More mature members of this forum may recall the days when a player who played less than 42 league games was considered to be some sort of nancy boy, or perhaps he didn’t embrace cortisone like his hobbling colleagues.
The game has clearly changed and the physical demands of two games a week + training takes its toll.
While I was surprised at some team changes in the last two games, Puel managed it perfectly and delivered in both games.
Because rather than changing things, Poch played very similar teams in their two games.
As a result two Spurs players left the pitch clutching hamstrings, two played on with hamstring issues, and Kane overstretched and did an ankle.
His squad will be ravaged by Christmas if he carries on like that.
We might not want Claude to become a tinker man, and we might want to see the strongest 11 in every game - but that was shrewd selection.
It’s about having strength right through the squad, innit? Puel has taken what seems to me a sensible and pragmatic approach. But we still looked toothless at the weekend until Austin came on. We might continue to struggle for goals when relying on Long and Redmond.
It’s not only his team selections that have been shrewd, his use of substitutions have been spot on and changed games on more than one occasion. Add to that his diamond formation showing signs of being pretty potent and Puel’s starting to look like he could be the real deal.
… yet again Les Reed’s got lucky with his cheap option
Be nice to see some of the kids rotating into the squad too, they were getting loads of match time pre-season but I think the early season pressure to get our first good results has scuppered that so far.
As the fixtures stack up I think everyone will get a chance - sadly some won’t take it and we might look lightweight, but as Spurs have demonstrated, that’s better than running out of first team.
I hope they don’t bring the kids in en masse tomorrow tho’, I never think you really get an idea who’s good enough to step up if there’s 5 or 6 them playing. A couple of youngsters starting would be just right, so we can see how they perform alongside first team regulars … one who can score a goal would be even better.
I’ve been a bit under whelmed by some of our earlier performances, but I’m definitely seeing things I like under this regime. With the adept changinging of personal each game the whole squad is developing and under Puell the youngsters getting a chance (and grasping it with both hands) is very promising trend indeed.
Now if only, as much as I hated Poch for doing it, Claude would use a translator to express completely what he wants to say, rather than in slightly stilted English ( a million times better tan my French I have to admit), and constant repetition of key words.
From the last three games Claude must now have a clearer picture of who can do what, and which combinations work - and more importantly, which combinations don’t work!
It’s been a good week on every level, apart from the dull interviews, but I’d rather he did his job well and left being a character to other managers.
Yep plenty of drivel, but at least the group of posters who only turn up when things arent going well have vanished back into the woodwork.
So then, rotation. I have no problem with this if you have depth in squad. Fair play to Monsieur Puel, he seems to have confidence enough in the squad to give it a go. So pleased for Hesketh last night. Lets hope this is a start of an illustrious career with us (or at least a stepping stone to Liverpool ). If Shlong and Redmond can find their shooting boots we could be in for a hell of a season. All this and Boufal to look forward to too! Happy days!
