Slaven Bilic has spoken of the fitness concerns over Dimi Payet during the game against Crystal Palace.
The brilliant French international scored another sensational free kick to take hisset piece to goals conversion rate to 50 per cent.
But afterwards the manager said: ““It was a brilliant goal. I expected him to try and bend it over the wall” My assistant, (Julian Dicks) he came to me before and I said I also scored one like that. I said no way!
But he added: “Maybe Payet wasn’t that sharp in the game because don’t forget he has had a couple of games for France that were everything for him but friendly games.
“It was very exhausting and again here he did everything but was missing that bit of sharpness. It is demanding for him psychologically.”
Payet returned from 2 tough internationals, and I think he disappeared in the 2nd half and feel he should have been subbed. I’m not a massive fan of Valencia; I was surprised to see him on the bench after possible jet-lag, but I thought he really ‘gave it some’.
But with Payet as a bit of a passenger in the 2nd half AND down to 10 men, it was too big a task.
With removal of the ineffective Saha for the 2nd half, I thought Palace were far more dangerous even before Kouyate was sent off…(So I don’t agree with Slav!…Oh dear, I can hear the torrent coming!)
Hopefully all the players will be more recovered from their internationals and we can give it a good go against Arsenal…who, like all our opposition this season, just come into form before we play them…yet we STILL do well! COYI!
PS – I was not happy with the MOTD commentator’s comment that if we don’t make the Champions league, Payet will be snapped up by a team who is….just like it was a natural assumption…Well I don’t agree! He’s signed an improved contract and absolutely LOVES it at WHU. He won’t be going anywhere…we WILL be in the Champs league anyway, won’t we lads? Ha! Providing refs stop robbing us!….
However, I don’t think Kouyate’s sending off was as CLEARLY just a foul or yellow as people are assuming. Whilst I do think it was a yellow, it wouldn’t suprise me if the panel justifyably see it as dangerous and wreckless…It COULD have been nasty.
Lets hope Dimi and the boys bounce back quick from the latest set back . If any one is interested i have predicted the final top ten placings for the PL based on form over the last ten games .
points from last 10 average games left total points
1. Leicester 25 2.5 6 84
2. Tottenham 23 2.3 6 76
3 .Arsenal 15 1.5 7 69
4. Man Utd 19 1.9 7 66
5. Man City 14 1.4 7 64
6. West Ham 16 1.6 7 62
7. Chelsea 20 2.0 7 58
8. Southampton 17 1.7 6 57
9. Liverpool 15 1.5 8 57
10. Stoke 14 1.4 6 55
This is as i say based on current form and is subject to all the usual vagaries such
as poor refs , injuries , dare i say luck etc etc . but at the moment we clearly need
to improve on our form if we are to crack the top four this season .If at the end of
the season we finish 6th i personally will be highly delighted at what will have
been a fantastic first season for Slaven and the boys , and there’s still the FA cup
to go for ! We are having a great season while at the same time being served some great football to watch .Where do you think we will finish Guys ? COYI
Make you about right there Pete,I know we will keep fighting for a CL place & it’s not beyond us but I think 6th will be our eventual finishing position.It will still be a fantastic achievement if we do finish in the top 6.Way beyond my expectations this season.
Manure can’t keep getting lucky breaks,I still think we will finish 5th but that will need 3 points this Saturday,
Valencia should be fit ti replace Emineke,I would play Carrol from the start against there soft defence,
if Kouyate does not make it Obiang should sit infront of the defence,
Tomo or Byram in right back place is a must,
We can beat the Gooners on form not just by luck
The only luck we need is to get a ref with two eyes, an open mind and a much smaller ego.