05 Jan 2025 20:46:02
I don't know how many on here watched Enzo M' s post Palace match press conference where on questioner asked him about his use or lack of use of substitutions. EM'S slightly concerning reply was thst he only makes them when he feel a player is tired ( presumably aldo if injured of course) and then it would be a like for like ie Guiu for Jackson or Madueke for Neto late on v Palace. Did he really mean this? If so it would seem very odd and worrying if he is virtually ruling out tactical substitutions? Do listen to hi.
05 Jan 2025 21:27:44
JBS, I seem to remember a change of shape substitution earlier in the season but like a lot of managers most do seem to be like for like.
I haven’t seen his press conference but I note that a few journalists have produced articles on this subject and particularly EM.
My guess is, if we win games it doesn’t become a question.
05 Jan 2025 21:45:55
JBS, I’m a bit tired of how things are going- sub me off.
06 Jan 2025 07:56:43
Nice one Jimbo and have quite often been thinking the same lately! Tom I agree subbing like for like most common but reckon that best tactical managers use subs for successful game management and I've not seen much of this in recent games from EM though yes I do also recall that time EM used it t9 good effect. which raises the question of why he hasn't been a bit more pro active again when needed.
06 Jan 2025 08:32:23
JBS, I agree it does beg the question. The most recent one for me was the Fulham game and the Gusto/ Neto disaster show. I will go one step further, given Fulham had given the scousers a roasting using Iwobi and Robinson you might have thought we would be aware of there major threat.
The manager is learning with a young team is the only thing that springs to mind and that’s why the Bournemouth game will be interesting as they were all over us at there place. Has our manager learned anything?
06 Jan 2025 10:55:05
Well put Tom and yes I agree that EM's tactical inaction in the Fulham game was extraordinary and would alo have thought he needed to make some subs beyond like for like and earlier in the Palace game after we had failed to add to our score two-thirds into it. The Ipswich starting line-up went too far in terms of number of changes in starting line-up followed by sue of all five subs, though bad luck in terms of soft pen gibve away and such anarrow offisde ruling v Felix goal. and Felix was lively and has perhaps deserved a little more game time. eg subbing for Palmer who had begun to look tired on 65-70 min mark perhaps v Palace. Chucky doesn't seem to feature in EM's plans/ tactics at all nor does Casadei any more, and there others who could have been used a bit more from our 'B' side in EPL. Doubtless many/ most will play versus Morecombe on Saturday. But iff subbing like for like is about tiredness for EM on the day in EPL I'd think it should also be a matter of thinking about this over the season as a whole as using more of B side to sub in for even not obviously weary legs on the day at suitable times even before last four games.
Also agree that how we fare in the Bournemouth return game next Tuesday could be a good indication of progress or otherwise of EM as a manager of an EPL team.