11 Sep 2021 00:37:41
I guess it was fun while it lasted. South American players have been cleared to play this weekend. Unfortunately that means we get to see more of Fred impersonating a footballer.

1.) 11 Sep 2021
11 Sep 2021 07:41:45
The mighty Fred is back, poor Donny.

2.) 11 Sep 2021
11 Sep 2021 07:50:02
He’s not in the squad. Surely too late to add him?

3.) 11 Sep 2021
11 Sep 2021 08:55:31
I think the only rule stopping Fred participating is after a team sheet is submitted 90min before the game. Ole said they have prepared without Fred, but hopes he would be available.

4.) 11 Sep 2021
11 Sep 2021 09:40:27
It could cause all sorts of issues. If the team has prepared to play without him then he shouldn't start.

It just throws all of that preparation out the window.

Plus Fred this season has been poor. Time to give others a chance.

{Ed014's Note - what, so everyone has forgotten how they play when Fred is in the team? ?‍♂️

5.) 11 Sep 2021
11 Sep 2021 10:09:35
Surely we haven't been preparing all week Shappy, it's only an uninspiring mid-table Newcastle side after all. :D

I think the Fred and DVB sagas will run forever, every day I come here to find another new Fred (sic) about one or both. It's an obsession. Throw in the Ole bashers and it's refreshing to come in to find something that isn't about one of those three things, so thanks Ronaldo for giving us something else to talk about. I suspect even if we win 10-0 but Fred starts, the latter will be the talking point.

BUT. as you say, Fred has been very poor indeed this season. I saw a passage of play in our last game where he gave the ball away three times within about 15 seconds. Obviously the constant bashing must get back to them, maybe it has an impact.

6.) 11 Sep 2021
11 Sep 2021 10:11:35
Trumours,

Squads aren’t announced or selected for football, the ‘squad’ you are talking about is just who arrived at the hotel last night. Fred can still play.

7.) 11 Sep 2021
11 Sep 2021 10:16:41
This is not the dog and duck. Professional teams don't work like that.

8.) 11 Sep 2021
11 Sep 2021 11:09:59
Too right Ken, professional teams have the best part of 100 members of staff from coaches, physio's, sports analyst's, dietitian's, sports psychologist's, and interpreters. All working together to analyse the opposition and our own players to formulate a plan to win the game and then work together to actualise that plan for the upcoming game.

1000's of hours of work goes into preparation for a match. So you're right it's not like the dog and duck, calling around for a few extra players then dropping someone out at the last minute because a better player turned up.

9.) 11 Sep 2021
11 Sep 2021 10:02:19
Ed014, obviously not. Fred's strengths and how he plays is different to other players. You can't just ask Donny or Pogba to step into the team and play like Fred. You set up the tactics to play to the players strengths.

The tactics of how you set up your team to play with Fred in midfield will be very different to how you set up with Donny, Pogba or whoever else.

Of course as an Arsenal fan I can understand your lack of tactical knowledge ??.

{Ed014's Note - my lack of tactical knowledge! You just write the bollox you read off the internet! ???

10.) 11 Sep 2021
11 Sep 2021 12:51:53
When did those 1000s of hour prep work begin for this match shappy? In your guesstimate?

11.) 11 Sep 2021
11 Sep 2021 12:57:54
So when players get injured in the last session or even in a pre game warm up all the 1000s of hours prep work are all out the window and we can't cope.
If a key players passes a last minute fitness test after not being involved in the weeks prep and not been expected to be fit he will still play more often than not.

12.) 11 Sep 2021
11 Sep 2021 13:56:05
Ken, it depends different people in different roles will start work at different times. The sports analyst's and opposition scouts for example have an on going job building up dossiers on opposition teams. Their strengths, weaknesses, key players, players in form, injuries, suspensions, tactics, etc.

Obviously managers need to make important decisions on the hop. While tactics can be changed multiple times during a game. The very best managers are the ones who can read a game and make tiny alterations in game. Like many of us it's as plain and easy to see what went wrong after the event. Great managers see the danger before it becomes a problem and makes the changes to mitigate it. Sometimes it's a sub, sometimes a change of shape or tactics, sometimes it's as simple as an instruction to stop an opposition player finding space or getting on the ball.

On the whole though you don't want to be making last minute changes in personal unless forced or unless they are so integral to your team that to not have them there seriously weakens your side.

I'd have thought with Fred being out the management would need to play someone who has a very different skillset and style to Fred as our other options aren't similar to him. Most likely Pogba or Donny will partner Matic.

How you set your side up, the instructions and patterns of play will be very different if Fred or Pogba are in your midfield to fit their skills. To make the most of each players strengths and their weaknesses.

Plus Fred is in poor form. So changing how the side is set up and the tactics to fit Fred is seems like a poor idea.