What is the real deal with Boca??????

What is going on the benching of Boca the last 3 games. I think Sanchez really needs to look at the back line and put Boca back in there. What do you think????

 

Bottom line is that the defensive results are no better with Stef in there. Boca feeds the offense better and is more of an offensive threat on set pieces. Also, what's up with making Boca captain for several games and then benching him. Starting to think LS is Bipolar.

 

Boca was "benched" three games ago because he accumulated too many yellows. So Hughes (arguably because of nepotism) was given the arm band. LS liked Steph's play and earned the starting role, thus relegating Boca to the bench.

I wouldnt say the defense has been worse in his absence, but it sure isnt any better.

 

I posted this elsewhere but I don't understand how a guy who earned the armband after Mac's injury is suddenly not good enough to start in Fulham's horrible defence. I mean, for f**k's sake, Baird started several games! C'mon! Boca is a leader and a strong presence on the pitch. He's been with Fulham for a while and has given the team his all. You can't tell me Stefano is doing any better than Boca. To me, it's almost a slap in Boca's face to be sitting on the bench now. I hope Sanchez pulls his head out of his ass on this one.

 

agreed.

 

That makes me wonder - is the Baird experiment over in favor of promoting Omozusi's continued development (or potentially a shot for Volzy to crack the lineup)? Or is he not playing because he's hurt or something?

 

not that i want to cite myself(see:January Transfer thread), but considering as how he's been replaced by an academy player...its safe to assume he's done.

 

Not sure I'm with ya on that one Don. My impression when we originally bought Baird was that yes he was a CB(because we needed CB's not RB's). But clearly Sanchez intended for him to be a RB all along, never once trying him at CB even in preseason as far as I can recall.

I remember one specific post right after we bought Baird by Mike about a conversation he had with two S'hampton supporters whom Mike told we intended to use Baird at CB. There comment was something along the lines of he'll do alright there but that he's really a RB.

 

Does this really mean the end for Boca on the line for the Whites?????

 

I think Boca is done until someone gets hurt or carded out. He's borderline Prem material. He plays just good enough, but doesn't shine and he does get burned by superior talent routinely.

Stefanovic was the captain at Fulham and apparently captained Yugoslavia/Serbia at some point. Hughes is NI's captain. Baird deputized. Everybody was a leader in the back so Boca doesn't get extra points for leadership skills.

He seems to be liked by the fans, but they all recognize he's limited in skill. So I doubt he has a long-term future as a regular starter for Fulham.

 

Why do you think Stefanovic is better than Boca?

 

I just think he is. He's more experienced, i.e., played at a higher level for a longer time than Boca. His positioning seems to be better. He's also taller.

Stefanovic won't be around for long either but he's adequate. Him and Hughes have played well together though. There's no signifigant difference between any of the 3 CB's, but Boca had to sit out and Stefanovic stepped up and is now there, and you just don't change your back four if you have to. It is just one of those things.

 

I'm a totally biased, Yank homer but I don't think Stefano has played any better than Boca. Furthermore, is that how you treat a long-time Fulham player who's given his all for the team? Maybe Sanchez sat down and told him what's going on, maybe Sanchez was fair about it. As bad as Fulham is playing, some changes were inevitable, I suppose. It still bothers me, though. I hope Boca's days at Fulham aren't finished just yet.

 

Stefanovic and Bocanegra are about as close to the same as any two players on the team, and are mostly interchangable, though I rate Mustard Man a bit higher. He had a good run of form when he first came on (at Sunderland I believe), but has slowed a bit recently. At his age, he may just need a rest.

 

I thought the defense played better when Boca was out, which is why I was happy LS stayed with the Stef/Hughes combo in the middle when Boca came back, but Stef hasn't been great lately. I agree there's not much to choose between the two.

But I definitely disagree that Hughes' selection is nepotism. He has been their most consistent defender this year.

 

Did you SEE the Everton game? :shock:

 

Everton are good and would have done the same thing to Bocanegra. There midfield is one of the best in the Premier League and could do as they pleased.

 

Absolutely right, imo.

There was a stat in the paper the other day: Boca is third in the entire league in percentage of passes that are 'long' - about a third. At the other extreme, a couple of Arsenal players were at around 5%.

Not that Sanchez appears to value ballplaying defenders, but Boca really isn't going to add much with the ball (aside from that nice habit of scoring from set pieces that he picked up last year). Stefanovic is solid enough, works well with Hughes, and does a reasonable job all in all. He was also terrific in the Reading game with young Nathan Ashton, helping him out all the way, talking, backing up, etc.

Add to this the infuriating lapses in Boca's game (many of which have been costly) and you can see why he's a backup again. This talk of being 'done' isn't appropriate; things change so quickly, someone'll be injured, and in Bocanegra will step again (as will Baird, who hasn't actually played that badly since the first few games of the season). It's a squad game these days, after all.