In his press conference today Kit said that Scotty Parker will definitely play. He also said that there had been a few niggling injuries in training but refused to say who. He did however allude to either or indeed both of Amorebieta and Hoogland playing. But there’s still no place for Pat Roberts who will again be turning out for the U21s tomorrow. Kit also said says he loves the Chamionship. That’s all well and good but in our current League position he needs to adapt better to how a game is panning out; he can’t continue to be “disappointed”. Bringing on Hugo on Tuesday night was a prime example. Firstly, with us persistently lumping the ball forward if Woodrow was getting nothing out of the Watford CBs why did he believe Hugo would be any different? Secondly, playing Hugo and Smith together was just plain daft. Hugo is not a “sniffer”. He hasn’t got the poaching instincts or football nous of a natural goal scorer to play off the kind of knock-downs that Smith provides. McCormack has, Dembele has. Also with so little creativity and the side looking terribly unbalanced I can’t understand why Hoogland wasn’t brought on. The only conclusions I can draw is that he doesn’t see Hoogland in the central midfield role and he’s blinkered towards his ’favourites’, Tunniclifffe and Hugo; both of whom are currently not producing. So, for this game Kit needs to not only set out a solid starting eleven he needs to also have a sound Plan B. While I’d personally go for the ’back 3 and 2 wing backs’ formation that SuperBri has been promoting, Kit won’t - unless the now thinks he can with Amorebieta back in the reckoning. Personally, I can’t believe Nando is fit enough yet. What I think we’ll see is very much the team that played against Derby. I’d be happy to go with that formation but would change the personnel - obviously LVC is out so something has to change anyway. Does he bring Fofana in for LVC? And will Kit prefer Hugo for Woodrow? Will he only use Smith as an impact sub? In the press conference Kit said, "Smith gives us a different dimension up front – the loan system’s worked well”, and described his return as a “great acquisition”. So who knows? With the threat Bournemouth pose on the flanks we really need to have a balanced midfield which can defend properly. Conversely there is little real evidence that we will play with width but despite that and our poor record in getting in meaningful crosses, I would start with Smith up front. And go for: ……………….Bettinelli……………… …Richards…Bodurov..Hutchinson….Stafylidis.. ….......Hoogland……Parker……Kavanagh… …………………Ruiz…………. ………….Smith……McCormack…
If we play a big un like Smith we need a speedy ball playing winger. so for me both Smith and Roberts in the starting line up. KIT stop sending subs on if we are in trouble for the last 5/10min..
Kit said that Pat Roberts will be playing for the U21s tomorrow, rosc. He also added the comment, "Roberts is still young. Players will want to play every week but it’s not possible for some and players have to deal with that." Reading between the lines, Pat has voiced frustration at sitting on the first team bench or coming on for only 5 minutes and turning him out for the U21s is the ’accommodated’ solution. Personally I think there has been a litany of poor man-management of our youngsters over the last while and, as it happens, I had earlier today posted something touching on that in the "U21 Season" thread. That would seem a more appropriate place to discuss the issue so won't dwell on it here.
Somethings gotta give. Kit's refusal to play another system an adapt is costing us points every week. I can't believe he can't see it. Against Derby we pressed them and had urgency and looked forward. we should do tmhe same against Bournemouth. I definitely think he should play Woodrow. He played well against Derby, scored and got his reward of the game against Watford. Ok, he got found out but he still played well and did a lot of running making space. However, playing Smith would add a touch of the unknown for Bournemouth and a bit more muscle! Dilemma!
He won't change much, will go with the same system and we'll horribly exposed on the flanks. If we can score, it will be from a set piece or a bit of magic. We can't keep playing this mad system, LVC at United wanted to play two up top with one behind at the beginning, that's why he introduced a new formation. If we are going to persist with this then we have to go three at the back with wing backs. Normally I'd say go for the win, but given our situation we should be playing not to lose, make it hard to score and break us down. I'm not surprised Roberts is annoyed (and he hardly celebrates his goal in u21) he's not been given any kind of a chance this season and everything has stalled for him under Kit- we then try ship out Ruiz, cock that up and he ends up being a starter again. I like Ruiz but I prefer a formation that makes sense. I hope (pointlessly) that we go to 442 with Kavanagh and Hoogland acting as defensive wingers and Parker and Fofana in the middle, told to hold and break things up. Parker shouldn't be going forward, he's not got the legs. Up top Smith and McC. We might as well accept that for the remainder of this season we will, as we've done throughout, rely on long balls. Not much point playing a creative 10 who doesn't defend really.
