We have all seen how our team lets goals in as if they are trying to collect balls for the next game. Fox has been the target of some fans as has Fonte and Hooiveldt. Many seem to feel Fox is not up to standard but I feel we are forgetting the part our midfield plays. When we are attacking and lose the ball we regularly find our defence out flanked by our opponents with midfield players caught out of position. As we enjoy our brand of football in the main, do we really need to worry consistently about our defence? Or should we be looking slightly more at our wide players? Yesterday we had possibly our two best defensive midfielders out through injury. We were also playing an in form top three side that has both power and skill. Add to that the fact that most of our team is still gelling together and hope still beats within me that we will improve a lot as the games pass. It is all very well criticizing our players but right now it appears our hands are tied/limited resource wise. Left with what we currently have, who do we pick to play in our next game? Do we stay the same or change it somewhere else?
Glad you mentioned that, agree totally. Lallana was leaving Clyne with Coleman and Mirallas, and at times - Fellaini too. He had a torrid time of it.
No we don't - with Morgan in yesterday I think we would have been far more secure. We certainly missed him. Constantly moaning about the defence is pretty dumb; it is what it is, it is improving and I expect one or two new players in the January window. If Morgan is back he plays, not sure I would make any other changes tbh.
The wide midfielders not helping the defence out has been the case for a while now. It's nothing new. It's just that, down in league one for example, we didn't exactly need Lallana to put a defensive shift. As everyone knows, I was a huge critic of Harding's, but even I defended him in this one respect - he never got any help from Lallana. Antionio and Chamberlain were poor defensively too. De Ridder didn't really look up to scratch last season at doing it. Puncheon does at least try to track back, I guess. Since Pardew came in, the only wide player I can really think of who has put a regular defensive shift in was/is Guly (and yet, slightly ironically, he's the one who comes in for a ton of abuse for being lazy). But going back to Lallana, I said long before we were officially promoted last season that should we go up, we would not be able to play Lallana at LM against most sides - especially away from home - if we were to have any hope of keeping it tight at the back. We would simply get destroyed down the left hand side. Someone else would have to play out there, supporting the LB. So to see/hear a side like Everton hurting us so badly down both flanks yesterday really doesn't surprise me.
----------------------Gazzaniga Richardson-----Yoshida-----Hooiveld-----Clyne -------------------Davis-----JWP -----------------------Ramirez Rodriguez--------------------------------Lallana -----------------------Lambert We're at home and I think we can take this to them. Got to be positive.
Feel that JRod plays better in Lambert's position. Adkins has tried to find another position for him, but really he's Ricky's sub. Not what he could have expected when we paid 7 mill for him.
Maybe start with JRod, and then bring Lambert on later in the game to score a hatrick once we have battered them into submission?
Funnily enough I really think J Rod could do well alongside Rickie but that would mean switching formations.
Rodriguez isn't a winger, it will end up starting to effect his confidence if he keeps being played there.
I'd like us to try with 3 cbs starting maybe in a formation something like this. -----------------------gazza--------------- ----------fonte-------yoshi-------jos----- Clyne---------------Morgan----------fox --------------gaston-----------lallana---- -----------------Jrod------lambert--------
Not entirely convinced with JWP. Yes he is technically sound and definitely one for the future but I feel that at times he is a bit lightweight at the moment and can be out-muscled. We need terrier type mid-fielders to break up play in the mid-field. Frankly I'm suprised Hammond left, OK he lacked pace but could do a job and in my opinion could have stood in at CB as well, witness what Delap did for Stoke. All that said...what do I know...only that NA sees them every day training and I trust him to get it right. Personally not dismayed.
Personally i'd like to see this team Boruc (Just because Kelvin and Gazza seem bit out of there depth) Clyne Fonte Yoshida Shaw Schneiderlin Davis Puncheon Ramirez Lallana Lambert Subs Gazzaniga Richardson Hooiveld Mayuka Rodriguez Wardprowse Fox
People keep saying that JayRod is not a winger but the truth is that he often played on the wing at Burnley and was signed by Nigel Adkins with this in mind. He has the pace and ability to play as a wide frontman as well as through the centre. He is the perfect backup to Rickie (if injured) that many people were saying we needed to sign. but right now he is required to play wide.
It doesn't work with Rodriguez on the wing, for one he leaves the defender behind him far to exposed. The games I have seen this season ( all but one) he has looked awkward playing there. We are playing a total different formation then Burnley do and just becaise he played well doesn't mean he can for us. I see him as a direct replacement for Rickie, as for the wing position. We have Puncheon, Lallana, Mayuka,De Ridder and even Guly can play there.
--------------Gazzaniga Richardson Fonte Yoshida Clyne --------------------------------------- -----------Morgan Davis------------ --------------------------------------- -Puncheon----Ramirez-----Lallana---- --------------------------------------- ---------------Lambert-------------- same as Villa 2nd half
Boruc clyne hooiveld yoshida reeves ( young , hungry and talented) puncheon davis morgan / jwp lallana ramirez lambert
