Absolutely. He has featured in practically every league game hasn't he? Like mentioned in another thread it seems the subs are premeditated to manage our testing schedule at the moment, I don't doubt that Poch didn't recognise the impact Moura was having....He was such a livewire. I was livid (and baffled) he went off instead of Son who was completely anonymous.
I can only assume it was cautionary given the amount of football he has played.
But my word, he is really starting to show what he can do, isnt he?
Poch had a wry dig at the crowd for booing him when he subbed off Moura, pointing out we did after all end up winning. He said the reason was he needed to change things, implying that for all Moura's brilliance things were not working out for the team as a whole.
And you know what? I think he may even have had a point.
Now to take cover behind the sofa.
I've noticed Poch often seems to do his substitutions in what seems like illogical phases. He will take off, say, an attacker and put a defender on then ten minutes later do the opposite to restore the balance.I was exacerbated like many at the choice to take him off over Son, who was blatantly ineffective last night. Worst thing was, i just knew that Son would only manage another 10mins or so before being hauled off for Llorente if things hadn't changed.
Moura didn't look tired. I can only think that in Poch's defence he thought that taking Son off would've meant pushing one of either Lamela, Moura or perhaps Alli out to wide left, and Poch preferred to keep Son there over the others.
I don't think he can point to the win as justification though, given that leaving Son on at that point then hauling him off later made no difference to the way we scored our goals, or indeed when.
But Son has shown even when playing poorly he can score a goal out of nothing from distance. Against a team that were defending as deep as PSV were it was fair to keep one of our only players who has form for scoring from range on. Also I think it is obvious Moura was being managed considering how many of our games he has played....I was exacerbated like many at the choice to take him off over Son, who was blatantly ineffective last night. Worst thing was, i just knew that Son would only manage another 10mins or so before being hauled off for Llorente if things hadn't changed.
Moura didn't look tired. I can only think that in Poch's defence he thought that taking Son off would've meant pushing one of either Lamela, Moura or perhaps Alli out to wide left, and Poch preferred to keep Son there over the others.
I don't think he can point to the win as justification though, given that leaving Son on at that point then hauling him off later made no difference to the way we scored our goals, or indeed when.
Wolves on Sunday was not the classic subbing of a sub. He'd been on since the second minute, not the 60th.Maybe he didn’t want to humiliate Heung-Min by hooking him first, after what happened up at Wolves on Saturday?
True... although what with our recent habit of conceding very early goals, a 2nd minute substitution could be for tactical reasons!Wolves on Sunday was not the classic subbing of a sub. He'd been on since the second minute, not the 60th.
If that is the case I would argue that space aliens came to earth and replaced Human Poch with Alien Poch.True... although what with our recent habit of conceding very early goals, a 2nd minute substitution could be for tactical reasons!
Despite him being here a year now I feel that they are all still learning to play together.
Love the little guy, love his attitude, his workrate, and the magic he makes happen.
Sooner or later, things will click and then we will be in for a treat.
Im starting to think a new CM might be the key to unlocking all sorts of potential in this team.