Slaven Bilic has told reporters post-match that it was difficult for Andy Carroll to get up to speed when he was thrown into the London derby after Michail Antonio pulled up injured. Internet rumours before the game suggested that Carroll took also took a knock in training and that was one of the reasons he was dropped to the bench on Saturday as a precaution.
Bilic was challenged why Carroll took so long to get into the game and gave away the ball which led to the first goal.
Bilic responded “Yeah but what can you do? The players are warming up, those who are starting are warming up better and a bit more but even before that, he was ok. When you put the player in that rhythm, a derby game, 100mph, the player needs a few minutes to come into the game but you can’t predict that someone us going to get injured.”
He didn’t have the pace to CE on and continue what we were doing tho Sahko tho no ones fav player we kept him he is always on bench and was best option yesterday.
Plus there was this all thing of score 6 goals and so many games and Bilic said he will give him new contract w higher wages in Jan. But can’t do that with 5m cameos. Im not his fan but he played against Bolton he wants to play desperately so I can kind of see Hugh’s agreement about not blaming him for wanting to go. When Bilic’s favourite is always AC when for but we have 3 fit strikers who all offer something different and to me Sahko was best fit. So if not going to use him tho I know the board ditn let him go bc squad is thin why keep him why not resever him and use Toni.