We need to talk about Branch.

I’m not sure I agree with the Kalimuendo example. He never looked great when he came on. Igor Jesus looks a much better goal scorer in Europe than he does in the premiership. He’s the same player but has way more time to take an extra touch in European games. When he tries that in the premiershipleague, he gets snuffed out. So you can argue that it’s about adaptation to both the team and the league.

Certain players look better under certain managers. Nuno refused to play (or speak to) Omari and he didn’t get much gametime under Ange but has looked good, particularly off the bench under Dyche. Similarly, even you will admit Sangare looks good in a Dyche side (with the notable exception of Friday evening). Luiz looked awful under Dyche but great under Ange (and Emery).

Exactly the point. Looked good elsewhere both before and after Forest. Is it the mystical aura of the Premier League that only the most special of players can survive in, or is it that we gave him a shit bunch of managers who for one reason or another weren't able or willing to best use him? I have my suspicions as to the answer.

You mean like, ooh, I dunno, playing a specialist right back on the left side so you can play an inexperienced centre half at right back while sitting a specialist left back on the bench? You mean playing to their attributes like that?

A few players are good enough to adapt to any side. Some are just very good in a certain system and rubbish in others. Our former flying wingers Johnson and Elanga are good examples of this.

Elanga played really well last night.

I don't think anybody but Dyche would have picked that back 4 with the players available.

And then kept them on for the start of the second half. For example, I don’t understand why Netz was ok for the bench but not to start or come on earlier?

You could change the above to apply pretty much to Abbott too.

Exactly, that logic might be relevant if you weren’t chucking in a 19 yr old CB at RB for his Premier League debut.

Can we all play that game?

You don't understand why an experienced top level left back didn't get to play left back and instead, 80 percent of the back 5 was disrupted? Nor do you understand that it might have been a good idea to bring on that top level experienced left at half time when the disrupted back 5 was looking piss poor?

Let me get this clear, you can think of absolutely no reason why Dyche is making poor decisions?

Isn't subjective framing fun!

Johnson has had very good games too since he’s left. Maybe they are finally working out how to play him, but it was only a few games ago he was getting booed by the best fans in the world.

I fully understand the argument. Thanks for repeating it. Several times. I just don’t agree with it.

Play a young centre back at RB for his first premier league start vs play a brand new LB who has >100 appearances in different league and keep one of your best players in his best position. I really don’t think the answer is as obvious as you think.

Netz is an experienced defender and, in my opinion, was a “less worse” option than the one he went with. This was evident after 2 minutes. The fact that he didn’t change anything until 75mins is baffling.

Also, your argument gets slightly shaky when bringing him on at 3-0 down.

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