OK no real surprise that we lost yesterday but it sounds like the team was a bit flat. Was that just three games in a week? Should we stay unchanged against Reading or freshen it up? Maybe Mayuka or JRod for Punch? Sounds like Gazza did OK yesterday so assume the jersey is his for now? Should Shaw have a rest? Views?
Our passing was woeful. Liverpool pressed us high so we needed to be on our game but were poor. Players looked tired, especially in midfield and Lambert was isolated and looked star struck most of the game. We gave Liverpool far too much respect. We should be taking note of teams like Swansea and Norwich who are picking up points from the better sides or we will get relegated. We desperately needed an injection of pace and Adkins failed to make the right substitutions. Liverpool were made to look good by how poor we were. They are not a good side. One positive - we looked to have a better shape about us and defensively we have definitely improved. Im annoyed by the performance but I will try and be positive and put it down to tiredness.
These next two games really are must wins! It's painful to say but we need to be beating the teams around us. Norwich included... And if we don't get AT LEAST 4 out of the next two games, (both at home, bothto average sides...) then I think we will go down.
Having watched the highlights again I agree with this. Maybe we should freshen it up a bit next week.
It's frustrating because we can put up a fight against some teams and some around us we can't. Like I couldn't care about beating someone like Man Utd, yea it would be good but we need to be taking points off the teams around us. Agree that it's still a long way to go...
I'm still feeling a lot more positive than before the QPR match. If we beat Reading we will probably be out of the bottom 3 then it's onwards and upwards!
I am feeling positive but the fans need to relay that into the stands and towards the team. We beat those two teams then we're at mid table and we kick on from there. By that point psychologically you aren't looking over your shoulder at who is trying to catch you, but who you can catch up with
Wouldn't read to much into yesterdays game. We are playing better and we have stopped shipping a lot of goals (though were probably a bit lucky yesterday). The team virtually picks itself which probably says we lack depth, especially at the back. Adkins is still learning about substitutions (and he is entitled to still be learning). He tried subbing in the early games to protect players and inject fresh legs and he got punished for it. I think he has now become conservative because of that, especially as we have picked up points recently. Tough job being a manager.
He did. Unfortunately for him he then started against Leeds two days later, and by all accounts did nothing. He also did nothing during his 15 mins vs WBA the following week. I am actually with you in that I'd have liked to have seen him. I just think the criticism that Adkins is coming in for from some people (not directing this at you) for not giving him a chance in these two games in slightly unwarranted. He sees Mayuka every day in training. We saw him for 30 mins vs Spurs.
Mayuka or Rodriguez for Cork. Full-backs stay home mostly, Lallana and Puncheon very defensively responsible to quell their wide threat, push high up the pitch with four or five players and pressure them and don't allow them to play it out. They will be under huge pressure away from home and being below us, we attack them from the off with a high tempo, put them under pressure and get the crowd going, try and go into the half 2 up, Cork on for one of the strikers or Gaston at the beginning of the second half to shore us up, if we still have a comfortable lead at around the 70th-75th minute then Davis on as well to really give us a good hold of the game. Easy three points in the bag... And then I woke up. Really hope we make a fast start, purely because I know I'm going to be a nervous wreck, so a confident start would be brilliant, a shaky one and I'd probably be in danger of serious coronary issues. I have to say, whilst everyone was saying the Norwich game was a 'good result' I saw this coming. If we had an extra two points on the board we'd be 15th, 5 points and 4 places clear of Reading, as it is we are in an incredibly precarious position with two huge must win games then two very tough away games coming up. Scary... As close to 'make or break' as it gets at this stage.
I do think Nigel is losing his nerve a bit with substitutions...can't blame him as we need points after our disastrous start. Was he afraid to go for it against Norwich? Getting a point and stopping Norwich from getting two more may yet be the right decision.
I would definitely like to see Mayuka or Rodriguez in place of Puncheon. Not because Punch has been poor -- he's been very good for the majority of the season -- but Reading will probably play a pretty high line, and having a release down the flank could be quite valuable.
I do think Adkins is learning on his feet all the time, and I wonder if maybe he's taken onboard the criticism he received earlier in the season when substituting the like of Lambert and Pucheon, but unfortunately that he's taken it on too much and has now gone the other way and hardly touches the subs now. If this is the case, then I'm not bothered. Because it shows that Adkins is willing to learn and adapt, and over time he'll be able to re-adjust himself again, and eventually find that middle ground. I also wonder if the above also applies to us now having the same XI game after game, even though we did seem less than 100% fit yesterday.
In regard to the subs - 10 million sitting on the bench or getting a run out for the obligatory 15 minutes. What does this say? JRod not the player everybody thought and the same can be said of Mayuka? Would like to know what has happened to Chan Lee, I thought he looked an interesting proposition? Watching Cork and Morgan both looked tired vs Norwich so surprised they got the nod for Liverpool. Just think our squad lacks any quality in depth and with hand on heart think 16th 17th place this season is the absolute best we can hope for!
I'd keep the team the same. Reading still play 442, so I think there's joy to be had from playing through them and making them chase. Then we can throw Mayuka and Rodriguez on to add some pace and movement to expoit tired legs. We have a fit group of plaiyers who should be raring to go by the weekend.
Simple answer: the incumbents have been very good, and we haven't had any injuries up front. Rodriguez is at his best playing centrally, and we now play a one-striker setup; with Rickie playing so well, the opportunities haven't been there. As for Mayuka, Puncheon has been the surprise of the season...think that few expected him to be a frequent presence in the team, let alone a key player.
