Benching your best players

[riselikeasalmon]

Very risky decision, didn’t pay off, you want your game changers on the pitch

They will have wanted to have played and rightly be put out they aren’t

If I was in the team I’d want them to be in the team regardless that they and everyone else has underperformed so far

think we would have lost anyway the way we defended on the right but it’s another baffling selection error for me and the final nail in the coffin

 

[FINUK]

He’s asking for a payoff with what he did tonight - wanker

 

[unitedbhoy]

Obviously not on the same scale but has the feeling of Ruud Gullit / Shearer scenario at Newcastle all them years back

 

[Aganarama]

Obviously not on the same scale but has the feeling of Ruud Gullit / Shearer scenario at Newcastle all them years back

I was just about to post “Ruud Gullit says hello “!

 

[raimond]

A very brave move like when you're playing atrociously, bottom of the league without a point and barely had a shot all season, to drop your best players.

 

[bakeblade]

Very risky decision, didn’t pay off, you want your game changers on the pitch

They will have wanted to have played and rightly be put out they aren’t

If I was in the team I’d want them to be in the team regardless that they and everyone else has underperformed so far

think we would have lost anyway the way we defended on the right but it’s another baffling selection error for me and the final nail in the coffin

Like Starmer every decision he makes backfires

 

[john Mathison]

Where was Ings????? Is he injured???

 

[YES Blade]

I could understand dropping them for the new signings, but to drop Gus and Campbell and start Brooks and Cannon, who have been equally as bad, if not worse, makes the decision even more baffling.

 

[Blade82]

Just like wilder, It’s all Hamer’s fault. What sort of AI is the board and manager listening to?

 

[Eddie odd legs]

I think I know the tactics employed by Reuben Selles. It used to be called the "long ball" game where the ball was booted up the pitch & those nearest the ball when it landed were expected to score. In the dim & distant past it was called "kick and rush". Those were the days when a defender was expected to kick the ball ( & the man into row z). Nothing more , nothing less.
Unfortunately,for Mr Selles , defenders can control the ball much better nowadays. Someone should inform him that "tactic" was consigned to the along with safety toecap boots and leather footballs. Calling it "vertical" football is the language of a snake oil salesman.

 

[bath_blade]

Like Starmer every decision he makes backfires

Actually, probably more like Thatcher and the poll tax ... that worked out well!

 

[Thrice]

To be fair, I can sort of see the logic behind it. Arteta did it against Liverpool. (Didn't pay off for him either though).

Selles will have noticed that after a decent start the team was always losing momentum as the game went on and he probably thought that bringing on Hamer and Campbell at the 60 minute mark could provide that extra push.

 

[Innuendoandouttheother]

Inexcusable. Please let us get an experienced manager with proven Championship credentials in. Sorry Sellés but this is too big a job. Baffling decisions to bench top end Championship players. Hard to fathom why.

 

[kop blade]

may cost him his job

 

[kop blade]

crazy to leave best players on the bench it was a horror show 0.5 you had the tools you didnt use them correctly why didnt you make ben mee captain and play him it was a mistake it will may cost you your job i backed you not now you lost last chance friday your not for us you can win

 

[BrisBlade]

I can vaguely understand trying something different even if I think it's bonkers dropping your two dangerous players when you need goals. What I can't understand is waiting until you're three nil down to recognise it's not working.

I also can't understand not adjusting the tactics. It was clear from 15mins they were targeting Godfrey and the lack of impact our wingers were having made it like we were playing with 9.

 

[kop blade]

crazy to leave best players on the bench it was a horror show 0.5 you had the tools you didnt use them correctly why didnt you make ben mee captain and play him it was a mistake it will may cost you your job i backed you not now you lost last chance friday your not for us you cant win you said youd win but didnt do its just all talk

youve failed you said youd win every game in interviews you talk rubbish you cant win m8 your not for us blades because we like winning bye m8

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

What I can't understand is waiting until you're three nil down to recognise it's not working.

