Same defence - but they weren't a complete shambles against Liverpool- good to see both El Khanouss and Buenanotte starting and also Alves and another academy kid on the bench ...
They hit the woodwork 3 times and had the ball in the net 4 times Fosse! I admire your positivity, but at PL level that’s as close to a shambles as is possible mate
Watched the highlights and we weren't too bad ... JJ getting pelters for the second goal but he was looking for an outball for ages and there weren't enough options / players making themselves available - contrary to some claims I've seen, the outball to Ayew WAS on and Ayew should have been much stronger - he was ahead of his marker but allowed himself to be robbed ... Luke Thomas looked solid and El Khanouss was again the orchestraror of most attacks / good things (kid's a real prospect) ... Need to bring in at least 3 new faces and get rid of more than that - recalling Brandon Cover from Port Vales to compete for the right back berth would also make sense...
I have to say I thought JJ's decision making for the second Villa goal was poor. We were looking comfortable to secure a point which, bearing in mind our position in the league, would have been huge for our confidence and self-belief. He had the chance to clear his lines but chose not to. As soon as he turned back he was inviting Villa to press us more and close everyone down. He had Vestergaard free, but he didn't seem interested in asking for the ball. You are right that Ayew should have been stronger and not so easily dispossessed, but what was he going to do with the ball if he got it? He was in no better position than JJ, facing his own goal with a defender up his back and no one to pass to. It was nothing more than a blame shifting pass from JJ. Sometimes it has to be safety first and then reset. It looks like we are keeping Buonanotte, so I was surprised that he started on the bench again.
The decision was poor but Vestergaard should have demanded it - much easier for him to clear a ball rolled to him - coming on to it - than for JJ himself on the turn - but Ayew should have been stronger, collected, got across his marker and drawn the foul ... or rolled it back to JJ to lump clear coming on to it ...
There is definitely improvement on the pitch but we have to turn all that hard work into points by not giving away silly, avoidable goals. There has been a lot of talk that the defensive improvement has come at the expense of our attacking options. We have to find a balance between not conceding so that we don't lose and being more attacking and outscoring our opponents so that we win. Not an easy problem to solve, and it gets harder as the teams just above us continue to pick up points and extend the gap. Ruud has got one heck of a job on his hands. New additions to the squad might help, but getting the right type of quality player in the January window is a tall order. Teams tend not to sell their best players half way through the season. Maybe Ruud can call in a favour or two from his previous clubs and get us some decent loan offers.
NEW: The Premier League has not charged any clubs for breaches of Profitability and Sustainability Rules last season however Leicester City remain at risk pending the outcome of their ongoing legal case Great news. Rudkin needs to get the cheque book open and quick.
You must have a long memory then Harborough as I can't even remember saying win and premier league in the same sentence
Cant see us splashing much cash as it will only move the problem. If we could get Palace to take Edouard back and then sell Faes then maybe. Interesting Braybrooke is back from Dundee and apparently fighting for a spot despite only playing 8 games.
...unless some of the £2.1 billion Fatal accident claim which includes compensation for 'loss of earnings' comes the way of LCFC
Tom Cannon recalled from Stoke - rumours that Sheff United have bid £7million and that Sunderland are about to gazzump them with a £13 million bid ... Armani Richards recalled from Exeter where he's had quite a good time on loan - promising young striker ... Seems to be quite a bit of squad momentum...
I’d like us to keep Cannon until we know which league we’re in next season. If we go down he’s up to speed for the Championship as seen with the interest in him. We’ll probably sell him now, get relegated and end up with no striker for the coming season, unless we look to Vardy again who’ll turn 39 next season.
I hope we keep Cannon and develop him. Don't want a Krameric version 2. I'm also having to suck so many eggs over here having called Chris Wood the donkey for the last 5 years, finally looking half decent.
He’s looking decent because he is getting the run of games that he needed, he never got that here and was wasted imoa
Partly - he's blossomed with age but he wouldn't have fit Ranieri's game plan and we wouldn't have won the Prem with him (or Kramaric) as first choice ...
Not over until the fat person (woke version) sings - but we need a very quick reaction .. Acquisition of an (apparently) combative speedy right back is (potentially) a good start ...
