06 Oct 2014 20:23:27
.rumours flying around tonight that Sylvain Distin has either left the club or taken a period of time out to stay away from Finch Farm after being heavily critiqued by Roberto Martinez after the defeat to Swansea in the Carling Cup. just when things couldn't get worse, we now appear to have dis-harmony creeping into the squad as well.

I hope this is not true. The Swansea game was terrible granted, but although Distain has not been at his best this year you have to consider that he is probably in his last professional season and we can't forget the previous seasons he has been excellent for us would hate him to leave under this type of circumstances. Plus this would mean playing Jagielka and Alcaraz while Stones is out, we should really have kept Duffy in my opinion.

It's good for the hair though apparently. Distan was poor and if he doesn't like the manager having a go at him tough. It's time Bobby got stuck in to a few others IMO.

Distan is 37, and although he has not been at his best, he is far from the most guilty in our defensive. He is the most dedicated players, first in, and last out in training, and his fitness level in way ahead of player much younger, that type of commitment would not go amiss with LUKAKU, and several more who are earning big money for being 70% or less fit.

But look at home many conceded goals he contributes to - he's often the person who screws something up in the penalty area - he panics and just lashes his feet at the ball when he doesn't need to and it often bounces into the wrong area and we concede a goal

He's been a liability for a while now though he did a good job for a few years and like he said himself we are a club who couldn't afford better than him at the time

It does make me wonder though how much fitness vs skill is important in determining whether someone makes it as a pro footballer - I mean he really has quite limited ball skills doesn't he?

I think your being a it harsh on him. He has been a stand out performer for the past few years he's a no nonsense old fashioned defender. He was a pivotal part of why we got in Europe. I have major concerns about what we do for the next few games I would rather play hibbert centre back (if colemans fit) than Alcaraz

The fact is with jagielka now 32 and Distin 37, that there is no way that Duffy should have been allowed to leave the club without being replaced

Not sure it's fair to just keep players like Duffy sitting on the bench year in year out just in case you need him once in a blue moon if you've got 3 cb injuries at once

But we did replace Duffy when we signed Brendon Galloway in the summer. If these rumours are true, then Brendon is a better prospect than Alcaraz.

I was told by my Wigan buddies that Martinez would have an initial buzz but his training methods and philosophy would eventually having us scoring goals but also conceding many. That now appears to be coming true. Unfortunately Roberto is similar to Moyes in as much as he does not have a Plan B. I am old School in as much as I do not care how we play as long as we win and 1-0 every time would do for me.