Weren't we 2-0 down when the subs were getting ready and that's when the third went in?

I wonder if they were benched as punishment for not trying during training or something?

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

Cannon starting when on deadline day he was meant to be off to Preston.

Couldn't fucking write it

 

[Linzip]

Very risky decision, didn’t pay off, you want your game changers on the pitch

They will have wanted to have played and rightly be put out they aren’t

If I was in the team I’d want them to be in the team regardless that they and everyone else has underperformed so far

think we would have lost anyway the way we defended on the right but it’s another baffling selection error for me and the final nail in the coffin

He wants to go - that can be the only conclusion from that selection and set up. His post match interview showed levels of delusion that even Adrian Heath didn’t reach. Sad that he couldn’t actually say we were terrible and he’s to blame and he resigns - but then why would he. He probably knows he will never get a job in the English game again and will need the cash he ll get from a sacking. Totally incompetent and totally out of his depth. Needs to go back to college coaching at best.

 

[Stanthemanfan]

To be fair, I can sort of see the logic behind it. Arteta did it against Liverpool. (Didn't pay off for him either though).

Selles will have noticed that after a decent start the team was always losing momentum as the game went on and he probably thought that bringing on Hamer and Campbell at the 60 minute mark could provide that extra push.

Not only that Campbell has been a shadow of last season and gus seems to be a guaranteed yellow card but cannon?? Ffs

 

[Berkshire Blade]

I genuinely don't think subbing them on at half time when we were still in it would have made us win.

With those two we still struggle have a shot on goal this season.

 

[The Hobott]

Actually, probably more like Thatcher and the poll tax ... that worked out well!

That was a shocker but I think the point is it's one stinker after another

 

[steve26272]

I could understand dropping them for the new signings, but to drop Gus and Campbell and start Brooks and Cannon, who have been equally as bad, if not worse, makes the decision even more baffling.

All 4 have struggled

The difference is Campbell & Hamer can deliver a match winning performance

Whereas brooks has the odd moment, and cannon is to football what Katie price is to natural beauty

 

[bath_blade]

That was a shocker but I think the point is it's one stinker after another

Fair point - I was taking it from the point of knowing that one is in trouble and making a really bad decision and then just sticking religously to the point and just digging a deeper hole ... I stand by the poll tax thing as a comparison, but thinking about it, possibly the current Mandelson episode could end up being similar.

Just being dogmatic, difficult situations clouding the mind, resulting in poor thinking which results in really bad decisions.

Basically, this has resulted in Selles having clearly lost the dressing room and has to go. Now. This is worse than anything else I've seen in a long time - even worse than Robson ... far worse ... which is going some!

 

[MKY]

You could tell from day 1 that something was seriously amiss. Lost the dressing room? I don’t think he ever had it to begin with. He’s got to go asap or we’re only heading one way this season. It’s already done as far as promotion goes.

 

[Rochdaleblade]

I wouldn't say that Hamer and Campbell have been our best players this season. They appear as uninterested and half arsed as the everyone else. I don't know if the rumours about them wanting to leave are true, but I would at least give Selles some credit for finally showing some balls, and dropping them if they can't do the job that he wants. The problem is that their replacements are at just as bad, if not worse.

 

[Cheets]

Ian Porterfield regularly benched Keith Edwards in 1985/86, which probably hastened Porterfield's departure. Mind you we did have Peter Withe at that time... (coughs)

 

[CopenhagenBlade]

I personally have no problem with him not playing the ‘best players’ if the best players don’t fit the system. Look at England this week without possibly 3 of the best players, Bellingham, Palmer and Saka, but we put in the best team performance. If you’re going to do it though, then you can’t be getting beat 5-0.
I also just think that he is an unlucky manager, though I also believe that you make your own luck. First goal yesterday is a good example. Midfielder makes a good block, ball goes directly over to their winger who has a 1 on 1 against a defence that isn’t set. 1-0 down and it’s suddenly a different game.
Didn’t we assist the final pass in all of their goals, or at least 4 of them, which is ridiculous