A good point made by AVB

[Pringle]

In the match thread today most people were saying the problem was that we had no striker and were blaming Levy for this. As AVB said in his press conference though, the problem today wasnt missing loads of chances! I think Levy has been made to be the scapegoat for today by many but for me the blame must lie at the feet of AVB and the players. He picked the team and made the changes and they went out their and under performed.

I agree we do need a striker but today we were poor all over. Vertonghen alongside Caulker has been poor everytime they have played together and playing Naughton next to them alongside our reserve keepers seems a bit crazy to me.

 

[lillywhites61]

Agree with you mate, the fault of the result today lies squarely at the feet of team selection and poor performances, not AVB bashing as I have been totally behind him since day one but everyone makes mistakes and today I think he and the team had a bad day at the office

 

[Shanks]

I agree in essence, but it's not as black and white as that.

We had some decent chances today, we should easily have won with the chances we had compared the chances they had.

Our defence was poor, granted, however with better options in attack, that will always help the defence out.

So, for me, doesn't matter what team he picks, if Defoe wasn't available, we don't have a striker - it's that simple, and you are not going to win without a striker, unless you are Spain.

 

[Mr Pink]

That team was more than good enough to beat Leeds today. You can't legislate for individual mistakes like that, and as others have said the commitment wasn't good enough from us. Yes, you can argue Dawson would of been a better choice but bar that I'm not sure I agree at all, and I didn't hear anyone whingeing with the back four prior to the game - to the contrary most were pleased with the line up.

 

[Pimp_Spur]

Everyone but naughton is or has been a full established international player for their countries.

So for me it was not down to team selection but down to performances across the park being well below par and we suffered as a result

 

[Mattspur]

I think we played the same way we've played in most of our cup games this season. I've always backed AVB 100% as still do but there does seem to be a big problem in the way we approach cup games.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

I do not particularly see how it was poor team selection. If anything I felt that that team was too strong for this stage of a cup competition.

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

it's always easy in hindsight but the midfield triangle of Huddlestone, Parker and siguddson was poor. All very one paced and struggle to move the ball on quickly as well. Caught in possesion far to much and to often making the wrong choice. Ref was shite as well.

 

[chinaman]

AVB gets blamed for not rotating; and he gets blamed for resting some and playing a few 2nd stringers. Today proves we are indeed thin on talent in our squad.

 

[Pringle]

AVB gets blamed for not rotating; and he gets blamed for resting some and playing a few 2nd stringers. Today proves we are indeed thin on talent in our squad.

Disagree - we brought in our player of the season from last year in Scott Parker, a player who was on the fringe of the England squad before his injury (Hudd), a RB who has played in the prem for more than a year and when regularly against the likes of Leeds was voted the best RB in the division, an england international CB (Caulker), last seasons first choice keeper (Friedel) and a player who was superb last season in the prem (Sig). the team we had out should have performed far better than they did. On paper, we have an excellent squad bar our strikers.

 

[Pringle]

That team was more than good enough to beat Leeds today. You can't legislate for individual mistakes like that, and as others have said the commitment wasn't good enough from us. Yes, you can argue Dawson would of been a better choice but bar that I'm not sure I agree at all, and I didn't hear anyone whingeing with the back four prior to the game - to the contrary most were pleased with the line up.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing! Looking back though, it was clear out back 5 was the problem today and i have seen many post about the poor partnership of Caulker and Vertonghen this season - so to add in a player just back from a long term injury, another playing in a position he hasnt played in this season as well as a back up keeper - to me that is a recipe for disaster and so it proved as our back 4 were taken to the cleaners today.

 

[Mr Pink]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing! Looking back though, it was clear out back 5 was the problem today and i have seen many post about the poor partnership of Caulker and Vertonghen this season - so to add in a player just back from a long term injury, another playing in a position he hasnt played in this season as well as a back up keeper - to me that is a recipe for disaster and so it proved as our back 4 were taken to the cleaners today.

Think that's way OTT...and how many times have Caulker/vertonghen started together at CB this season?

 

[Pringle]

Think that's way OTT...and how many times have Caulker/vertonghen started together at CB this season?

Not 100% but I believe its 3 or 4. All have been in lesser games though but they have looked shaky as a pair. Caulker is still young and learning and Verts is learning what English football is all about. In virtually all games this season, either Gallas or Dawson have partnered 1 of the 2 which says a lot. I am a big fan of both of the player but they need a leader alongside them at the moment as today showed!

 

[Mr Pink]

Not 100% but I believe its 3 or 4. All have been in lesser games though but they have looked shaky as a pair. Caulker is still young and learning and Verts is learning what English football is all about. In virtually all games this season, either Gallas or Dawson have partnered 1 of the 2 which says a lot. I am a big fan of both of the player but they need a leader alongside them at the moment as today showed!

Not disagreeing on that point as such, but you would think these two would have enough about them, by now, to handle a Championship side - even if it is a hostile arena. We would of been better with Dawson or Gallas in there organising, for sure, but I still feel that was a strong enough side to get the job done, if the effort and application was right.

I would of played Dawson personally but aside from that - that's the team I would of picked.

 

[Pete Spur]

I thought that was Caulks and Verts first game together at CB

 

[Pringle]

Not disagreeing on that point as such, but you would think these two would have enough about them, by now, to handle a Championship side - even if it is a hostile arena. We would of been better with Dawson or Gallas in there organising, for sure, but I still feel that was a strong enough side to get the job done, if the effort and application was right.

I would of played Dawson personally but aside from that - that's the team I would of picked.

Just checked - Caulker and Vertonghen havent started at CB once in the league this season - says a lot for me. Only in the europa league, league cup and fa cup. In all league games - either Dawson or Gallas have played alongside 1 or the other.

I do agree with what you say - I think the problem was with the players in that they didnt apply themselves very well. However I do also believe that AVB underestimated Leeds a little as well. Away to a side like Leeds, you know you will face a battle and picking 2 CBs who he clearly doesnt rate as a partnership yet seems a little strange (and so it proved).

Combination of both for me.

 

[Pete Spur]

What makes you think AVB clearly doesn't rate Verts or Caulker at CB?


edit: nevermind I understand wat you're saying now

 

[Pringle]

I thought that was Caulks and Verts first game together at CB

Played a few times in cup comps but thats all.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

By not naming a full strength team, against Leeds away, was asking for trouble imo. The Leeds fans can lift their team to a higher level, making it a very difficult place to go. When i saw the team sheet I had a bad feeling about the match. For me, the first man down on the team sheet should have been Dawson, Warnocks teams are renound for being direct and physical, also if we HAD to rest someone in midfield, i would of thought Livermore would have been a better choice than Hudd. I'm a huge fan of AVB and not having a dig, he is a young manager and will learn from this defeat.

 

[ClintEastwould]

I thought that was Caulks and Verts first game together at CB

I think they played together away to kazoo which was another of our suicidal defensive displays this season. They just dot work together. Not enough communication