09 Feb 2019 18:41:59
How long is he going to persevere with Ayling . Another terrible display! I'm sick of hearing ×´ he's not the same player since his injury " as he was rubbish for most of this season . Please MB give young Shack his chance on Wednesday .
09 Feb 2019 19:11:44
I am gutted that Ayling has dropped below the standards he has set himself
I haven't seen the levels he has previously reached at all this year. Can't help wondering if his mate Barkley going to WBA has affected him
To those guys that went, or even saw the telly version, how did Bamford and Roofe play together. I know I have bored the site with my belief that Roofe would be a better 10 than Saiz was. Did he play that role at all?
How did Bamfo.
09 Feb 2019 21:42:16
Red hot, he didn’t persevere with him he replaced him with Shackleton. Bielsa shows loyalty to his players but also is prepared to make a change. He rarely changes defensive options during a game except for injury. Ayling wasn’t injured and Shackleton equiped himself well. Could find himself keeping the spot for the mid week game . Now he needs to make the most of the opportunity.
I was impressed with how the team kept going today in the face of Jacks health problem. You could see they were very concerned but still concentrated enough to get the equalizer. It would have been very easy to let the game peter out as a Middlesborough win in the circumstances.
Pablo and KP both showed how important they are to the success of this side and Roofe and Bamford have real potential together.
Still got Izzy to fit into it all.
Thoughts tonight with Jack Clarke and his family. A great shock and I hope they manage to get to the bottom of it quickly.
09 Feb 2019 21:55:48
Ayling played well first dozen games after he signed and imo it’s been downhill after, although he actually played well for the opening few games this season. Basically he’s not good enough for a team playing for promotion just like BPF isn’t up to it. Nobody likes putting players down but the lad has become a liability’s and it’s time for a change.
09 Feb 2019 22:20:33
I agree Corky, I can see how Some people think Bielsa gives some players too many opportunities, but I think this also gets the players on his side. He doesn’t over react quickly and tries to give players a chance to find their form. I think today’s sub for Shackleton could be telling. Everybody was expecting brown to come on and he took the other option. My gut would be that Shackleton gets a start in the next game.
09 Feb 2019 22:39:46
Bielsa's underuse of Shacks as well as his overuse of Ayling has been criminal. Halme should've played more too.
{Ed025's Note - maybe marco should move over george and let you have a go at it mate.. :)
09 Feb 2019 22:56:32
Good point Ed! I think like most of us our strengths are also our weaknesses sometimes. The players know that Bielsa has their back and supports them. His gut is to stick with people he really knows, perhaps a little too long for some. But we are still up there, now it’s down to Janie to take his chance if he gets it again this week.
10 Feb 2019 01:16:37
Ed025 From what I'm hearing that's what the Football League are aiming for, at least the first part.