Me too mate. We can't keep excusing them because of the odd moment of skill, we need more from them tbh. They're old enough now to be getting a grip of games instead of watching them drift by, Pritchard needs support and there's very little, without Stewart he's swamped and put out of the game. I'd have Ba and Matete on from the start, especially in away games, so we don't surrender the midfield.
If it was a 'Lego in the night' injury he could be out for the season ... ... I had one once and was off work for a month.
I'd have Pritchard on the bench, its not working for him at the minute and he doesn't fit into a 4 3 3. Ba, matete and Evans Roberts, Clarke and Jewi
Aye, ney bother. I think you're completely wrong on that. Speakman isn't just judged on the players. He was also integral to the inordinate delays recruiting a manager during which we lost loads if points. Depending on your views on Keane, he was gifted AN when they weren't prepared to pay RK what he wanted. In fact, according to Sports4Cast, Speakman threw the model out the window to pursue Keane....“They got down to a final shortlist and I don’t think Alex Neil was the original choice. I think they were going for Roy Keane but he was not the data choice, put it that way!" https://www.sunderlandecho.com/spor...was-sacked-plus-roy-keane-information-3868441 As I said, AN got speakman out the ****. Big time!
TM POST SWANS Despite losing to Swansea today and being winless in the last three matches Tony Mowbray remains upbeat with what he saw out there today. OVERLOAD OUT WIDE "We know how they play, they overload midfield and play a box of four in there, and it was just whether we were going to change everything we'd been doing to match them up. Sometimes you do, but we wanted to give the team an opportunity to go and see if we could get on top of them and create the overload in the wide areas with a full-back and a wide attacker where they only had a wingback.” PLAYED THROUGH US "We wanted to see if we could come out on top, but ultimately they came out on top in the first half and played through us too comfortably in the middle, they always got their spare man on the ball and pushed us back. We tinkered with it and changed it a little bit at half-time, and managed to wrestle the game back. EASILY AVOIDABLE "We scored and were pushing hard for an equaliser, but it wasn't to be. We have to take encouragement from the second half performance. The second goal was a really poor goal to concede coming so close to half-time, and it was a basic set-play that we'd talked about and showed them. It was a basic and elementary goal that we'd worked on and looked at, and it shouldn't have happened.” REACTION "We had to upset their rhythm and find a way to do it, and they didn't look like a possession-based side in the second half. In the first half they were very good and we have to accept that, but we found a way to disrupt them. That was the pleasing thing - we can react to the adversity of going behind. The result is the result, but you have to look at the performance of the team and what was pleasing was the reaction of the team. You have to accept that Swansea are one of the real form teams in the league with five wins in six now. FIGHTERS "I've just said to the players, I don't think anybody is out there expecting them to go out there and win every away game and be like a top, top, team in the league. They've come from League One and as long as they believe that they are in there fighting against every team, and they are not outclassed, that's the important thing. We always feel we can get a result and we nearly did today, of sorts.” PROPS TO SWANSEA "Particularly when you look at the second goal - it was a very simplistic set-play. I must say, though, that I think Swansea are a good team, a very well-coached team with good players and it is no accident that they've won five out of six." MIDFIELD BATTLE "It doesn't help because that's where we had to be really aggressive today, in that central area - maybe that's why they picked up the yellow cards. Swansea do play through the midfield, they do play this box in midfield, and they do try to overload you with the extra men.” FOUGHT WELL "We wanted to go toe-to-toe and see if we could get our wide players and our full-backs joining in in wide areas, but they got through too easy in the first half. In the second half we deserve a lot of credit - ultimately we got no points, but they did deserve credit."
Not saying you are wrong mate, and respect your opinion 100%. Just to say though I once did some damage to ligaments in my big toe and it was pretty rough. I did it playing badmington (proper sport I know) and I couldnt push off the foot for a few weeks at least. It wasnt particularly painful, I just couldnt get off one foot quickly if that makes sense.
He really needs to change it up a bit now. Embleton, Neil and I wouldn’t be against Pritchard, need a spell on the bench and to give the others a go.
