I get that, & actually assumed that Gnonto got moved over before he AND the guy literally marking him both got sent off. I believe it was an intentional 'tactic' to focus hurt on Gnonto, given his questionable aggressive attitude. It was brewing & Farke cleverly avoided it.
Summerville and Gnonto have switched a few times this season in the first half. I think it's just part of the fluidity of the front 4 and Farke encourages it. It didn't work today and it was noticeable that it reverted back to normal after half time. Prolly something Farke addressed during the break. Didn't really happen for Summerville today. He made some good runs and found space but he seems to want an extra touch all the time. I think that's just a form issue rather than lack of quality. Either way we have Anthony and James to come in if it continues with Poveda backing up. We have good options with Gruev and Kamara backing up Ampadu and Gray. If we'd have bought a ****ing left footed ****ing left back we'd be looking pretty smug right now. Byram has filled in well but he won't play 30 games let alone 46.
You always have to spoil it right at the end don't you Firpo, Byram and Shackleton have got it covered.
It was a great win after a shaky start and we still haven’t fielded our best 11 yet. From the team picked we still had a couple of players who were not at it as you would have thought after a 0-3 away win in London. Ayling still doesn’t look anything like his old best going forward and still gets caught out at the back with attacker getting in behind him. Summerville also had an average game. 3 points and a clean sheet and a day of 7s and 8s performance by most
So many people still get on Ayling's back for doing what the manager asks of him. His primary responsibility is to play as a winger, effectively, & there are no doubt players covering for him as part of this strategy. Byram plays inverted into the midfield, primarily. Now if Byram was playing RB, you'd be moaning at him & urging Ayling to attack more if he was the inverted FB. But we are what we are. With these 2 in non-standard positions, we effectively line up as a 2-3-5, like we did before the war! It's deliberate, risky, & can reap rewards with the overloads. But it won't work all the time, just like Bielsaball. If Ayling wasn't doing what he was told, he'd be hooked during the match. It has never happened, so perhaps it's time to waken up to the fact that the manager is perfectly happy with him.
I just think some people see Djed Spence as an upgrade on Ayling all be it he wasn’t fit for this game.
We'll see. I'm perfectly happy with Ayling, but if Farke aims to drop him, then he's the boss & knows a damn sight more about his players than I do. But if people think that Spence will solve the 'Ayling not gtting back' bandwagon, they're in for a surprise, unless the current formation changes.
Said the same last week WJ… he can’t be in two places at once. Usain Bolt couldn’t get back if the ball is lost in transition. Now if people want to query Bill’s lack of pace v Spence for 1v1s etc then fair enough but the getting caught out of position stuff is a nonesense. Need to be looking at who’s assigned to cover for him,
The way WJ describes him as a winger is like saying Bamford is a striker. Bamford was a striker but no more and Ayling was a decent wing back with pace and end product. Ayling no longer has end product and is a lot slower the best he can be described as a link to whoever plays right wing and he can’t even see the passes he used to see. In the summer he was the third best RB at the club hes still the third best as Spence has replaced Drameh. Always liked Bill but age isn’t his freind and should have been eased out after our first season in the Prem.
6 games. 1 goal. 1 assist. I'd say that's pretty good for a wing back with no end product. Also it was Ayling who intercepted the ball and pinged a 40 yard ball to Dan James for the third goal. An assist to an assist if you like. Great read of the game and a great through ball in to space. He certainly has an impact going forward. Defensively I do think he has lost some pace over 5 yards which is a key area up against quick wingers. It's up to Jimmy to provide a bit of cover.
If the takeover happens it won’t be until December so why pump in millions now? Also today BBC have a report saying that if the sale goes through 2 people will expect £140m paid back to them for allowing 777 to take over the stadium project.
