Jol / Lennon

[Allwhite]

Dont get me wrong, I think Jol is a fantastic manager and wouldnt want anyone else at the helm, but I cannot see why he keeps taking Lennon off for the last 15 - 20 minutes of each game. Prime example is the Arse game on saturday, taking lennon off effictivley ended any of our attacking moves and basically our hopes of gaining 3 points. I know Jol wanted to defend the lead but with the likes of stalteri (who played well but was at fault AGAIN when it mattered for the goal) we cannot just sit back and allow teams to overrun us. Lennon could have been an outlet with his speed and jinking runs, especially with defoe not looking too bothered in the last 10 mins.
Not taking away anything from the teams performance though, Europe here we come!!

COYS!!!!!!!!!!!

[proto]

i think the argument is whats more important
- you got a lead, fact. make a substitution to best protect it, they might not score.
or
- make a choice to leave him on so theres a better chance of getting another goal if they might score or we might just score a second even

i agree it was a questionable decision in this case, but i think MJ was thinking we have 1 goal, if we try and defend that lead and they do score we're still in a better position to defend and keep it to a draw. whos to say if we'd kept the more attacking player on we might have conceded a second and that would have been 10x the disaster the relative success a draw was. i think he was just going with what he had in his hand already more than what he might not.

but saying that i'm not a big murphy fan, he's ok but i'm not convinced hes got the resolve he could have in a situation like that. if king was fit and playing he might have bought on a defender and moved ledly into a defensive midfeild role like hes played for england given the gameplan he chose at that point. that i think would have had a better chance of working, but our boy is poorly. basicaly i think the plan was sound , but we didn't have the best players available to pull that plan off perfectly.

but then again the fan in me wanted the win and i missed lennon too :p maybe defoe woulda been better given him not giving 100% but defoe i guess reamained the better target for a long ball or quick counter direct.

[Pogster]

i think the problem with Lennon is his fitness levels. Don't forget this is his first season in the prem and i don't think he is fit enough to play 90mins week in week out. thats wgy Jol subs him

[Houdini logic]

Who knows?
Jol knows Lennon better then we know Lennon, Jol is the manager, we are not qualified managers.

[JJ]

I think you should be taking the fact that he's an 18 yr old who is starting the majority of games. You honestly think he's fit enough to cope with that?

I've seen him calling for the substitutions himself. The poor boy plays at such high intensity he can't possibly keep it up for 90.

[Yiddo]

Cant blame MJ or AL for tactics. I agree with earlier reply that defend lead or extend lead both have pros and cons.
I think the real problem lies with out full backs. With the margins that decide games and qualification for Europe so tight we cant afford players who habitually foul up. I know that Stalteri and Lee both have their plus points and 2 or 3 years ago I would have been making excuses for them. Fact is they are no longer good enough for us and must be replaced asap.

[Welsh Spur]

I know it's already been pointed out, but Lennon is barely 19, give the lad a chance

[highlander]

Lennon even said himself that his fitness was suffering due to all the games he was playing, he needs to be taken off otherwise we couldnt use him as frequently as we do. the fact that we have 2 wingers out on loan and 1 always injured doesnt help the matter

[Chinaman]

Lennon even said himself that his fitness was suffering due to all the games he was playing, he needs to be taken off otherwise we couldnt use him as frequently as we do. the fact that we have 2 wingers out on loan and 1 always injured doesnt help the matter

The one that is always injured is also always overweight and under perform.

[highlander]

The one that is always injured is also always overweight and under perform.
yep very much overweight but i still like him and would like to see him play for us again.

[Welsh Spur]

Agreed, he hasn't fulfilled his potential, and he does have the potential to be a good player, also to score a LOT of goals...

[Chinaman]

Agreed, he hasn't fulfilled his potential, and he does have the potential to be a good player, also to score a LOT of goals...

Are you referring to Lennon or Porky? If it is the former, I whole-heartedly agree.