I did and I think that the biggest problem we have right now is that the change to 4-4-2 has coincided with losing players such as Lascelles, Atsu etc who would fit better into that system than the current incumbents. We've looked better going forward and hopefully adding some stability at the back with Lascelles will improve things - I'd have Elliott back in as well.
I think most agree with you, but I think everybody is frustrated by the stubbornness of it. I don't think its a problem not liking Mitrovic - particularly when the lad has let him down. The problem comes with cutting off your nose to spite your face. It seems senseless to pick an inferior player to the detriment of the team. If he is your best option pick him until you have a better one. The same goes for Mbemba. Yes he doesn't like him, but nobody will convince me he is not a better full back than Manquillo and Yedlin. He is your best right back so you might as well play him until you get a better one. I am a self confessed Shelvey critic. I don't see what the fuss is about personally. However he is one of the two best central midfielders so pick him until you have a better one. Aarons is bit trickier because he is always injured and despite obvious potential, he hasn't shown an awful lot on the pitch. He looks all over a player to me who needs a bit of game time to see if he can deliver. Its no good with a winger saying "I gave him 20mins and he did nothing". Look at Gray for Leicester. As soon as he has been given a run and his quiet games overlooked, he has picked up. Puel has said I'm going to give you a run of 10 games, I have faith in your talent. Some players need that and I think Aarons might. I don't mind Rafa personally, I certainly wouldn't be calling for his head. I just think he needs to reset and get back to what he was doing so well earlier in the season, discipline and drilled from coaching. Unless of course Marcelo Gallardo is available and a massive budget then I'd wave goodbye
Personally I don't think 442 is massive problem. I think you can play it. I think we saw last year when Mitrovic and Gayle played their solitary game, we were a handful. In 442 or 451 the issue isn't formation. It discipline and personnel for me. I'd maybe play 451 currently just because we look so fragile.
I know he wouldn't have but he is so stubborn about playing the players he thinks are good enough at present, my point is he is missing tricks with the current available players. Shelvey in WITH Hayden AND Merino - Drop the number 10, play 3 across the middle and one of the three can drive into the box (anyone notice our holding CM Hayden was 10 yards infront of Joselu for the opening goal in the six yard box while he was still on the edge?), Gayle with or with out Mitro but there is no way Joselu should be playing/starting! Mbemba, Haidara, Gamez, Sterry, Dummett are all better options than Manquillo or at least deserve an opportunity comparative to the opportunity he has been given so far (and failed to take).
People keep banging on about the signings of Joselu, Manquillo etc but then forget that he believed Windy's surprises. The signings of Joselu and Manquillo were as squad only players and not as first teamers. Reminder that Manquillo would not be playing if Dummett wasn't injured. Joselu wouldn't be playing if Mitro could sort out his head or Gayle was cut out for the PL.
If they are squad players why oh why are they starting every week? It's not just that though is it, we have SO many options to fill in at full back but why are NONE of them getting a go, Gamez is our utility fullback but should be infront of manqui-loo in the pecking order and even he can't get a run out. Haidara, Dummett, Gamez, Sterry are all natural fullbacks, Clark or Mbemba could do a job there, Aarons as well at a massive push and none of them couldn't possibly be any worse than him but between the full backs they have maybe 100 mins of football this year while that ****tard has started nearly every damn game. Honest (to which ever) God (you pray to) he wouldn't make it into my reserve team in Step 12 of the FA pyramid much less a EPL team - ask the mackems he wouldn't be fit to play for them at present and that says something. Mitro hasn't had 90mins combined yet and still is only a goal behind Joselu... I don't care about his issues, he can have a full break down, whip his shorts off and get sent off for "tash-ing" into the crowd and I'd still play him above Joselu if he SCORES GOALS. Give me Armstrong back off loan, Heardman, Gayle, anyone but give them a chance, Gayle deserves to start on current form Joselu doesn't. The selection of the team is an issue no matter how you slice it and you CANNOT reasonably and logically give me a reason why those two wasters start, much less Diame, and I honestly don't think Rafa could either, although they are 100% his purchases.
Let's not get too carried away. I'm as guilty as the next man of calling for Mitro, but let's not forget how gash that lad has been for many a game. He had a firm hand in our relegation, he was so bad - the 2 Villa misses were extraordinarily bad a couple of years back. We can't peg him as a saviour as I fear we'd only be let down. Same with Dummett. Yep, no doubt better than Manquillo, but another who was derided week after week not just in the PL but in the Championship. Gamez was also considered pretty rubbish. I mean, do we really believe Mitrovic is slamming them in during training, looking twice the player Joselu is, only to then not start on the weekend? Is Gamez defending like a boss all week, whilst Manky runs around like a headless chicken, only to lose out on matchday?? That all just seems really unlikely to me. The only insight we could get is from spending 5 days a week at Darsley and I don't think any of us know the reality. Let's be realistic - chances are they're confident in their preparations, but whatever is working during training simply isn't translating. I think we as a club have always struggled to transition from the training ground into live football. No idea why. I just have this image of Perez flicking and tricking around, finding space and scoring for fun in training, but on matchday it's just a different animal we're not prepared for. We're only 'ready' when Lascelles is on the pitch. Maybe we just lack leadership again?
What will be your thoughts on Rafa if you lose the next 4 games, which look very tricky. Stick or twist `? New face for the transfer window ? A lot of my Mags friends are getting sick of his boring football.
Need him to stay. Need him to get some PL players. Need a takeover. A new manager, appointed by Charnley/Ashley, with the promise of more of the same makes me wake up in cold sweats having pi$$ed the bed. Who would we go for? Venables? Redknapp? Megson? Richard Attenborough's Blue Planet didn't plumb darker depths than the state of manager we'd likely dredge up.
Absolutely, but I was never one of them. The system before was working albeit with scoring goals being difficult and it being fairly drab stuff. I have always personally argued about 4-4-2 not being the panacea some thought it was going to be because you are leaving youself a man less in midfield and we'd concede more goals because of it.
I like the man and have faith he will fix what is wrong. He's a good manager and we wont do better than him in my opinion. He also 'gets' the club and has a good relationship with the fans which is half the battle. Like I said earlier he has had his hands tied behind his back and is being expected to work miracles with some real mediocrity by the owner.
Yup! In the last few years we have employed some of the ****tiest of ****s ever from JFK to the Silver Fox to the Wolly. He was screwed over in the summer and spent the money he had on squad players in the belief that he was being given more money for 3 or 4 first team starters.
Alot. Look not that long ago people were talking about Shelvey getting back into the English squad,one of the leading goal scorers in the WCQ gets 2 mins or nothing,picks the same players every week yet haven't won a game since September, not working so nothing to lose with wholesale changes but if I was a manager with those results I'd be worried, still can't understand bringing on a defender when you're losing 3-1! We're losing at ht,he doesn't see that 3 better players on bench may change it at 45 mins,no sticks with it till invariably too late. Palace written of 2 months ago, not now and that for me is Rafa's failing,he doesn't see the seriousness of the situation, every point is vital regardless how you get it and forget about what's going on upstairs, you have a job to do on the park so do it
