As I didn’t see the game...how was Vrancic at no.10? No goals or assist so not as good as I was hoping, any more info? Also interesting to see the comments about Sorensen being lost. My SofaScore app had him as our second highest rated player tonight behind Buendia? What was it about his performance that wasn’t so good? Must have been hard being a last minute call into the team, first time he’s made the match squad let alone the team in a new country/league and against one of the top sides in the league.
Yep, that would help. But simply more pulling their fullbacks forward and their centre backs apart, with through balls for Pukki to run onto. Buendia can do it too. But we are not as decisive.
Good question. He actually had a busy game - on the ball a lot and passing nicely. The problem is he looked out of position defensively and left us exposed too often. I cannot hold it against him because as you say it was a really tough ask and good for him, but I have very little doubt we would have been a lot more solid if Quintilla was at left back. It’s not a surprise that Farke changed formation
A point at Brentford - that was an okay way to wake up this morning. I would have taken that before kick-off.
I see that Wycombe that team that we were supposed to beat easily managed to draw 1 - 1 with Watford. I think some fans need to get more realistic with their expectations. Anyway positives from todays game Unbeaten run extended to 4 games Managed to come from behind (again) to draw away to a team many expect to be contenders for promotion We remain in a playoff position and 1 point of an auto position Team spirit looks good with team continuing to push to draw / win the game right to the end Sorensen got his league debut and did ok playing in a position he's never played in before
Jacob's take on playing LB for the first time: https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city/brentford-1-norwich-city-1-sorensen-reaction-1-6903855 DF's change to a 3-5-2 formation in the 68th minute made a big difference. For Sørensen, moving to the right side of a back 3 made good sense and enabled the left footed Gibson to cover the left side. Gibson has played as a LB before, so a similar back 3 could be used at Bristol. McLean, who's left footed and has covered at LB before, could play on the left of midfield 3 as a WB with Aarons on the right and Skipp in the middle. Buendia and Cantwell could flank Pukki up front. Match highlights: https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2020/october/match-highlights-norwich-city/
I dont blame Sorenson for a poor display,but DF for the selection. Should have started with a back 3 and played Mclean from the start.
Farke seems to be learning to make subs with enough time to make an impact and change things up formation wise if it's not working. Before he seemed to stubbornly stuck to the same tactics every game and make subs way too late after 80 minutes. He's still learning the ropes too but he appears to have developed a plan B and reads the game better now. 3 games in a row the guy he subbed on scored the winner .
DF's reply to Connor Southwell when the latter similarly criticised him for lacking flexibility was that he routinely makes formational and tactical changes throughout every game. In the match which prompted Connor's article, DF claimed he'd made formational changes three or four times times. "If you aren't knowledgeable enough to recognise such changes when I make them, keep your mouth shut" was the gist of his response. I suspect he would give equally short shrift to talk about the need for a Plan B. Was it Guardiola who said the only Plan B you need is to get Plan A working better?
The whole notion of formations is a bit artificial. A 4-2-3-1 can morph into a 4-1-4-1 when the ball is won and then back to a 4-2-3-1 when it's lost and then into a 4-4-2 low block to repel attacks. The change to a 3-5-2 last night was a definite change, though, even a Plan B if you like.
The thing about Pukki is he is such a high profile striker that defences now are particularly wary of him and consequently mark him out for special attention. If the results are coming with him in the team then we need to ask ourselves how much of this is due to other players being allowed more room on account of it.
Goals scorers to date all games: Pukki 2 Vrancic 2 Idah 1 Hugill 1 Placheta1 McLean 1 Dowell 1 O G 1 10 goals, eight different scorers. Pukki seems to have lost his magic of the past two seasons. Hugill scored 15 goals for QPR on loan last season and should start. So if he does start should he be supported by Pukki, Vrancic or Stiepermann?
Sorensen only found out he was starting 4 mins before kickoff. I presume Farke didn't have much more notice to decide on his changes. Had he known about the injury in advance then I can see the argument, but when it's so last minute, I think keeping the roles of 10/11 players the same makes sense. It's more baffling that we've allowed ourselves to get in a position where we have 3 fit senior defenders available, weeks after the transfer window closed. Hopefully Quintilla isn't out long, otherwise I wonder if Mumba will step in.