It's a long post, but there are a lot of issues! Not as simple as picking on one player and binning them off. We need to be more positive. I honestly believe the quality is there. We've seen it in flashes, but right now we're tying both hands behind our backs with the lineups and formation.
I think for me the source of my frustration comes back to the pre-season where I can only assume there were conditioning issues or a poor approach taken. While some of our injuries are just rotten luck, there's been enough soft tissue injuries for me to think we haven't managed the players adequately, and injuries have begat injuries as we've felt the pressure to keep quality players on as we have no one on the bench to replace them, leading to them getting injured and missing 3-4 games at a time. I'm hoping that the WC can be a bit of a reset for us with a mini-pre-season for those still amongst the squad to get their fitness bases up and any niggling injuries resolved.
Time will tell with some signings, like Figs, Christie and Covil... But I reckon every other signing we've made is a big improvement on the squad we could field 18 months ago. I get the too much too soon argument, but this is the boat we're in now... Players that have had minimal time have changed the flow of the game for us, but far too late and once we're chasing it. They need to be starting.
4 injuries to that lot and you're starting to make choices based on eligibilities. We needed a couple more above the level of Callum Jones and Nathan Leake.
Yes if a substantial number of players got injured we would have a lot less players to pick from. And if our first XI all got hit by a bus tomorrow we would have to get an entirely new XI. If 4 of those got injured that would still leave 10, all of whom are either first XI or comfortably fit on our bench. You'll note I didn't even include Smith who started this morning but I don't see long term as being in a matchday squad, amongst others. Vale and Simons didn't even make the bench this morning and you think when more players are back they'll make the squad over.. who?
We shifted our business in the last days of the window because of injuries. Vale and Simons were cover. The idea that we intended a physical holding mid (destroyer) as part of the plan and then loaned a kid, wet behind the ears from Chelsea to do it beggars belief. Said before when you were crying about your dog's namesake that we needed a solid ball winner in midfield and we opted to go without. For me that's a blatant oversight.
First and foremost Shota hasn't got all the players fit to be able to start to get a settled side yet. I do feel we need a combative midfielder who can do the dirty stuff, technically we look good in patches in midfield, but felt we get out-muscled at times. I still feel we are also short of a big strong centre back, someone who can dominate the penalty area as again we look to get out-muscled too easily. I agree with others that 5 at the back isn't working, we need to go for a back 4. Tetteh is also a big miss, as he and Oscar were starting to get an understanding going with each other, he is going to be a big miss. Pelkas looks a good player and he will get better in time, bother Tufan and Seri need a bit more game time to get up to speed, however, I thought Slater was the pick of the players this evening. Stoke looked a much bigger side than us and also moved the ball quicker than we did. However, the spell just after halftime, until they got the 3rd goal, we did start to look threatening with Pelkas involvement. The priority now is to stop leaking goals, like with most games goals change games, and once we go behind we look vulnerable. On balance, Stoke got the rub of the green with the first 2 goals, this happens, but we have to find a way to minimise mistakes from set pieces in particular. This was always going to be the case, when you have wholesale changes, it takes time to get the right balance and everyone singing from the same Hymn sheet
They're playing cover, they're not homegrown quota cover ffs. To even bring that up as a motivation for bringing them in is daft which was my entire point. Don't really give a toss what you think of me, although you're making it increasingly clear that a rational conversation can't be had without name calling coming into it. Grow up.
Real issue was the transfer window. Ignored the obvious defence problem like the elephant in the room. Don’t know how it’s sorted until the next window and that’s a genuine worry.
I’m aware it wasn’t a good performance and that we’re on a bad run, but to call for the manager’s head is outrageous in my opinion. A lot will be learned from mistakes, and to me, the biggest mistake was not starting Pelkas. But this is good news. We know we have another quality, attacking player. We always said it will take time to be a good team. There were some flashes of brilliance from Seri, Tufan and Pelkas. Unfortunately for me, the weaker players stood out (Smith, for example). Elder is not a bad player, but we are crying out for pace on the wings. Him and Coyle don’t suite this formation. So as people have said, we should change that. I thought Slater was excellent again also. Tettah is a big miss, and Oscar hardly got a chance because of it. We didn’t offer much up top as they only had to focus on stopping Oscar. I’m not sure what the answer is here. I think there are too many slow, defensive minded players on the pitch, and that’s why we are shipping goals. Which doesn’t read like it makes sense at first. But I believe we are too deep and invite pressure. And too slow on the ball. I also feel Baxter needs to start now. I was in the Ingram camp before, but his confidence has plummeted and there are too many mistakes. Overall, I’m not panicking yet. I think we have the potential to hammer a team, and once we do, we may just go on a good run. Let’s see where we are at the international break. If we are bottom 3, then I would agree that Shota needs to be questioned.
Do you look at these performances and see an improvement from this time last year? Can you see what Shota is trying to do? i also don’t want shota sacking but my answer is “no” to both questions
Hard to answer your first as I can only judge it since Acun came in. I’d been waiting a long time for the Allam’s to f*** off. But compared to December/January, I feel we now have a much higher calibre squad. Let’s not forget we’ve had terrible luck with injuries. I have disagreed with team selections in the last few matches, I will admit. But I’d like to think Shota will see what has gone wrong and now change formation to suit.
Shota's first game in charge was 2-0 win against Swansea on 29th Jan 2022 (which came off the back of 2 previous wins under McCann) For me this was his best team performance to date & we've not improved at all under him. He's tried numerous formations & player combinations & yet we still put in dismal clueless performances as we did last night & against QPR If you don't blame the manager for these dismal performances then who do you blame ?
I don't understand why Coyle didn't make the runs he had in previous games, it must have been part of the game plan? He was a passenger for most the game. Plus crossing the ball to those giants at the back for Stoke basically played into their hands they never missed a header all game. We look and are vulnerable at the back. Visiting teams are not scared of us. Poor performance in all areas last night.
It is very stressful to watch at the moment. Certainly not an enjoyable experience, unlike my last date who was very energetic
