Yankee_Jack
Key Player
On the Burnley free kick: Darling could have played on the front foot and reached the pass had he been thinking and watching the game in front of him. He could have been first to the ball, but he wasn't even close. Not a perfect pass by any means, but it was in front of Darling for him to move onto, not behind him or anywhere else. It was Darling's dither that did him in. The Burnley player chose to cut inside back into an area where we had numbers and he was moving more across field than down field. An astute and mobile player wouldn't have lazily dangled his leg causing a foul. He would have sharply pivoted and moved to recover his position.
The free-kick itself would have beaten all but the best of keepers. It was a peach.
On the second goal, Benda should have had stronger hands and blocked the ball. For sure, he should have done better.
The overall point on the players v Martin: Martin doesn't do himself or the players any favors. However, Cabango plays because he is the stronger of the three CBs. Darling was purchased for silly money that over valued what he is and what he can do. B. Cooper has demonstrated on every start, and they have been sporadic, that he can step up and be solid. Cooper has never let us down.
It does matter what our starting XI is because we don't have depth. Martin's greatest failure has been not being able to determine his best line-up and optimal system for that line-up. He's committed the cardinal foul of selecting a system then trying to shoe-horn players into it, instead of looking for the optimal combination of players and setting them up to be successful. He's relied on pets and not determined what's in the best interest of the Club in terms of player development and then developing players. We can argue all day about Pato, but his career is cooked, he's going no where but declining in value and output. He offers nothing for the future. In contrast, Oli Cooper was available all of last season but sent out on loan. His energy and technical ability were there last season. Where would he be today if he had been given an opportunity with us.
Last season, Martin took forever to recognize that Fulton had to be on the starting XI, instead he let this player with Prem experience fester on the bench. WTF was that. Cullen has been this season's Fulton. Finally, more by luck than judgement Cullen is getting his chance and delivering as we all knew he could and would.
The free-kick itself would have beaten all but the best of keepers. It was a peach.
On the second goal, Benda should have had stronger hands and blocked the ball. For sure, he should have done better.
The overall point on the players v Martin: Martin doesn't do himself or the players any favors. However, Cabango plays because he is the stronger of the three CBs. Darling was purchased for silly money that over valued what he is and what he can do. B. Cooper has demonstrated on every start, and they have been sporadic, that he can step up and be solid. Cooper has never let us down.
It does matter what our starting XI is because we don't have depth. Martin's greatest failure has been not being able to determine his best line-up and optimal system for that line-up. He's committed the cardinal foul of selecting a system then trying to shoe-horn players into it, instead of looking for the optimal combination of players and setting them up to be successful. He's relied on pets and not determined what's in the best interest of the Club in terms of player development and then developing players. We can argue all day about Pato, but his career is cooked, he's going no where but declining in value and output. He offers nothing for the future. In contrast, Oli Cooper was available all of last season but sent out on loan. His energy and technical ability were there last season. Where would he be today if he had been given an opportunity with us.
Last season, Martin took forever to recognize that Fulton had to be on the starting XI, instead he let this player with Prem experience fester on the bench. WTF was that. Cullen has been this season's Fulton. Finally, more by luck than judgement Cullen is getting his chance and delivering as we all knew he could and would.