SG90 wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 7:10 pm
Top half, fantastic stuff! Who knows maybe even 8th?! Delighted for Berardi, hope Pablo will get a chance on Sunday. Disappointing that Bielsa continues to pick Casilla, but won't give u23s or Shackleton any game time. Glad Roberts got that monkey off his back.
And we win without Kalvin!
He better do......and I'll be there to applaud the little genius
whiteswan wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 8:01 pm
You know, I wonder does Meslier have a slight niggle and Bielsa kept it quiet....or did he want to give Kiko a fond farewell?
I'm just wondering if he is wrapping up those who are potentially off on international duty this summer. Llorente and Phillips off at half time, Meslier on the bench.
YorkshireSquare wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 8:00 pm
Not sure I want the distraction of the European Conference, but I do want to give West Brom a good kicking as a farewell gift to Big Sam
I deffo do not want a European distraction.....not yet its too soon. We need to really strengthen and increase our squad first. Walk before we run....
Especially as it will start a week after the Euros.
With some of our chaps involved they will hardly get a proper break.
' "Football is about the people and the players,” he said. “Then there are those who will mingle in the middle: the coaches, executives and journalists. That last group represents the worst part about football" Marcelo Bielsa
YorkshireSquare wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 8:02 pm
I'm just wondering if he is wrapping up those who are potentially off on international duty this summer. Llorente and Phillips off at half time, Meslier on the bench.
That is a good point Adam. He is Gentleman enough to do that. He trusts all his players to do a great job, although for the sake of our fans who have been devoid of live football for months and are going to ER next Sunday, I hope that he puts out our top team for them
YorkshireSquare wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 8:02 pm
I'm just wondering if he is wrapping up those who are potentially off on international duty this summer. Llorente and Phillips off at half time, Meslier on the bench.
That makes sense.
And I'm not saying we would benefit from being in Europe so soon, but I imagine Bielsa would go after it if the opportunity presented itself.
Or maybe not. Who knows what goes on in the mind of a genius? If I understood it, I'd be a genius, too.
Cjay wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 7:52 pm
Used to think Harrison had the best first touch at the club but actully Raphinha's one may be even better.
His ability to control and move in the same motion is exceptional.
Harrison’s takes for our goals against Burnley we’re superb, equally the subsequent passes, but as you say, Raphinha is supremely gifted in that regard.
Carrick Dave wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 8:33 pm
Harrison’s takes for our goals against Burnley we’re superb, equally the subsequent passes, but as you say, Raphinha is supremely gifted in that regard.
They were Dave very true.
But the way Raph can control a ball and accelerate away in the same motion is awesome.
mothbanquet wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 7:02 pm
Well, pretty much the same story as last time. They nullified us with their press to begin with but couldn't capitalise and knackered themselves out, leaving us to pick them off in the second half.
Bielsa toying with Hasenhutl by beating him with Kiko, Roberts and a long absent Berra as if to say "Come on Ralph, try."
Perfect summary mothbanquet. Waiting to hear Hasenhuttl whine and moan again about the injustice of it all.
mothbanquet wrote: ↑Tue May 18, 2021 7:02 pm
Well, pretty much the same story as last time. They nullified us with their press to begin with but couldn't capitalise and knackered themselves out, leaving us to pick them off in the second half.
Bielsa toying with Hasenhutl by beating him with Kiko, Roberts and a long absent Berra as if to say "Come on Ralph, try."
I think we do struggle when teams press us high and with intensity, often takes us a while to work things out and break out of it. Took us longer than usual today, with a few sloppy forced passes in the process but we eventually got there.
Phillips is usually key to us breaking out but surprisingly he wasn't on the pitch today when we got most reward.