I am worried about this also. This keep-ball system definitely makes us concede less, but also score less. My thinking though, is that the new attacking players, combined with players being more settled with their role (e.g. Tufan, Slater, Traore etc) makes us much more of a goal threat than last season. Of course, time will tell. UTT.
Yes, exactly. We don’t score anywhere near enough goals against teams that sit deep like Cardiff, Rotherham, Huddersfield etc. to warrant having a midfield made up exclusively of players who can make short sideways passes that look nice and fancy with 60% possession and no end product. But when we’re playing against other teams that are possession-based like Boro, Sunderland, Norwich, Southampton, Leicester etc. a solid defensive midfielder may be the difference between losing and drawing (or even winning).
Don’t get me wrong, I think Bird is a good player and would certainly be an improvement on Woods. Seri’s not getting younger either and I foresee him going to Saudi when he leaves us so Bird as a short-term replacement for Woods and a long-term replacement for Seri makes perfect sense as they are all similar players i.e. very technical players who like to sit deep and control the pace of the game. Maybe Simons will be the physicality this season if Rosenior gives him enough game-time. Who knows? Also, if the rumour that our opening bid was £300k, that really is pathetic as he is worth at least £1.5 million even if he’s only got a year left on his deal. I really don’t know what the club thought they’d accomplish with a bid like that. Just because we’re giving Tetteh away for almost nothing doesn’t mean other clubs will.
FWIW I'm not saying I disagree with you here. I do think we need a player to break things up. However, I think they genuinely see possession based football be the best way. If that means going to a team like Leicester and trying to play them at their game and coming up short I think they'll try. I only base this off the times Rosenior has said in interviews that they'll never fully change system just adapt and trying to play Burnley at their game last year and not doing terribly. They want more creativity to take advantage of the possession. Bird certainly improves that
He must see Simons as that player. He’s got Doc level physicality with more technical ability. Really hope he comes into his own this season, he only got a 2 year lease on his house so he’s clearly got ambitions. Still springs to mind when he kept up with Dan James in the Fulham FA cup game
Even my favourite City sides of 03/04 and 04/5 got hammered there, the latter on a warm sunny Sunday lunchtime in August, so that's the last fixture I'd use to measure our progress!
