Marti Cifuentes got it hopelessly wrong today
Posted: Sat Aug 10, 2024 6:02 pm
I thought Marti Cifuentes team selection today was wrong, we had players on that pitch today who looked
really out of their depth playing in the Championship.
The first gripe I had was the inclusion of Jimmy Dunne again at right back, Cifuentes got lucky towards the end
of last season by playing Dunne in that position. He is clearly not a full back and today showed that, he struggled
the whole game and their wide players had a field day on both flanks. Dunne is a very honest and committed player
without doubt, but he is a central defender and has been his whole career.
Kenneth Paal we are led to believe is on the verge of leaving the club, his performance today mirrored that of a
player who wants to play elsewhere. Why the club have not addressed the full back positions is really strange, as
we need full backs who are natural fullbacks and have the ability to play in that position.
Paul Smyth is another honest player who plays with his heart on his sleeve, but he is not Championship standard
and should not be starting games at this level. I think the club should be looking at loaning him out for the season,
he has had enough opportunities at QPR unfortunately for him he hasn’t delivered enough good performances.
On today’s performance Cook and Clarke-Salter were all over the place, Field and Colback went missing in midfield
and with nothing up front it was a very poor performance.
Marti Cifuentes has some big decisions to make in the coming weeks, Varane must start and if the club can get the
Karamoko Dembele deal over the line then he has to start too.
really out of their depth playing in the Championship.
The first gripe I had was the inclusion of Jimmy Dunne again at right back, Cifuentes got lucky towards the end
of last season by playing Dunne in that position. He is clearly not a full back and today showed that, he struggled
the whole game and their wide players had a field day on both flanks. Dunne is a very honest and committed player
without doubt, but he is a central defender and has been his whole career.
Kenneth Paal we are led to believe is on the verge of leaving the club, his performance today mirrored that of a
player who wants to play elsewhere. Why the club have not addressed the full back positions is really strange, as
we need full backs who are natural fullbacks and have the ability to play in that position.
Paul Smyth is another honest player who plays with his heart on his sleeve, but he is not Championship standard
and should not be starting games at this level. I think the club should be looking at loaning him out for the season,
he has had enough opportunities at QPR unfortunately for him he hasn’t delivered enough good performances.
On today’s performance Cook and Clarke-Salter were all over the place, Field and Colback went missing in midfield
and with nothing up front it was a very poor performance.
Marti Cifuentes has some big decisions to make in the coming weeks, Varane must start and if the club can get the
Karamoko Dembele deal over the line then he has to start too.