Hard to avoid when he's a lot better than our other centre backs, no shame to fonte and obviously Bert is a left back
Agree with your first point. As for playing 3 CBs, it solves our right back problem. Not going to single out Soares after a poor showing from the whole team, but he hasn't done much since he joined to suggest he's any sort of replacement for the guy we lost.
Truth is that we have not really played consistently well many times this season. Losing tonight, at Norwich and drawing with Villa have been examples of poor games where we just have not turned up. We play too many long balls and our passing is inconsistent, not much free-flowing football.
Well it was his hamstring and not his knee, so that's a plus. Was it the same hamstring? If so, he probably needs to rest it at least a month but more like the rest of the season. Otherwise you just keep reaggravating it. We're in a bit of mess upfront, unfortunately with so many players either injured and/or playing badly. It might be Juanmi's time to shine?
Maybe. Clyne's boots were always gonna take a lot of filling. Don't think Cedric's close to that level - not yet, anyway.
I agree that we don't need to, but I'd still be very much inclined to. I can't really Big Sam, away from home, hitting us with a 2-on-1 on both flanks like Bournemouth were. So defensively I would like to think that a 5-3-2/3-5-2 should do absolutely fine, and keep Sunderland at bay. And I'd also like to think that over the course of 90 minutes, we'd have enough of the ball (once you put Davis and Clasie back into the middle) to overrun Sunderland. It's just about whether we can create enough chances, and score from those that we do create. Long aside (and Tadic at times, when he's actually been playing), we've been falling down in that area a bit recently. But yes, I think I'd prefer that than go four at back, risk conceding a goal because Cedric has been caught upfield or one of the CBs has been dragged wide to leave Defoe free, and then have to twice break down an even more defensive Sunderland. We can always change from a 5-3-2/3-5-2 during the second half, if we're struggling to create and the score is 0-0. I do think it is important though that Targett returns. The 5-3-2/3-5-2 works so much better when it's Bertrand-Targett on the left side, rather than Yoshida-Bertrand. I would rather go back to back four if the alternative is Yoshida-Bertrand again.
Woeful all round from us and a deserved defeat. The only thing i think i'll remember from this match is kevin friend somehow knocking himself out, while picking up the displayboard
Where do you feel is his best position Beefy? I feel while he's a 'good footballer' at Prem Level he falls short of being a regular starter (without massive improvement) in each of the positions. Not enough steel or tackling for a DCM, not quite enough creativity from open play or guile to beat his man that would suit for ACM or RW. Also, not enough goals for an attacking midfield role.
I really don't think that this was about the formation used. Our players could not pick a pass, were not moving to give an option for a pass and more often than not could not execute one. They looked tired and lacking in desire. It doesn't matter what formation you use in this situation. I really don't know why this happens but all teams have a game like this from time to time. Let's hope we are back at it soon.
Never has there been a better time for Jay to be back, but that dumps a lot of pressure on him, & that is unhelpful and pretty unfair. Now can we have an international break please?
I would never say that we should beat any team (not true in the EPL), but this was a match we could have hoped for something if we played well (which we didn't). I have always said that Bournemouth won't be relegated...there are worse teams than them and they are still settling into the league, so good luck to them. If only we could be consistent. As I went into hibernation mode, I didn't know about Charlie Hope we pick ourselves up and aren't about to enter one of those inexplicable poor runs.....just at the wrong time.
Can I just say I'm pleasantly suprised this morning. I was half expecting to log in at work to 4/5 pages of arguments with Laurab, but seems most people were restrained n didn't bother
