I do not post here much for obvious reasons, but would like to get a consensus on the issues facing us going into January, so please be gentle. What concerns me, is our lack of goals this season from our top scorers Michu and Bony. Bony has 4 Premier league goals and Michu just 2, and with the added problem that he could be out for three months, then it looks to fall on Bony's shoulders completely. I have seen enough from Alvaro to know we are not going to get much in the way of goals from him, he's not at this level and I am going to ignore the fact that he's a striker for this exercise. My concerns are that I really do not think Bony will score many second half of the season, his first touch is poor, and reactions slow for this level, so I cannot understand why Laudrup is not going to look at a Striker on loan in January. I really think we are heading for a perfect storm at the business end of the season, so what do you guys think, and please can this thread not descend into mud slinging, it's my first?
Who's to say the manager isn't looking at a loan deal , because he's indicated he may not could be a bluff .we'll find out shortly. Vazquez is not the answer atm but I would say was he going to ever replace Bony or Michu, who foresaw the two of them getting injured and now Michu out for longer .Donnelly is an option and who's to say he won't get to the bench .Our goalkeeper situation could be construed as being as important , Oliver Davies & on Sunday Gregor Zabret both U21 keepers have both been named subs for the 1st team . both players who've never played at this level. Have a look a Chelsea tonight ,a strike force worth ? who haven't scored an away goal in 2013 , a £30 million pound striker who's not had a sniff tonight. and we're concerned .
I've heard a whisper we are looking at loans. The rumour I heard was Demba Ba on loan coz we all know Vasquez is pants
Good thread Jcksparrow, constructive criticism and a topic to debate....you should write more threads. My take; Bony - it is vital this guy stays fit now and leads the line for the next month or 2. I think he is top draw. His first touch seems to have improved since his first few games...I put this down to getting match fit. Also, he is starting to bring other players in better....although there is still plenty of room for improvement (he's just not on the same wavelength as some of the others yet...and they have to adapt to him as much as he to them). When he's in the box he looks very dangerous but we are not getting the ball to him in the box enough. He is going to get us goals I feel. Michu - shame he has struggled with fitness all season and won't be with us for the next 6-8 weeks but he will get goals during the run in, I'm sure of it. Vazquez - I wouldn't write him off. Every time he has a cameo off the bench he gets in at least 1 good position to score...he's young, might click for him against teams outside the top 7 in the 2nd half of the season. Needs 1 or 2 to kick him off and give him confidence is all. Routledge - scored goals last season. Needs to be more decisive, shoot more, take a man on in the box more.....needs some confidence but has proved he can do it. Hernandez - same as Routledge. Pozuelo - has shown he has the composure to finish. I'm sure he'll score a few more. Shelvey - definitely goals in this lad. I reckon he will have scored 7/8 by the end of the season. De Guzman - has scored goals last season, it would help him enormously if people got off his back...groaning at his corners for example. Lamah - wild card, can see him getting a couple before the end of the season. Ben Davies - not shy of getting forward and when he gets enough space to shoot has proved he can score Rangel - has always chipped in with a few....don't doubt he will again, just needs to get fit Dyer - injured unfortunately For me there is the potential for plenty of goals in there....it's just that we have been getting strangled of any space in the final third, especially at home, and between some unfortunate results and injuries we have lost a little confidence....we still look like scoring every time we go away from home (where teams come at us a bit more)....if the defence can ensure some clean sheets away from home we'll start picking up a few wins on the road Opposing teams have scored some great goals against us lately though so can't grumble too much. In January we need a winger IMO who can score a few and provide a lot of goals...preferrably on loan as prices are usually sky high in January, unless....Tom Ince at cut price anyone?
Absolutely...I think tactics are improving in the Prem, the football is becoming more continental and space in the final 3rd is getting tougher to find. Re: Lukaku not getting a sniff Anyone notice Mr. Suarez has never ran riot against us either?
I am actually. ...and Valley, I'm not having a go at you. It's a very difficult job, in your spare time, and I genuinely believe you are trying to be fair ...but, and you are not the first...in fact I think all of our mods have struggled with Dai, why have a rule concerning the derailment of threads if you tolerate someone who derails most threads night after night after night? I've been banned from other teams' boards for less! I'm not saying ban him for life...I appreciate Dai's contribution as an alternative (Cardiff WUM I reckon ) voice....but when he gets on something like this for a few weeks all you're left with to read is the same old **** about the same old agenda of Dai's. Which is usually complete bollocks. Just ban him for a week or 2 for the good of the forum.
Nice one Valley Dai - if you're reading, not personal mate....look forward to your return, just perhaps make your own threads re: Laudrup's management and we can discuss it there.
Wont happen he will just Ban the person who complains instead thats what he did with me Bony is the key for me,the problem is that we are trying to fit him into our way of playing and not accomidate his obvious strengths, i said months ago about Bony, if he is so different to us why did the club buy him and Laudrup ok the deal for him ? the club wanted a marquee signing but Laudrup is subbing him on 70 mins and bring a kid on to do a mans job! The application of the players needs looking at for me too, Ash sets the tone or at least should set the tone but he doesnt seem to captain like perhaps he should, we play well when going a goal down so that tells me the players can do it they just arnt applying themselves correctly . That is a big worry .
Meanwhile, back on topic... I think we seem to have a striker in Bony who's playing one system and team that's playing a different one. We seem to have wingers that want to cross the ball in for a striker to head or volley and a striker that wants to play with his back to goal and lay the ball off to oncoming midfielders. The only problem is that our midfielders want to pass out to the wingers to cross and bony passes back to the midfielders and they pass... You get the idea. We either need to encourage our midfielders to strike more consistantly or play Bony with another striker up front the way we did with Michu and Danny Graham. Danny played with his back to goal and Michu would follow up. This incongruity appears to result in our toothless appearance in front of goal.
Routlede, Pablo,Shelvey have chipped in with couple which is what you'd expect but lately no one appears to take charge in front of goal and we're afraid to get numbers in the area to take a chance .Disappointing really when you know the players can do it .
"Wont happen he will just Ban the person who complains instead thats what he did with me" I think he banned you for the tirade of abuse that accompanied your complaining, but let's not mention that.
