3-5-2 didn't work because our two wingbacks put in **** (Robbo) and utterly ****ing **** (Elmo) performances on Saturday. It shouldn't be abandoned as a concept for the rest of the season based on that one game alone. 3-5-2 with 2 actual strikers and Elmo ****ed off would be a better litmus test as to the suitability of the formation
hes the only one that cross a ball tho, should have had an assist if Hernandez had headed that ball properly in the first half.
Yep, Robbo's delivery was utter filth for the whole game. A couple of crosses aside tho, Elmo's performance was just awful
I guess I may just have a blind spot to Elmo and keep wanting him in the team because of those crosses. I appreciate you need to offer more in a game of football, but it is a real pet hate of mine the amount of professional footballers who cant cross a football. its such a basic part of the game, but if you watch most games even involving the very top clubs, very few players cross a ball consistently with any accuracy and I find it infuriating. and don't get me started with the amount of professionals who constantly put shots over the crossbar, does make you wonder what goes on in training all week.
Lots were calling for Elmo to be hooked on Sat, but there was no one to replace him with no Dave available, I can't imagine, injury and suspension aside that Bruce will start him again. I think his love of him has now all but gone.
Quite agree but its been going on for 2 years now so until end of season when presumably Hudds will leave, I don't se Bruce changing, despite the overwhelming statistical evidence it don't work.
The 3-5-2 didn't work, in my opinion, because of the total change in defence, and Elmo not at it. Too much change at once, no need to drop Davies, should have been Dawson, Davies & Harry, not two rusty defenders who haven't played last, since when, and not up to pace/game. For our remaining games, it is now time to play warriors, not wannbeawayers, whose own opinions of their skills/ability don't match performances seen on the pitch. Last, but not least I just hope that SB has learnt the lesson, 2 strikers on the pitch for the game = best chance of goals to win matches!
On subject of Elmo, will he have to leave the UK on the ending of his contract as I would have thought that a work permit is linked to length of contract, or may be he has applied for UK CITIZENSHIP as I have not noticed him being selected for Egypt?
Don't know about that but I'd be surprised if he had to leave the UK given that he had a few seasons at Sunderland before joining us. Doesn't the length of time a person has worked in a country count for something?
Absolutely. It's bollocks saying we lose when he's in the team. Odubajo, Robertson and McGregor also played, so they're obviously gonna need dropping as well, right?
I think as a quick attacking side with pace and delivery down the flanks we shine Add into that a slow ponderous midfielder who slows play down and allows the opposition to get defensivley set and become hard to break down and youl find one of our problems Bruce has even alluded to it yet still brings back the slow ponderous midfielder
I think the fact that everybodies arguing the toss and cant come up with an agreement just shows weve got a good squad that just doesnt quite work when selectibg a team.
The defence by and large have been exceptional this season. Ok so there has been the odd games where in an ideal world goals could have been prevented due to individual error, but where we have lost games is a failure to command in midfield and a failure to take chances. I reiterate that when Meyler and Livermore played together earlier in the season we were winning the right to play, unfortunately, whatever the reason, the team just doesn`t seem to function these days with Thudd in it. It was the case last season in the Premier league, too often he was taking too long on the ball and teams sussed it, pressing up onto him. He has improved his form over the last few weeks, but I still have the belief that the team in general function better without him in it. Added to this the presence of a labouring Diame it doesn`t bode well. I`m coming to the conclusion that in my opinion you could possibly get away with one in the team but not both, i would personally go with Meyler and Livermore hoping to recapture their understanding from earlier in the season, and stick Diamonde up front with Hernandez. We desperately need to get back to the winning formula we had before, and to be honest I just don`t see us doing it with both Thudd and Diame in the starting eleven.
I think Thudd is playing his best football for some time now, to see him dropped would be pretty harsh regardless of how others are playing. I'd like to see Meyler brought back in, at the expense of Jake who has really dropped off - he was the catalyst in our winning ways and his loss of form has hurt us badly. I'm not holding my breath as I don't think Meyler is as effective as an in form Livermore, but he'll certainly add a bit of grit if he's on his game. If he isn't he might as well be in China.
For some unfathomable reason Jakes form always seems to dip when he is paired in the middle with Thudd.
It's such an inane cliche. 'He slows the game down' ffs. People say that as if it's some genius tactical insight. Presumably Xavi slows the game down too much and all. You're right that pace down the wings would be nice, but we don't have any. We play slow wingers and slow strikers. Snodgrass gives us a bit of much needed creativity but we're still several players short of being a fast counter attacking side. Our strengths are in defence and central midfield.
I have to agree that I would drop huddlestone also, yes I admit he has played fairly well the last few weeks but the basic facts are we perform better when he is not in the team, we cant hide from that fact. And I for one believe it's purely because it allows the team to play to there strengths which is quick counter attacking football which he is incapable of doing as he simply isn't quick enough to go from our penalty area to there's in anything less then 4 weeks. We don't have the players to play slow possession football as we don't have anybody who is capable of unlocking a defence. I'm a fan of Huddlestone but only when he is in a team that is built around his style of play which we don't have. We have to stop looking at individuals and start looking at the best 11 team players and for me he limits the other players around him too much. McGregor Rosenior (I wish) McShane(I wish) Davies Robertson Aluko(explained below) Snodgrass Livermore Clucas(due to lack of alternative) Diomande Hernandez Now before you shoot me regarding Aluko, everytime I see him drift out wide, 9 times out of 10 he skins the full back and drives at the byline. Now when we signed him from Rangers he was brought in as a Winger which is where he played for Rangers. It's only Brucie that has insisted on playing him as a striker which we all know he is not. And he couldn't do any worse then Elmo who has frankly been shocking. Snodgrass on the other hand has the capability to unlock a defence and provide that killer pass so him playing in the centre could work. I expect many will disagree on the above but leave the abuse as it's my opinion which I'm entitled to.
