. It meant we could break quickly and effectively... Also felt that breaking fast without Parker saw quicker, more decisive attacks...

Lennon stayed wide, Bale drifted still. We were breaking that fast at the beginning of the season too, with Parker in the side. Therefore the logical conclusion would be that we've really missed Lennon....

 

[parklane1]

We seemed to do alright last night didn't we?

Does this show that the fitness stuff and lack of rotation stuff was a load of rubbish? We've gone to a ground in mid-week, unchaged from the previous game and we've won 4-1, playing excellent football.

The players weren't rotated and they weren't tired. Shock horror they were capable of playing a game 3 days after playing another one!

I have never really believed our poor form was down to Redknapp not rotating, playing round pegs in square holes, poor tactics were more the reason.

No-one has mentioned o e of the mos significant facts about last night; our wide men stayed wide for far more of the match, and stayed on their respective sides of the pitch fir far longer thannusual. It meant we could break quickly and effectively... Also felt that breaking fast without Parker saw quicker, more decisive attacks...

It is so simple if we play to our strengths, Redknapp lost that plan for some reason during our poor run.

 

[glorygloryeze]

Our players out on loan or on fringes - keep or sell?

Bassong - I say sell (shame really, he's a good player but now his confident seems to be shot and I can't see him getting that back under HR with the lack of a reserve league)
Jenas - keep (at least until we sign a midfield who has some good direct pace) 8-[
Pienaar - sell, if we buy Remy; otherwise I'd keep
Corluka - sell if we recall Naughton or recruit another right-back
Caulker - Keep
Dos Santos - sell, for the sake of his own career
Bentley - keep, if HR is prepared to give him a chance and if he is prepared to knuckle down and fight for his place. His crossing abilty from deep is very useful
Krancjar - sell; like Bassong if he isn't playing games he gets far too ring rusty
Khumalo - ???? What's going on with him???
Townsend - keep

Thoughts?

(Have I missed anyone out??)

 

[liquid_football]

This is assuming we make the CL

Bassong - keep,he showed real promise,but needs games
Jenas - Sell,we will have Huddlestone for the next season who is much better and Livermore is also very good
Pienaar - Sell,I d rather keep Kranjcar who is more direct which is what we need more IMO
Corluka - Keep,but I m afraid he is already gone
Caulker - Keep
Dos Santos - Sell,Harry was never gonna give him a chance anyway
Bentley - If we buy someone who can play RM,then sell
Krancjar - Keep,he offers a direct goal threat from midfield,only matched by VdV
Khumalo - Sell,he was never gonna make it
Townsend - Keep,let him play CC/FA cup matches

 

[Gutter Boy]

Sell

Defoe
Gio
Jenas
Bentley
Bassong
Pienaar
Gomes
Khumalo

Keep the rest (may be easier said than done with the two Croatians).

 

[Gutter Boy]

Also we have 4 players out of contract now who are presumably not being renewed (Cudicini, Nelson, Saha and King).