Imagine the transfer window has shut and everybody is fit. Realistically, what side do you think Sam would go with until the end of the season? ----------------- Pickford ---------------- New RB - Kirchoff - Kaboul - PVA ------------- Catts -- M'Vila -------------- Watmore ---- New AM? ---- Borini ------------------- Defoe ----------------- Subs Mannone Jones O'Shea Rodwell Lens Larsson New striker (N'Doye)
Forgot about him, Vince. Okay, let's pretend AJ has gone to Durham by now and replace him on the bench with Lens
I think Sam is looking to go with 3 at the back. Pickford Kirchoff----O'Shea----Kaboul ???------------------------------------PVA Catts---------M'Villa Lens N'Doye------Defoe Subs from: Mannone, Mathews, Coates, Beadling, Brown, Jones, Rodwell, Larrson, AJ, Borini, Watmore, Fletcher. Heard nowt to surgest an AM is on our list though I think it should be. Persuming we don't I think Lens showed in the first half he's better suited to that central role than AJ is. Think it will Be a case of N'Doye/Fletch-Defoe/Borini combo with Watmore with that added direct option. Plenty of action for all five forwards there. Sam has confirmed Mannone keeps his place but you know Pickford is in first bad game which will be a matter of time. As good a keeper our Vito is, a nightmare performance is never far away. Any names not included I hope never to see anywhere near a line up again.
He should only be Sub at this point in his development imo. We're not in the position to wait on his naivety wising up. Like I said at the start of the season he should be utilised not relied upon. I don't believe he's ready to be starting as many matches as he does. He's more useful to bring on fresh against tiring players. We're missing a trick by not using him from the bench imo. He had a very good game at the weekend that said.
He needs a rest that's for sure. The last 4 or 5 games now, he has looked really naïve and doesn't seem to have the football brain, I thought he had. He's still raw though and with the right coaching and more experience, he could yet be a star.
Just think hes not very good mate! Rarely beats a man and doesn't pass the ball well. Totally agree he wouldn't be starting games hopefully he comes good but ATM I can't see it..
I'm just going off his comment where he named Kirchoff and Kaboul as his centre backs, when fit. I think, if he was going three at the back he would have named the other player he had in mind, considering he named them two. Just a thought like and we do seem to have tightened up lately when playing 4 at the back...
He also said Kirchoff could be used as a Centre Mid. Sam waffles on and the media extract what they want. Sam says and Sam does have always been totally different things. I think he'll be looking at a N'Doye-Defoe partnership. Such a Sam thing to do and I think the best way to get the goals to stay up with such a limited squad. He'll probably bounce between the two formations like.
He's only half developed mate. He didn't have the top class facilities through his late teens most players get. He's low on technical ability because of this. He hasn't had enough top level coaching. That's going to take time. But his raw directness is an absolute weapon off the bench against tired legs imo.
Agree with pretty much everything you've said in this thread re Watmore and Sam's thinking re future formation (2 up top). As for OP, if window shut today, personally I would go with ----------------- Pickford ---------------- Jones - Kirchoff? - Kaboul - PVA ------------- Catts -- M'Vila -------------- Watmore ---- Lens ---- Borini ------------------- Defoe ----------------- ? next to Kirchhoff as I have literally no clue how good this lad is, never heard of him before us being linked . If he's not much cop, then JOS. While I agree DW is still developing, he is the only player we have who will work hard enough tracking back to let Lens just focus on attacking. I really like him in the free role behind the striker, with no real defensive duties to worry about. The only other option on the right would be Larsson, who I actually rate alot higher than most on here seem to! For his workrate if nothing else - I just don't see him being much good to us on the wing if we don't have a big man up top to aim crosses at.
Looked really promising in the first half against Arsenal. Hoping Sam can get the best out of him and he stays. Could be a weapon.
Same, he seemed to be working a bit harder. Can't imagine him hounding Koscielny down like he did for the goal a couple of weeks back!
I know what ya saying re his development but I really don't see the quality there. He's like a headless chicken when he's running with the ball and prem defenders are too smart to fall for that. I hope he does make it I really do..
I've seen him get past decent defenders loads of times, that's not his problem. It's what he does with it when he's in space that needs work but he's a natural team player and figuring out when and where to pass it will come. He's a good finisher too, he gets goals even for us.
Well every time he's got the ball I don't think yes where gona score . Hope the lad does come good but ATM miles away from a half decent prem player in my eyes..
