When the caf like a player any time they don’t play well it is because they ‘must be exhausted’ or something. To the point where Bruno had to respond to such claims directly last week and dismiss them, as did his manager.
A player that didn’t start our last game, but somehow Ole ‘got it wrong’ by playing him tonight? How so? In your own words he ‘put in a hero’s shift’, but as it didn’t come off, he needed rest?
I’m sorry you can’t see the obvious.
It’s possible that Bruno was fully fit but has suddenly become a shite footballer who can’t cope with Sheffield United, but it’s not likely. What’s more likely, and actually obvious, that we’re running Bruno ragged. Of course he’ll say he’s fine, but of course a footballer is never going to say publicly that he needs a rest, whether he does or not.
It’s the manager’s job to manage the minutes of his players throughout the season. All things considered Ole has done a great job of it, although I question the lateness of his substitutions and a few other things.
Bruno looked fatigued today, fatigue which results from extensive use over the last four months. He worked hard against Sheffield but his passing was not sharp and it’s above all his passing that makes Bruno an exceptional footballer. One example of his working hard was his attempt to close down the Sheffield attacker who scored the match winner, but there were other examples of hard work and from a fan’s perspective is very much appreciated.
Ole got it right against Liverpool by bringing Bruno on if and when we needed him in the second half. He should have done the same against Sheffield. That’s not just hindsight. Once the starting XI was announced a number of us lamented Bruno starting for this very reason. I made that exact point on the match day thread, that this was a match that Bruno should have started on the bench and brought on only if we needed him in the second half if we found ourselves in a close match. With all due respect, it was obvious to anyone willing to open his eyes that Bruno looked fatigued and should have started from the bench.
We know we have a more imposing opponent this weekend and Bruno has to start. What he’s got in the tank for Arsenal we’ll see, but we know that he’s just put in 90 minutes three days prior and 30 minutes three days prior to that, and loads and loads of games before that over the prior four months. And as many posters here have noted, the summer break was very short. And as many posters here have also noted, Bruno was running on fumes the last six weeks of the season.
Looking ahead, it’s hard to see when we can give Bruno a rest any time soon. This was the opportunity. And we saw the result.