Smith’s been deputising fairly well for Dan Hall. That’s a lot of ‘been there done that’ calmness to have available.
Plus this is a hypothetical exercise by the rules above. Smith’s in. It’s the rules.
I think Hughes has been impressive and I’d rather have him in than options I haven’t seen. He can step out of defense. He’s scored from a set piece. He’s got a good mentality. It’s my selection. If we want to go 3 at the back then we have the players. Then Rufer and/or Bell can sit a bit higher etc etc.
And if we get down to a crunch moment I’d rather see us control possession, take the opposition out of the game and have space for our attackers, rather than just have a gaggle of poorly matched options up front. Nothing is clearer than Kosta and Zawada if you feed a striker the way they prefer they’re guna do better for you.
Plus it’s something to keep it interesting for me rather than just selecting who I think Bazeley would select.
Also good players are going to score own goals sometimes. If there’s a hard flat cross between you and the keeper to someone ghosting in at the back post you can either leave it because ‘nothing I can do’, or try to get something on it to put the player off, or get it over the bar. It’s a difficult choice that goes wrong sometimes if you take it. But it’s goal every time you leave it.
Plus if we’re using the currently playing 90 minutes regularly for a parsimonious defense at a good level, that’s what Hughes is doing. Not as many games and as much endurance required as league one, but not to be underestimated either.
Plus this is a hypothetical exercise by the rules above. Smith’s in. It’s the rules.
I think Hughes has been impressive and I’d rather have him in than options I haven’t seen. He can step out of defense. He’s scored from a set piece. He’s got a good mentality. It’s my selection. If we want to go 3 at the back then we have the players. Then Rufer and/or Bell can sit a bit higher etc etc.
And if we get down to a crunch moment I’d rather see us control possession, take the opposition out of the game and have space for our attackers, rather than just have a gaggle of poorly matched options up front. Nothing is clearer than Kosta and Zawada if you feed a striker the way they prefer they’re guna do better for you.
Plus it’s something to keep it interesting for me rather than just selecting who I think Bazeley would select.
Also good players are going to score own goals sometimes. If there’s a hard flat cross between you and the keeper to someone ghosting in at the back post you can either leave it because ‘nothing I can do’, or try to get something on it to put the player off, or get it over the bar. It’s a difficult choice that goes wrong sometimes if you take it. But it’s goal every time you leave it.
Plus if we’re using the currently playing 90 minutes regularly for a parsimonious defense at a good level, that’s what Hughes is doing. Not as many games and as much endurance required as league one, but not to be underestimated either.