I don't get why people have picked Odubajo? For the money we paid I was expecting a marauding RWB who would rip this league apart - I haven't seen any of that. We've now reverted to a 4-4-2 to accommodate Elmo and Dave which suits neither player and a 4-4-2 doesn't suit the team. Odubajo was also supposed to be marking Rhodes from the corner that Rhodes scored from.
People think i dont like Clucas, it isnt that its this. He can trap a ball and lay it backwards and thats it. Maloney looks like a world beater cos he turns and faces thei goal, drops a shoulder and beats his man.
Wasnt we told he was a converted winger??? Great going forward but suspect defensively?? Well he's exactly the other way round. He's so uncomfortable going forward its untrue. Losing Rhodes for the goal apart, shouldnt have been marking him anyway, he's solid as. I'm sorry but I'd drop him and go 3 at the back and put Elmo at RWB
I agree completely with 3-5-2. It is the only formation we look comfortable with. Funnily it gave us our best away result this season too - away v Cardiff.
Hernandez McGregor Dawson Even without his goal I thought Hernandez was the best of the lot. Liked his overhead attempt and his back heels, seems to be full of confidence. A couple of vital saves from McGregor will do him the power of good, kept us in the game.
The goal wasn't down to our centre backs it was Moses job to mark Rhodes and he totally left him, switched off before the game ended.
Dawson Hernandez Elmo/Clucas - difficult for the 3rd place but I agree with OLM that Maloney has to start! Also, we need to go back to 3-5-2
What the hell were we doing putting one of our shortest defenders in charge of marking one the best strikers and headers of the ball in the league?
Cause Brucey doe's illogical things! That said we should have been at least 2 up by then, and should have wrapped it up anyway with Curtis.
Hernandez Akpom Maloney Robertson, Diame and Elmo didn't have particularly good games. Maloney changed the game for me, he has to start against Forest, but knowing Bruce it will be Aluko instead...
Don't apologise Chazz, three at the back is crystal clearly the only efficient way this squad of players can perform effectively, unfortunately it's unlikely to happen on a regular basis until either:- A) Elmo or Dave are injured. B) one of either Elmo or Dave are sold. C) Bruce is sacked for, amongst other things, creating the situation at a cost of £3.5M.
Down to leadership - or lack of it - on the pitch - either Dawson or Davies should have taken responsibility to stick with Rhodes as they had done all game. Passing him on to Moses was crazy - I don't care how big their centre halves were, they don't score every week.
They have to take responsibility. They had marked him all game and so to pass him on to Moses was crazy
Just to add about Rhodes' goal. Man on the post and he heads it away. FACT. I know its not just Bruce who does it but i like a man on the post front and back. We just have one on the back post for some reason.
Just to cheer us up if you want to watch some really awful defending worth watching the Middlesborough v Leeds highlights on Sky Sports. More accidental mistakes than bad planning but worth watching all the same.