It's clear where our weaknesses are, It will be a long season - My thoughts on the Huddersfield game

We are shakey as piss at the back, and we played another mediocre team there for the taking, and conceded 2 cheap goals.

The first goal.... I mean.... That was really pathetic from our defenders.

I really don't think giving the armband to Lascelles without much experience was a great idea. The bloke doesn't look settled.

We also really REALLY need Mitrovic back. We lack a clear option forward. Defensive sides are not going to give us the time and space on the ball to play one small striker up front.

Ratings -

Sels - 4 - Average. Slow distribution.

Janmaat - 5.5 - Some good runs forward, work rate and some decent balls in. More poor positioning though.

Lascelles - 4 - Poor from him today.

Mbemba - 3 - Hasn't learned from last season that he wont have as much time on the ball. Shocking loss of possession for the 2nd Huddersfield goal.

Dummett - 3 - Accept a bid and get rid.

Shelvey - 5 - Some decent passing and good work rate. Was trying to put himself about as much as he could to help defensive and attacking possession.

Hayden - 4.5 - Some good moments but very shakey still.

Anita - 5 - Will probably get slated again and used as a scape goat, but the bloke is being played RW/LW. Good work rate as usual. Tried his best, but is not an attacking player at all. I don't see what Rafa is doing with him here.

Diame - 2 - Shola 2.0. He's lost his pace and was quite lazy.

Aarons - 4 - Wants too much time, but was triple teamed quite often.

Gayle - 5 - Some good moments and touches. It's not his fault he's isolated. He came back and tried to help out as much as he can. Poor initial pen but good recovery to remain composure.

Ritchie - 6 - Despite missing another good chance, I like his fire and work rate. His link up play with Janmaat was good at times. He should have started.

Perez - n/a - Tried to skin too many players. Useless on the wing.

Benitez - 4 - Please drop Anita, and get rid of Dummett. A decent team talk that got us riled up for 2nd half almost but I fear his tactics are just not right for the CC. Still time though.

 

2 matches down is far from a disaster, Rafa needs to pull it together, Lascelles is piss poor and culpable in the losses, yes we need more power up front but they all need to get their heads out their asses and start playing as we are the team that all others are going to up their game for and want to beat at this point of the season, plenty of time to get on track.

 

We look like conceding at every opportunity. We don't look like scoring. It feels the same as last season. I feel we have a lot of very overpaid players going through the motions. But the scary thing is we have created in two games 5 chances on target. We are playing pass the ball left and pass the ball right but no forward passing. We have Shelvey pinging 50 yard passes when a 5 yard pass would be better. We have dummett who plays like a crab. He can't actually see forward. Anita I mean where is his best position and what does he bring. Lascalles has been dreadful. Gayle has been exposed for what he is which is a bang average player with pace.

 

IM gutted its the fact nothing has changed that kills me...ffs man give us a break.

 

Have faith folk.
You gotta go there.... To come back.
And come back we will.

 

We need Haidara!!!!!!!

 

Christ..

 

You chose a Grand National manager to win the Derby

 

You could have had this defender....

 

****ing hell Tash, chill out. Its only 2 games.

We actually do need Haidara for the overlap though, teams are just sitting deep. I know he's utter gash but he will get forward better than Dummett, who looks more a centre half playing left back than ever before. We need to stretch them and pull them around the park. We play too slow. Its the lack of a little creator.

I think we lack the final piece of the jigsaw that might just knit a few things together. We have to improve of course, but I wouldn't be tying knots in bedsheets and heading for the tyne bridge just yet.

 

We do have Jesus.

 

You must need to spend more money

 

Or just spend it more wisely (we will be well in profit by the end of the window and have a very minor net spend)

 

Even that is not enough.

 

Mohammed?

 

Our biggest problem is there is nobody - and hasn't been for I don't know how long - in the middle of the field who can control things. Wait, I do know - Cabaye. That's what we don't have. Not only that, but our system not only requires a "quarterback" alongside Hayden, but also a '10' to drive things and bring the wingers into play. As has also been said, we need a mobile left back.

My issue here is that these three positions are difficult to fill. If we fill them, we will win the league. If we don't, the team who DOES have those players - no matter how average - will win the league. In this instance, Norwich City.

 

I thought Dummett was a lot better than at Fulham but still no better than mediocre. In fairness to the lad, he was trying to get forward in the 2nd half and put a few crosses in, a couple of which were fairly decent. Going forward is not his natural game though, so I'd still like to see someone come in (unless Clarke or Gamez can fulfil that role but I think they are also more defensive). Could Anita play at LB? He was good at RB and Janmaat seems to be the preferred option there at the moment.

 

I just dont see where Anitas best position is. He appears to be the utility player of the team at the moment.
Dummett is a very average player and we could actually get away with playing Haidara I think as we wont be defending as much or least we should not be.
We are lacking that linkup player in midfield who can create chances. I honestly could not tell you what our best starting 11 is because w ehave so many average similar players in a lot of central positions.

 

I think Anita is better than Janmaat to be honest. Not convinced at all with Daryl whereas I think Anita looks a good right back. I think him and Haidara are the way to go short term unless this Gamez is up to speed.