[Albion] Playing with your mates

[Seaview Seagull]

Just watching football focus and someone commented that Cole Palmer was playing so well and seemed to beat "playing with his mates". It made me wonder if our current problems spring from so many new young players not actually knowing each other very well? What do others think?

 

[Han Solo]

Almost certain that is indeed the case.

Strictly footballing: anyone who played daily with a childhood mate will know the almost telepatic way you eventually found each other on the pitch. That takes time to grow.

Less strictly footballing: a certain mr Potter was of the idea that players are more likely to work hard for each other if they are friends rather than just colleagues. Hence a lot of his football wise slightly odd methods where players are to tell their darkest secrets and fears, embarrass themselves in front of each other and what not. Obviously I believe in the benefits of that as well, though I'm sure there are plenty of ways to create that "can't let my friend down on the pitch"-atmosphere.

It takes time to build that and with so many players (from widely different cultures) signed over the last two years I imagine it isn't easy, and that there may be a few bad eggs in that lot that needs to eventually f*** off. We may have some sort of "no dickheads and no shit players" recruitment philosophy but its not going to work 100% of the time.

 

[GT49er]

Just watching football focus and someone commented that Cole Palmer was playing so well and seemed to beat "playing with his mates". It made me wonder if our current problems spring from so many new young players not actually knowing each other very well? What do others think?

I wonder. We had a fantastic start to the season, unbeaten until we came up against Chelsea and got hammered before half time. Up until then, apart from Minteh, we'd hardly used any of the new players. We started with three newbies in that first half against Chelsea, and all three were hooked in the second half.

 

[TugWilson]

Players must have the thumbs up to "express" themself individually imo , it`s the small details that turn each player into the thing that made you buy him in the first place , take that away and you just have another body on the pitch . It`s the idiosyncrasies that are hard to read by your opponent , if your manager makes you like everyone else you become predictable , as i think we are now .