- Oct 17, 2006
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For your post match comments
This was my biggest takeaway. Without Bissouma and, to a much lesser extent, Porro, comfortable taking the ball under pressure from the CBs and turning, we were very limited at building the play from the back.Thought the midfield three let the backline and wingers down badly with a lack of movement and providing options, bit like watching us last season.
Solomon looked sharp but nothing around him to link up with
Glad Richy got a good header with a great cross from Perisic
Some decent defending from centre halves at times
Ben Davies looked lost/doesn't suit the system
Dane Scarlett was quiet but grew in confidence with a lovely bit of skill near the end
Game opened up a bit more with Sarr on the pitch. PEH and Skipp are way too similar to play together
Pens a lottery
Can see the merit in Ange wanting to give the second string a chance in a competitive match but in the long run these players will now have very limited opportunities for game time which is disappointing for some
Ange shouldn't get a 0/10 for this.The whole concept of playing a weakened line up in cup competitions is flawed. Every time we do it we crash out. It’s disrespectful to the competion, the opposition and the fans.
Ange’s raționale of needing to see his fringe players in competitive situations is indifensible . Play a strong team , get it won early and then make the substutions.
So what did we learn that we don’t already know ? Forster is average ( the way he committed himself too early in 4 out of 5 penaties was laughable ).
Davies would not be the answer if Udogie got injured.
Sanchez, Hojbjerg and Lo Celso will be shipped out if offers come in.
Skipp is a bang average player , overrated by many.
The only rating I will give is Ange 0/10.
If they are mostly on the way out why chose them ?Ange shouldn't get a 0/10 for this.
He had already said that the starting 11 need to be kept fresh for PL games.
Cup games like this is a low priority for us, and we don't have the squad depth to truly compete.
It's a rational decision.
The disappointing thing is the low quality in the fringe players; but having said that, its why they are mostly on their way out.