I am going to say it - he is largely poor these days. His fitness is a problem too. I just dont see him contributing anywhere near enough so far this season. I do/did love him as a player, but right now he is a weak link for us. I struggle to understand why we call out Neil and Embleton, but he gets a pass. Neil is playing a role that is so under valued, in my opinion. He and Evans got nothing in the first half from the forward lads in terms of effort and support, at least that is what I saw. Both got yellows because they had 4 running against 2. Neil and Evans are putting so much into the game right now, as we play with a 2 in there. Today they got massively outnumbered and you need experienced players like Pritchard to see things amd adjust. Pritchard to come out for me I am afraid. Embleton to play the number 10 role for an extended period. I would almost guarantee more goals and assists than Pritchard brings. He is just about doing that now without playing as many minutes as Pritchard. Plus as a coach you get that freedom with subs knowing Embleton can play a full 90 mins...
I dared to mention taking Pritchard out weeks ago and was advised several times that he is our best player and I clearly know nothing about football. We have compromised the team to shoe horn him in (in my opinion) and he's not doing much but running around and getting frustrated.
I disagree. The system is a mess. We are asking a ball playing 10 to play a 9 role. That in itself is a joke. Prichard has more quality in his little toe than the majority of our players and still maintains possession better than them. Embo, I am disappointed in significantly. Offers zero. Nothing. Dan Neil too. Looks slow, touch on its arse and gets loads of yellow cards. Prichard isn't the issue. It's literally not having anyone to use his creative mind and run forward. That's recruitment. We don't have a single player who is holding and running past the opposing back line. It's a bit of a mess.
To be fair, Pritchard has been off par for the past few games, quality or not his form has dipped something terrible since Neil left. It wouldn't hurt to try others and a slight tweak to the formation
Pritchard isn't as effective without Stewart creating space. He's looked a shadow of the player he was last season. Maybe we need to find a way to play without him. Solid 3 in midfield (Evans, Ba, Neil), 2 wide players (Bennette/Roberts) with Clarke as central striker
Agree with folk saying Pritchard should be dropped, still a class player but he needs Stewart or Simms to get the best out of him. I know that might sound daft but thinking a 433 would work at the minute with Ba and Neil playing box to box. If we stick with 4231, i wouldnt mind Amad playing as a no10. Alese class again, cirkin is one of my fave players but cant see how he gets in at the minute with how Alese is playing. Disappointing run of results for sure but we are sitting 10th at the minute and have arguably been without 3 of our best players for a wee while now (cirkin, ballard and Stewart).
Fair enough, all about opinions. Have a look at his stats though, they are way off what a number 10 should be, and I mean a way off. His end product is very poor. At this higher level his touch and tenacity are nowhere near enough, and you can set your watch by the time he gasses. As for your opinion of Neil I am beginning to think I am on my own, so maybe I am wrong. I think he is an outstanding footballer, and he makes us miles better in possession. If he does not end up in a top half premier league team I will be staggered. I know of 3 teams actively watching him who are impressed, there maybe others. If we are digging him out, rather than Pritchard, I am cant help but wonder why we see such different things. Ultimately Pritchard plays no more than 75% of a match - a luxury like that needs to be top class, and he isnt right now. Pritch can be class, but right now he is a problem.
Statistically speaking Pritchard was our worst player today, he's been hot and cold all season and I would consider dropping him, I don't think I'd have started him today. Class player but not effective so far. Again statistically Neil had a good game, won the most aerials out of anyone and played well overall. Our fourth best rated player on the day.
Neil needs runners and people opening up space ahead of him to really shine. A front 3 against Wigan of Roberts..... Clarke.......Jewi Would give him willing runners to suit his passing range, put Ba and Metete alongside him or even Michut and they would flourish imo
You know when you’ve been Mobrayed,. The guy is clueless, banal sentiments, mixed with the bleeding obvious. No real plan again at the start or with his substitutions.
A problem because we literally have no output or ball for him to deliver too. Can not blame the lad when he has zero options to hit.
