Why didn't Bikey, Convey & Fae play, or Lita make bench?

[Royal Rother]

Very happy with 3 points; today that was all that mattered.

But I am very surprised that Bikey made way for Duberry again and that Fae didn't at the very least come on as sub, though I think most of us thought he would start today.

In the end I suppose Coppell's decisions were all justified by the end resulty, but (no criticsm of Rosenior) Convey chganged the game when he came on by all accounts.

Gunnarsson seemed (from commentary) to be somewhat off the pace, and, as fae had an excellent cameo last week, I'd have thought he would at least have come on for 15 mins again.

I suppose that not changing the personnel in the latter stages worked as we got the winner, but I am wondering what reasons Coppell has for choosing the team he did.

Oh and as for Lita - I suppose we all assume he's dropped to give the silly twat another reality check. Usually he comes back better after a spell on the sidelines so let's hope it works again. Otherwise come January he could be traded out to get another couple of new faces in.

[Millsy]

One thing I admire about Coppell is he has always had the balls to make surprising decisions and totally drop people or bring people in.

Whatever Coppell decides is good enough for me.

[Chaney]

sorry to disagree but sir Steve got out of jail big time today, starting Gunnar was a big no no for me, and so it proved to be, didn`t do anything of note in the whole game and crowned it by almost gifting Bent a goal, it was blatantly obvious for the entire 2nd half that we were struggling for a spark in the middle of the park (even though Harps manfully played his part..alone). we had 2.5m worth of talent in Fae on the bench but it was ignored.
the sub he did make confused me, why not play Convey in the position he is most happy?..Hunt was not doing a job there!!!

[chilipepper91]

sorry to disagree but sir Steve got out of jail big time today, starting Gunnar was a big no no for me, and so it proved to be, didn`t do anything of note in the whole game and crowned it by almost gifting Bent a goal, it was blatantly obvious for the entire 2nd half that we were struggling for a spark in the middle of the park (even though Harps manfully played his part..alone). we had 2.5m worth of talent in Fae on the bench but it was ignored.
the sub he did make confused me, why not play Convey in the position he is most happy?..Hunt was not doing a job there!!!

I was the same. However Gunnar was good for about 60. Then stamina kicks in, or rather in his case, deserts him... Coppell HAS TO SEE the Gunner cannot last 90 minutes!

I think Rosenior came off as a precaution, he had cramp. Though I agree Hunt did nothing at all. Rosenior and Convey next week for me.

[RG30]

What a fantastic covering tackle by Michael Duberry when Bent went 1 on 1 with Hahnemann, big moment in the game.

[rg6royal]

What a fantastic covering tackle by Michael Duberry when Bent went 1 on 1 with Hahnemann, big moment in the game.

ditto was an excellent last ditch tackle.

[Rawlie19]

Coppell said that Leroy hadn't played well this season, and he'd rested Doyle last week so wanted to start with him, and Kitson had scored last week so he deserved to start. So having made that decision about his front 2, he felt that Long offered more as a striker coming off the bench than Leroy did.

Fair enough comments if you ask me. I expect Leroy to start on Tuesday UNLESS he let himself down by arguing too much with SSC after being told he wasn't to be involved.

[URZZZZZZZZ]

Think Gunna had a shocker throughout, mis placed passes left right and centre. Im definately up for Fae playing a part if not starting. Hopefully, he'll get a chance Tuesday.

[PieEater]

Our midfield was dreadful and Gunnar had a poor game. I would have liked to have seen Fae on, but for now you've got to assume that Gunnar will start at Portsmouth.

[Avon Royal]

Coppell said that Leroy hadn't played well this season, and he'd rested Doyle last week so wanted to start with him, and Kitson had scored last week so he deserved to start. So having made that decision about his front 2, he felt that Long offered more as a striker coming off the bench than Leroy did.

Fair enough comments if you ask me. I expect Leroy to start on Tuesday UNLESS he let himself down by arguing too much with SSC after being told he wasn't to be involved.

What?

I would be more concerned if Leroy just shrugged his shoulders and said "whatever".

[PEARCEY]

Gunnar has to be dropped ...he nearly cost us the game during a second half where he went missing. Fae has to start as does Convey who was very very lively when he came on and looks very sharp to me..
Disappointed Bikey did not start although Doobs did save the day with a vital tackle towards the end.
We got lucky today and SC seems to be playing things in a far too conservative fashion and seemed very reluctant to make changes even though it was obvious the second half was drifting away from us.

[Victor Meldrew]

Particularly regarding Fae it strikes me as odd that we spend a year chasing the player,splash out £2.5 million and then don't play him.
The only thing I can think is that Bryn provides a slightly more physical presence but with shorties like Koumas,Brown and Skoko in and around central midfield I expected Fae to play and show us what he can do.

[Woodcote Royal]

I agree that Gunnarsson struggles in the last quarter of matches but it comes as no surprise that two darlings of the East stand in Murty and Shorey never get the same stick despite having few decent games between them this season.

Has anyone got more misplaced passes to his name this season than Murty

Leroy got what his recent form deserved by being effectively reduced to 4th choice striker whereas DLC must wonder what he's got to do to displace our very average right back.

Based mostly on what I've seen on highlight videos and his cameo up at Sunderland, Fae looks a class act in the centre and I would have no problem with him starting at Pompey.

However, Harper and Sidwell regularly failed to command their domain despite many seasons of playing together and I somehow doubt that Coppell is as critical of the current central pairing if he chooses to leave one of our most expensive signings champing at the bit.

[winchester_royal]

its amazing what a bit of class brings, when convey came on suddenly chances came, not just coincidence

rosenior impressed me, though he is not a winger

i could not beleive it when i saw gunnarsson on the team sheet, and it was even more unbeleivable that coppell didnt take him off towards the end

[Man Friday]

Responses:
1. It was not a tackle by Doobs - it was a block (just as miraculous though)
2. Rosenior was o.k. (nothing more) but looked out of sorts when attacking. Hopefully, he'll take Murts' place at some stage. (o/w a good Championship player?)
3. Bryn had a good game ON THE WHOLE but cocked up a couple of times (one almost critically) - think we're see Fae starting next week in his place.

[PEARCEY]

Agree with your comments Winchester Royal

[AthleticoSpizz]

Agree with your comments Man Friday

[Royal Rother]

I do believe that managers these days tinker too much with team selection and I suppose he may feel that bringing 2 or 3 new faces into the starting line-up would be a bit too disruptive. He may feel that we need a wide right player and Rosenior is the only senior who fits the bill at the moment so he's in.

We are okay-ish (some would dispute that though) in central midfield in that we have experience in Harper and Gunnarsson, and he may feel that he doesn't know enough about Cisee and Fae to bring them in as well as Rosenior.

Anyway, that's all guesswork but he obviously has his reasons and I would actually far rather the consistent team selection Coppell "inflicts" on us than the chop and change for every game type of policy favoured by some managers.

Bikey's regular omission is the one that I really don't get.

[winchester_royal]

in response to the bikey omission, i feel it was probably vindicated given that duberry was our best defender today

however i do beleive that bikey has more raw ability than any of our other defenders and inga has been poor for the last few games, so maybe it should be ingamarsson getting left out

[PEARCEY]

Bikey's omission also bemuses me. When Sonko is fit I would like to see Bikey alongside him ahead of Ivar and Duberry...