Watching Elmo five yards behind Cardiffs goal scorer when he should have been in front of him reminded me of Man City's first goal when once again he was five yards behind play. Both views of him showed his head in his hands as if someone else was to blame. We can't keep playing him in defence and giving goals away, he is living on getting forward and delivering ( most of the time) good crosses but he needs to concentrate on his defensive duties. Overall he was dreadful yesterday especially in the first 30 mins.
Think dreadful is too strong. Put in a great cross for Graham's header. Poor marking for their goal agreed.
His defending was always a concern for me good playing in the 352 but not convinced he is strong enough to play right back in a flat back four any more errors and rosy will get his chance .
He isn't a defender, even though Koren is playing well, I would rather see Rossy at right back with Elmo playing on the right of mid-field as a wing back.
This like the Quinn debate is very difficult, apart from about 7 players who I'm sure SB will want to start every game & keep on for the most part of 90 minutes, the other 4 positions could be up for grabs. My 7 are: McG, Chester, Davies, Figs, Hudds, Livermore & Aluko. I would have put Brady in there but when he was down in the NW corner he didn't really 'have a go' as I thought he would. Although at one point there was 2 players on him & he ended up going backwards. I was disappointed with McG always kicking it to him from goal kicks although I was surprised he won a couple of headers & the others went for throw ins. From what I can remember anyway!
Just watching Kamara on Goal on Sunday he's highlighted how Figueroa gambles and allows Cowie to get in behind him for the cross.
Whilst I don't think Elmo has been dreadful by any stretch of the imagination this season, his defensive positioning is a cause for concern. He's been at fault for the crossed goals at both Cardiff and Man City now.
He isn't a defender. He got away with it at wing back because he had 3 centre backs covering his mistakes.
He just needs to concentrate on getting back to defend as soon as the opposition have the ball. He stands halfway between goal and halfway line and ball watches hoping one of ours wins it and knocks it out to him.
He's obviously not a right back, square pegs in round holes and all that. I'm hoping Bruce realises because its not like rosey couldn't do a far better job at RB. Come on brucey just have a little think about this one.
I thought it was quite telling that the two players who probably travelled the furthest in mid-week (Elmo and Figueroa) were our two worst players yesterday. Both looked knackered. Elmo wasn't making any runs in the first half, kept cutting inside and playing a short pass to Huddlestone, when normally he'd run at someone one on one with loads of space on behind him. Figueroa had an OK first half, but second half he was out of position twice. One they scored and the other was their only other chance of the game. He left Brady 2 on 1 so they easily got the cross in.
When we played 3-5-2 Chester was criticised for not being up to his normal impeccable standards an I think this was due to the fact he had to cover for Elmo the whole time. Elmo is a great crosser of the ball and I have been saying since pre-season that he should be further up the pitch with Rosie in behind him. At the moment he does an early cross every time as he is worried about going too far forward, but then he is out of position anyway and doesn't work hard to get back. Thankfully I could hear Brucie having a go at him during the game so hopefully he will realise it isn't working.
Elmo is defintely not a RB and its showing. I think its telling that the Egyptian coach for the past few years has had Fathi as his #1 RB with Elmo as his backup (correct me if I'm wrong Apthh). Elmo will be much more effective if he can just concentrate on making those runs up front with Rossy behind him.
I am not ready to completely right elmo off as a rb but he has certainly been at fault for at least 2 goals in 4 games now. His crossing hasn't been that great this season either. If we are going on form I think I would start Rossy next game and move elmo up into midfield. Perhaps his crossing will improve if he has to defend less.
At this level, if you can't pick up the man you're supposed to cover & nullify the threat, you're severely punished. 2 points lost against Cardiff is a big punishment - that could be crucial. Against Man City it gave the opposition the initiative.. a potential point lost ? We are supposed to have more creativity in midfield now. Why sacrifice defensive strength for the unfulfilled (this season) promise of a few dangerous crosses into the box ? Sunderland probably recognized his defensive weaknesses. We don't have the luxury in the premier league to carry a defensive liability. Thus far this season Elmo has definitely been a liability. Rosie may be the answer....but even that is debatable ? I don't pretend to have the answer, but you can't leak too many cheap goals in this league and survive the drop..
Don't know if anyone remembers but Rosenior was MoM against Cardiff in May in a 442, whilst his crossing is not quite as good as Elmo, he is a better defender, works harder and still gets forward. Elmo did look tired, but both him and Brady have not looked at their best in last two games, whereas Quinny looks like making something happen.
