A lot of sense in what you say. Having stayed with friends in Carlisle at the weekend and going to watch them lose in the last minute against Yeovil, just made me realise that even with all our present difficulties we’re not in such a bad place. Something tells me that whilst we will have more difficult matches ahead, much frustration etc., this squad with perhaps a decent loan or two on January will get going at some point. Confidence where needed is not there yet, had the flick from Lemina gone in, may have completely changed things. Football is like that. Biggest relief for me on Saturday was seeing we had not lost to Newcastle and kept another clean sheet. I know all the ‘it’s only NU etc’ but we have in the past lost THOSE games too! Hopefully my half full glass of life will overcome the temptation to see a half empty one!! We’re not relegated yet!!
I know we are relegation candidates, but I too think there are enough worse teams than us to keep us safe. Clean sheets are a good basis for a win...if only we get a smidge of things going our way. We need to get a settled defence....the problem there is that we have too many OK-ish players and this results in things being switched around. May be hard on some CBs, but Hughes should decide and stick...not change again after a poor performance. Give a pairing a decent run and they get used to each other and the other defenders.
Gabbiadini makes runs that Austin doesn’t seem to even see. There were a couple times, Saturday, when he made runs between the CB and full backs, inviting the through ball to put him clear, but it either didn’t happen or the pass wasn’t good enough to split the defence. I would like to see him partnered with Ings, for a few games, as they both tend to move around a lot, sometimes coming short to link play, other times running the channels. I think they could compliment each other’s game. I have no problem with Redmond as he has been much improved this season and, dare I say it, has looked good linking with Bertrand on the left, simply because he holds the ball long enough to allow Bertrand to overlap. He also offers some excitement when he runs with the ball. Long will probably be recalled for Saturday, as I can see us going with three CBs, and using Long to provide the nuisance factor. Two goals in his last 64 games, for club and country, does beg the question as to why he is still playing at this level, and that comes from someone who loves his commitment and endeavour.
I agreed with Ian’s post bar his assessment of Gabbi in that game. Sure his shooting was rusty, but he looked effective and dynamic when he came on (though my view may have been coloured by comparing him to Austin).
Strikes me our forward players and midfielders are not communicating with each other. The number of times a forward has been open to a ball into space for them to run onto and not seen/ noticed/expected is un believable. You will see them practicing one touch football but you rarely see it during a game. Not to mention holding a ball and moving forward to make a defender open up a space. Broadcasting their passing direction. I could go on.......I’m sorry to say the team are a mess at the moment. I’m beginning to despair for our future in the premier.
He did one fabulous turn and then slipped a ball into the box for an on running team mate. Charlie has started 4 games now I think - let’s try starting Gabbi for 4, not just one and then dropping him because he doesn’t score.
I see your point, but has Austin started 4 in a row? The issue with having so much averageness in the squad is it makes it very easy to chop and change if you don't get a result as everyone is much of a muchness. Unless your name is Yoshida who clearly has wronged Hughes in some way as he hasn't had a look in
For me he sometimes looks keen when he comes in as a sub but looks totally out of form when given a starting position. I like Long who gives 100% but would tend to off load both Austin and Gabbi. The disappointment for me was that we squandered the money we had on Carillo who was clearly inadequate. I recognise that decent strikers are at a premium but find it hard to believe that there are not others out there who are better than what we have. Ings does look good at the moment yet he is prone to injury. If he gets crocked, everyone can see we will be in trouble. What I find interesting is that the lack of goals has been a problem for 2 and a half seasons yet the signings have all been midfielders. I don't known why we have so many goalkeepers! It is clear to every Saints fan that we should have been addressing the forward line when Puel was appointed. It is hard to believe that Long appears to have been with us for such a long period. I am hoping that we will have a new front line next season. We probably need to off-load Austin, Long and Gabbi as well as Gallacher if he isn't good enough. However, the latter is so difficult to call. I thought he looked promising until he got injured and reminded me a lot of Rickie. I am surprised he hasn't been given a chance as he can't do worse than the current crop. But if he is not good enough, he needs to be moved on. I just think that Hughes should be doing better having been a classy forward in his time. It is very poor that he can't get our front line to score.
He's brought out the best of our only striker who can score so far though. Austin should be 4th choice now imo.
Trouble is Hughes is not playing and no matter how good he was, passing on or coaching people without his level of talent will always end up being disappointing. I agree with your post, but I think we’ll have to get a couple of god loans in January.
Solid defending (though against a dire opponent). Some good attacks. A terrific save from Jack (didn't look as good on TV as it really was) on the stroke of half time stopped us going in one up. We are creating chances (xG on Saturday was 1.19). I'm not panicking just yet. Our forwards clearly lack confidence. They are snatching at everything and display every sign of having tunnel vision, possibly as a result of the pressure they are under. If they can get one or two in I predict a turnaround in our form as they relax a little. I think Manolo has to be worth a run in the team; we looked like we could do something once he was on. Vin
I'd be 100% for this if we actually had a playmaker to insert behind the striker. Why in god's name do we not have a playmaker to insert behind the striker.
I have been calling out for two attacking midfield players, for a very long time, simply so we always have, injury and form permitting, someone who will provide chances and score a few goals. I thought Armstrong was supposed to fit this role, but Hughes doesn’t seem to be enamoured with him and has even used him as a wide player when bringing him on as a substitute.
