Thank f*ck we have five defenders and two defensive midfielders. Said no Saints fans at all in the last five minutes.
Jander can play as an 8 but I agree it's still a bit negative for me. At least J-Rob is back in the picture.
Seems WS aims to win games 1-0 with his line ups. Far too negative when you have a squad like ours. In the Champ you have to assume the opposition will get at least one goal. We seem to be getting further away from knowing our best eleven with each game we play.
I think we have finally got the right wing backs to play this shape now. That's why I think it may actually start to click today. Plus Scienza is starting to settle.
It’s borderline criminal imo. Luckily I think our front three are all willing to hit it from distance, because I think this might be our only chance.
I think that we'll have enough to win and hopefully a clean sheet. 2-0 Saints, Adarma and THB from a set piece.
Interesting that THB has come back in before Stephens. Also a little surprised Wellington is straight back in for Manning too. Nice to see Jelert get a chance though. Also not happy we are so defensively set up, feel we need another attack minded player in there, particularly without a big man up top. But at least we have good options to change it up in theory. COYR!
Just shows the depth of the squad at this level really. I thought we’d switch to a 4 at the back if we were going to start Archer. Don’t think he’s going to get much service today that he can actually do anything with, needed another body in a three behind him imo
Yeah agreed. Our bench would walk into most teams starting XI in this league, as would players not even making our bench.
I still fear we’ll end up playing with too many bodies behind the ball when in possession. I could be wrong but I’ve felt for a few weeks that getting Azaz going is what will spark our season off so it’s a bit disappointing to see us continuing down this path… for now. I reserve the right to be happy at 2.30pm
Maybe Jander steps forward and Scienza and Armstrong play a bit wider, but then that negates the full backs space. Unless that’s the plan and we get those two on ones out wide people alluded to when Still arrived, which means crossing to smaller players again (although Archer is apparently 5’11, just no aerial presence at all)
I don't mind that team, but it does smack of still searching for the right alchemy. Let's hope this one is the one.
Think Che is right to a degree, Still is more negative in his team set ups. I mentioned it after the Liverpool game that his bread and butter in his career so far has been managing ,and getting a good tune out of, underdogs. The Liverpool game is how I’m sure he wants to play all the time, but it only works if you aren’t playing a team who would happily take a point at kick off. He needs to adjust and figure out how to set up a side who are going to be pretty big favourites in most games
Those were the days too true! I started playing for my school U12/13 as a winger but a couple of years later (mid season) I was told to move to the left; and drop deeper to partner our skipper who played sort of central/right...... our sports master was adopting the new flavour of the day; 4-2-4
I think we are a little weak in the middle of midfield and it suggests that most attacks will continue to come from wide areas.