Christie in back to back games. Coyle stopped him admirably with Delap and Morton supporting for 60 minutes. See a lot of people banging on about experience (not you Ric) but Christie is the epitome of that and he’s constantly letting us down. We need young hungry players chomping at the bit coming off the bench not players who’s legs have gone especially in wide areas.
Footballers are paid too much. But no amount of money will achieve perfection. The goal was inevitable in my view because they attacked well in numbers and gave us plenty of warning before that. I was impressed with their fluidity. It was why we had to score at least one. It should be a minimum expectation at home, no matter who we’re playing.
https://x.com/grimsbyboy1984/status/1739917241066340685?s=46 Harvey Cartwright getting good reviews after breaking into the side. Great keeper and good with his feet ! We might have fused Allsop and Ingram together!
I agree at large points we didn’t look or feel like the home team. I think that falls down to 2 parts. One being Sunderland being really brave in their set up. They pressed with 4 and blocked off the avenues to Morton and Seri they left some huge gaps behind which we sometimes got to but didn’t take advantage of. The second is our lack of adjustment to it. They dominated the middle of the park and we didn’t really tweak around it. Without Allsop’s ability to pick a longer pass the game became more compact. I haven’t watched it back yet but that’s what it felt like anyway regarding the squad depth. I think there is some but it’s largely in same areas of the pitch. We have an abundance of attacking midfielders who of a similar level (Twine, Tufan, Traore) and very little width or attacking options. What its led to is Rosenior sacrificing the defensive stability we had last year to force opportunities. With a bit of bad form happening I think a rethink of the total game plan may be in order just to stop shipping goals. We have individual quality up front that can nick a game 1-0 now so maybe it’s time we have some games like that. The squad isn’t fully complete and again next year, unless we do go up, will have to go through a mini rebuild again as a large part of our core is built through loan players. It’s getting there and it’s frustrating as I feel despite all these issues we could be 4th had some bounces gone our way but that’s the game really without parachute money.
Coyle always gives 100%.He might not be the most gifted player on the books but he has the heart of a Lion,it's a pity we don't have more like him(I exclude Delap from that comment). Christie has shown his worth in recent games...Zero!!! Seri isn't much better,in my opinion he's become a luxury we can ill afford and I'm pretty sure we'll see improvement in midfield when he drops out of the squad mid January...
-> Slater at LB worked as Coyle did a good job on Clarke. It's easy to say we shouldn't play Twine on the wing, but who else is there? Lokilo & Allahyar aren't fit enough for 90, Vaughan we've only seen bits of this year so it was between Twine and Adama. We know LR wants wingers, we went into the final few days of the summer window wanting 2 but we didn't get any. It happens. There's a fair few clubs in this division that blow us out of the water financially. -> Then play Allahyar and Lokilo for 45 minutes each Shark... Allahayr needs to be in the window too, not on his backside... our use of substitutes/squad leaves more than little to be desired... I don't get that 1st sentence! Coyle is a RB and that's where he should be playing. Nothing to do with Slater at LB working. LB position has been a disaster for us this season. Rosenior got his man and it's worked out great - he's either been injured or when available not favoured. It was beyond stupid (no matter who's fault) clearing out both our LB's and only bringing in 1 senior LB who had a suspect injury record anyway. "We'll have 2 players for every position"! I don't like Greaves at LB but he was the obvious option today, and previous weeks (given Rosenior stays fixated on his way). Re. Twine on the wing. There's plenty of options. Not only to play others that can actually play that role, like Lokilo, Allayhar, Vaughan, even if it's 45 mins each as TC says, or Connolly (with Delap central and one of the others or Christie on the right). Or call me crazy but how about Rosenior having some flexibility instead of being fixated, meaning to set us up to best utilise what we do have available until we do have what he needs to play his Rosieball? 24k there, subjected to that. Bore them to death for 80 mins, other than glimpses of individual brilliance from Delap, then have a go when it's likely too late. (Harsh on Morton, he was class, trying to make something out of a pigs ear).
I think Morton is better upfield, but then so is Tufan so it’s a bit of a dilemma. A new CM with energy would be ideal. You’d love to say Doc would do it, but I think his race is run with us.
For now Slater (meaning Morton at the 'conductor' with Slater alongside). Given that the set up is highly unlikely to change.
Slater played yesterday we dont have two Slaters So Slater comes in for Seri but who comes in for Slater's old position? Docherty?
Morton and Slater have more of an attacking threat at least Seri rarely attacks Tufan and Traore are better further forward
So you think Slater Mk1 should continue at LB?! Greaves to LB (yes, I know), unless we bring in a LB before Seri goes.
Absolutely this. Not only are the players not close enough but by the time our wingers receive the ball they have their backs to the opposition’s goal with a man marking them, usually resulting in a pass backwards or losing the ball. Sunderland showed how receiving the ball facing forwards naturally opens up the attack and creates space for those in support. They routinely ended up with four or five players in our box whereas we struggled to get numbers in theirs. It’s a constant theme that’s so frustrating to watch.
You're probably right about Docherty and if the lad wants Football on a weekly basis then he needs to go,he's not going to get it here.I think he's a half decent player and he has huge amounts of energy but he's not blessed with the skills required at this level. We have too many attacking midfielders but we also have players who can adjust,maybe Tufan with his skill,passing ability and vision could be used to our advantage and cover for Seri during his absence but ultimately we need to recruit.
It’s clear that we need players in January. A direct replacement for Seri is a must. Sorting out the full back situation is next. I’d rather see Coyle and Greaves as our full backs at the moment and leave a settled back four. Delap is a centre forward. Sharp might be an interesting player alongside him. Campbell and Windass Mk 2 ? It’s possible. More cover on the wings and leave Morton and Twine in their best positions. Too much messing about with changes at present. Need to keep players in their best positions and let them play.
Delap admiration... https://x.com/Soley1904/status/1739819543797575915?s=20 Though I thought he'd have been higher in goals and yes he does get played out of position.... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/championship/top-scorers
