Patterson Hume/Huggins Ballard Batth Cirkin Evans Ba Diallo Pritchard Bennette Stewart. Changes have to be made and players have to start playing in their actual positions. Two midfielders in defence just isn't good enough
With the injuries, I'd go... Patterson Huggins Ballard Alese Cirkin Evans Neil Roberts Amad Clarke Stewart
Think you're mad to start Neil personally. But if Batths injury is bad then agreed on defence. I'd hope Pritchard is back for boxing day but again depending on how bad injury is.
I just don't think Ba or Michut are ready to start yet but the other option is moving onien back to CM which won't go down well.
Should be, but his omission from recent squads along with Hume and Huggins is strange imo. They were both very good v Birmingham pre world cup and now not getting a look in despite conceding goals from wide areas in recent games. Blackburn are playing well against Norwich here tonight, Mowbray has a few big decisions to make for boxing day in front of 46k.
Huggins I can kind of understand as he was thrown in the deep end when we had no other option and he's had so long out. Hume is probably the strangest one as he looks decent when he plays, but a bit raw (could apply to a fair few tbh) Maybe move 09 to right back if Baath is fit
They built Huggins back the right way with the 21s games and then he got through 90mins at Brum very well and then he's disappeared for some reason, hopefully its not a reoccurance of the injury but nothing has been said. Considering Mowbray wanted to sign him at Blackburn I'd have thought he would play him if he's fit. Hume has looked good when he has played and has height which we have lacked. Onien will do a good job at RB so I wouldn't be against that.
Could we possibly go ...................Patto ...............Ballard.....Baath.....Cirkin 09......….............................................Clarke ............................... Evans ....................Neil....................Ba .........Roberts........,......................Amad .............................Stewart Goes back to that lop sided 3 where Cirkin had licence to get forward and 09 slots in at the back
It's a tough one, take Ba out and it's fine, but Neil is out of form so do we take him out? If we lose people will say Clarke isn't a wing back. Some will say, we are at home so play Simms and Stewart because it worked earlier in the season. All valid points....... I wouldn't want to be a manger
Neither would I, we have so many options but not the right mix. I think we could do with 3 in CM but love the wide players (especially when they are on form) Then at the back I think Ballard, Baath and Alese would be solid, but then 09 has played so well that he could be starting. Despite a bit of a slump in form I'm still behind the model and the manager as it's so much better than the past few years of ****e players
I'm definitely behind the way we are going, there will be bumps in the second half of the season, no doubt. I think Stewart will be away in Jan as well but the recruitment team will step up and get somebody in. 4-3-3 would be canny if we took out the no 10 and went a bit more compact in CM but kept the width with a front 3. If Pritchard is away then in might be forced on us anyway.
Theres been a few comments he is away, I'm not convinced we can accommodate him anyway (yes he leads the press, yes he sets up attacks, yes he understands the 10 role) but it leaves us short in CM. As a famous successful manager said " pick the best team, not the best players" For me that would be 3 in CM and Stewart with 2 around him
As soon as any player indicates they want away then off they pop imo. No idea if these Pritchard rumours are true but it would apply to anyone if I was the gaffer.
I have been surprised by the comments on Neil. I couldnt disagree more. Our coaching setup have been there and done it and they rate him too. I dont really see a drop off in form either mate. What Mowbray is instilling into him, in his own words, is that off the ball stuff. I see that in abundance growing game in game out. It doesnt mean he is flying into tackles, although he is as busy as anyone in that respect, but watch him scanning the pitch and organising shape. He scans better than anyone in there. It is an atracking trait but he is converting that to a defensive strength. The lad was really solid today, on a day our front 4 put the midfield 2 under a lot of pressure. Just my opinion but I think he is the future if we keep coaching him. Of course we can upgrade any player at any time, but imagine the impact on academy recruitment. That would be very damaging in the future. Plus I dont see a replacement, that would be better, costing less than £5 or £6m unless we go for an out and out workhorse and change the intent, which I dont see. 3 coaches now have backed him, and Venus thinks the sun shines out of his arse. I just want to support a club that coaches talent, rather than buys it. Ths returm on the former is 3 or 4 times higher. Bit of patience in our young lads is needed, it is up and down.
I think Neil will end up a PL player, maybe just needs a break/rest and taking out for a few games. I remember when Alex Neil came in and he identified Neil as someone who was burned out under Johnson and then he hardly featured towards the end of the season. Neil is only a young lad and needs a bit protection He will be a big player for us, just needs to be managed a bit. Just imo of course.
Agreed, so many folk writting neil off already. He has so much talent, he probably needs a rest so id start matete or ba on boxing day. Id go for Pato Hume ballard baath cirkin Ba evans Roberts pritchard amad Stewarts Subs Base O9 Gooch Neil Clarke Simms Jewi
