Has anyone else noticed they seem to have a good understanding when they play together? When giacc comes on he seems to find Connor at will. They could be very good together. Just a thought.
Totally agree - but I wouldn't change the team without an injury. We are going into the last week of the season with confidence and there's no need to dent that confidence. I think the reason Giaccherini finds it east to find Connor is that he's mobile. He's a big lad with good feet and heading ability - the likes of which we haven't seen since the days of Quinny. he's got a bit to do to gain that status but I think you know what I mean. Same 11 start against Utd. Giaccherini comes on second half to run at them. Think Giaccherini isn't that fast as a player - great brain and excellent feet, but he's not that quick. That's why coming on after an hour suits him so well. Tired legs suit him and give him that ability to unlock space.
Giaccherini has 3 assists and a goal in the past 3 games and all those assists have been converted by wickham. Whilsts I agree that we shouldn't change a winning team id say bar penalties Giaccherini has contributed more in these 3 sub appeaenaces than borini has for months. I knew giacc would score yesterday when he came on it was tailor made for him.
I think Giacca and AJ are interchangeable very different players but both combine well with Whicks and Borini as the cutting edge, we look balanced, and dangerous, with this set up, if it aint broke dont fix it.
Borini even when his attacking is not too good, gets through a lot of good defensive work. Giac is okay going forward but defensively he is very weak, although at one point yesterday if he had any pace for 40 yards he could have gone for goal but ran out of puff/speed. AJ after the heights he reached at the start of this calendar year looked half a yard slow physically and mentally. I saw Poyet at one time give him a big gee up and hug and told him to swop sides. However that said I would still start with the same side against manure..AJ may come good once more..I reckon he should just do his thing instinctively rather than weigh up options, hesitate and lose the chance to shoot, beat a man or cross. The big talking point for me is would Wickham have come good earlier if he had been given a run in the side. Most fans, with a few foolish exceptions, realised that Dozy was not up to the task a lot earlier than Poyet, although tbf to Poyet, Fletcher was injured yet again, and Wickham was out on loan, first to S Weds where he scored 8 in 11 I believe, then back 'home' came on as a sub for us, did not set the world on fire and then went to Leeds where he did not score. Eventually getting a run on the side for us when even Gus could not keep any faith in Dozy. I actually hope Dozy has a good world cup then and only then will we be able to off load him for what we paid for him (and throwing in Graham as a make weight)
In the formation we are playing, I would have given giacc a chance in cm in place of Larsson or colback
I don't think you can take Larsson or Colback out! They have both been sensational for us in the last three games.
I agree that at the moment we keep the same starting 11. Next season though we are unlikely to have Borini. A few months ago everyone was saying our loan players were our best players. Looks like it will be another fascinating summer.
Not necessaraly take them out now, I mean over the course of the season would have give him a go there.
Does anyone else think it's strange how well Larsson is suddenly playing when his contract runs out in 5 weeks? He'll be using his current form in his portfolio to make himself some extra moolah as a Bosman!
No surprise to me Marcus. He wasn`t bothered before but now, when it matters to him personally, he`s doing the job he should have been doing every match. I would suggest that if we do keep him it should be on a short contract otherwise it`ll be straight back to his famous impersonation of a polis on point duty. He`s proved he can do it it`s up to Gus to make sure he does.
Not for me, he does ok in this system because he's got a pretty simple job where the majority of the hard work is done by the other two cm's. Ive probably been one of his biggest critics but he did well in the two away games and he had an easy task yesterday
I think Giacc can slot straight into Borini's role next season, as it's unlikely Fabio will be here again, unless it's a permanent deal, which seems a long shot. Seb, I heard he's agreed to go to Turkey, or I might have imagined it, I dunno. Ha.
I do like giac, but we need a decent impact player, only Johnson and him can provide us with that. Subs should make a difference and he is, keep the good work up.
I reckon Larsson has suffered under previous managers, and is just coming good under Poyet again. He has always had the ability but it was lost under the **** that was MON and PDCs reign. Gardner on the other hand does not have the naturally ability/skill of Larsson (which is why he was better at RB than CM imo), and I wont be sad seeing him go at all.
For the kind of salary he will want, we can do better than Seb. He's been fantastic for 4 games, that doesn't negate that he's been very, very poor for a full season prior. Easy to get lost in sentiment in the midst of a good run.
I think this is something people miss about players. As unglamorous as it may be, defending a lead is as important as increasing it. As you say, Giacc is good with the ball at his feet running at teams. Great for counter-attacking football. Borini is good with the ball but warks hard to help out Alonso who likes to get forward. Our CM help with this as well. I also think that Wickham being away at Sheff Weds and Leeds made him think long and hard about his football and he came back a "grown up" so to speak.
Agree with your point about Gardner but not Larsson. imo he`s had plenty of time with Poyet to show he can do what he`s doing now, but didn`t. It was only when he was left out that the message got through and he made the effort when he came back. Fair enough he`s doing the biz now but imo it`s only the last few games he`s earned his wages.
We have to move the Larssons etc on as they have failed us time and time again, just because they have a good final few games we cant be blinded by the fact that these players are the reason we are in these positions season after season. Goodbye Seb and thanks for the work done but time to move on.
Larsson's crossing has got better but he has not scored this season because his free kicks at goal have become useless. Does seem to be putting heart and soul into his game, perhaps putting himself in the shop-window?
