Sulemana’s appearances have generally generated the same hopeful optimism as Edozie’s, but with even less results I think Dibling will deliver more and he likes to run towards the actual goal thingy that seems so important to winning games
Yeah. Whilst I'm not a fan of three CBs (and will generally only accept it reluctantly), it can still work in the right circumstances. I have always been of the belief that the success of three CBs relies very heavily on the two WBs, who need to be adept at both being a FB and a winger...and be given the space. It isn't a job which any FB can do, or indeed any winger. The role of a WB is quite specialised (and hard). I thought KWP and Sugawara were both solid yesterday. Our best two players. But yet I didn't see either of them being utilised as WBs. With Sugawara, it felt like I was watching a FB being asked to play as a WB (and maybe that's exactly what it was). Whilst with KWP, he was often too narrow and wanting to come in on his better foot. Furthermore, in both cases they had a forward being stationed ahead of them out wide. I am in no way criticising either of them. It's the system which I have the issue with, not those two. Without two natural WBs, and without a central focal point up front, it will always be difficult to make three CBs work.
I decided to sleep on it before giving my thoughts on the game yesterday. Tom started this thread. Enough said.
Seriously though I am hoping it was a more a case of nerves for the first home game but we shall see.
I was Sulemana's biggest critic last season. But the one thing he has is pace. Forest knew they could play a very high defensive line, because BBD, Smallbone and Aribo are all slow as f*ck. Championship defences played very deep, giving Sulemana no space. Might actually be more suited to the Prem, weirdly.
Looking back on yesterday and I really don’t feel any more positive. I am not saying I ever expected us to stay up that was such a balls up of a performance yesterday that it has undone my positive feelings about the performance against Newcastle. We looked blunt against Newcastle and even blunter against Forest. We look like a championship team full of championship players trying to cling on against vastly better sides. Which is what we are. Hopefully Fernandes, Dibling and SAA get lots of game time so they can be the backbone of coming back up next year. My only fear is that we will sell them and the whole thing is kind of pointless.
You just know Dibling and SAA will play just enough football this season to get the big clubs excited and pay us huge amounts of money when we’re relegated and we’ll spend it on average.
Pointless!!!!???? When you’re in the gutter at least you can look up at the stars Come on, we knew this would be tough, but not like you to de so downhearted
Oh I meant the purchasing young players thing - not the whole thing of supporting Saints. I don’t support Bank Balance FC and genuinely want some heroes to come through I can root for.
I know, but we get to keep the young players for a while before they move and when we get bored with it we can get back to the Champ and enjoy ourselves again
Not really the same sport I fell in love with as a kid though. Mercenary football for Bank Balance FC, dominated by the Premier League - which we should be camped in except for a Gao.
Imagine how good the goal difference will be when we do though! Everton haven’t scored either, they have played 2 better sides than we have though
I am really looking forward to see what big Les can do. Who comes out, Aribo or Smallbone. The clips I have seen of him driving forward into attack, has me very optimistic we will play better going forward.
Mate of mine is a Chelsea fan, was stunned he didn’t start for us at the weekend. Says he’s class. But tbh without a striker; doesn’t really matter who we play in midfield
RM doesn’t do that anyway - he's a bit of a Southgate in that respect ie very loyal (stubbornly?) to the previous.
