we have played the team that started the game has not scored a goal!!!!!!!!!!!! All of the 7 goals we have scored in these games have come after substitutions have been made. The last time the starting line up scored was against Villa on 10th January.
I think this is because Pearson always has us start cautiously and step it up in the second half, which is obviously when most substitutions take place. The number of late goals we've scored late on in the last couple of seasons is really quite amazing.
It's a good point. The trouble with playing cautiously for us is that we are almost certain to concede because we just can't defend as a team. Sorry to keep banging on about this but it is a plain and simple fact that should have been tackled (no pun intended!) long ago. That is why we don't come alive until we go behind. We don't have the confidence to attack sides and try and dominate them and get ahead. We probably should be careful who we aim to be more positive against, but certainly it should be those in the bottom half of the table. Those are must win games and we can't afford to sit back all game and then go down to a late goal that we don't have time to respond to.
Is it? Every team in this league seems to be masterly at counterattacking. Something we've probably not been good enough at. That, and set pieces. I recently heard a commentator say we're a real threat from set pieces. Obviously the last time he'd watched us was 1998.
Our set pieces have been pretty abject on the whole so far this season ... makes you wonder what they practice in training - Riyad for one rarely beats the first defender ... if we could whip the ball in with pace and a flatter trajectory then, with the likes of Huth, Upson, Wasilewski (Wes) and Ulloa we ought to be a real threat to the opposition ... Wes in brackets because whilst he often meets the ball he invariably doesn't get it on target (one against Villa was really poor) ...
James' corners too often end up in the keepers arms too. When we do end playing with Ulloa, Huth, Upson AND Wassa/Morgan, we should be more of a threat, but James, Mahrez and Cambiasso really need to work on their deliveries.
Agreed about the crosses, but there is sufficient decent balls into the box from set pieces, but we seem clueless about blocking off defenders to allow space for others. A 10 minute chat from Gerry Taggart would sort that, but NP knows best.
Not sure Schlupp has the defensive abilities to play in a back four in the Premiership. Although that's not a million miles away from the team I'd like to see AFTER the Man City game (with Huth for Moore, De Laet on the right and Simpson on the left) - i think it's a straight up choice between Albrighton and Schlupp (Mahrez can play either side).
Schlupp can't be any worse than Konchelsky and with him Moore and De Laet at the back at least there is some pace there. I would give Mahrez a free role. No chance of ever seeing this team though, Mr. Stubborn will continue to pick his favourites.
I don't get the Albrighton love in. When ever he plays he doesn't play well and don't offer much. He played well against Villa at home and thats about it And that was probably just the former club syndrome
No "Love in" just think he deserves a proper run in the team. Every other option without him has failed time and again. We're never going to stop teams scoring against us so really need to play 2 strikers with players that can put crosses/passes into them. I think Albrighton could do a good job. We've won only 4 league & 2 cup games all season with frankly no sign of things improving. If things don't change they stay as they are.
It appears obvious that Albrighton has either fallen out with the manager or was brought in by someone other than Pearson (my instinct says the latter) ... I'd agree with Weller that he hasn't really been given a chance to stake his place ... but I also feel that Mahrez and Schlupp have more potential than Albrighton in the wide roles .. those two can only get better and better if they can achieve better and consistent decision making to go with obvious talent ... Albrighton by contrast was a squad player with Villa for a reason ... and whilst he has only had cameos with us he has not really grasped his opportunity like Kamaric for instance ... who really is a classy acquisition and I'd love him to be here next season!!! The strangest piece for me is that when Leo is on and starved of crosses we bring Albrighton on only to take Ulloa off simultaneously - not as a direct replacement but as tactical change ... Albrighton's crossing ability is his best feature ... bizarre.
Of course he can be worse. Remember, we've not been beaten by more than two goals yet (we've not even conceded four in one match either), so while there's room for improvement defensively, we could be doing worse. Moore looked out of his depth and has rightly been sent off to the Championship. The future's bright for him, but he's not there yet at this level. De Laet was constantly exposed as a liability earlier in the season on the right, but surprisingly, do OK on the left. Not quite sure why Pearson dropped him when Konch became available again, but there you go. Frankly, I think fullback would be a waste of Schlupp's talent and would prefer him to be used as an impact sub than in defensive. I realise five at the back does allow the fullbacks to be involved in attacks more, but it also relies on them defending too, which isn't his strong point.
