Substitutions

[JamieD 12,260]

Don’t get me wrong, Gerrard deserves a lot of credit just for the fact that here we are raging that we haven’t got two wins against a team who spent 100 million euros this season, when we feel we deserve them, and I would have bitten your arm off for two points from Benfica when the draw came out, but we are allowed FIVE subs in this tournament. Five. That is half the outfield team who can be replaced with fresh players, for a team absolutely dominating with a pressing game. What can possibly explain Gerrard’s reluctance to use them? Will he learn from this?

[Brackley Bluenose 3,332]

He’s done great but there’s absolutely no getting away from the fact but his game management in terms of changing the game from the bench needs a huge amount of improvement. It’s almost like he’s reluctant to use the bench been the same since he came in.

[soulboy 2,050]

2 minutes ago, JamieD said:

Don’t get me wrong, Gerrard deserves a lot of credit just for the fact that here we are raging that we haven’t got two wins against a team who spent 100 million euros this season, when we feel we deserve them, and I would have bitten your arm off for two points from Benfica when the draw came out, but we are allowed FIVE subs in this tournament. Five. That is half the outfield team who can be replaced with fresh players, for a team absolutely dominating with a pressing game. What can possibly explain Gerrard’s reluctance to use them? Will he learn from this?

Probably the fact he used subs last time against them and was same outcome, if it wasn't the cup game this weekend i'm sure he would have used subs. 

[cogsy69uk 41]

The lack of subs in a game like that is really annoying. It’s a good tactic to bring on a sub when you are under pressure, use the sub to break their momentum and give the opposition something to think about.  

[Goianegra 3,168]

Been my biggest criticism of him since he came in. It's like he forgets he's allowed to make subs at times.

[WATP84JRL 714]

We were screaming on for subs,  still in a fantastic position and would habe taken 2 draws against a good side before a ball was kicked, still feel the disappointment though 

 

[sergi1980 204]

After admitting in Portugal that he should have protected the lead i can't believe he's not made a sub at all. It shouldn't feel like a loss but it does. I'm gutted

[BridgeIsBlue 58,307]

Soon as Roofe scores subs should have been made there and then, we allowed them back into game because we were knackered. 

[STEPPS BOY 39,486]

He simply doesn’t trust most of those players sitting behind him.

[STEPPS BOY 39,486]

As for Zungu, if he’s not fit enough to contribute by January we should be ending his loan deal.

[ForeverAndEver 46,546]

Was like he was back to his first season managing us

[Prso's headband 23,496]

Tbh it looked like he changed that domestically we’ve used 5 subs a couple of times this season and used subs well in other games like Kilmarnock etc. So frustrating that over the two games we’ve not seen it out. 
 

To say he doesn’t trust the players on the bench is laughable considering they’ve all played at pressure points this season. 

[GaryMc 1,423]

I think he should've shored it up and went more defensive minded late on but his go to subs in swapping Aribo/Arfield and Jack/Kamara wasn't an option which I reckon player it's part.

[superallysbears 1,258]

Missed Jack tonight to come on and shore it up.

[tm91 2,827]

He's clearly progressed as a manager throughout his time here, we've clearly progressed a hundredfold in the past three years year on year, this season has been almost perfect - but it's easy to forget that Gerrard is still learning, particularly at the level Benfica represent. That quality of team is a challenge he hasn't faced with us. He tends to default to Rafa Benitez tactics, which on the whole set us up for success in Europe, but it also means he can be overly cautious. He seemingly doesn't make subs because he doesn't want to upset the team or change things up in case it backfires. 

He's been better at this so far this season in terms of knowing when to make subs but fell back on old (bad) habits tonight.

[psb07158 20,028]

If we were just going to sit so deep we should have at least brought Helander on and gone 5 at the back

This is the kind of shite he pulled in his first season managing us, the bench had 2 players we have spent the best part of £7m on 

[bluenoz 16,020]

Sometimes it is okay to keep things the way they are. The bench was weaker. The only one who could maybe have freshened things was Hagi. 

I was fine keeping it the same. It wasn't the reason for us surrendering the lead. Pizzi was - he made the difference when he came on.

[Malkytfp1 4,772]

I get people being irked by this, however everyman out there was doing his job tonight and I think that's why he was slightly scared to change things. Our system is so rigid that if one person isn't doing their job then the whole system fails. 

[psb07158 20,028]

3 minutes ago, psb07158 said:

If we were just going to sit so deep we should have at least brought Helander on and gone 5 at the back

This is the kind of shite he pulled in his first season managing us, the bench had 2 players we have spent the best part of £7m on 

£10m***

[STEPPS BOY 39,486]

8 minutes ago, Prso's headband said:

Tbh it looked like he changed that domestically we’ve used 5 subs a couple of times this season and used subs well in other games like Kilmarnock etc. So frustrating that over the two games we’ve not seen it out. 
 

To say he doesn’t trust the players on the bench is laughable considering they’ve all played at pressure points this season. 

Easy to trust them against Hamilton but he has tonights 11 plus Jack, Aribo, Helander and Mcglaughlin he really trusts for Europa.

[STEPPS BOY 39,486]

2 minutes ago, bluenoz said:

Sometimes it is okay to keep things the way they are. The bench was weaker. The only one who could maybe have freshened things was Hagi. 

I was fine keeping it the same. It wasn't the reason for us surrendering the lead. Pizzi was - he made the difference when he came on.

We paid 3 million for Hagi, 2.5 million for Itten. Does he really not trust them to replace tired players?

[Prso's headband 23,496]

Just now, STEPPS BOY said:

Easy to trust them against Hamilton but he has tonights 11 plus Jack, Aribo, Helander and Mcglaughlin he really trusts for Europa.

They’ve all played a part in pressure points of the season. Barker has played in Europe a few times as well. Massive overreaction to say he doesn’t trust the bench when Hagi, Barker, Helander and Bassey off the top of my head have all played in Europe under Gerrard. In fact Basseys best performance was Leige away so absolute nonsense to say he doesn’t trust them

[billscott 1,822]

27 minutes ago, BridgeIsBlue said:

Soon as Roofe scores subs should have been made there and then, we allowed them back into game because we were knackered. 

thats the point the midfield was knackered but who do you bring on we had no midfielders on the bench  

[pollok-bear 7,538]

Its very easy to say that now the game is finished that he should have made subs tonight.

When we went 2-0 up it was a game that benfica had most possession and we only really had 2 clear chances and took them so everything was going to plan at that point.

 

 

[gmcf 19,553]

Thought we could have stiffened up the defence once we went two up . 

They seemed to have a lot if space down our left hand side . An extra defender may have helped there.