The GK situation is just one of many baffling decisions the powers that be made that have led to where we are now. Frustrating as it's been a bit of a problem position for a few years and we finally had a chance to sort it in the summer with both out of contract and we've somehow made it worse! I feel for him really as it's not his fault but you can't chuck an inexperienced keeper in at this level for a relegation battle in a team that's conceded 60+ goals for the past four seasons.
Said it in the summer, and got shot down. Signing bazunu, whilst not so much much issue in itself but with no adequate backup, is an issue. Its a big jump from L1 to PL, particularly in a struggling team that struggles defensively. Macca has been out injured since November and there's no realistic alternative. A pensioner or a crock? The options aren't there to take Bazunu out, and that's yet another mark against SR for me.
Here's a leftfield choice: It was DCC's fault. When we signed him there were questions over his attitude at previous clubs (can't recall the specifics), and three managers now, have decided he shouldn't be our starting CB. If DCC had the passion that say, Bednarek has, then for sure he'd be keeping Bednarek out of the bloody team. The latest excuse for him not being picked, was that he isn't suited to a high press. Do me a favour. It's his job to f*cking learn it right? Trust us to sign a pampered CB.
Bit harsh to blame someone that hasn’t been playing. When he played I thought he was one of our better performers defensively.
It’s multiple players fault but if I had to pick it would be Diallo for switching off and that ultimately meant that they were able to get a shot off from about 6 yards out. Was a ****e game from 2 **** teams but we have been involved in a fair few of those this year and lose them 1-0 virtually every time
I get the point though, he's a good, experienced player, but there's clearly a bit of an attitude issue somewhere there. Hopefully once Sally comes back, the question will become moot, as I'd like to see ABK back on the right of the CBs and Sally on the left. At least they can both run above walking pace.
we are going down because we cannot attack not because of our defence. Unless your Arsenal's invincibles your going to concede goals, it is all about as a team being able to score and we don't play the players to unlock even the poorest teams like Leeds. moi plays - cannot attack alcaraz- doesn't play KWP - doesn't play Sulemana - played out of position width - none attacking build up - non existent It is not rocket science
I'd argue it's a combination of the two. If you can't score goals then you need to be able to keep clean sheets. We can do neither and that's why we don't win many games and lose to lots of poor teams by the odd goal.
Yeah goals keep you in the division, not defence. It’s why Everton are also down with us despite having a defensive manager and experienced defenders (not very good ones, but experienced none the less)
The sad thing is that **** teams know that when they come to st Mary’s one goal is usually enough to take the points.
And yet Burnley used to stay up averaging less than a goal a game, because they could grind out clean sheets regularly. The attack is a bigger problem for sure (I did a fairly detailed fred on it in Autumn!) but if you're going to concede 60+ goals season after season then it's quite clearly a problem that will catch up with you if you don't sort it.
You are both letting off our midfield that doesn’t hold on to the ball and doesn’t have anyone making incisive passes. Both defence and attack inhibited by that…
I get why we've been playing him in recent months, because with McCarthy injured the only alternative was someone in his 40s. But now that McCarthy is back, it'll be interesting to see what happens going forward. However, lets not pretend that McCarthy is anything special. If we had to give a new contract last year to either Fraser or McCarthy, I would have much preferred it to be Fraser. Ultimately, the issue here is that we decided to spend a decent amount of money on a kid whose only league experience was at Rochdale and Pompey. He's nowhere near ready for the PL, and that has been obvious since very early on. I know that some people tried to defend him in the early days, such as against Wolves and Villa, but it's just a continuation. Even when he's not activity making errors, it just seems like if you hit the target against us, there's a very decent chance it will be a goal. Signing him as our number one for PL is just another one of SR's very many mistakes. But as I said yesterday, I do think a season in the Championship next year could be good for him. In the long run, it might just work (I don't know, I can't predict the future) - but short term, this season, it's been a disaster.
I think the problem lies with the defence because we don't score enough and the midfield can't keep the ball. But also the midfield has to keep hold of the ball because the defence is weak and the forwards can't score or keep the pressure on. Then the attack is also the problem because the defence can't keep clean sheets and the midfield don't keep the ball for long.
There's something strangely odd going on at Staplewood that causes our team selectors to keep picking players and systems that are proving to consistently fail. We are so sterile, apart from Perraud who doesn't appear fit enough to last the whole match. Of course KWP should start, I'd bring back McCarthy, he's half arsed but can be competent, Adarma doesn't score but at least shows the effort to run at defences (bit like Longy) and..... Lyanco, were going down so might as well bring a few of these 'kin premiership fancy-dan's with us! We aren't going to win m(any) more games but lets go down with a bit of fight.
