Olblueeyes1960 wrote:
I'[m still not quite in the Sam out camp, but he is testing my stubbornness. 4- 5-1 with Zarate (5' 10") as lone striker, no midfield support, doesn't suggest to me that anything's going to change. I hear what everyone says about friendlies being meaningless, but if that is how he's going to use Zarate, then we'll have problems. 1 attempt on goal yesterday? I really hope our fitness levels are high, as we're going to be doing a lot of ball chasing again this season.
Prediction - so long one of Cole, Valencia and Carroll is fit you will never again see Zarate leading the line with as little support as he had on Sunday.

[Not that 6'4" Cole had sufficient support either on Saturday].

Your fitness comment just sparked a little something in my mind... I am all for conceding possession if that means we defend solidly and attack quickly... but there does have to be a limit.  I'm not sure any midfield ever has been fit enough to run around between the 18 yard an half way lines for most of the 90 minutes and also do 50 yards and back at pace when the odd attack happens.  That energy expended running around must be limited (I dunno, happy to let the opposition have 60% possession, but no more might be a reasonable target) and some of it must happen in the opposition half so occasionally we don't need 4 players running 50 yards or more in order to get in and around the box, occasionally those runs only need to be 20 or 30 yards.

And the other thing.  No offence to Cullen and Whitehead but FFS... how much easier is it to get forward when you are an established, experienced player and you know your fellow midfielders are the same?