Leyton Orient (A) - Sat 8th Feb, 12:15 | FA Cup | Pre-Match Thread

[paulchapo]

FFS PEP AGAIN

rushing Dias back, and no Khusanov against 3rd tier club is fucking crazy

He's not exactly been rushed and he needs some minutes before Madrid.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Great to see Mcatee in the middle again. Seems like pep is trusting him more.

 

[Silva&Silva]

Something odd going on there.

Definitely off in the summer.

 

[Crooked_rain]

Hope Haaland doesn’t have a knock.

Unusual for him to not be in the squad.

Unusual but probably just got given the weekend off i reckon

 

[Utter bobbins]

FFS PEP AGAIN

rushing Dias back, and no Khusanov against 3rd tier club is fucking crazy

Shut up

 

[Blue Abroad]

I get that he wants Reis with Dias because they both speak Portuguese. But at the same time, I thought the whole point of spending £60m on two new defenders was so that we can finally stop playing unfit players or risking players that are back from injury too soon etc. Yet here we are risking Dias against Leyton Orient, just days before Real Madrid. Khusanov should be playing tbh. If we can only play Reis with a Portuguese-speaker and Khusanov with absolutely nobody, then maybe there were better options on the market.

I think it is possible that Pep does not want Dias’ first match back to be against Real.

 

[skillman]

Excited to see Reis. Dias is a calculated risk before Tuesday, get minutes in his legs before it IMO.

Shame, as wouldn’t have minded seeing Khusanov again!

 

[Dr Jacoby]

No Carson again FFS.

 

[MichaelFrontzeck'sBathroom]

I think it is possible that Pep does not want Dias’ first match back to be against Real.

That’s fucking ridiculous if true, he’s our best CB by a mile. I know he needs match fitness but it’s a big risk

 

[supercity88]

Not sure what the whingeing is about. Got to balance winning this game with being ready for Real. Dias needs minutes and Khusanov will come in for him at some point. Equally Speedy, Reis and Marmoush benefit from minutes on the pitch with the team.

Happy with that personally. If we can rest Akanji for the full game it would be beneficial. Still think we will want him at RB if possible midweek.

 

[Silva&Silva]

Hopefully the new boys help stick it to that rag manager.

 

[Blue Til Death]

Good to see Jack get a start.. Hope he has a blinder …

 

[Xhavenjoe]

I started thinking "how is Gonzalez not even in the squad?" because I saw "O'Reilly, Nico" and it took me about 20 minutes for my brain to realise that was two people.

Pamela Anderson and her son are 2 people.

 

[jimharri]

Good to see Jack get a start.. Hope he has a blinder …

Same. I hope all of them have blinders.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Not a bad team and should have enough quality in it to get the job done. Very curious to see how that midfield performs.
Just a hesitation — that back line might be asking for trouble, no? Unless I'm very much mistaken, they've never played together as a back line.

 

[yankblue]

It's 5:30 AM here and my brain is barely functioning. Which I guess isn't exactly new, but excited to see the new boys.

 

[Worzel Gummidge#9]

Wanted Smiler to start at the back, he’s had no minutes since the Chelsea game.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

He's not exactly been rushed and he needs some minutes before Madrid.

Almost certainly Pep's thinking.

 

[havefaith]

I started thinking "how is Gonzalez not even in the squad?" because I saw "O'Reilly, Nico" and it took me about 20 minutes for my brain to realise that was two people.

Thank you you saved me 18 mins till I sore your explainer :-)

 

[walker_is_faster]

Not sure what the whingeing is about. Got to balance winning this game with being ready for Real. Dias needs minutes and Khusanov will come in for him at some point. Equally Speedy, Reis and Marmoush benefit from minutes on the pitch with the team.

Happy with that personally. If we can rest Akanji for the full game it would be beneficial. Still think we will want him at RB if possible midweek.

Also maybe Pep didn't want to put Reis and Khusanov together because of communication.