Missing in action.

[SoccerHQ]

Not heard or read Dean's post match reaction but interested in who of the absent players today were injured or just overlooked.

Seems odd after being regulars in pre season neither Guliber or Targett started, Freddie travelled apparently although of course he could've had a knock.

Given we didn't send Davis on loan I find it odd he didn't make bench today ahead of Lansbury. Bit of a baffling one and considering he is decent holding on the ball that was a sub we needed to make for last half hour.

Obviously also need to get the two DMs up to match speed.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

Surprised Lansbury was on the bench ahead of Marvelous.

[kippaxvilla2]

I honestly think he preferred the full backs defensive experience must have been a reaction to Norwich.

[ChicagoLion]

Agree about Davis, he was the obvious replacement as Kodija was just awful.

[Risso]

Guilbert was just not picked according to Smith:

https://audioboom.com/posts/7338793-dean-smith-on-defeat-at-tottenham

Slightly concerning that he thinks not conceding many goals in the Championship run in is in anyway a reasonable basis for picking a team away at Spurs.

[danno]

Guilbert was just not picked according to Smith:

https://audioboom.com/posts/7338793-dean-smith-on-defeat-at-tottenham

Very slightly concerning that he thinks not conceding many goals in the Championship run in is in anyway a reasonable basis for picking a team away at Spurs.

Very concerning or slightly concerning? if Guilbert wasn't up to speed and ready what would be the point of throwing him in?

You've heard the cliches hundreds of times of settled teams, partnerships on the pitch, building understanding etc. Perhaps there's something in that, perhaps throwing three new defenders into a game away at Spurs was a recipe for a 5-1 instead of a 3-1.

Given how they defended for 60 minutes I think the decision was vindicated however concerning you think his justification was. That game was lost because of our front six, not our back five.

[john e]

Guilbert was just not picked according to Smith:

https://audioboom.com/posts/7338793-dean-smith-on-defeat-at-tottenham

Very slightly concerning that he thinks not conceding many goals in the Championship run in is in anyway a reasonable basis for picking a team away at Spurs.

Very concerning or slightly concerning? if Guilbert wasn't up to speed and ready what would be the point of throwing him in?

You've heard the cliches hundreds of times of settled teams, partnerships on the pitch, building understanding etc. Perhaps there's something in that, perhaps throwing three new defenders into a game away at Spurs was a recipe for a 5-1 instead of a 3-1.

Given how they defended for 60 minutes I think the decision was vindicated however concerning you think his justification was. That game was lost because of our front six, not our back five.

No but Taylor and Elmo are not good going forward they offer nothing in attacking or overlapping or
even passing out of defence so using other defenders who might be better in those areas could have given us more bite going forward

it's all right defending but retaining the ball as a team to take a bit of pressure of at times is also important and those pair struggle footballing wise

I just don't rate either as premier league players
if they are still are two first choice full backs in 10 games time or even sooner well have major problems imo

[danno]

I don't expect either fullback yesterday to be first choice come the end of the season but my eyebrow wasn't at a Roger Moore angle when they were selected yesterday.

Swings and roundabouts possibly but unless the ball was held up better by our forwards and not given away cheaply by our midfield three yesterday those overlapping runs were not going to happen.

[john e]

I don't expect either fullback yesterday to be first choice come the end of the season but my eyebrow wasn't at a Roger Moore angle when they weren't selected yesterday.

Swings and roundabouts possibly but unless the ball was held up better by our forwards and not given away cheaply by our midfield three yesterday those overlapping runs were not going to happen.

to be honest I was gobsmacked it fair took the wind out of my sails

I know they both ‘did a job’ but they are what they are and I thought we were moving on to a better level now

[taylorsworkrate]

Neither Taylor or Elmo did badly at all yesterday.

Still think it should only be injury that gets either of them into the team though.

[Mister E]

I think that the fullbacks were picked to contain Spuds, although I also think maybe that Elmo played in support of Trezeguet's debut.

[sirlordbaltimore]

No but Taylor and Elmo are not good going forward they offer nothing in attacking or overlapping or
even passing out of defence

What a nonsense. especially regarding Elmo. He gets forward and creates very well for a bloke of his age. You forgot last season already?

As for Taylor, i'm 100% sure he played yesterday because of his defensive discipline and he played very well IMHO

If we'd started with Targett and Gibert yesterday and they'd defended like they did against Leipzig we'd have been murdered. You can't have bombing on full backs against a team like Tottenham.

[West Derby Villan]

I think that the fullbacks were picked to contain Spuds, although I also think maybe that Elmo played in support of Trezeguet's debut.

Agree

[Chris Smith]

I think that the fullbacks were picked to contain Spuds, although I also think maybe that Elmo played in support of Trezeguet's debut.

I’m sure that’s exactly what it was. It was obvious that Spurs at home would push as back for long periods and it so we needed to retain our defensive shape. With fullbacks getting picked off further up the pitch I doubt we would have stayed in the game for so long.

[Malandro]

Yesterday we needed fullbacks that are good at defending and that have positional awareness.

If either Mings or Engels had a bad game yesterday, we could’ve had ten put past us.