Kvitsgaaden looked very promising as he is starting to get match fit. Guess the substitution was pre planned. But overall our play was an upgrade on what we have seen so far this season despite a few lazy passes, which seem to be the norm for us this season. All the players out in a decent, or better, shift, no slackers. Sarge could, and should by his standards, have had four. And Darling, what a player. Crnac was quietly very good also, but much of what he does is not flashy or obviously noticeable. A step on the path to a very good team, but I am sure carrabuh will be on later to tell us otherwise.
That's why I said 'one of', GE. I doubt any free transfer will ever top Teemu, but Darling looks like he'll be up there as well.
The combination of Sargent, Crnac and Kvistgaarden looks like it could be a formidable attack with Diallo in support and McLean and Topić as providers with a more solid defence as well. The other difference I see is the full on commitment of all of the players which Manning is so committed to. It reminds me a bit of the Lambert era, but with more technically skilled players.
I really hope now that LM realises that our players skillset is ideal for a flat back four and consigns three at the back to history. First time we play a back four is, coincidently, the first time we keep a clean sheet. Edit:- I see in today's Monday Mardle it is claimed Chrisene was playing LCB, but that surely means Diallo was LWB, which he most certainly was not.
What Saturday should also have done is put to bed the idea that Stacey at RWB is superior from an attacking point of view to Fisher at RFB. For pretty much the first time, we had a properly functioning right side, with Medic, Fisher, Topić and Crnac forming an effective unit. It's no surprise that Crnac had his best game since Manning took over.
I thought that was one of Crnac's best displays too. Hopefully gives him a confidence boost to push on.
Saturday was the first league match I can recall, this season or last, when WhoScored's "Attack Sides" graphic showed more of our attacking being down the right than through the centre or down the left. Not by very much, just a few percent, but it still represents a significant shift from what has previously been the norm.
The official line is "it's horses for courses" but, until Jack was injured, Championship courses deemed Stacey courses outnumbered those deemed Fisher courses 3:0. Kellen's performance on Saturday should at least give Manning pause. Does Manning subscribe to the Farke principle that if you perform you keep the shirt, irrespective of how you came by it in the first place?
Yes hopefully this side can offer a greater balance of attacking threat. Last season was heavily waited to getting the ball out to the left hand side and relying on Sainz to deliver
