Will send us down. We can't not sit deep playing a tiny lone frontman. We can't expect him to do the job of a back to goal striker by retaining the ball further up the pitch allowing the back four to step up the pitch more. I suggested Bentdner to which most people started going on about lack of goals. Utterly confused here. Why anybody would judge a back to goal striker on goals is as bizarre as trying to play Defoe up front on his own. We don't need a goal scorer, we've got one of the best, we need to keep the ball and give him more chances. To me Defoe needs a partner. Not a goalscorer but one to keep the ball and so we can actually play in our opponents half and raise the back line and actually enjoy some possession. So what's the solution? Up front is the reason we concede so many. We need to start keeping the ball further up the pitch. As it stands Defenders clear, and the ball comes straight back, our defenders are forced deep and eventually we buckle and concede, usually blowing in a process. Bendtner is a no and most has written off N'Doye. What would you do? Nothing like Sam and wait to drop? It's a major problem which will relegate us. It's a problem Sam doesn't seem interested in Three at the back is an option but we're short on adequate partners for Defoe apart from N'Doye. Borini isn't exactly a hold up player.
Sitting deep is the only style of play Big Sam knows though. This is a choice you make when you appoint a manager like him. He'll tighten you up but you can't expect him to change the philosophy of a lifetime in the last 8 games.
I know he was your manager but you don't have a direct line into Sam's brain, as much as you think you do.
I don't think I do mate. But Sam has made a CAREER out of sitting deep, soaking up pressure, and making teams that are tight defensively and can grind out draws. He's done it at every club he's been at, some to much greater effect than others. I don't personally think he knows how to change, or would even if he did.
It's not choice we're sitting deep fella, not defencively anyway. It's forced on us. When you watch every game you see it happen. It's because long balls to Defoe can't be retained so we remain pegged back as we surrender possession instantly and straight back under pressure. When Defoe does retain it or a wide man manages to carry it into a bit of space you can see the defensive line move forward significantly. They don't want to be pegged back but the way the attacking half of the team is setting up it keeps happening. Sams fault but it's not because of the way he's set the defence up, that's fine imo, it's the rest of the team setup which is suspect to say the least.
Not really. We in the **** with ****. Any of the **** could go down, we've looked most likely to stay up since the turn of the year.
What I have seen is us looking more solid and creating more chances in recent games..If we can start to convert these chances we will be fine.. PS...We also need to stop conceding at the death of course..
If Sam is trying to play further up the field, fair enough, I'd say that reinforces my point though. Sam doesn't know how to play like that. Even his best sides (Bolton, West Ham), have sat deep and tended to surrender possession in favour of percentage football. If he's trying to change that mould now it's no surprise he isn't getting it right.
Well said - I think he'll sort the problems you've pointed out when he gets the players needed too suit his plan - them darksided ones are stuck in "Its all (any manager they have) fault - syndrome Stay up and BSA could well have us climbing the league ..... now the hard part - clean sheets and points
I don't remember Altidore doing that at all, Christ he was terrible. Just a headless chicken running around while the ball bounced off him randomly. Whereas I would have said it was Bendtner's main strength, I seem to recall him doing it well during his brief spell with us.
Now then, Bri. The only way to get JD a partner would be 3-5-2, which i think suits us quite well. Sam isnt going back to that though, not least because of the emergence of Kirchoff in anchor role, which becomes redundant really with 3cbs. The sitting deep is less tempting when we have Kaboul, Kone as a pair. OShea is very slow and when hes on they naturally sit 10-15yds deeper to kill the space in behind. Was key at Newcastle last time out. Berahino could worry him tomorrow so i hope Sam leaves JoS benched for this one.
Now then fella I think Kirchhoff would fit well in the middle of a back three and I like the 352. Agree I don't think Sam will try that again this season. He had success with the 442 at west ham but it would absolutely destroy Kirchhoff.
