Jury is out. Roberts has shown over the last couple of seasons (between injuries) that he can have an impact off the bench. Couple of goals in the Hull game last season and against Preston the season before. I'm not saying he is proven, just that historically he has done it. Still only 21 too. Needs to kick on this year and stay injury free.
Agree but at least he was willing to work hard and take chances with the ball. I'd say it was a promising performance rather than good. Lots of things for the coaches to work with.
35k a week isn't that bad now we are in the prem. Too much for a reserve keeper of his calibre I agree. Morning all
I'm just resigned to the fact we won't be getting a striker. I think he is going with Bamford/Rodrigo with Roberts as back up. I'm hoping Harrison and Costa have brought their shooting boots this year.
The Roberts debate will never go away and I put it down to being too self centred. Ive said this before, but last night proves the point. In the 23s when he was coming back from injury he was given a few starts. He wasnt part of the team and thought he was Messi and not once did he score. He over did things everytime he had the ball, he lost the ball, tried crazy passes ad was too much for tricks and flicks that never came off. The team were blanking him. When Bamford played for them he was part of the team and showed he was a bit special as he smacked in a few goals in quick time. The team loved having him involved...... Last night was an opportunity for Roberts to stamp his authority on the game. I bet Bielsa was angry at his performance. Roberts is classed as a senior player especially in last nights team, but every senior player except maybe Rodrigo let themselevs down
I didn't think anyone stood out, disappointed with Roberts. This was his big chance to show how good he is, instead he tried too many little flicks and back heels which rarely ever work. Alioski drives me mad, and then he pops up and scores a goal. And then he misses a penalty. Douglas was rank average. That's my opinion of all our senior players who were supposed to run the show
Thanks bud as i said earlier did not waste ny time watching it on tablet. Plus we are two hours in front on zante. I land at leeds on saturday at 15:55 so by the time ive got my luggage and hit the ring road match will be nearly over.
In relation to a feared lack of strikers. I will reiterate my point that this season i think Bielsa is looking at the midfield for goals. Bamford will be in for the work rate. Harrison, Klich, Costa, Rodrigo, Roberts & Pablo will be expected to get close to double figures with goals this season taking the pressure off Bamford. So far two of those listed have scored, both excellent goals as well.
I felt that our defence stood off the attacker, actually they did it a few times. So it was Casilla's poor distribution that started it, but Imo the defence were partly to blame as well. TBF you can't do a lot about a deflection.
This. It's going to happen when your GK plays out from the back. Meslier had some stray passes at the weekend too but this is when the defence needs to step up and get at the players and this didn't happen last night. There were 4 defenders in front of Wilks when he had the ball.
CBs Against Liverpool we had Cooper missing and we also had a new player who had not met his teammates until a couple of days before the match. So a new player who has not had time to integrate and learn Bielsaball. The U23s against Stoke didnt have one CB in the squad because both were required for the Hull game. So the team played Stoke off the park but messed up at the back. Against Hull we fielded kids So its very obvious that we dont have enough CBs when we have 2 missing. Pascal Struijk will be very good cover but behind him Casey isnt ready yet and then an even younger Cresswell who needs at least another year. So just having Cooper, Koch and Struijk is a gamble I feel
Apart from an understandably nervy first few minutes for a 17 year old making his debut I thought Cresswell did well. Was more impressed with him than Casey.
At the moment I feel Ayling is our 4th CB. Not ideal but I'd feel better than exposing the youngsters too soon. If we just want someone as back up to Cooper/Koch and possibly Struijk (depending on how he does or if he's needed at DM) then there's no reason we couldn't get a decent one from the Championship relatively cheap but it seems we either want a £20 million wonderkid or nothing. Bielsa's choice I suppose.
Instead of spending £20m on the kid from Zagreb I think we should concentrate on developing Leif Davis. Both play same position CB/LB and we save ourselves £20m to spend on other areas.
Unpredictable & Unreliable This was a headline from a Paul Robinson interview about Kiko but you can say exactly the same about Roberts and Douglas. All 3 for me should be sold and if Celtic want Bazza please take him e got Kiko for free so allow him to find a club and go for free as Im sure his new club paying no transfer fee will make his wages somewhere near. As for Roberts who cost us over 3.5m due to add-ons I fear we wont get that back
For what it’s worth my thoughts on last nights game was a sink or swim moment for the reserves unfortunately they sank Bielsa had power on the bench but didn’t use it This tells that priority is with the prem as it should be wobetide if we don’t pick 3 points up on Saturday