I think most of us are hoping that the inclusion of Smith will bring a spark to the team both up front and help the defense out with added height at corners. I'd go alone with the C58 lineup above. Bournemouth's away form has dipped just recently, so let's hope their confidence is suspect, but we never seem to do well on Live TV games.
I hope Rodders doesn't play Smith or Woodrow for me!!! We have been playing a bit better in the last few weeks so I hope we keep it up. We came into these four very tough games ( Wolves, Derby, Watford, Bournemouth) only 5 points above relegation and we are now 8 points clear with only one of the games left, i am hopeful of being at least 8 points clear after this weekend which would be good.
I agree with ... Well, just about everyone. Against Bournemouth Kit's preferred diamond is the wrong formation, leaving our full-backs too exposed against their wingers and overlapping full-backs. I'd start with Smith alongside McCormack as my Bournemouth supporting friends see height and width as the best way to hurt them at the back. I'd love to see 442 from us but suspect it'll be more of the same - a diamond with Hugo (or maybe Woodrow) partnering McCormack. For what it's worth, before they won on Tuesday night Bournemouth have been wobbling for the last month or so. I think they are more beatable than at any point this season, IF we play the right way. I'll be watching more in hope than expectation, I'm afraid.
Good insight Captain... I hope that Smith will feature tonight although probably unfair to Woodrow! If Ruiz and Parker show the same passion as last Saturday the diamond might work. Kavanagh helped protecting Staf. Maybe Fofana instead of Tunnicliffe will be the answer to protect Richards although he seems less prone to mistakes... COYW
Thanks, Madness. I didn't think Grimmer was guilty of any mistakes in the away game with Bournemouth; his problems were entirely to do with the system leaving him exposed. That being the case we can't expect Richards to do any better if we stick to the diamond. I agree that Kavanagh would help on the left, but I think the diamond is just the wrong formation for this match, even if it did work well against Derby.
Captain - your pre-match assessment was spot on. Wrong tactics, wrong selection, and predictable result. Even at 0-0 in the first half they looked like they could open us up at will. 5 points from 9 games now. I have no idea where we go from here, except down.
That was embarrassing. Surely Kit can just take one look at Bournemouth and see how effective wingers can be. What a write off.
This was so embarrassing. We kicked of with a 9 man team or was it 7,Bettinelli,sure he made a couple of saves which looked good but once again he was all over the place, corners and set free kicks Bournemouth must have thought they were playing aunt sally, and as for Tunniciliffe **** useless.. Exactly what I have said in previous posts with no wingers and 2or 3 poor defenders it did not take Eddie Howe long to play on the wing flanks. I was one of those who wanted Kit to be given his chance, well he has had it and has been proved to be as some said on his appointment " lacking experience" which is now costing us dearly. I still think many in this team have ability and with the chance to strengthen in the window we could have consolidated instead of worrying about relegation. Is Curbs the answer ? I don't know,, but for sure as every fan who watches the shambolic week in, week out. ineffective formations, formulated by our inept manager are calling for a change So please Mr Khan act before we are in div 1.
I just don't understand Symons take on certain players, I was astonished when I heard the lineup. I've never seen Rodallega out jump central defenders it's not his strength, yet there on the bench is a player who will cause CBs problems. May be Rodallega looks good in training because he is up against our defenders who seem to get taken apart by any one with pace. I don't think I've ever seen Hoogland have a good game as rightback, but I've seen him do well in midfield. Tunnicliffe's one contribution was to clear the ball off the line, other than that he seemed to be on cruise control. Hutchinson seemed to have no studs in his boots, and Bodurov was all over the place. Was it a sending off ? where I sit wasn't a great view but the ball seemed to go in a direction that said Amorebieta got the ball before the player. What did the commentators say on TV they must have been crucifying our defense.
Yep can't complain on that front. Amorebieta was too slow, Wilson got there first and Nando tripped him. Definite red.
Dang. We suck. I rarely get to see games live and each time I do it's a disaster. We have all kinds of serious problems, starting with the manager. I hope the Fulham fans booed the team off the field. Scratch that. I hope fans chased the team through the streets with pitch forks.
Good to see Ross McGreedycnut proving yet again he is a bottom of the championship standard player. It's no coincidence that his teams end up in the position they do. Thanks for the cash though.
I was looking for the groundsmen to get one but they had them locked away. Left at 3-0 with a few others. A drink down the pub was needed! The team was tired... Nothing else...
