Complete waste of everybodies time

[Lighty64]

The Arsenal league cup game as well last year. This goes beyond Poch though it is been happening for years. What is baffling is that not is instances like Dortmund accepted they are also defended.

the Dortmund debacle couldn't be defended

 

[TheHood]

the Dortmund debacle couldn't be defended

It was because it was supposedly necessary for us to maintain our title challenge.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

Probably not a waste of everybody's time but I would like to know who is going to benefit from the experience. Not many, IMHO.

Very disappointed with what I saw of N'Koudou. I've been extremely anxious to see him involved.

Onomah and Winks need regular minutes. I don't see what they will gain from this.

 

[Lighty64]

It was because it was supposedly necessary for us to maintain our title challenge.

and at the time we was in a title challenge, but we was only facing Villa the game after Dortmund, and to be honest we should of been able to beat Villa with our under 21's the way their season was going.

don't get me wrong I want us to win trophies too, but at the moment getting top 4 over the EFL cup has to take a priority with the new stadium on the horizon, though getting it next season will be our hardest season with playing 19 cup finals at Wembley in the PL. if we can finish in the top 4 this and next season, we could be going into the new stadium with a strong squad, and with being able to increase our wage structure we might be in a stronger position when it comes to the transfer market

 

[Shadydan]

Think this post needs some more appreciation:

Later?

Poch is in a no-win situation now - unless, of course, he wins while playing youngsters. For a certain group of supporters, Cup games must be used to play academy products - to give those players their only chance to prove themselves. For a group of supporters, Cup games must be played at full strength to ensure our greatest chance of winning a trophy.

If Poch plays youth - he obviously does not care about winning, and therefore must hate the club. If Poch plays a full-strength squad, he obviously hates the academy, and therefore must hate the club.

Definitely noticing a pattern to this

 

[Mullers]

We rested the majority of our key players, and gave others crucial experience.

They can't keep playing two games a week with just the full backs rotating, we have to rest them at some point.

Right decision IMO.

It was one game, we only have the FA cup left, why doesn't he rest players and give others crucial experience in league games?

 

[Gassin's finest]

 

[Dennism]

The only point of this competition is to blood players and it is a shame that the likes of Edwards will get fewer games. However, nobody particularly cares about who wins this cup and for us it represents an unnecessary distraction. We want to win the trophies that matter.

 

[dontcallme]

My personal view on squad rotation:

Obviously it is necessary but has to be done in a way that is beneficial.

While Alderweireld and Vertonghen are a top quality centre back pairing they do benefit from a rock solid central midfield in front of them.

So if we want to play a young centre back pairing in the cup then we need to play a solid midfield in front of them. How are they going integrate into the first team if their playing time is not similar to our normal first team?

Utd and Arsenal in their strongest period regularly played one young player in the league with their strongest lineup. That's the best way to see how they fit in and if they are ready.

It was good to see some fringe players get a run yesterday but in my view there is more to seeing if a young player is ready than simply giving them minutes on the pitch.

 

[Sophos151]

Don't be so hard on Hoops, at least he gave the thread an accurate name.

 

[waresy]

I don't even think it is necessarily the rotation that is the problem. Squad management is important but the way we played last night even with a different set of players against a similar Liverpool line up is also how the first 11 play. substitute in everyone's criticism of Carroll or Onomah for Son, Eriksen or Lamela in another game.

Something in our style sees us control games but the last few has seen us create very little of note and with us looking not likely of scoring means we are then under pressure if a mistake is made.

 

[dudu]

Exactly my point. Why waste their and our time.

perhaps its not a waste of time for the players who started and for Poch to see how far they have come in being able to compete without thier hands being held by the senior players,

Would i have liked to see a little bit more experience in the side, sure - was it pointless? for you maybe but you appear to have a very short sighted opinion in this respect

 

[Phomesy]

*everybody's*

 

[eddiev14]

It was one game, we only have the FA cup left, why doesn't he rest players and give others crucial experience in league games?

He probably thinks we can win the league.

 

[Mullers]

He probably thinks we can win the league.

He doesn't he said we need more squad depth.

 

[Sophos151]

He doesn't he said we need more squad depth.

What a manager says and what he thinks are rarely the same.