Enigma!! His touch and control are as good as we’ve got (and I include le Féein that). But his final ball is garbage! I didn’t think he was good today, guess your post just proves that more!
It's hard to fathom why we've stuck with him for so long and haven't prioritised a goal scoring replacement.
I don't believe anyone would know at this stage ... ... I did notice when he pulled up and someone immediately passed the ball to him, which I thought was daft. But he ran after that so I'd be surprised if it's a hamstring after having suffered one myself.
Well is this the start of the injuries again ? better rest half the team for the play offs. 12 matches left though need the loan players back.
I am normally very positive and upbeat even if we lose but yesterdays game just left me a bit deflated and with more questions as to where we are at the moment. Has Dodds leaving had a bigger impact than we thought. Is there some internal issues that we as fans are not aware of (undoubtedly there will be as there is at every club) which are affecting performances. Is fatigue setting in due to age demographic of team (are they just running on empty) Has there been a change of approach over the last few months as we seem a lot more defensive minded. Where is that zip, intensity and tenacity gone. These are just a few of the questions floating about in my head. The one thing I think may be an issue is Fatigue, but not physical fatigue but mental fatigue. Older players tend to deal with this better but the younger guys maybe not so much. Just some thoughts anyway and was wondering how everybody else feels.
Great points.but the thing is, when we played Boro and Leeds, we had the intensity. I am not making excuses but I think Monday’s game took a lot out of us. Hull today were sharp and on it. But we weren’t after the first 8 minutes. Despite that, had we taken our chances (and got the stonewall penalty) we’d have won!! Not deserved but still, I’d have been happy!!
Maybe I am looking at it wrongly, I just have a little nagging doubt that we are almost great but just not quite. At the start of the season we just shrugged things off and got on with the job but lately it seems more difficult to do. Like I said I think it is probably more mental fatigue than physical, and it may just need a bit of light hearted banter or a team building day or something like that to freshen them up again(am no expert on this) as it just feels like they need a bit of a reset.
Sometimes that thought wakes me up at night - and there will need to be a lot of money spent if we do make promotion this season for sure, however, having supported SAFC for the best part of 65 years I dearly want to see us in the Premiership again before I turn my toes up!
Good points and one of also like to add. Defence hasn’t looked solid and assured and Patterson’s confidence has gone missing since Chris Mepham lost his place in the starting 11, as well as O’Nien’s mistakes have crept back in.
Yes and yes to a few of your remarks, some are running on empty, IMHO, I think 2 or 3 are waiting for big money moves in the summer window. The biggest issue for me is we don't know how to close a match out. But that's for the gaffer to sort out.
It was attention seeking bs (par for the course over there). Le Fèe was sat on the bench after he was subbed so how could a full medical assessment have even taken place?
Agreed. That's why I said on the other thread, changes are needed. It's not close to being good enough for top 2 and now on par for play offs. Unfortunately, Ballard has proven to be lacking the level of robustness to be trusted over many games. We have no cover at full back, so both can have bad spells and not worry about being dropped. 09 has made a good few mistakes but overall has had a canny season. Keeper is getting worse ever week. We were all over the shop at times yday, getting dragged stupidly across the pitch.
There is no way to know. Will need to have a scan. It wasn't like Mundle where you knew it was serious.
Whilst I agree with Roberts not having a good enough output, I can't help feeling that's partly down to how we are set up. Cirkin links up closer and more regularly with whoever is further up the pitch from him, and in addition to this, Jobe plays mainly off the left in his 8 position to offer a triangle to Cirkin and Le Fee/Mundle. On the right, Hume links up less with Roberts, and when he does, the passed are from a greater distance. In addition to this, Neil is playing a deeper 6 role, so isn't there to offer an option, and Rigg is playing higher in a 10, so is level with Roberts or beyond him. The last time Roberts had someone playing close to him, Amad, both thrived and there was output from both. At that time we had Clarke on the left who had to do more himself, but is a better player, even then he went missing in some games. I guess in a nutshell, is Roberts more isolated, and therefore having to do more himself, and is then producing less.
Didn’t even have a pack on his leg from what I can see. Absolutely precautionary hence he finished the half. I echo the fatigue thoughts. We need to take some steps back now, massive cushion for playoffs and auto unrealistic, let’s try some different midfield combinations. Dan is of course untouchable, but we could try Dan - Enzo - Aleksic as a 10, that looks so much more creative. Jobe has also looked jaded for a couple weeks resting him and Rigg whilst also getting Aleksic, who always looks impactful, more minutes is a ringing bell win. Mundle now back and Tommy close. We have to rotate it. Lets give Abdullahi some minutes too, from the clips he looks like he takes the basic chances better than Wilson (not suggesting Wilson is dropped but when he comes of, replace with Ab) I’d love to see how Wilson Mundle - Mayenda Aleksic Enzo - Dan shaped up. There’s eye watering creativity in that.
