- Aug 5, 2006
- 3,366
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But this is the problem... you have decided that there is nothing to lose by playing Spence, but that idea isn't true. If Spence is not doing the right things in training, and if his inclusion would make the rest of the team have to operate differently, then there is the risk that we don't perform as well.Replace Spence's name in that sentence with any other name, and it would still be true though. We could still lose a game on any given day. In what way would Spence make us likelier to lose than Emerson though? What is it we lose when Emerson is not on the pitch? And against those, it's only fair to also ask could Spence make us likelier to win on any given day? Could he give us something Emerson doesn't?
I'm not advocating for Spence to suddenly be given the role, but I don't agree that he just absolutely can't be risked
And I'm not saying for one moment that playing Spence instantly makes us a worse team either. My lack of insight cuts both ways. However, what I can do is judge Conte by his words, by his actions and by his track record, and that makes me think that Conte sees Spence as more of a risk than the other two for the moment.
As a fan, I would personally love to see Spence play more because he seems like an exciting player. But I don't see him on the training ground. I am not dictating the patterns of play and have no idea how well Spence is executing those plans. Conte does.
The plain fact of this all is that Conte does know better than any of us. It doesn't mean that Conte thinks Royal is an amazing RWB... just that between Royal and Doherty he is getting more of what he is asking for than he is of Spence right now. Royal is a known factor, and in Conte's mind it would appear that he relies on that more than whatever talent and contribution Spence gives.
I have never said that Spence "absolutely can't be risked" and I don't think many people have. What I am saying is what Conte said over the summer when asked how he was going to keep so many players happy - he said it was the job of the players to make him happy. That's the bottom line. Spence has not impressed Conte enough yet to elevate him above Royal and Doherty.