Yeah, but fans shouldn't get on his back because of it he has proved his worth to the team already this season.
I said that Aribo deserves to start at 8 right now but Smallbone is still a very good option there, especially with Downes at 6.
I think largely because he was playing as an 8/10 which is his proper position. He had Charles in the six. It’s almost like playing people in their given roles is a good idea.
Yes, he needs security behind him to give him licence to move freely much like Stuey does. The midfield 3 needs the right balance in Russell's system.
Only second time seen you guys play and fair play to manager, has set about a style. Given you see some managers come in and not develop any kind of patterns you can see how want to play. Thought at times was bit suicidal with the passing. There’s a reason sometimes the best defenders boot it long or out of play and that’s because you can’t pass your way out of every single scenario against every single team but when it works it was super effective. Should have been 3-0 up before we even had a shot. Looks like an enjoyable team to watch there though. Wonder if trying to do that in prem if you get promoted would be another Burnley though?
It has been all about Russell not trusting Shea to cover for Downes and it affected the whole balance of the team, sometimes the most obvious solution is the best one but maybe it's a lesson learned. Things never went well when Ralph used to experiment with players out of position either, remember?
Well that was ****ing ****e in the end. It's been a long day. Sad to say I think the mojo has well and truly deserted us. Draw at best with Brum on Sat
Yeah you're basically spot on. But we were resting/missing at least 7 or 8 of our best players; Walker-Peters Harwood-Bellis Downes S. Armstrong A. Armstrong Adams Brooks Fraser That said, we're always suicidal. And wasteful. So, we'd have probably have just been more suicidal and wasteful.
Whether it would work in the PL or not would be entirely down on the quality of player we manage to bring in should we get promoted imo. Current squad would struggle I think, although the impression appears to be that the standard at the top of the Championship is higher this season so we are possibly better equipped than we think, we didn’t start with our full first XI out and we are lacking an out and out striker because we tried to be too clever with the one we did sign, so there is obvious room for improvement. It is very enjoyable when it works and there is no doubting RM has put a sense of identity into the team which we have lacked for a couple of years, but when it goes wrong it goes very wrong.
The style does need to be more nuanced. There are moments/periods where the risk is not worth taking and the reward is outweighed by risk because the other team are pressing very effectively or our passing has become particularly poor. When it works, as you could see against a young Liverpool side, there are substantial gaps to play the ball through. And the energy we have preserved and then show in those moments going forward may pay off but we can't take that many risks all game against quality opposition.
'.... meanwhile, Liverpool youngsters eased past Championship side Southampton with a comfortable 3-0 win at Anfield' BBC news last night. A remarkable piece of insight and balanced reporting, again.
One concern, after watching the game, is RM being quoted as saying that the players “showed fatigue”. I don’t get that as most weren’t regulars, playing week in, week out, so why would they be fatigued? Lack of match fitness could be a factor but if that is the case then give some a run out in the U21s.
In all honesty i think we dodged a bullet leaving this competition as we have a bigger mission to accomplish. Birmingham match thread required
