Brucey's got selection headaches...Now Jake is back; and so is Diame; and so is Maloney. Then there's Clucas and Meyler. Will SB choose his system - 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 (or even 4-3-3)? And then will he pick the squad to fit, or will he look at the players and see how that dictates the system? There's also the Dave/Elmo question, not to mention who plays up front - Abel/Chubby/Aluko...
Embarrassment of riches. No grounds for any excuses (not that there was much ground for them before like). Will he finally start realising the potential of the talented squad he has at his disposal or will we still be seeing boring, negative, pedestrian underperformance? Time to step up Mr Bruce or else do one.
--------McGregor ----Maguire Dawson Davies Elmo----------------------Robertson ---Diame Huddlestone Maloney --------Akpom Hernandez Robertson looks poor in a back four, Huddlestone looks poor in a midfield pair, Elmo and Odubajo hasn't worked in a 4-4-2 and Maloney looks better more central, so 3-5-2 makes far more sense. The problem is, Bruce doesn't seem confident of Maguire and he doesn't look like he want to drop his new signings in Odubajo or Clucas. Robertson should also do to be dropped, but we don't have an obvious replacement.
Think thats why Brucey was at Ferriby on Monday to watch Big H. He was head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch. He's not quick but as we sit deep it shouldnt matter anyway.
I think we need a grafter in there - Meyler or Livermore - instead of either Diame or more likely Huddlestone. Playing Thudd and Diame sounds great if they click but if not they are a luxury we can't afford.
What he definitely won't do is stick someone attacking on the wing. It'll be Elmo and Clucas again with full backs behind them. Safe as always.
He plays it well enough and had plenty of experience there, not only for us but whilst at Fulham in the Prem.
Even if there isn't, I still think the strikers are our weakest area in terms of players to choose from. Hernandez is getting better but between him and Akpom they aren't involved often enough.
He's a much better left back than we have. In fact, I remember his crossing was much better from that side than it was from the right. Defensively switching from right to left didn't seem to make a difference to him.