I was not that surprised, after seeing Allen and Gerrard playing as such, and Shelvey & Downing on the left...
... It's BR who has shot himself in the foot, overconfidence and ridiculous team selection IMO.
I guess that answers the question: Who shot B.R.?
Team selection: It's a difficult one, for me, this because the team that I saw on Saturday controlled the ball, dominated possession and created enough chances to have won the game. So that, coupled with the players he has at his disposal, leaves me thinking that I'm not so sure that Brendan got the
selection wrong.
However; as fans most of us tend to just look to the end result then either criticise or praise. Take last week - this board was bouncing and full of joy yet... Downing had played most of the game at left-back; "Gerrard and Allen were playing as such" and Shelvey was playing out of position. No complaints then. Why? Because we won.
When we are losing or have lost it's natural to be angry. It's natural to lash out at "wrong substitutions" or "team selection" because that's the easy thing to look at and all without recrimination. After all we can all give our suggestions on where he went wrong with the added luxury of never being proven wrong ourselves.
We don't and never will know, for example, if the players who
we "would have selected" would have done better; if the substitutions
we "would have made" would have won the game so it's very easy for us (myself included) to sit and snipe... after the fact.
Saturday's result was a big, F**k-off, slap in the face but the test comes after that. Not on how we, as fans, will respond but how Brendan and his limited squad react to and learn from the game and any mistakes.
We have been badly let down by an ownership which does things ad hoc and (although they may try to bull-sh*t us different) has had no clear plan/strategy. By "we" I mean the fans; the players and the manager. I'm going to stick my neck out here and suggest that most of us saw us as having to tread water until January... I certainly did.
When Brendan was unable to get three of his 'transfer targets' (names are unimportant), two due to budget constraint, I expected, tho' hoped against, some rough times and some sh*te results as he had to "mend and make do". So no real surprises there.
The thing is (and I can only talk for myself); until Brendan is supported by the owners I can't pass judgement on him proper. Has he shot himself in the foot? Nah... not yet.