I do think we need characters like Cleverley in the squad, but it looked pretty clear his legs had completely failed him in the second half of last season. I hope we're not planning on starting him regularly
Sat on the bench ready to come on for the last 20 minutes now and then, fine. If he's used as a regular starter again this season then we deserve every bit of further failure we'll get.
If I was in a warzone and there was a chap on his own in the corner playing Countdown on his phone for hours, not sure I'd be saying "I will ride into battle with this man". Experienced, yes. Leader? Not so sure. Despite being a bit ****, Troost has shown himself to be our best leader.
If we hadn't extended his contract we could have released him in the summer and replaced his woeful output with the wages saved. To be considering him a key player next season is simple lunacy.
Edwards first coaching session makes it really clear that when we lose the ball, he wants us to try and get it back again quickly. Cleverley has, at points, been very good leading our attacking press but he can't do it for very long and certainly can't be starting the best part of 46 games in the Championship. As others have said, bring him on against tired legs, no problem. I like Louza, he's good at setting the pace for the team and uses the ball well but he's not particularly dynamic. We need some serious legs in there with him to play Edwards' style and Cleverley ain't that. Nor is Gosling, nor Sema. I'm not sure what Kayembe is to be fair but haven't been overly impressed so far. Need someone that will grab the team by the scruff of the neck and drive us up the pitch.
So Tom will be our midfield dynamo again running himself into certain substitution within an hour. Great news
I will say that it certainly appeared to me, at least, as though even in that he has catastrophically lost the ability even to keep up with the pace of the game around him by the second half of the season, let alone the rest. There were plenty of times he just couldn't even get near to a player he was theoretically challenging, and he's so gassed and off the pace that he starts losing his touch, ballooning it double-figure yards away, then tiring himself out even more desperately lunging to recover - repeated in an ever decreasing circle. Obviously, there's no chance of this happening, but I'd rather he wasn't anywhere near the pitch at any point - although, in fairness, perhaps the step down in ability will compensate just about enough for those select cameos.
Any chance of seeing his clips from the first two games? Wondering if he really was as bad as I remembered or whether there's any confirmation bias going on as I don't think he should be starting. @reids - any chance they could be posted?
I normally like TC and think he plays better than many posters say but can't defend his WBA non-performance.
Grateful for the goal but even he admitted after the game his legs have gone. His own words, “managing aches and pains in my old age, the plan was never for me to play the full 90.” Sorry but it truly is shocking that he’s starting every game. I know tonight he scored, but watching him the first half was painful. Outside the goal, he was lost in the middle. The championship is a grueling league, he’s not capable of playing twice a week. He really does need to be coming off the bench. https://mobile.twitter.com/skyfootball/status/1558201689303388164?s=21&t=FxZEv9OzFOJF9QsprJ6koA
I’m pretty excited about Kayembe & Choudhury protecting and Louza slightly ahead of them. We desperately need, and have done for about two seasons now, a midfielder with finesse, Abdi style, someone who’s just first choice set piece taker because he’s that cool and that slick. My favourite type of footballer and we have none of them.
It's been a long time since we've had someone who can consistently even take a good corner. Gosling yesterday, for god sake, I can do better than him....not joking. A dead ball specialist would be nice, but we just need someone who can whip a ball in and not constantly miskick or overhit the ball.
Not sure about that (for once). From the little we know it was probably always a choice between surgery at the start or surgery later if he couldn't recover and the pros and cons would have been discussed with a surgeon, the medical team, the player himself etc. These things happen. The disgrace is that we were dependent on a 33 year in the first place.
Or the fact we extended his contract an extra year rather than releasing him this summer. It’s not like he hasn’t had injuries in the past and he’s going to be at least a middle earner in the squad.
Wouldn't surprise me if he retires at some point this season. His legs have gone but he's been good for us over the years. Get him on the coaching staff for the rest of the season.
“I feel like there is nothing in my way now to me performing the best I can.” Pretty sure Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby said the same thing every year. Some people are just made of glass.
Nothing in his way whatsoever. Except, erm... age, ever declining footballing ability, stamina, the fact he's not been good enough for years and, inevitably, further injuries. Other than that he's good to go!
An absolute parasite. Should have been released 4 seasons ago. Absolute good riddance when they finally wedge him off the teat. Our odd fans won’t see it that way mind.
Yep, it'll be the usual "all the best clevs u absolute legend m8!!!" crap, for yet another player who doesn't actually deserve any fanfare. He's always been a bang average player even in his "prime", and is another one who's mere presence has negatively affected progress.