Roberts was back in training 3 months ago, he might not be sharp, but he'll be fit, I fully expect him to be playing.
I'd not be shocked if some of the out of contracts don't play, but I don't believe for a second that the club are struggling to scrape together 11 players.
With respect your Roberts example makes little sense as City extended his loan with us 3 weeks ago.
If he or city did not want him risking any further injury then they would have not extended his loan.
Braithwaite thought we'd won the league when he signed, he was already portraying himself as a hero. Don't get me wrong, I liked that he was sending positive vibes from the moment he joined and that he was trying to fit in publicly. But at the same time, there was an air of one inevitability in his mindset; we were going up and he was gonna be a big part of that.
Was he mismanaged? Of course he was. We spent so much money that summer to give our manager the squad he needed to get us promoted. Yet between the club and Monk, there always seemed to be some different expectations of the team.
I had a friend who was a Rangers season ticket holder in the 90s so I watched quite a few games at Ibrox. Brian Laudrup is one of the best players I've ever seen live, the league wasnt great in Scotland but even still he was unbelievable.
It's a shame he was a bit past his best when he came to England.
Can't see any reason why the loanees wouldn't feature, barring a lack of fitness or injuries.
If they were unwilling to play for us, they wouldn't have been loaned back by their clubs.
You are probably more or less right in everything you write. In hindsight I would have liked to see a 4-4-2 with Braithwaite and Bamford up top and spending the Britt/fletcher money on a decent left winger and fullbacks
Regarding Braithwaite, hope everytime he scores for Barca or gets an assist, its not a stick to beat the club with.
When Barca signed him the whole world was shocked and rightly so. However now he there its important to remember he is playing as a forward for one of the best attscking teams in the world alongside the greatest player most of us have seen. Therefore the chances of him scoring and assisting at barca are much greater than they would be at Boro. They would be even for anyone, even us folk who are not pro footballers.
And lets not forgot even before Pulis arrived, Braithwa
I think you should keep telling yourself that as you are absolutley correct in that friendlies are literally just for fitness and for management to try things. No points are awarded for them and there no progress towards anyone final.
If we lose v Swansea and thereafter then you are well within your rights to criticise and moan. But i would advice not to waste that type of energy over friendlies.
GK - Jussi Jaaskelainen
DF - Sami Hyppia
DF - Herman Hreidarsson
DF - Gudni Bergsson
DF - Ivar Ingirmarsson
MD - Gylfi Sigurdsson
MD - Johann Berg Gudmundsson
MD - Teemu Tainio
FW - Jari Litmanen
FW - Eidur Gudjohnsson
FW - Teemu Pukki
The best Scandinavian team that Premier League money could buy â
They might have not had much choice in the matter.
Take Roberts for example, Coming off an injury not fully fit and certain to be playing for a different club next season. You can see why he wont feature
From what Ive heard is we are struggling to put together a coherant 11.
Theres a lot of players who wont feature despite training and its not just the out of contacts and loanees.
The club are being too soft imo
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