The 3-5-2 is still the biggest problem for me... It nullifies playing anything attacking through the middle It's too predictable how we attack The wingbacks essentially have to take on two men to get a cross in as there's no overlap The centre 3 rarely support the top 2 Nobody is ever on the edge of their box picking up clearances I remember a ridiculous stat last season about points won playing 3-5-2 and points won playing 4-4-2 taking into consideration tactical changes during play and when goals were scored and we'd by far won the majority of our points in a 4-4-2. So why have we stuck with it into this season? We haven't had one good spell of continued good form for over a year now and it shows.
Like I said Madge, it wouldn't have been a 'dodgy decision' if we had WON but because we LOST it was a 'dodgy decision'. People are so much wiser AFTER a result particularly when we lose a game and they come on here telling everyone what THEY would have done if THEY had been in charge. In view of our consistent injuries to key players throughout this season we have been easily 'sussed out' by opposition Managers and their Technical Teams. I feel that we have been most unlucky and should have had another 10 points which would have seen us safe but it was not to be.
Only it wasn't after the event, was it? Pretty much everyone thought Jelavic should start and as is often the case, when the 3-5-2 isn't working, we just stick with it rather than changing the system to suit what's happening on the pitch. We've been doing it all season, at Newcastle away and West Brom away in the cup, for instance, you could literally see Bruce gifting points to the opposition with terrible substitutions(not in the cup game obviously). I think we've lost at least as many points through poor team selections and substitutions as we have through players being out injured, he's made some shocking decisions this season.
Yes, I can see your point and I understand the criticism of others but Jelly has a wonky knee and has to be used sparingly. Our substitute situation shows the lack of depth in the side particularly up front where we have had to use Aluko (out of position) and on occasion Sagbo (out of his league). N'Doye has come in a little too late and couldn't do it on his own whilst Diame has played on one leg in most of his matches. A fully fit side of 'first choice' players would have seen us consolidate a third quarter position imo.
Obviously if we'd not suffered the injuries we have, we'd be in a far better position, but that doesn't excuse the mistakes that Bruce has made to compound the problem. We're good defensively, we should have started our best striker and tried to get our noses in front, we could always bring him off later if required. And when he was on, he should have been partnering N'Doye, moving N'Doye out wide was a ridiculous thing to do. We just stuck all our strikers on, with no thought for how the hell they were supposed to ever have the ball, it was driven blind panic, we had no shape at all and it was very poor management.
They were never played as Centre Forwards, they were played in behind a lone front man - mainly because we couldn't field 2 fit strikers at the time. Bruce gave those 3 players plenty of chances. Ben Arfa's attitude and motivation was all wrong Ramirez was in and out of the side due to injury and that stupid red card v Spurs Ince started the season but never looked like holding down a first team slot. We perhaps should have played 4-2-3-1 more but with Elmo and Robertson at fullbacks we looked way too open when we did.
The issue I believe was goals from midfield. Whether he shoots or scores with his head is irrelevant. He's a midfielder and he scored.
