Fringe Players

[Wheeler Dealer]

Has today illustrated that our squad depth does not hold the quality so many in the media believe. We have played a number of so called fringe players in games, both cup and league this year, and unfortunatley they have come up short. I understand the need to have fringe players who are prepared to wait their time, but the expectation is that when their time comes, they take it with both hands. Is it time to move these on and give youth a chance as many have stagnated.

 

[dontcallme]

Has today illustrated that our squad depth does not hold the quality so many in the media believe. We have played a number of so called fringe players in games, both cup and league this year, and unfortunatley they have come up short. I understand the need to have fringe players who are prepared to wait their time, but the expectation is that when their time comes, they take it with both hands. Is it time to move these on and give youth a chance as many have stagnated.

Which players are you referring to?

I've put in bold our backup players:

GK - Lloris, Friedel, Gomes: Most teams would happily have Friedel as 1st choice keeper and Gomes has to be the best 3rd choice keeper in the Prem.

RB - Walker, Naughton: Naughton has at times looked uncomfortable at left back but has shown he's a good defender and at right back is a match to Walker.

LB - BAE, Rose: after making it clear he wants regular football we loaned Rose out. Read the Sunderland message-boards. They are absolutely raving about him.

CB - Vertonghen, Kaboul, Dawson, Gallas, Caulker: that's 3 decent centre backs as backup who have been good 1st team players for us at one time or another.

CM - Sandro, Dembele, Parker, Livermore, Huddlestone,Sigurdsson, Dempsey, Jenas, Carroll: Dempsey has produced well since getting a run in the team and I believe Sigurdsson would as well. Carroll has done well when played but still needs time. Huddlestone looks out of shape and off the pace. Doesn't look like he'll ever reach his potential. Jenas is done.

RM - Lennon, Bentley - just doesn't look like it's going to happen for Bentley.

LM - Bale, Townsend - looked good at times and not up to level at others.

St - Defoe, Adebayor - don't have any backup here with Kane on loan.

We've seen with Dempsey how important it is to get a run in the side to perform at your best. Look at how good Bassong has been for Norwich when playing every week. A totally different player to the one playing sporadically for us.

I refuse to believe Naughton, Rose, Caulker, Dawson, Sigurdsson and Dempsey aren't good enough for us. We need better options on the wings and up-front but the real challenge is getting such talented players to perform at such a high level when not playing regularly.

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

Naughton hasn't done anythingvto justify being classed as potential first team material.
Caulker probably wouldn't feature if all others were fit.
Huddlestone has lots what little ability he had.
Livermore is not good enough.
Sigurdsson has been poor.
Jeans and Bentley just can't be mentioned anymore, they're clearly never playing for us again.
Dempsey is now doing ok.

I'll reserve judgement on Caroll, Obika, Kane & Towsned.

What AVB needs to learn is that we should only ever really use the odd fringe player not a whole host in one go. We'd be ok if we rested one player and put a fringe player in. But resting 4 or 5 at a time and putting in the fringers leaves us woefully average.

 

[lillywhites61]

TBH today I think we just didn't turn up, just a poor performance, Leeds didn't exactly play amazingly either, we just gifted it to them

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

TBH today I think we just didn't turn up, just a poor performance, Leeds didn't exactly play amazingly either, we just gifted it to them

Sorry, rated disagree it removed it now.