I don't get the whole bedding in process. If they're good enough they start. Why the **** are we wasting £8m on Fazio to not make the bench? Why is Vertonghen on the bench? If he's not fit then why waste a sub spot? I don't get it.
Lloris, Fazio, Vertonghen, Capoue, Lamela, Eriksen should be 6 names on the team sheet. Now I'm all for players having to fight for their place but that back two is our best, they are the best two centre halves, they play, let them form a solid trusting partnership in front of their captain Lloris. Capoue has to start central midfield, he at least somewhat recycles the ball well, Dembele dwells too long, Bentaleb is a little too inexperienced and Stambouli is an unknown quantity (although I like what I see). Don't even want to mention Paulinho.
Just seems like we have too many of the 'same player' in central midfield. He even dropped Eriksen to central midfield late in the second half but I think even he'd be wasted there. I don't necessarily think we need a play maker Modric type there but someone who can play off Capoue and pass quickly, Stambouli perhaps, who will also offer solidarity. We have two superb creative players in Lamela and Eriksen who should be further forward, two men our "recyclers" in midfield should be passing too quickly before opposition midfielders can react. We've seen it at times, mainly when Bentaleb played alongside Capoue but we don't do it enough, which then in turn nullifies Eriksen when he plays centrally.
I like Chadli, he's a solid player who is proving his worth this season but Eriksen NEEDS to play on the left. He played central at times last year and has done this year and he's never quite hit it off for me. Game tends to pass him by, doesn't take it by the scruff of the neck, but on the left he's great, can cross with his left, cut in and shoot/cross with his right, ALL of his best games for us have come on the left, if he's not on the left, in all honesty i'd rather not see him at all and just put Lamela central with some sort of pace on the right.
Striker issue is worrying too. 5 games in, Chadli is our top goalscorer with Dier in second. Adebayor on his day is great, but his day is rare. I honestly don't think he touched the ball in the second half. Soldado has had his doubters, his whole 2 goals from open play, his misses etc, but he's a creative player, a clever player who I just feel suits our play, suits our style more. He has to start next week for me, HAS to.
I just hope Poch really lays into them, today wasn't acceptable and Poch will know that, he looked absolutely furious. He has a vision, he knows what the players are capable of, but his vision requires 100% focus, team work and dedication. That means if one player isn't giving 100% it affects the performance, now multiply that? We had atleast 2 players today in Chiriches and Adebayor who weren't 100% and these are key areas, centre half and up front and it showed. We were embarrassing at the back and up front.
I like Poch, I admire what he has done at Southampton but he also had players there who loved the club, his key players were those who had been with the club from League One or Championship, could almost say like a family, they were in it together. I believe he can do this with us but it will take ALOT more time and for me will require a lot more effort from the players. I do believe he will achieve here, he needs his time, he needs the support but importantly he needs the players to believe in him, believe in what he envisions and be dedicated to him and the team, if a player isn't then drop him, replace him for someone who wants to play,wants to fight for this club.
To dare is to do.
