Mourinho usually exchanged like for like, and made 2 changes (at most) to the side with a substitution. Also, Mourinho has his squad for the whole season, plenty of time to go over alternative formations, players in different positions, etc. Kerr (and any international manger for that matter) have 7 days at most to drill the players with the formation they want, set plays, etc, very little time to go over alternatives.
It wasn't just that it was one substitution, it was 3 changes that effectively changed the left side of the team.
- Kavanagh came on for Keane, and went into central midfield
- Kilbane moved to left midfield (where Duff had been running riot)
- Duff moved up front, to partner Morrison (had they ever been a partnership before??)
If Kerr was not convinced about Elliott's fitness after a week of training, what happened in the intervening 4 days to convince him to start Elliott on the following Wednesday?
Later in the same game, he brought off Reid, for Doherty. What was the point in bringing on a target man if he was taking off the best passer on the team?
Granted, we suffered an amount of bad luck with Andy O'Brien sent off for not punching their goalkeeper, and a header from outside the area going in, but Kerr only made it worse with those changes.
Bookmarks