As for Farke. Think the top 2’s results skew everyone’s thinking. Our record’s pretty good really. That said with our squad on paper, we’d expect to be challenging whoever was manager. All told given the ****fest he walked into I think you have to be happy with how quickly he got them performing - the next test is getting that consistency, fine tuning, adapting in games. Jury’s maybe out still on that.
Bamford might offer something different up top allowing our centre halves to go longer and he also runs the channels better than Georginio. Not saying it would work as I don't know but he was a 16 goal PL striker back in the day and as Doc keeps saying we have options in the squad which aren't currently being utilized.
I firmly believe that you need a left sided player on the left side of defence IMO, Ideally your left centre back should be left sided too, as should your left winger (and conversely, you should have right sided players at right back, right centre back and right wing) IMO, an average left sided full back is better that a good right sided full back, at left back.
But it’s hard to up the tempo against a low block so we keep the ball and hope to draw teams up the pitch to let our fast players exploit the space behind. Sitting low negates the speed of James for example
Gruev proved he wasn't up to it against Stoke. What have you guys seen in him that makes you think he deserves his chance? He has to come on and have an impact a bit like Kamara did at times when he was a sub. Gruev comes on and doesn't really do anything. You can't play a guy just because he turns up every day. He's got to earn it. I've not seen anything from him that makes me want to see more of him.
We should get another look in the FA Cup on 7th Jan. Personally not going to form an opinion on one game against Stoke but as you say he does have to earn another chance, although that may be through training exceptionally well which we don't get to see.
With the hamster on this - Gruev hasn’t looked anything but barely had a chance. I assume he hasn’t pulled up trees in training or he’d have been rotated in but I’ll give the guy more of a chance than a game where everyone else was sh*t too
You might be right but it's also possible he's over his injuries and could hit form again if he were to get a run of games. Same as the others though he will have to earn it.
A little bit yes but I'd still love it if he started banging in the goals again. Farke definitely sees something as he keeps bringing him on.
They don't want him he has been found out. Why loan him though just watch videos of him playing. Another yank playing at too high a level because he is in the national team.
Back to the OP Meslier is good enough for this league, gets pelters as do all keepers. DJ should play RB that his his natural position and Archie should be used in midfield. We do not have a LB, so it's a no brainer that s the position to be addressed in January. Just buy/ loan a left footed LB FFS.
By January both Byram & Firpo will likely be fit so why would we buy another left back ? So far there's only been 2 games where both were unavailable with Shackleton and Spence debutising and most think that Byram has been a very good signing. Bottom line is we can't have 3 senior pros for every position and nor should we.
Firpo won’t ever be fit. Don’t know why you haven’t seen that. Byram great signing but his knows how many games he has in him
Firpo will have 12 months left in the summer and Byram is out of contract so that's when we'll be looking at the left back position.
