Again, I didn't see it, but Mbengue and Smyth on the left side is ridiculous. Of course Varane should always start ahead of Madsen, but also Field should never enter the opposition half. Sounds like a complete nightmare by Stephan.
Was up Ben Nevis for the game today. Saw the team selection upon descent and was puzzled to say the least. Not seen any of the game but had constant updates from my lad whilst driving back. He said the first half was shocking and Morgan was having a mare despite his goal. Madsen shouldn't be anywhere near the team but even his most die hard defendants realise that now. Am I correct in thinking he finishes the game with 2 up top?
I sometimes wonder why managers/coaches change the formation or style to try get back into the game. There are various reasons I understand but if you seriously think the changes will work and be beneficial, why not start that way and see what happens. Our plan 'a' or project is consistently failing. It just doesn't work for us. The lack of full backs starting whist having one of each on the bench is beyond ridiculous and quite naive of a so called experienced manager.
But not quite so naive when you consider the likelihood that it's not him who decides the tactics in the first place. His stated preference was for 4-4-2. Yet two games, so far both with a lone striker. Even with Frey crocked we still had three on Saturday but two not worthy of a place in the starting line up? It reminded me of the Redknapp days when he used to expect Jamie Mackie to run around like a headless chicken to press the opposition defenders . In Nourry we trust.
Yesterday was the first time I've seen Varane play apart from the edited highlights which (excluding two minutes of teams walking on and 5 minutes of repeats) is about 3 minutes of action. Looked a fantastic player but was caught dithering twice towards the end. Oh! And full backs. Haven't we got plenty now? Are they all still ripening in the development squad?
Yes we had two strikers on the pitch, no we didn't have to up top. One was Celar, who didn't touch the ball once in the 15 minutes he played. The other moved position to accomodate Celars disappearing magic act.
I thought that might be the case. We really need to get rid of Celar & Madsen. The latter is one of the most unsuited players to the championship that I've ever seen.
He’s never been popular with the away supporters who are predominantly old and tired while somehow being quite popular with the kids on Twitter with forums like this and LFW (also largely old and very tired) being a mixed bag of maybe 70% negative to 30% positive but it was noticeable yesterday how many people are just done with him. We are a patient lot who have put up with a lot but the glaring weaknesses in his game show no sign of improving. Not that some random bloke at football necessarily knows anything and 9/10 times knows nothing at all but the bloke behind me insists Cifuentes wanted to bin him early on and fell out with Nourry over it. If (huge if) he’s being forced on this manager it’s a real problem.
I get the impression that might be the case because he has not done anything to warrant a starting place. I stated a while ago that we were after a 'yes' man. That carabau cup team was picked by someone else, seems like Stephan is just the front man. It's a recipe for disaster.
I don’t mind the CC team (easy for me to say not schlepping 250 miles each way on a Tuesday) if the logic plays out that we go into Saturday fresh and get at the opposition. The first half was pure slop and little better than the 4-0 debacle there. The crowd from the 35th minute until Morgan’s goal were really on their backs and rightly so as the effort with and without the ball was appalling. It was like we were playing with nine men such was the space and options Watford had (Watford ffs, not ****ing Barcelona or even Ipswich). The goal totally changed the mood and I fancied us to have a real go second half which happened a bit for 20 mins or so without troubling the goalkeeper (naturally) and was killed stone dead once Dembele limped off (again). Chair did link the play well second half and was very involved. The delivery was again poor (why not play Vale who has shown he can cross a football?) but we knocked it about at times quite nicely and stretched the play albeit almost always in front of the defence. The XI was physically at a disadvantage. That will improve with Kone and Dunne but does nothing to fix the midfield which you won’t win many games without winning that battle which again brings us back to our mate Nicolas. Varane and Field between them can barely pass a football but the battle was at worst even for half an hour after being reminiscent of Custer’s final moments before that.
This is my first season admitting defeat that I’m too old to be at the back surrounded by children high on Red Stripe and colourful vapes and plonked myself halfway up in the comfort of people as miserable and bitter as me. Was nice, will do the same at Wrexham.
Going to Wrexham myself. I like to grab a seat away from the hardcore and actually watch the footy. You can be on Madsen watch for that game
Feels as thought JS is (hopefully) exploring the strengths of his players in different situations. I’m afraid I agree he should explore Madsen on another continent; can’t see Celar moving too quickly while he has a new baby - so we are probably stuck with him this season. We need that Left Back - I never want to see Mbengue out of his best position, lovely to see some of his long crosses. Feels like we’re creating a difficult start for ourselves when we should be looking to maximise the first few months. Those games from end of August to beginning of October we must maximise and get selections bang on. Some unexpected teams in those bottom nine of the league after two games.
And this is the issue, in possession we always flatter to deceive. Fans walk away saying we were unlucky and we played some good stuff... we don't, our posession is either sideways or forward to Chair who collects the ball and does a series of one-twos until he's back at the half way line. For all the possession in yesterdays second half only Kone's header required a clearance - a shot from Chair dribbled to the keeper and I refuse to talk about Fields attempts. We only ever look to go forward once their defence and midfield are set, our long cross field balls don't stretch the defence, at most a midfielder moves across. Their defenders glance at our single stationary striker and wait to clean up any ball that appears once pressure has been applied to our midfielder. Its slow predictable play, in front of their lines, that goes no where.
You must have been near me and my lad and the miserablists Come on in, the water's lovely. You can even moan about the crap pies, lack of halftime beer and Starmers immigration policies
