Whilst we obviously have problems in attack, with a midfielder our top scorer, the biggest problem is our defence. You cannot go scoring two goals away from home and then concede three, lose the match and go home with nothing, due to schoolboy defending. Full backs that never close a man down and stop a cross, and a soft centre back who cannot jump more than a foot off the ground. The summer break is going to involve a big upheaval for both players and our scouting network, I think, with a clearing of the decks inevitable, plenty of dead wood to go, who are just a drain on the wage bill. Priority for me is the defence, where non of our full backs are good enough, and only one out of the four centre backs are any good. I am hoping that if FG stays that he will use his contacts to get some quality defenders in to stiffen up our defence as a priority.
I sincerely hope your wrong re Williams Roof, for me he is Swansea City AFC and I can't imagine a successful Swans without him. Thing is though, where would he go? Too old for a top team to want to invest the kind of money we'd ask for him and anything else is, this season aside, would be just a side-step. Maybe Spurs but I can't see him anywhere else. I doubt he'd move to Europe and in all honesty I doubt he wants to go anywhere anyway. I think Paloschi will come good but he needs to get his head up. He'll run channels all day but we need him to change it up a bit, come back to the ball on occasion, back to goal Bony style to hold up the ball, lay off to an advancing midfield or wing. I know many will disagree but right now I see him as being too predictable and an easy mark for defenders, they know he'll run left or right, wherever the channel is. Just occasionally he needs to do something else to make defenders have to think a bit more. Fer has looked interesting, and interested, since his arrival. Maybe hasn't shone brightly yet, but he's been very visible and effective. I suppose the price tag on his head will decide whether we buy in the summer but, so far, so good. The only reservation I have with him is that he has a history of fading in and out of form over the course of a season so my personal jury is still out but he has looked good so far. I agree with Roof too re Guidolin. His pragmatic approach may not be to every ones taste but, unless the Rodgers rumour is true, I'd stick with him next season too. We need stability not another humongous change at the helm. Aston Villa: now the most important game in our History so far, if we can't beat them then we don't deserve to be top flight imo.
Rio Ferdinhand and John Terry played great in their mid thirties . CB's have a longer shelf life due to the nature of their job , some play their best from 30 to 32 or 33 . Williams said he didn't want to talk contract through the rest of the season . Manchester United , Liverpool , Chelsea , Tottenham would all take Williams if they could get him imo ...... but if he does go I think it will be United or Liverpool on a 3 year contract . If he does go , it's will be a bit of good business a few seasons back that Jenkins bought out his sell on clause to Stockport for ( I think ) 300,000. This is Ash's last chance at a big club and I think he will take it stumpy and if that's what he wants , we should let him go with a tremendous thank you ....like most , I hope he stays though
Our defence has been mostly solid this season as our goals against tells you and it is them that looks to have saved our season. if we had to rely on our forwards only then we would be relegated by now and Taylor has been part of that defence team that has kept our goals against much better than other teams with us in the relegation battle......But like i say Taylor is the new scapegoat now shelvey has gone.....
If our defence was solid we'd be top 10 easily because our defence this season can't defend for ****e. Oh and everyone was roasting Taylor long before Voldermoot went up north.
I`m not getting into a debate about Taylor, just my opinion. In the first play off game against Forest, Taylor was sent off in the first minute. We didn`t miss him in that game and we don`t miss him now, even though he goes missing a fair bit in games. What a performance that was, with 10 men, if only most of the players were showing that sort of grit and determination this season. Ah well, onto the Villa game, was it against Wolves when we led 4-1 and they brought it back to 4-4. They were bottom then weren`t they?
Taylor has played with fear since coming back from his ankle injury, and he was not good enough for Laudrup, who continued to play Ben Davies, and if you remember Taylor was on the bench most of the time before Ben Davies was sold at the end of that season, I have always defended Taylor in the past, as he has always courted complaint, but this season even I have had enough of his gutless offensive efforts, which always end up with him running or passing backwards, we have also had too many goals from crosses on the left flank, something that Taylor is responsible for, he is no longer good enough.........
Valley - not sure I entirely agree. Last season after 30 games, we had scored 34 goals and conceded 38 goals. (Points on the board - 43) This season after 30 games, we have scored 30 goals and conceded 40 goals. (Points on the board - 33) So, in terms of goals for & against, the bigger change from last season is our failure to score.
Our defence has been the best part of our miserible season and thank god for that or we would be in a far worse position than what we are today. Our goal difference could come into play that could save us.
Whilst our goal difference is currently far better than Newcastle (for example), if we lose 7 of the next 8 games by 2 goals, but beat Villa by 1 goal, then we would end up -23. If Newcastle win 5 games by 2 goals, but lose the other 4 by 1 goal per game, then their goal difference would end -20..... Negative, I know .......
Considering we have only been beaten by 2 goals 4 times all season and Newcastle have only managed to beat anyone by 2 goals twice all season then that scenario is highly unlikely and almost impossible. Not only would we have to virtually implode, considering Newcastle have only scored 2 or more goals only 7 times this season they have let in 2 or more goals 12 times this season they have only kept a clean sheet 4 times all season. So based on their defence only, for that to happen they would have to score 3 goals in more than 50% of their remaining fixtures something they have only managed twice all season. See much more positive
Well some pundits think that 36 points may be enough! There are often "funny results" towards the season's end. Let's hope that we get over 40 points ASAP!
If we beat, as we should, Villa in Saturday I can see us drawing with Stoke and beating Liverpool which will give us the 40 points.
