I hate this formation as it leaves the midfield so open. Juric: brings on will smallbone This will go well. Hope we’ve changed formation
If that is really what we are doing then any pretense of being a club that is seriously attempting to get results, at all, is over.
Whilst it seems mental, a midfield of Smallbone and Aribo is probably even worse. Need Ugo physicality in there, not sure who else was on the bench we could’ve brought on instead of Smallbone (haven’t looked at the bench, not that there weren’t other options and a shape change)
We’ve managed to find a manager that is even more wedded to a single way of playing than even russell Martin
I’m sorry but really don’t see what Juric is doing here. Yes, we probably have the worse squad in the premier league, but putting Aribo at CB when you have ABK on the bench who should have been on before a just recovered player in Stephens came on, is ridiculous. If he didn’t want to bring him on why put him on the bench? Or he could have changed to a back 4 and put Sugawarra on. Having serious doubts about this bloke
Thing is, I suspect THB and Bednarek might both be better with a capable defensive leader alongside them. I'd keep THB and would look to bring in another CB. If we're playing 3 CBs and Bednarek improves then fair enough. Or if he's happy to play a lesser role then fine keep him. If not I'd let him move on. Stephens seems to be something of a leader but he isn't a good enough player and he's the wrong side of 30 so I'd get rid ASAP. But I've been saying that about him for years. Wrong thread really but this ties into the conversation a couple of days ago about selling Archer. As a club we own too many sub-standard players and we badly need to cut that number down. There's only a handful of our squad that I'd really want to keep and would negotiate hard on. Sadly most of them will probably leave in the summer. But for about 80% of our squad I think the owners need to accept we're going to take a financial hit and consider almost any reasonable offer.
I’m hoping for a bit of karma today. Don’t think Ipswich deserved their result at SMS & today they’re definitely the better side and I’m hoping we can return the favour.
What the **** is going on with the centre backs? If you aren't prepared to play ABK at a time of emergency, don't put him on the bench. It's ****ing simple.