I know but that comment was aimed at the age thing I don't actually see our midfield as being any stronger now than it was this time last season I do if you are including the attackers. We have more mediocre depth but apart from Adams do we really care if Aaronson or Roca do not play, depth better but strength in midfield is poor. If all were fully fit and available, would you prefer last seasons Dallas, Phillips, Klich in the middle or Adams, Roca, Aaronson
This post makes little sense, if he was still here, I think Klich is still better than Roca and Aaronson despite the difference in age gap, is that point so hard to see If you are insinuating that I would keep him because he was a Bielsa player or that I want Bielsa back refresh yourself with this post, also note who started it Bielsa Sacked | Not606
There has been rumours for months that Jake Cooper was going to Rangers in the January transfer window which would had given Cresswell a permanent place in the team for the second half of the season, so it looks like that isn't happening. I'll be keeping a eye out for him to see if we have messed up.
Ringo am I right in thinking you lot played with a back 5 so Charlie was a starter until he changed to a standard back 4?
… that’s what he’s said previously Doc yeh… so it might explain why we expected him to get game time. However, it Begs the question as to why we’d send a guy to get practice in a back 5 when we play a back 4.
Agreed and why we have a loans manager, a development manager, an U21 manager a head of academy and head coach. Was the plan to go to a back 5 next season? Why give new contracts to Koch and Llorente and then bring in another a LCB in Wober? Just another bit of confusion….
Barcelona are willing to listen to offers for Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres and Raphinha They are hoping Chelsea will come in for them
Yes, the back 5 resulted in some of the most dire and boring football ever witnessed, Rowett has mixed it up a bit and now every so often we are treated to a entertaining game (still a lot of crap though).
My tuppence, or 50p when adjusted for inflation. Its no good wondering 'what if' on the midfield - Phillips wanted out, he's gone. Klich doesn't have 90mins in him, he's gone. In any case Klich copped loads of flak for being too slow, runs out of steam etc. Dallas is injured and may not recover his form, as often happens after long term injuries. Marsch arrived with a definite fan feeling of 'He's a Yank, they don't play football'. We also had a collective emotional hangover after losing the man who got us into the PL, got us playing attractive football and was modest, approachable and humble - he was relatable. That gave him a massive halo effect so we endured the thrashings and nail biting.
Bugger, slippy fingers: We are definitely better at defending corners and set pieces. We actually offer a threat from our own corners now. Maybe someone will disprove that with stats, but its an impression. We seem to be shooting more, rather than overplaying in what was Arsenals old style and trying to walk the ball in. The play, when it works, evokes one touch Bielsa ball. I agree that the players seem to switch off and panic under pressure. Bielsaball relied on playing out from the back - so the tactic there hasn't changed, its just badly executed.
Where its gone wrong IMHO, is the transition and movement through the middle third - the dangerous bit where passes go astray. In attack we look good, pinging the ball around the edge of the box and shooting. Greenwood gives us set piece options. We even score headers!
Hopefully Sinisterra and Hutter will respectively give us the Pablo playmaker who takes players on and the Bamford who can hold the ball and bring people into play. I watched the vid of the promotion season goals last night - again. Lots from pulling defences wide, pass across the goal in or just outside the 18 yard box and someone in place or running in with a first touch shot. I can see that we're trying something similar with the wingers, but the cutting back inside is failing, and we're not getting the people coming through the middle. Phew!
4 likes in 5 Posts so some great stuff but.............. Firpo? He was much better for the last half an hour on Sunday (to be fair they all were) and it wasn't like he was the only poor one for the first hour but he just looked like, well Firpo. So want him to turn it around but I genuinely don't think he has the skillset to do it or he has had so much flak and totally lacks confidence to the point that I am not sure it is retrievable?
I gave him a 7 on the firpometer scale, a second half 9 after a first half 5. He’s always been ok on the ball. Just Can’t defend, in this league at least… though not helped by two managers who ask a lot of full backs. Thing is Jesse likes his full backs to overlap and give width. So on paper he’s ideal. On grass less so. Whichever let’s celebrate an excellent second half from the lad.
yes some sensible level-headed stuff from brizzle. Presumably he generally posts on another more sane forum and we’re like a trip out to the dark side for him every now and then
