Match Thread: FA Cup 4th Round Plymouth Argyle v Liverpool

[sydenham red]

I'm fine with it, a squad our size getting to an FA cup final would/could create a nightmare scenario - the 2nd last league match with Brighton A might have had to be sandwiched into the last midweek of the season with a possible CL semi 6th May, Arsenal H 11th May and a possible CL final 31st May. Bad time for fatigue and injuries. Much better to hopefully put another LC in the trophy cabinet mid March and get the re-arranged Villa played well before May.

[Steveo]

LC final itself is a distraction and has resulted in a fixture pile up.. Hopefully we can negotiate it well... but who honestly believes we aren't dropping 5 or 6 points on this little lot across 15 days..!!

12 Feb: Everton-------away
16 Feb: Wolves--------home
19 Feb: Aston Villa-----away
23 Feb: Man City-------away
26 Feb: Newcastle-----home

I know many of you aren't but I am bricking it...The league table will tell us plenty about this come May.

[justincredible]

Yep, as long as F$G are in charge and we're using a small squad, we need to bin off the two domestic cups early doors each season...

[jimmyliver]

We keep talking about some of the players like they're so young. I mean, if you want them to make the first team someday in any position other than a generic rb/lb "runner" they need to show more even at this age.

Elliot is vastly experienced and 21, he was horrible.
The midfield kids were also terrible, I mean skill wise ...or lack of. Mayaba, who is almost 21 and physically ready has a touch which is as bad as I've seen in a long time. Sheesh.

I'm fine with being out but it really shows the drop in quality.
Jones not playing a minute shows Slots priority (which is understandable) in a comp with plenty of games left till the final I suppose.

I completely agree with this, people saying get off his back he’s only 21 , he has been in the first team squad for over 5 years now, he not at tge level required for a champions league chasing title winning side , in other fields you have 17yr olds winning Olympic medals , 19 yr olds winning world heavyweight titles , 16/17 yr olds playing for Barcelona churning out great performances. We have given him many chances and whilst he’s young he’s not good enough and never really has been .
Granted other older more seasoned professionals should come in for more criticism and should shoulder more blame but he’s not a kid anymore, if we are going to genuinely progress we have to be honest about it , same as quansah , good players but not at our level

[Steveo]

Had a bad game in a crazy disjointed team. The lads confidence has surely been knocked by Slot's selections.

For the record I am 100% with Slot on this. Elliott - for now - is a squad player. He isn't at the same level as any of the main trio or is he as accomplished as Jones. But people cannot expect him to walz into a team like that and perform He was alongside Nyoni and Endo FFS. Then Endo shifted to CB and McConnel into Midfield. - so a midfield of

- Elliot - Nyoni - McConnel

in front of

Tsimikas - Quansah - Endo - Mabaya

Sorry we are talking about experience now.. how much experience of senior footnall is in there exactly?


Yep - go on Harvey lad - go rip them a new one. . Come on yews lot..

[justincredible]

Harvey is very effective coming on for the last 20/25 minutes in games. He can change our style of play, especially if we're looking for a winning goal late on...
He's well worth keeping, imho....

[Kev0909]

Harvey is very effective coming on for the last 20/25 minutes in games. He can change our style of play, especially if we're looking for a winning goal late on...
He's well worth keeping, imho....

Yeah give him a payrise 200k a week to come on 20 mins a game and hopefully make a difference

he won't be going anywhere, like gomez, both not the best but english.

To be fair gomez is a beast, and can play all along the back, fantastic player shame injury's have stopped him being as good as he could have been

[Steveo]

Nobody is saying he should get a pay rise - just that he is getting harshly criticised for a poor display in extrememly tough. circumstances.

Look at that Midfield Kev.. Be honest. Which senior beyond Harvey - makes that work..?


Elliot - McConnel - Nyoni

Elliott is hardily a physical specimen is he. McConnel is still a kid - (ok 20) certainly in first team experience anyway. Nyoni is literally @17.

Against a brutish Championship side... I'm just glad Gomez was the only injury.. Some heavy heavy challenges out there

[Kev0909]

I just don't think harvey is that good, or built to be a midfielder. but he's also not a winger too because he's not got the right attributes/body

He's a strange player, I'm not sure where he fits in, this day in age in the prem... what position?? AMC?

Don't get me wrong, he has some quality but I can never see him being in the starting 11, he's bournemouths/villa level imo,I'm not sure he'd be first choice for them either

is he a player we're just going to use if we need to try get a goal and go attacking for the next 10 years?

[Steveo]

I can't say I disagree with most of that. Always doubted his build like Wilshere. But he has decent skill. Squad player. As mentioned by many a good player to come on.. Not a starter.