I disagree strongly that most of the problems go away simply by putting Tadic on the left/center. On the left he can provide crosses, sure, but there's no one to attack those crosses right now; Pelle isn't gambling (there's merit to having a player hanging out near the penalty spot, but when it's your striker and no one else is getting across the face of goal, it means a lot of nothing balls), Mane/Elia aren't really headers of the ball, no one else is getting into the box with much regularity. Playing him in the center may provide better ball movement, but only if there's someone on the end willing and capable of making good the chance. That's where the problems are coming from in creating chances; there are simply too few players on the pitch at any given time with much inclination to turn a good ball into a good chance. Mane is one. Elia's not a natural finisher, never has been, and what finishing he brings tends to come as a result of getting behind defenses that are not set. Pelle's been off the boil for a long time. Tadic is shot-shy. Our central mids aren't snipers (Davis/JWP as the front man of the midfield trio have been particularly wasteful) and while our fullbacks are attacking threats, they can't be expected to bang in goals left and right. And the totality of it has looked so meek of late that I struggle to think that simply shifting one player is going to turn us into predators out there.
We also need to get midfielders beyond strikers and opposing defenders .... just like we were earlier in the season... Morgan scoring; Cork scoring and Vic scoring.
I have to laugh, I've watched two lots of Swansea highlights with Cork playing and I'm yet to see him touch the ball or get his name mentioned!
One thing with dropping Pelle that I don't think has been mentioned yet is the effect it could have on him mentally. If I remember correctly he was known for being a tad temperamental when things weren't going his way. I don't think this should necessarily stop him from being dropped if we have a good Plan B but it needs to be considered.
But playing through exhaustion likely isn't having the greatest effect on him mentally, either. Rare is the non-keeper who plays every minute of every game...if "we're resting you for a start or two" sends him spiraling mentally, we need to stop buying Italian strikers with lovely hair.
Is he exhausted? Really, I find that hard to believe. Unless they are doing something crazy in training. One or occasionally, two games a week shouldn't leave a professional athlete exhausted. Nevertheless, you are right that few players play all the time and there is no doubt we have to try something different.
This is the real problem. It's well and good having pace down the wings and being able to get in behind but that counts for nothing if you don't shoot or have nobody to tee up.
This. I think the attacking problem is simple. Pelle is not a player who runs in behind or fills the channels- he needs support. So far, the AM who plays behind him (except for Mane in two games) isn't forward enough. I know it's not the sexiest suggestion these days, but I'd like to see us move to 442 with the backs still given license to get forward.
Shane Long.bursting into the box, that's what we need more of. He scares the hell out of defenders, even if the end product is a little erratic.
I decided to put all the blame, regards our inability to score, on JayRod. It's illogical, a worthless opinion, but it might make me feel better. I've decided he could have recovered by now, taken over from Pelle to give Graziano a break, and he's just milking the time for a move away from St Marys. We've nurtured him, given him his chance in a good team, turned him into a much better player, and he'll walk off to a bigger contract without looking back or turning out for us ever again. If none of this comes true I'll forgive him, but that's the way I'm handling it. I'm fed up to the back teeth in seeing the reasonable side in players. I'm going to have a go at being like a cynical football fan where footballers are brilliant or crap with no in-between. I'm already feeling uncomfortable with it, but I'll try to persevere.
Maybe. But at the very best somebody will be buying a player with an arthritic knee. At worse they will buy a player with limited value who will never play to any standard consistently. He may be genuinely taking longer to come back. An injury like that has no set recovery time, let alone a guaranteed recovery. Also Jay has never led the line as a sole striker.
Don't get me started on how many clear penalties Shane Long should have won us that haven't been given this season :-/
Jay may not have done that role regularly for saints, but he certainly was being groomed for it and has the capability.
