Manuel Pellegrini announced two changes to yesterday’s starting lineup when Aaron Cresswell and Andriy Yamolenko were left out in and replaced by Arthur Masuaku and Pablo Fornals.
Aaron Cresswell suffered a knock against Crystal Palace but on Thursday’s press conference the manager insisted he had no fresh injury concerns except for the long term injuries of Fabianski, Reid and Antonio. It now appears he was being economical with the truth with Cresswell missing some training this week. If he was playing mind games with Everton he didn’t work with Masuaku not having his best of games for the Hammers. Cresswell is expected to have a full week of training in the coming week and be fit again for the Sheffield United home game at the London Stadium.
Andriy Yamolenko was rested on the bench by the manager after two international games for Ukraine and came on in the second half when things started to go against us. The decision not to start Yarmolenko was a strange one given his current great form and the fact that Masuaku had played two full games on International duty but was deemed fit to play.
Sorry the decision not to start Yarmo was the correct one. He played two games in the past week or so, unless you want him injured it was the 100% correct decision. It is time to put Noble onto the bench, just too slow. We need legs in midfield. It is also time to start Fornals in his best position as an 8.
Thanks for the article. Methinks Pelligrini playing mind games with WH supporters. The political statements and lies are feally sickening. Pelligrini’s statements about Carrol and Reid’s fitness together with the Perez incident and now last week’s “all are fit except” …. really takes the cake. Not happy with this type of dishonesty. And never a regret nor apology for rubbish team selections and pathetic displays from Pelligrini ?????
Getting fed up of pellegrini and his little games.Masuaku is terrible at left back we all know that.Hundreds of players played 2 International games over the last week and were not dropped.Yarmolenko has been our in form player.Back fired badly on him.Tell you now.If things start to go badly against Sheff Utd (especially with the history between the 2 clubs) things could turn nasty very quickly for PELLE.
I and probably most fans really want to beat Sheffield Utd , I mean like really want us to beat them. The whole team need to step it up and I’m not having a knee Jerk reaction , there was nothing yesterday . No passion , no pressing, no closing down, no energy . The midfield were to slow and not close enough to Haller to support him so he becomes isolated . The defence was awful except Diop , we didn’t even look like a team . The lads need to attack and defend as a unit and show some flair in Midfield and up top. They all need to give 100% in every game no matter who we play . To win any game you have to work hard and do not underestimate any team a big mistake. So ladshave a chat with yourselves and sort your heads out wrong attitude yesterday and that’s not on . Your better then that so come on lads ⚒