You can pick over the bones of this game all you like, but the reasons why it played out and ended as it did have to be obvious. What passes for our second string ,is in the most part well short of where it should be. The Plymouth game proved that,,
We do have a decent first 15 but then it falls off a cliff. The problem being we have three or four injuries to the 15 any more and it really is scrapping the barrel.
Blame who you like but that team last night couldn’t get out of its own half because it just wasn’t good enough. Proof as at Plymouth was the introduction of members of the 15, on this occasion Hugh’s, and Ebbs, two of the 15 and a team with no teeth at least created some attempts on the United goal. A few more injuries and it could get tricky.

This is something that has intrigued me about this club for many many years; how we seem to accumulate players who, despite being incredibly well-paid, are basically hopeless. There are thousands of professional footballers out there, so how does this happen so perennially? You used Plymouth as an example. Their starting line-up was nowhere near their regular starting XI yet they were all over our (Premier League) reserves sprinkled with a few regulars. Lesser clubs seem to be able to "give it a go" in cup competitions against lofty opposition; why are we unable to do so? What do these players do to justify their status and salary?

Yes, I agree. I mean looking at the squad:
Naouirou Ahamada. Who you might say. Wikipedia says he his a defensive midfielder who plays for Crystal Palace and is paid £20k a week.
Riedewald - £45k a week and he is rubbish
Ferguson - £29k a week and has been on the panel since we signed him
James Tomkins - an invalid n £50k a week
Cliff Richards - £52k a week
It is baffling

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