Anyone who puts Mitrovic in a combined starting 11 surely can't be taken seriously! 1 league goal and around 4 shots on target all season? Cards galore and very little else?
Not sure about that formation mind! Or what Mitrovic has done to deserve a place? Since Sam came in, JOS and Kaboul have played 4 games together, conceding a total of 2 goals, so I think I'd go for something like (red and white tinted specs on)... --------------Pantilimon---------------- Janmaat--JOS--Kaboul---Whoever -------------Catts--M'vila--------------- Borini---------Wijnaldum--------Lens -----------------Fletcher----------------- Fletch obviously not the best striker overall (close between Perez and Defoe imo), but would suit the system better, and has been playing fairly decently this season imo. As you say, no options between us really at LB (sad state of affairs..). Billy Jones could be the best option - what about Haidara? I've not sen many of your games but from what I have caught he's looked decent-ish going forward at least. Only other potential change would be Cattermole for Sissoko, but I know his form is patchy at best... I've put far too much thought into this
You say what has Mitrovic done to get a place but then put Borini and Lens in? You have seen them every game so in a good place to judge, it's the same for me with Mitrovic. He's much better than his current record suggests. Fletcher has done well though so I don't mind you picking him. Not putting Perez in is criminal though!! And Sissoko wouldn't get on the bench, he is absolute ****e. Haidara is decent enough going forward but injured at the minute. He's probs the best left back either of us have but I really like Yedlin and would rather him at left back.
Interesting stats for you fella on Lens and Perez, they've both scored the same, they've both assisted the same, they've both created the same amount of chances and they've both have the same amount of key passes. Trippy eh. Funny you question one being in at all whilst saying the other should be a dead cert.
Don't quite know what happened to him. There was a mysterious illness and he just disappeared. Recently went on loan to Coventry I think. Shame cos he looked to be a real player a couple of years ago. I only questioned Lens in response to the comment above about Mitrovic mate. I'm a real anti-stats man, hate them. Don't tell the full story at all. Lens can't even get in your team so a bit strange to say he should be in a combined XI don't you think?
But isn't that essentially a stat? That he hasn't started the last three games? I agree stats don't tell the whole story but you just said you're an anti stat man and turned to a stat stright away which is a bit strange. It doesn't tell the full story as he's looked a constant threat. He's not in at the moment because his defensive work rate isn't high enough as Sam works on us defensively and makes us tough to beat. Football is a squad game, the fact he's not starting has nowt to do with ability or performance and everything to do with tactics as the reality is situation and cercumstance dictates how a squad is use. It's not that he isn't in the team, it's that he's not in the team. there's a world of difference. Sam is just using his squad. Your thinking is a bit one dimensional for me here so lets leave it there. I think the whole thing is a bit daft anyway, the combined team. It's the age all bollocks that is a polished turd competition. If both teams were performing well it's a subject I'd love to delve into.
Could be right - but we tolerated the football cos we could see what he needed - better quality players - but Tufty club supporters group seem to lack patience & know how to out-managers - walk outs and disruption - making a spectacle of themselves - give it till Christmas then they -hopefully it'll be at the SOL by then
You'd think that Steve McClaren would have watched our game vs Palace closely. The tactical genius that he is had a go at them and was carved apart. Happy days.
All signs point to the Mags being better side to be fair. Scored less. Conceded more. Less points. Lower in table. 0-3. 6 on the bounce. Yep, all signs....
I'm mortified that I was touting him for us mate, ****ing hell. Clueless. Seems he just had a good squad at Derby.
"Palace had no answer to defensive Sunderland" He was bang on to be fair, if you take "defensive" as meaning a team that's able to defend competently as opposed to one that gifts the opposition goals at virtually every opportunity. It's a good thing they weren't against a "defensive" side today...
