FFS, do we have to do it on this thread too? I don't want to criticise Jakupovic at all. I said several times last night it was good to see him helping us win. I don't think he's the second coming and yes, I still rate Marshall who has only ever played well for us. That's not criticising anyone. The ones doing the criticising are you and GLP with your Marshall obsession. Understatement of the season. It's cringeworthy how little support he and the players are getting. Every time we lose, or even have a poor first half and still win, their effort is called into question. That should be a serious accusation for a footballer but fans just toss it around all the time. We win against the odds and people still want to moan that the formation was wrong ffs. Our expectations should be absolutely rock bottom, and the recent good results should be seen as a massive positive.
So do we all think with this squad that a flat back 4 encompassing Robbo and Elmo is the correct tactic ? It is about getting the best from what we have available .. I sympathise with the lack of signings and having to deal with the muppets in charge but do we not look more comfortable playing 2 up front and having two wing backs either side of a central 3 at the back .. it is about making best use of what you have .. my own opinion is that Phelan is not doing so
That's an interesting point. If he somehow managed to win the league cup but we got relegated with 12 points, would he become our most successful manager ever? Would people swap league status for a championship crack at the Europa league?
I'm pretty sure that the only reason Phelan's avoiding the 3-5-2, which most think we should be adopting, is because it doesn't suit Snodgrass and he's been our most important player so far this season.
Have we won any games this season playing 3-5-2? I think the answer is no, but I'm not certain. IIRC we started with three at the back against Southampton but had a back four when we scored our goals.
Both good points raised in the previous two posts. People need to realise we can't just go and attack teams. Yes we might be playing at home but we're underdogs in every game and sadly that probably does mean 4-5-1 every week. Anyway, it's not like it hasn't been working for us in recent games.
We've barely played it, we went 3-5-2 against Stoke, but it was late on when we were already 2-0 down and we started 3-5-2 against Southampton but had to bin it when we ran out of strikers on 26 minutes. It's a formation that suits our available players, other than Snodgrass, which is probably why we're not employing it.
Not sure Phelan is that tactically astute as to know which is his best formation. Last night is the prime example, JJ Shelvey was running the game for them the whole night. Blatantly obvious to all who were watching but we never managed to put a man on him to keep him quiet during the full match. If anyone managed to watch the highlights of the Blackburn game they played with a man marking him all game and Newcastle were totally ineffective without his distribution.
What happened to his great attacking tactics i was told by some of you lot? Hopelessly out of his depth. Clear from the beginning.
It's all gone to ****, after the first couple of games he looked to have it sorted, however it's become crystal clear that he's clueless with regard to signings, starting selections, substitutions and the timing of same, and diabolical tactics. If he isn't moved on it's equally crystal clear that Ehaw wants us to get relegated, but that's probably all the part of some weird spiteful plan by the boy blunder.
Absolutely clueless .. tactics are so negative and shambolic .. why he can't see what the rest of us see in that Mason and Henriksen are just not up to it is beyond me .. why he can't see that the formation is all wrong .. why he can't see that playing one isolated striker up front is not working .. it was a travesty forcing Bruce out and this is what we are reaping as a result
Something needs to change, it won't. If thats a changed in the board, the manager? The players have no spring in there step, no energy no nothing. Its sit back and hope we score from a set piece. Bowen was the best larker when he came on, 4 4 f***ing 2.
It's true we have a weak squad but it's obvious Phelan is not using what we have to the best of its ability. Henrikson had his best game against Newcastle playing on the left yet he started with Mason left who was dogshit there the game before. We are playing with a 5 man midfield to try to dominate that area but get over run every game. Meyler would do the work of Henrikson and Mason yet he stays on the bench as those 2 watch player after player go by them game after game. It's pathetic and embarrassing. Phelan Out!
Big defeat today and I can see him getting the sack. Could be the best thing to happen to us. It might, I say might, make the Allams get a pwwoven manageww. Hint hint
Chazz, might doesn't even come into it. They simply won't do that. What half decent manager would come here and be dicked about e.g. last minute signings etc. I think Ehab's plan for the club is fairly obvious. You supported Brucie (as did I) and his treatment from the ****wit son during the summer was nothing short of scandalous. Regardless of what you think of Phelan now, he was treated pretty poorly too before and during the manager debacle. Sincerely mate, given the evidence, what makes you think that Ehab would attempt to find a 'proven manager' who would then be prepared to be treated like some 1950s factory apprentice in his/her first week? UTT
