Something was said to me today that got me thinking.
Getting some shopping after work, an acquaintance said; ‘He, (Southgate) needed to play his strongest side, fittest, hungriest, every time, what
was he thinking?’. I found myself uttering a quick answer, a bit defensive, but
it made us both think? ‘maybe the squads for the world cup should be just 14
then if that’s the case’. Was my tart answer.
After a pause, he said; what about overplaying, injuries,
when we need replacements, yellow cards, knocks, that’s rubbish! My next question
then was; (and I realise I was still being facetious to a point), when would
you play the replacements then? Quarter final? Semi? First knock out?
‘NAA, don’t be silly, we only use them when the first
choices are fatigued, or injured’.
It occurred to me then, some people for the best of
intentions want us to win, but fail to see the bigger picture; In my opinion,
Trippier, Henderson, Stones (amongst others) Kane included have done well,
people simply believe that they should be away from home, in a pressure cooker,
play three tense games in an attempt to get out of the group, ‘’keep momentum’’,
win a round of sixteen game, a quarter final, a semi final and be ‘’hungry’’
for the final, Did anyone else see a few on the bench, strapped, using Ice, & rehydrating, stretching?
If an Eric Dier came out in the semi for his first game
after a month of no tournament football, make a clumsy tackle for a penalty, I
assume for some it would be ‘’I never rated him any way’’…
As an esteemed colleague said to me recently, ‘football is
about seeing the bigger picture, compromise and planning for what you want to achieve and by understanding the players in front of you’. The landscape changes, you need to look after those in your charge and in a
world cup, the opportunities for all your troops to enter the gladiators arena are
few & far between.
In my opinion, If we fail to beat a good Columbia side next Tuesday, having giving
players a rest, and others a chance against Belgium it will not have lost us the game. However, if we do perform, and move forward, we will be in a much better place and fresher for it.
