Eventually I'll lose patience with Jesse if he doesn't fix the defence but the personnel, as you imply, haven't been good enough for a while. Cooper has always had a **** up in him and his ability is too stretched at this level. Champions League standard captain, Championship standard player. Struijk is too slow unless played with someone with electricity in their boots. The other worry is his concentration which he seems to lose every now and then. Back end of last season at centre back was a disaster for him. Today reminded me how bad he was at the back end of Bielsa. He's filled in well at left back but pace is his limitation there too. Llorente was great season 1. **** knows what's happened to him now but he became an error riddled liability under Bielsa and has gotten worse under Marsch. Koch has never looked comfortable over here. He's just jinxed. He doesn't make as many errors as the others but when he does it always results in a goal. Firpo has been a disaster. End of. Poor signing but not Marsch. None of the above and their schoolboy errors can be on Marsch. Marsch has to be held responsible for Kristensen and his lack of ability in this league. Ayling is clearly the better player and Dramah even looks better than Kristensen at this point. Now he's signed Wober as his man to come in and sort out the defensive problems. If he instantly becomes an issue then even I will question Marsch and his ability to set out a defence.
Spotted that but to be honest I don't think it made much difference as the penalty was that bad. The West Ham penalty last week should have been retaken as there was a West Ham player clearly within the 18 yard box when the ball was struck. He was like 2 yards inside the area. You just never see those given.
So we have offers in for rutter and apparently ounahi. Great in principle… highly rated talent - a bamford replacement and klich replacement. Brilliant that we’re (allegedly) ready to splash the cash. But much as I’d like them, I’d rather we splashed it on upgrading our centre backs. Who knows whether wober will be an upgrade… but he’s not a statement signing.
Marsch was a party to us increasing contracts for Struijk, Llorente and Koch shortly yet Emu says nothing to do with Marsch this defence? Really? He picks the team he coaches the team they play to his tactics. Aaronson has gone backwards, Roca backwards, Kristensen backwards and these are Marsch players who all played for him yet for some reason don’t understand their roles. Just stop sticking up for him he is in charge. Oh and after a shaky start Firpo was one of the good guys today
I'm guessing Orta, Radz, Kinnear with some kind of blessing from Marsch. Players are now seen as assets which carry a certain value. I'm sure extending contracts of the likes of Llorente is as much a business decision as a football decision. Otherwise you just let a player who cost 19 million just walk away for free at the end of the contract. That will send you bust very quickly. The Struijk one actually makes sense as he has done well at left back and is young so his value should only increase given his improvement. As far as I'm aware, Cooper hasn't been offered new terms and I don't know when his runs out. Same for Koch. No idea. Marsch will add his 2 penth but I'm sure it's just solidifying assets as part of selling the club. I understand the business side of it but the performances on the pitch makes it confusing for us lot having to watch these clowns try and play.
Tactics. Does anyone know what formation we were playing by the end of that game? To be honest I wasn’t sure for the whole match.m
You think Struijk was instructed to kick the ball out for a corner from the half way line? You think he was instructed to just ignore Cardiff strikers around him for the first goal? You think Rodrigo was instructed to ping a 50 yard ball to Saka in the Arsenal game? You think Llorente was instructed to let the ball through his legs to give Everyon the lead at ER? You think Llorente was instructed to dither on the ball to let their striker in on goal at Brentford? You think Koch was instructed to misread the flight of the ball and flick it on against Brentford? You think Koch and Cooper were instructed to blankly stare at each other against City whilst Grealish walked through on goal? It's happened for 2 years. These are player problems, not coaching problems. Kristensen and Wober are Marsch guys and he can carry the can on those players. Kristensen has been a let down so far and that's why Wober is a big signing for Marsch. Also Doc, I know you were watching the scousers last night and you complemented Wolves on how they set up to nullify Trent. Minutes later, Wolves were defending very narrow and compact and pressing when the ball was heaved out 50 yard to Trent who put it on a plate for Darwin. Wolves were defending much like we do but you were happy to praise them. They were also susceptible to the big switch, just like we are but because they were in the game you thought they were good.
No just have a nosey, quite interested in other fans views on the never ending rollercoaster ride ......
I know it wasn't the best it was a perfect height for the keeper perhaps he should have let junior take it
Yes, it was clear. With the ball it's 4-3-3 often with the full backs making it almost a 2-5-3 although when Roca plays he drops deep enough to help the centre halves. Gyabi didn't do that too well but it's difficult to see on the telly. When both full backs push on, it leaves us vulnerable if we lose the ball. Without the ball it's 4-5-1 with Gyabi deep and Aaronson and Greenwood staying central. Gnonto and Summerville drop to supposedly give the full backs some kind of protection. Summerville is poor at this part. Although when the ball is being played around in their half our wingers push on to press the full backs. That's the trigger to the full press. Towards the end when Cardiff were camped in their own area it was more like 2-4-4.
Btw firpo setup a goal with a clever flick and would have equalised but for the. Deliberate hand ball for the penalty
Glad you’re tactically aware cos to me it looked like he was just throwing anyone on that had scored a goal before
