I just don't see it. Teams who can press well have caused us problems all season and this lot are one of the best at it. Imagine if we go to Anfield and don't play a DM too? Could get embarrassing.
I agree if we are without Downes then we are in trouble, but I'm hoping he will be back. I can just see Martin getting a reaction after the Milwall result and I think their injuries will really help. I know they did well against Chelsea, but how many of those youngsters have every played at that intensity for 120 before, and then gone up against a men's side 3 days later? Mentally it will be really different to Sunday and there is no guarantee they'll be able to pick up where they left off. Of course Liverpool will be favourites but I think Saints are good value at 13/2.
I can't see him throwing Downes straight in here If he wasn't on the bench on Saturday I don't see him starting in a game Russell says "we don't really need".
He should at least start Charles. If he plays a Lumley/Stephens/Dibling/Mara style team, I reserve the right to be a bit pissed off.
Save Downes for the league (he better be back by Saturday). But got to play Charles and probably partner him with another deeper lying player. No idea how the cup win will affect Liverpool. Might inspire them to push on or might act as a distraction and be difficult to bring the right mentality a few days later against a team you should easily beat. I strongly dislike Klopp and even more so the media ****fest over him and Liverpool, but Klopp is a winner and I'm sure he will ensure the team he puts out is ready to get back to business.
I don’t think it's just Downes’ ability to break up attacks that makes him so valuable to us. It’s his ability to receive the ball under pressure when facing his own goal AND keep it safe. This is where he stands out when compared to the others that have played DM. Smallbone is okay at receiving the ball and moving it around, but not so good at the defensive stuff and Charles is a decent DM, but not so good at retaining possession.
Which is why RM doesn’t trust him. He’s wrong in that though. Big Vic was horrid at passing, but was critical to make that system work with Poch.
Not disagreeing with you, about RM not trusting Charles, but he has built his whole game strategy around keeping the ball and if he doesn’t think Charles is good enough at doing that then he will either leave him out or, as he did at WBA, play him in a position where losing the ball isn’t such an issue. Lavia would have excelled in this team, because he could operate as a sole DM, like Downes. I think Charles would be better in a team with two DMs, but RM doesn’t play that way.
Whilst we are shipping 2 goals a game regardless of the opposition, it would be nice if he temporarily altered our approach to make us more solid. Bit late now. But maybe playing two DM's one of which being Charles would have been a reasonable thing to do whilst Downes is out. Would also do this against Liverpool tbh.
I miss Morgan so much. Doubly so when we play without Downes. So many times this season - including countless number of times vs Millwall - I've been sat in my seat at SMS, wishing that Morgan was out there. He would have flourished in this system, and others would be better for it.
