Well, I know this is a silly question but I have scanned the newspapers and gossip colums and it seems that our manager is still our manager and will be on Saturday, so, any chance of talking about the game coming up? We cant of course get away from the affect Bruce and our game at Norwich will have but a few things worth discussing I feel and it will help if we could avoid the words fat,clown,clueless,Geordie,****, twat and pies, especially pies. That said it is, IMO, a legitimate question to ask what effect crowd size, performance and result will have on the future for the club, the team, the manager and indeed Short and Quinn. Or do we read far more into one game than the club does? We see a crisis but do Quinn and Short because over and over again we hear the professionals, pundits usually, saying how its unfair and silly how fans heap pressure on managers. I can feel myself drifting already but my questions are! Crowd, I think Stoke was around 33k and we cant say how many WBA will bring but will we see 33 + or will we dip below 30K, a dip, IMO, would cause Short to frown at least. Team, does Bruce stick or bust, start with same team and say put it right, a common tactic. Make minimal changes, bring Catts back or bigger changes. Formation, stick with a 4-4-1-1 that has proved far from convincing or go 4-3-3 or a conventional 4-4-2. Of course we will have two sides to team selection and formation, the one we want and the one we think we will get, somehow I cant see the two being the same.
Makes no difference what team he puts out, cos he can do no right at the moment... We all have different opinions on what it should be, with some even suggesting the dropping of Sess.. But the team he does put out, has to deliver, what-ever it may be.. The players are there to do the job and the squad strong enough, now they have to produce... WBA, have a decent striker in Odemwinge, so If Bramble and co. play, they best be on top of their game. SAFC should have enough to win this one, but its no walk-over... Crowd will be low, due to recent events and feelings running high, but it'll still be higher than a few others clubs, hope the players respond to all your loyalty. Not a mention of pies....what about bhaji's? i like them.
I'm hoping he droppes 2 players and plays 4-4-2, hink he will bring Catts back in but would prefer it to be Turner, if fully fit and either Ji or Wickham, cant decide between them. My team would be mig oshea..turner..brown..richardson larsson..gardner..vaughan..sess bendy..ji/wick Think we will get mig oshea..brown..bramble..richardson larsson..catts..gardner..sess bendy..wickham
Think the crowd will be higher than against Stoke but not by much. I'm one of those who'd drop Sess, he's been poor this season but I think that is due to Bruces set up. We need to drill it into Bendtner that he is leading the line and simply must stay upfront, he's done well dropping deep and linking up and that would be fine if we had another striker ahead of him but we don't. I expect wba to go 4-4-2 with long and odemwingie upfront so I'm hoping we match them. Id love Bruce to give Wickham a go from the start. I think their weakest area is defence so we should be looking for goals. This is Stoke all over again, an early goal and we'll all be relieved at ft, the longer it stays goalless the nerves will start to kick in.and we could be in trouble. Its a damn shame our season has come to this so soon.
I've finally lost faith in the man, but I'll still be supporting on Saturday afternoon. I would play Vaughan and Colbeck on Saturday simply because they both keep the ball well. This was somthing we were incapable of on Monday. ------------------------------Westwood--------------------------- O Shea-----------Titus----------------Brown------------Richardson Sess-----------Vaughan--------------Colbeck--------------Larsson --------------------Wickham-------Bentdner------------------------ If Elmo so much as warms up, I'm tossing my season ticket at nearest kebab shop/carpet/fez emporium. It's also very much last chance saloon for Keiran too, his distribution is unforgivable and he has put us under far too much pressure this yr. KTF
Ses poor this season - Have you watchedhim - he's been one of the most creative players we've had - out of all of the games I'd say he's been poor once - and that was Monday night! All about opinions though. I'd be changing the back line - Bramble and Richardson would be out - play one of the youngsters in there at left back if need be. **** I've got no idea what WILL happen and what team he will play - but I do know that we need to change what was there on Monday as a side cannot let their heads drop the way we did - and I'm talking that it was more because we didn't score rather than that they scored. Scary Bendtner and Ji or Wickham up front - I don't mind - JUST MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S 2 PLAYERS UP THERE
Not such a silly question Syd, more likely a question that many supporters are asking themselves. I agree that the result and the performance can make Short and Quinn assess the situation with a view to a managerial change. The size of the crowd will also be noted by Short and if it is as low or lower than the Stoke game it could set alarm bells ringing in Shorts head although I think it is early days for that particular aspect of our club to have a significant effect. However, if it continues I've no doubt that harsh words will be spoken in the boardroom and an ultimatum to Bruce could be the result. I think the crowd on Satuday will be in the region of 37,000. The team and formation together with a plan B are critical for us now. Bruce's buys in the close season have not been bad but equaly none of them are truly top class but are better than what we had. On that score I think most supporters agree and accept that we cannot compete with Man City and a few others in financial matters without eventually placing the future of the club in deep ----e. Short has to be complimented on the very strong sensible manner in which he has run the club's finances since he aquired it. On team selection and formation my view is that we should field the following side against WBA. Mingolet Brown Bramble Turner O'Shea Larrsen Vaughan Colback Sess Bendtner Whickham Subs Ji Gardner Catts Richardson Laing The 4-4-2 formation with Larrsen and Sess playing on their preferred side of the park would hopefully provide the ammunition for Bendtner and Whickham to capitalise on the service. I see Whickham providing the phyisical side of the partnership by putting himself about as he has the attributes and Bendtner the brains and skill to to pick up opportunities provided by Whickhams strength. Both are capable of taking the chances to score goals. The defence is a problem because of Bardsley's suspension. I've chosen Turner not because I like him but he is all we have left with any experience (why did we sell Ferdinand?) In the event of Turner not being fit I would play young Laing, in my old fashioned world if he is good enough who cares if he is a kid. Look at the impact that Welbeck had here last season and at what he is doing with Man U at present. Brown and O'Shea are both good wherever they play. In midfield against Norwich we had no bite and consequently allowed Norwich to run the game. Catts is still a risk although I do like him but he must adjust his game to get back into the side. Colback is steady, positive, keeps his head and will not be bullied. Vaughan can run the show as we saw when he played for Blackpool against us last year and against Stoke last week. Granted he did not perform well on Monday but the lad has ability and vision and he would be one of the first names on the sheet for me. Plan B? That vexed question of Mr Bruce's inability to have a plan B!!!!!!!!!!! If the formation I have chosen is not working and we are behind at half time I'd bring on Ji and take off Whickham at the start of the 2nd half and use Ji's speed to run at the WBA defence and especially get him to run into the box at speed, a move we never seem to make. Chances are that we could win a penalty as defenders hats anyone running at them. If, after 15 minutes of the 2nd half that is not working I'd bring on Gardner and Richardson in place of Larrsen and Colback and go all out attacking WBA. Risky, yes but at least we would be seen to be trying. Having said all that and we lose I'll still be back at the next home match looking forward to my chat with Syd and the possibility of a miserable drive back to the borders after yet another defeat. Honestly guys I'm only kidding about yet another defeat. Keep the fauth.
Very good post fender, you really should do more and see you on Saturday, take a look at my post on marcus at work, right up your street
I certainly think your team is better balanced than the Monday night team, but we had the ball mich more than Norwich that wasnt the problem, it was tempo, desire and ability to break down one of the worst defences in the league which has me worried. I too must admit though im losing faith with Bruce, he should have done more earlier on Monday, the players just looked slow and tired.
