I don't think that Jose has completely ruled Izzy out. Maybe he's trying to motivate him to roll his sleeves up and show his true worth to the team. It would be a good start if the lad could stay fit. Must say, whilst Jackson and Mills are both ruled out for tomorrow's game I'm pleased to see that Pinnock is in the squad and could well start.
For all they are both legends in their way, I don't think Izzy or Hammill have been anything like as effective in the Championship. I agree with Wakeyred that out and out wingers are probably an unaffordable luxury in the modern game - at least at Championship level. So far, on an admittedly very limited sample, Jose's points yield would have given us 61 points across the season (4/3 x 46) whereas pre-Jose we were on a schedule for 41 points (28/31 x 46). Believe!
I think far too much is been read into Jose's comments. On the face of it they do seem a little odd however I think he is merely stating that Isgrove has little to offer in the current tactic and formation. He sort of suggests that once he becomes useful in the way we're looking to play, he'll remain out of the team. To me that's an invitation for Isgrove to try and become useful as part of a front 3.
Then all he had to was say that rather than a load of avoidance answers and then getting annoyed with the interviewer when they are trying to check what his the answers really meant.
In fairness To Jose , the interview was a pre match interview about the Cardiff game , the interviewer was like a terrier with a bone , he kept on & on about Isgrove & plus he was firing the questions at rapid speed which Jose has to translate before giving a response , therefore I have sympathy with him & he actually handled it o.k
I agree. It seemed to me that while Jose may not be happy with Izzy's current performance levels in training and or outlook, he probably didn't want to air that in public - which must be right.
I agree we'd blown it at Hull as soon as Thiam & McB came off, and Moore was left in a hopeless situation on his own. That is when we desperately needed Hammill, Isgrove, Hedges, or Mahoney out wide to offer some threat. I wish we'd put players in the positions related to why we signed them in the first place, and in the case of Potts & Moncur for example, this is NOT out wide!.
If you are coming in to try & keep a team up in the championship, having a highly motivated, physical side that is well organised is your starting point. It was exactly what Flitcroft did in his great escape. I really like Izzy, but you have to let a new manager do it his way. Isgrove was woeful vs Burton & fully deserved to be dropped. I think he could play in a 4-3-3 in the same position as Thiam, but Thiam has the shirt at the minute. Jury is out on Knasmullner & Mahoney. Morais will have seen them all in training. He's not going to have Isgrove, Mahoney & Knasmullner all on the bench, when he needs replacement keeper, central midfielders, defenders & strikers, so at the minute Izzy is going to have to work his way back in.
Id totally forgot about Knasmullner already!. And some Blackburn fans told me that Mahoney is a hometown player, and his questionable attitude is probably why his career has gone downhill since leaving them. Sounds a lot like Mowatt & Leeds doesn't it.
Anyone that’s seen Mahoney knows he’s no better than Isgrove yet he’s made the bench. Hanmill is better than Mahoney also. Just an odd way to treat players at some point we are going to have to try and peg back a deficit our current line up from the bench doesn’t give us much options. Which is great if winning or drawing.
Whether something has happened and been said between Jose and Hammill & Isgrove, well I think its doubtful. But it does annoy me to see us keep giving preference to temporary loanees like Mahoney, ahead of our own longer term players who are surely a better option.
Thought Jose handled it well personally. He doesn't see him as an option at the moment. Quite clear to me is that. Regarding comments about Lloyd Isgroves perceived attitude, I recall posts made around the time of Jose's first training sessions which were linked to photo's showing players looking confused and unhappy. One photo showed Lloyd Isgrove on the end of the group and his body language and stance was one of someone who wasn't an integral part of the group. His last performance also seemed to indicate that. Maybe he isn't able to come to terms with the changes around him yet. Patience will be required all round.
Personally don't see what Jose said or did wrong. I thought he answered his question but the journo wouldn't let it go so he politely asked him to get back to the team. Fair enough for me