Armstrong was 100% at fault for the last goal, which I’m guessing he knows or at least has been told. I’m cutting him some slack though, because in general he has been quite good. And also, I think his mentality was right. He wasn’t trying to beat three guys and score. I think he was going to turn it inside, shield off the first defender then spread it to the other flank or back. Which wasn’t bad thinking. He just had a bad touch and the defenders collapsed on him way faster than I think he expected. I mean, it was a horrendous mistake but it is also the kind of thing that can happen from time to time to a midfielder. In terms of the broader picture, our ability to hold leads is still bad. But I don’t have a problem with Hasenhuttl doing this. It’s better than it was. And I mean at some point, we’re going to have to learn to do this. So As long as we are doing okay overall and staying up, there is nothing wrong with setting expectations for how we should play and either the players learn, or you figure out which players need to be shipped out. But anyway, I think Stephens is being scapegoated. The last goal was not his fault. The second goal, maybe he could have tracked back but it was really more a lucky deflection forcing Gunn into a tough save, and a lucky bounce straight to a guy. I don’t think Stephens has played very well and I think he may need to be shipped out or sent on loan. But it’s not like we cruise to a 3-0 win except for Stephens. It’s never all just one player’s fault.
He is 25 i think.still plenty of time to develop. But as others have said.he is too prone to mistakes right now
Except we weren’t today. We were in fact awesome at taking the ball to the corner flag. We completely stopped the game in injury time. It’s one thing to complain about a choice of tactics, another to complain about the effectiveness or result. You may disagree with Hasenhuttl’s playing for a draw at that point, but it worked out exactly the way he planned it. I just think you are maybe overreacting a little bit. It’s not like Hasenhuttl has been a conservative manager. We’re not going to play for draws as an ongoing strategy. He made a one-time decision based on our standing in the table to take a safe draw and take no chances on our safety. You disagree with it, that’s fine. But it’s hardly a disaster. We’re not going to be one draw away from relegation every game.
We probably should've won that game by 4 or 5 to 0 or 1 and it is painfully obvious where our current shortcoming is and a dominant CB/leader in the mould of Jose to partner Bedders would make the world of difference to the first team. I don't think that Vestergaard is quick and mobile enough to be that man and Maya (although I love the man) or Jack are just not good enough to start regularly. A quality goalscoring forward and a creative midfielder are required also as well as back up for Valery on the right, but we are not far off being a pretty decent PL side.
So pleased for Matty for scoring his first goal today with a great header and Yan is making great strides forward with every match and makes better decisions going forward now.
Disappointed. In parts the best I’ve seen us play, mixed with poor defending which has put us in the position. At least we’re safe.
Stephens isn't good enough sadly and his social life has probably added to it. Then you have Ralph that doesn't like stuff like that. I won't boo him and will never boo a player, but the guy isn't a Prem player
I've given the lad a chance but he is not good enough to play at CB and he won't get in the team in any other position unfortunately, probably time for him to make his name elsewhere.
Problem is Ralph likes cbs that can play out with the ball, he likes ball playing cbs. Bednerak is decent at it but that is about it
I did. By the time we brought Austin in, the score was ready tied. He clearly came in with instructions to go to the flag, which he did, and which prevented Bournemouth from getting anything going, and earned us a draw. Which was exactly what the plan was at that point in time. It worked perfectly. Austin stalling the game had nothing to do with the 5 minutes or 88 minutes beforehand.
Imagine the reaction if we did not take the game to the flag and they went up the other end and scored........ the decision to run the clock down was bang on
No one is saying it is all Stephens was the only bad player. But it is fact that soon as he is in the starting line up we concede more goals. Lot of players will go end of the season, I just hope Ralph gets the players he wants. For anyone that is truly being honest we could get rid of all out defence and replace them and we would probably do better. (Yes I know Valery has signed a new contract and is very promosing)
This Ralph chap has taken a (Hughes) demoralised squad, with their best player sold pre season, signed no-one, and made them compete, even with the likes of spurs. My real fear about relegation was losing him. Right, where's the celebration shiraz
