Now, i know most fans on here, and me included, have been shouting from the rooftops for PJ to fix our defence and get a new CB and RB, but surely the firlst line of defence would be the midfield. I also, with a lot on here, have been singing the praises of Hyam for the last year or so, but surely we need a big strong CM to stop the opposing attacks getting anywhere near our defence. Hyam is a "good" player, and will surely get better in time, but i think it might be wise to find someone else to put in CM that will break up the opposing attacks, and give our poor defenders a break from being constantly bombarded from the opposing team. This was totally evident from the last two shambolic performances. Ok, Blackpool are a decent team, and you would expect them to attack us...but Carlisle, seriously? according to the stats they had something like 15 attempts on goal. This should not be happening against such lower league teams. I for one think that the N'daw should come in immediately (unless he's a huge way from being fit) and help our defenders out. I would probably sacrifice Hyam for him (or maybe Luongo??). I would like to see him in the "Makelele role" in sitting in front of the back four. We need to go back to basics and stop the opposing team from scoring first and foremost. We need to start winning some ugly games for a change, and do a George Graham and win a few 1 nils, as opposed to letting in a shed load of goals. We also need an experienced, and "proper" right back, as Edwards is not a defender, and never will be. My preferred line up would then be; Loach New RB Smith Chambers Cresswell N'Daw Jet Hyam Luongo Martin Chops Plan B would then be to have Carson as LM cover, (hopefully) Boyd as RM cover for when JET is on holiday, and Scotland (or another big fella) up front and take one of the midfielders off.
No, didn't go to either of the two games. As for Smith, i agree that e doesn't look that great (but seems better than last season) but surely there's only so much a defence can take if it is continously being attacked at. We should not be giving teams like Carlisle anywhere near 15 chances on goal, which is the point i'm trying to make. Our midfield need to stop these attacks, we're far too leightweight and "pretty" (albeit a very poor pretty)
In your opinion tacheman! Hes obviously not a terrible defender, you could say lacking consistancy but 2 mistakes does not make him ****e. Hes the same player that kept Blackburns 'stars' and the Watford team quiet so far this season. Hes the same player that got star reviews for some of his new zealand appearances against actual world class opponents.
Smith is a disaster waiting to happen! I saw him play against Cambridge Utd before last season and he looked like Bambi On Ice! Nothing I have seen of him in the last year has changed my mind. League 1 is about his level
Ok stretchy, just wondering on whether your views came from seeing us in the flesh over the last couple of games. Its an interesting query. I know the other day JWM was arguing that we needed to get back to 442 to help chopra out. Personally I dont think its the system at fault but down to our players inability to give 100% effort and concentration every match. This season from what I have seen and what the radio commentary has suggested, we have been playing with 10 men every game as JET has been shocking. We have been totally outclassed by a couple of very exciting players from Blackpool and we have been unable to take the clear cut chances we have had against Carlisle. Luongo for all his potential is unable to last 90 minutes and we have conceded two sloppy goals. I think your idea may be a good one against some teams although I would swap Hyam and JET for Drury and Carson on present standings. Drury more attack minded, Carson may actually do something.
I honestly think that we should cut our losses and sell JET asap.. A luxury we can ill afford and I agree with Alex Mathie's summary of him last night.
I was at the Watford game, and i actually thought JET did pretty well there, albeit not for the full time he was on the pitch, but overall gave us some good attacking options. Luongo, agreed doesnt look like lasting 90 mins, but hopefully he'll get stronger and fitter..he's still a young lad like Hyam (and Carson and even JET). My point is, we need to start bullying teams, and stop them from coming near our back 4..and i'm really hoping that N'daw could be the man..he's definitely built for it.
Personally JWM I would do what we done with Martin. Send him on loan to some lower division team which will hopefully give him the kick up the arse he needs. If he comes back and still doesnt know how lucky he is (and what he could potentially lose by not putting in the effort) then get shot.
Exactly what I would've said tractor bhoy. We bitch when we have too many workmanlike players and want some flair, then bitch when our flair players don't do enough to help the team. JET needs to go to a league one club for six months to learn the value of football. All we really ask is that our flair players do a bit more, which is how Martin came back after a loan spell.
I seem to remember you saying he was future Ipswich Captain material!! So by that reckoning you would appoint Smith as Captain but not have him in the team??
I thought everyone said JET was going to be our player of the season this year!! People seem to go from one extreme with him to the other, I geuss like his performances!! One minute he's going to be our best player and one of the best in the league, the next we need to send him out on loan!! For me he was always going to be inconsistent but I think what makes this worse is playing him on the wing, I really think he would be much better centrally, either in the hole or as a second striker. The problem is that would mean putting Martin outwide, where he is decent but when Martin is on form in a central position he dictates the tempo of our game!! It's a tough one, I may well try one game with JET centrally and Martin out wide!!
PTC, The problem and frustration with JET is that he has the talent to be POTY but if he cant be bothered and feels he doesnt need to put in effort then it is never going to work. I wouldnt care if he tried 100% and some of his tricks failed or he was kept quiet by a decent full back but when he doesnt even get involved or try then he can GTF and that doesnt matter where on the pitch he plays. We all gave him last year to settle in and being young he will still make mistakes but he is the laziest git I have ever seen on a pitch and if he thinks with his Arsenal background and a few loans that he has made it then he is wrong and really needs a reality check.
