Definitely agree RE Romeu. I get we let him go as he wanted to, but to downgrade to AMN is poor business. I get Lavia is better, but we were short of a CM anyway
On a serious point, I want to see the FBs play with a little restraint, with regards to getting forward. Too many times, in recent games, Bazunu has played a ball short to ABK or Salisu and the FBs are out of sight, up on the halfway line, so they start playing it between themselves until one is closed down and forced into hitting an aimless pass forward, which too often loses possession and the ball gets fed into the gap behind the FBs. Not saying that they shouldn’t get forward, just asking them to do the defensive part of their game first, which includes being available for a short pass from a CB. Having said all that, I fear they are doing what they have been instructed to do by Ralph.
The role of the full back has changed. They are asked to be more attack minded these days by most teams.
And I want to see JWP play with less restraint too. Only other possible change could have been to a 4-3-3 which I’d quite like to see, with Diallo, AMN and JWP in the middle.
I have to laugh. The one transfer window we actually spend money and don’t sell anyone, we actually end up with a worse starting XI than the previous year. That is the most saints thing ever
I haven’t said otherwise. I just want them to be more defensively responsible, as illustrated in my post. If Ralph wants to build from the back, he needs to have his players in the right positions to help move the ball forward. By not being available to receive passes from the CBS, they are part of the reason we are losing possession, when forced to play long.
Which is what Spurs did. Close out KWP & we were stuffed down that channel. Any op mgr can see that’s our main threat.
