Tommy Elphick

[severnside gull]

The only constant this season is Painter.

not Ankergren, Calderon and Bennett? I'm surprised.

Greeer did make some mistakes in the first half hour missing a few headers and misplacing some passes but that shouldn't be unexpected given his lack of game time. When he settled he earned the plaudits he is recieving. I am sure Elphick had a slight knock - I don't think it will have taken much to persuade Gus to switch for this game in particular as, tactically, Parkinson will have seen the Bournemouth game and planned accordingly to counter a slow and steady passing game. Indeed Gus was at pains to say in the press that this is exactly how we would play. He then mugged them by bringing in Greer who finds a forward pass much more quickly, and by switching to a midfield diamond with Sparrow and Dicker rotating to ensure there was always a passing option available. Very, very clever.

Bringing LuaLua on at the end was just rubbing their noses in it having been out thought and subsequently outplayed.

I think Greer is now likely to be a permanent fixture bar injuries and suspensions. Noticeably Calderon, relieved of the responsibilities of captaincy, was able to get forward with more freedom.

 

[Ernest]

Gus is ONE step ahead of EVERYONE

 

[Thunder Bolt]

not Ankergren, Calderon and Bennett? I'm surprised.

Poke was in goal for the League cup game at Northampton. There are four or five players on 13 appearances but only Painter on 14.

 

[Acker79]

Until saturday, only Elphick and Painter had played every minute of every game. Now it's only Painter.

Every other player has been dropped at some point (either tactical, or injury/suspension induced).

 

[Thunder Bolt]

If Sparrow hadn't scored the fourth goal, Elphick had been called back from warming up to be subbed to waste time. I saw Tanno beckoning to him just as extra time was given.

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

If Sparrow hadn't scored the fourth goal, Elphick had been called back from warming up to be subbed to waste time. I saw Tanno beckoning to him just as extra time was given.

I really don't think we were in a position to need to make time wasting subs in the 90th minute and being 3-0 up

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I really don't think we were in a position to need to make time wasting subs in the 90th minute and being 3-0 up

Every manager would do it, it's not so much that he feared losing, just that we had the points, a clean sheet, and it disrupts the other team and lessens the chance of them getting a consolation and ruining the clean sheet while our team switch off.

 

[upthealbion1970]

Could it be that now as a squad there are more players match fit, so gus can pick the starting 11 more tactically than before as opposed to being limited to who is fit enough. Pretty sure he said something along those lines in his interview after the game on saturday.

 

[The French Mistress]

Until saturday, only Elphick and Painter had played every minute of every game. Now it's only Painter.

Every other player has been dropped at some point (either tactical, or injury/suspension induced).

Is that because we don't have an option at left back apart from Whingy ??

 

[Acker79]

Is that because we don't have an option at left back apart from Whingy ??

I wouldn't have thought Gus considers Whing an option there, our back up option seems to be Tanno.

 

[The French Mistress]

I wouldn't have thought Gus considers Whing an option there, our back up option seems to be Tanno.

I think that was my point, hence the reason Painter has no competition for his place.

 

[upthealbion1970]

I think that was my point, hence the reason Painter has no competition for his place.

Kish/El-Abd prob cover there if needed

 

[Biscuit]

If this thread has highlighted anything it's how f***ing good our defence is. Conceeded 2 in 7 games and have too many in form and quality center backs than we know what to do with. :albion1:

This is such an exciting season. If we pick up 6 points in the next two games I think I'll cry. I'd be over the moon with 4 tbh.