I agree we played well and i'm not unhappy with the point, i just don't agree with playing Krafth, he cost us in this game and almost against Villa. This not changing the team til we lose thing i'm unsure about, it seems reactive rather than proactive, every game is different and requires different players. Are we saying Bruno doesn't start a game all season if we go unbeaten until the end of the season? If Shearer was injured for a game, Shola comes in and we win the game, Shearer is ready for the next game, should Shola play ahead of Shearer cos we won? No.
It's like if we won today and Manquillo is fit next week, he should still replace Krafth in my opinion, i don't give a **** if we won with Krafth in the team, get him out of it ASAP.
Wheres @Rafman these days? Manager he hates, Eddie Howe, got us out of the bottom three. Manager he loves more than any other person in existence is in the dole office Im sure Eddie has improved us because Rafa has been phoning him with tactics.
Krafth is definitely a makeweight but even he is performing better. I thought he actually put in a pretty good shift and he gets forward well down the right and put in a few decent crosses. Think we just look so much more balanced at the back. Think Schar and Burn work much better together than either with Lascelles. Both are pretty good at shifting over to cover the fullbacks if they get beaten. Lascelles tends to have a habit of staying in the middle so you see him clearing a lot of crosses but he is never trying to cut them out at source. Its noticeable that there are far less balls coming into our box now. Pleased to see the impact that Targett is having. I always thought he was a good player and said he would be an asset to us. Good solid defender and confident going forward. It was noticeable yesterday that there was more structure and shape to our game without St Maximin playing. He is a great dribbler but there are times when him holding on to the ball makes it difficult for us to build moves and retain possession. If he is successful with his dribble, great, there is probably a chance created with it. If not though, the ball just comes straight back at us, and we have lost our shape. Hopefully Howe can work with him on this but I doubt it. I think its the way he is. Its noticeable that Willock gets far more time on the ball when he is not playing, also has the ability to go past a man, but also choose the right time to pass. He was immense yesterday in the first half.
I don’t think there is an option to buy however I reckon that he will want to come. He was effectively booted out by Gerrard. He was their player of the year last season. I say pay £15m minimum and he’s ours. And he looks very dependable. He liked a solid tackle and is never injured much. I might be wrong here but I think he played every game last season.
Agree with pretty much every word here mate. Even the balance thing with ASM not in the team. I blame Krafth for their goal mind. Having said that Dubz only made one or two saves of note so that’s testament to the defensive unit. Burn is colossal. He absolutely bossed the defence again and is going to be pivotal. It’s lovely watching him attack a defensive header. It must be frightening as a striker hearing and seeing him come towards you. All in all the signings we have made have improved not only the quality of the squad but raised everyone’s levels. Unbeaten in 6 is just plain amazing.
There are times as you point out that for all his brilliance St Maximin holds on to the ball for too long or doesn't release it when it may make more of an impact, if Howe can get him to look up a bit more and see the opportunity it would make him an incredible player as it's a bit frustrating watching him run into dead ends and losing the ball.
Shelvey will eventually make it easy for Howe I think. Either through bookings, sending off or a drop off in this current form. We know what he is. At present changing that midfield is nonsensical. I ****ing loathe Shelvey at times but you've got to be honest with yourself and say Eddie has moulded an incredibly well balanced trio at present which is working. You don't change that.
But that was why he joined us not Bayern or Barca etc at the time. What we can now hope is that he can develop with the help of better coaches and better players around him.
