Got nothing to do with being a new manager. Every manager plays ALL of his squad every pre season, its only for the very final game or two you'd see them start the strongest XI.....
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* Official Pre-Season Games Thread *
- Thread starter AberYid
- Start date
Got nothing to do with being a new manager. Every manager plays ALL of his squad every pre season, its only for the very final game or two you'd see them start the strongest XI.....
Armchair Expert
Vedran Corluka
Do you think AVB should automatically shut out all the players redknapp didnt fancy? what would be the point in changing the manager?
He's obviously going to have to look at his squad. We've only had three pre season friendlies. As well as deciding the first 11 he needs to know who can be relied on to come in off the bench. What if Parker and Sandro are injured for Saudi Sportswashing Machine? How could he judge the back up if he's never seen them play?!
What do you mean it was a meaningless friendly? Arent all friendly's meaningless? The 'past' started about a month ago when AVB took over. All players have to be given a chance to impress, they all pick up wages from the club after all.
There was a lot of money invested in Jenas, Bentley, Dos Santos, Bassong etc. If we can resuscitate a couple of careers and get a couple of solid squad members out of it im all for it.
I'd rather see Bentley play in the Europa League than Frankie Fredericks or whatever his name was. I think we'l take the Europa League seriously this year, dont forget under Harry we only really competed in the league. These players who have been previously frozen out may well find themselves with roles to play this year.
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The good thing about these friendlies is that it feels like Townsend and Carroll have been really staking a claim for first team squad places this year. Huddlestone has also impressed in the last two matches. Carroll and Hudd make the midfield situation a lot less pressing and maybe Townsend can mean we need one less back-up to Lennon and Bale.
The Moonlit Knight
Banned
Neither of those are anywhere near Premiership quality IMHO. And Townsend is already 21!
I
indianspur
Guest
id rather we gave Carroll a chance than persist with Jenas, and Townsend is very decent back up for Bale. He just needs the manager to believe in him and to have his pace on the bench could be quite handy
The Moonlit Knight
Banned
We'll have to agree to disagree. IMHO Townsend will end up in the Championship or League One. Carroll will do the same, but more likely League One.
Gazza Dazzla
Chris Perry
Not saying your wrong, I haven't seen enough of either, but I remember constantly arguing with people on here re Hudd when they were saying the same about him back in the day. As it turned out he was/is an integral part of a top 4 side.
Mumorn
Vic Buckingham
I think the next 2 weeks are the some of the biggest in our history.
We want to continue moving towards the best things in world football, yet at the moment it doesn't really look like we're moving forward. We're adopting tactics and some sort of philosophy these players have probably rarely played. We still have the likes of Jenas, Bentley etc. around the team and well at the moment no signs of transfers imminent (although usually the best are out of the blue)
Bringing in Lloris next week, is it really what we want? We have 3 capable goalkeepers already when it's central midfield and most importantly up top what we need most. Come on Spurs
We want to continue moving towards the best things in world football, yet at the moment it doesn't really look like we're moving forward. We're adopting tactics and some sort of philosophy these players have probably rarely played. We still have the likes of Jenas, Bentley etc. around the team and well at the moment no signs of transfers imminent (although usually the best are out of the blue)
Bringing in Lloris next week, is it really what we want? We have 3 capable goalkeepers already when it's central midfield and most importantly up top what we need most. Come on Spurs
The Moonlit Knight
Banned
I disagree with that too. Huddlestone has become a decent player (certainly better than I thought he'd end up) but I don't think he was integral to that side.
jts1882
Dean Richards
He started 33 league games, more than any other player in 2009-10.
edgey-the-yid
Gheorge Popescu
A friend of mine is a Birmingham fan and reckons Townsend was great for them on loan last season and he hoped they could make a perminent move for him. Yes its championship but look at Walker... Good season in championship on loan and and a fantastic follow up season in the prem.
Mumorn
Vic Buckingham
Not forgetting Walker had an impressive loan with Aston Villa too
People who are complaing about Jenas/Bentley/Bassong playing are missing the point
- The manager should fairly evaluate the full squad, it helps players believe effort/performance will be rewarded
- The squad is not that big, and we don't need to overplay the important players, hence I expect in a wierd sort of way some of the fringe players will get more time e.g. JJ just seems to be the workhorse, I would read anything into it re squad for real games.
Townsend tried very hard in awful heat, tried to go at his man repeatedly, unfortunately Pool pushed/tripped him in dangerous positions and the ref lept making no calls. He should have earned quite a few free kicks. He was also less effective due to nobody making runs into the box to give him a target.
- The manager should fairly evaluate the full squad, it helps players believe effort/performance will be rewarded
- The squad is not that big, and we don't need to overplay the important players, hence I expect in a wierd sort of way some of the fringe players will get more time e.g. JJ just seems to be the workhorse, I would read anything into it re squad for real games.
Townsend tried very hard in awful heat, tried to go at his man repeatedly, unfortunately Pool pushed/tripped him in dangerous positions and the ref lept making no calls. He should have earned quite a few free kicks. He was also less effective due to nobody making runs into the box to give him a target.
braineclipse
Willie Hall
I think some people are too quick to write off some of our youngsters just because they won't become the next Messi or Rooney.
Plenty of players that haven't been established PL players at 20-21 that ended up being cracking players anyway. We have seemingly been focusing on bringing up more technical players through our ranks instead of focusing on the physical side as much. Only natural that it will take someone like Tom Carroll or Andros Townsend longer to get games for us in the PL considering that they are fairly small players. Especially Tom Carroll.
Another point is that we're quite a lot better now than when for example Lennon and Huddlestone got games at an early age. Lennon back then got games because Wayne Routledge got injured, imagine if he had to compete with a 23-25 year old version of himself, or if he like Townsend was a left footer and had to compete with Bale. In central midfield it's the same story pretty much.
Plenty of players that haven't been established PL players at 20-21 that ended up being cracking players anyway. We have seemingly been focusing on bringing up more technical players through our ranks instead of focusing on the physical side as much. Only natural that it will take someone like Tom Carroll or Andros Townsend longer to get games for us in the PL considering that they are fairly small players. Especially Tom Carroll.
Another point is that we're quite a lot better now than when for example Lennon and Huddlestone got games at an early age. Lennon back then got games because Wayne Routledge got injured, imagine if he had to compete with a 23-25 year old version of himself, or if he like Townsend was a left footer and had to compete with Bale. In central midfield it's the same story pretty much.
braineclipse
Willie Hall
I don't think people are complaining that they were playing, more venting their frustration and hoping that come September 1st they might be playing somewhere else.
I also think Townsend showed some promise, yet again. I've said it before, but as a winger being quick, having a good cross and being two footed goes a long way. He's a decent dribbler as well.
The Moonlit Knight
Banned
I'm a great believer that all Premiership players are good but that very few are exceptional or "integral" to a teams success. You can stick certain players in a title contending team and the team would still contend for the title. But if those players were in a relegation battling side, that team would still be battling relegation.