Would like to Faurlin recalled, personally. Perhaps alongside Mbia and behind Adel. Though I would question how much a statistical analysis could differentiate between Granero-Faurlin, just because Granero has had more game time.
Best to sell him in January, big let down as a player. Real are a massive club and discard many who don't make it. Having played for them is no guarantee of quality. Julio Inglesias played for Real, enough said.
Granero's gone imo. Dipped his toe into the Prem 'project' waters and got scalded. Off to Italy, and why the hell not? Its a damn sight warmer and the gnocchi is better
He started off well and has got worse and worse, exactly the opposite of what wed expect. Arry has been told he has to sell to buy so it would be a good swap if we could buy Samba with the money for example.
He's just one of - practically all our signings - that have let us down in my opinion. I wish we could get rid of all of them and start fresh.
Does anyone know what's happened to Dyer? Injured again? Thought he played well against MU and what like to see him given another chance, preferably in place of SWP.
As I've said before, Granero's technically our best player. Brilliant and totally committed to the cause before the Saints game when all of a sudden became a pale shadow. Quite why remains a mystery but correlations can be drawn from the changes going on at the time. Question is, can he regain his belief in these unfamiliarly darker days? Personally, I think 'Arry might see things as two engine room partnerships: M'bia and Diakite or Granero and Faurlin - the first tougher and more durable and the latter more technical and elegant. Both have their advantages dependent on the type of opposition. Horses for courses then? As for Dyer, if a picture ever told a story, KD's face driving out of the training ground after 'Arry's first session suggested he was well pissed off. Gave me the impression we wouldn't be seeing much more from him one way or another. We'll see.
Personally, think it's a bit of a shame about Dyer - did well against Utd IMO. So far it seems as if HR's gone for power over precision, and in some senses it justified as we're unbeaten in the last 3. However, to win games I think we're gonna have to find a way of incorporating either Granero or Faurlin as our passing is shocking on occasions, well most occasions. Was Granero playing out wide against Saints? Couldn't be certain watching on the laptop. Need to get these guys going if we're gonna have a chance.
Agree with this. A few have said publicly that draws won't be enough. By having mbia and Diakite we're difficult to beat but still not creating enough chances to win due to some woeful passing at times. Can't we stick mbia at right back again an include all 4?
HR had Mbia playing quite high up the pitch against Wigan, but I think I'd rather see Adel played centrally supported by Mbia and Faurlin, particularly as Diakite waned quite badly against Wigan. He's not the perfect defender, but I'd put Fabio at right full-back. I've only seen in the flesh once (Man City), but I felt he performed quite well, especially in attack.
Morning, As for the OP, Pirate, you should know better than to use stats to tell the whole story. I could not read them (site down) but I dont see how they can compare Ali & Granero. Ali has had very little playing time compared to Granero. Not sure why but MH and HR both seem to think the same ? Personally find it hillarious that people posted G-man hasnt performed. Do you remember the firt 8 or so games? Dont know whats happened since Southampton but he looks a shadow of the player he was when he first started with us. Will agree though, if he's not up for the fight then he has to go! Lots of others in the squad who should also be thinking about goining too. As I said before, i dont think there is a system that can accomodate ALL our top midfielders at once and thats because we have to many ! Im sure Col / Bob will have a system in mind and prove me wrong! Think as Brix said, its horses for courses and all that. Personally thought Ali & Granero looked good together ?
I agree with that to a certain degree. However, I also thought we looked quite fragile when they started together. Think the starting XI only has room for one.
Would lok better with Diakite or Mbia in behind them. Dont disagree with your point though. No bite in the middle.
I think Granero's situation is similar to Park's - both players have been played out of position and that, coupled with the dire results, has resulted in a terrible loss of confidence. Granero has either been played centrally in a 4-4-2 where the middle 2 have been completely overrun by an opposition middle 3, or he's been played on the right hand side of a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 where he's going to be totally ineffective because he has no pace and isn't going to glide round full backs and whip in crosses. For me, Granero's best position is in a middle 3, where he is the playmaker. This can be with Diakate and Mbia if we're playing a more physical team like Stoke, where they can "protect" him and allow him to spray the passes round the pitch unhindered. Alternatively I think he could play with any combination of Faurlin or Park (I believe we always need either Diakate or Mbia to fill at least one of the three positions in order to protect the defence). I think Granero is a terrific player and that he is far too educated to be here just for the money - what we need to do is play him in a position where he's going to do the most damage. Personally, against Fulham I'd have Granero and Faurlin centrally, with diakate just behind. I'd have Taraabt forward left drifting in and Mackie forward right, playing off Cisse. Back four, I'd move Mbia to central defence alongside Nelson (Hill gives everything, but I think for all his effort we are still getting found out for pace at the back). I'd replace Bosingwa with Onuha at right back and give Fabio a chance a left back. I guess Cesar comes back in goal.
Sounds like an interesting line-up, though don't see any reason for bringing Cesar back in: Green played very well at Wigan and deserves his place. So too, IMO, does Traore. Much improved in the last few.
Brix, you're trying to mess with my head. These bloody acronyms drive me crazy. Reading a good post then up pops "KD" (Kenny Dalglish? What's he doing at our training ground) and fu*k's the whole rhythm up. Can't be doing with this sh*t.
Not too sure about keeping RG in goal ad JC is so much better. Rg has done nothing wrong though so its a hard one for HR to decide. AF, EG & SD at CM's AT left and JH right.... defence should stay as is with only CH being replaced by M (sorry cant recall other name) Up front has to be JM to start. Maybe HR has gone against MH ideas and doenst like SWP but he should be on the bench i think..? Morning Swords ...
Played every minute against Wigan, so unfortunately it seems as though HR does like him. Decent enough team, though can't agree about dropping Green does nothing for moral or team continuity. It's only been a few games and no doubt HR is still getting to know his squad, can't see him retaining the same 3 CMs from the Wigan game as we need more creativity.
i honestly think that when our midfield plays well and in the correct positions and formations, that it can match most teams in the premiership. Just a shame MH f**ked us so badly in the striker / defence department !
