Derek, for the first time, your job is under pressure and it will remain so until you do something about the defence. You have spent a lot of time and effort in rebuilding the squad and on the whole, until the last couple of games, we were a lot better than last year. HOWEVER, whilst we can score goals it simply means that we are now only losing 4-3, 5-3 and 3-2 instead of to nil. You found a real diamond in the shape of Greg Cunningham but it must be becoming blindingly obvious to even the most hardheaded person that defensively we have a soft underbelly and anything to do with the previous regime (and I don't count those that have only played relatively few times) is simply not good enough. The ease with which Burnley just passed their way round and carved through us for their first 3 goals was pretty scary, like a hot knife through butter, like we weren't there. If you continue to play the same defenders time and time again, you will be conforming to Einstein's definition of insanity which for those who don't know, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. It is clear as day that drastic action is required, personally I would go as far as to not allow any of Fontaine, Carey, Nyatanga to play again. Holloway, James Wilson, Bryan or even the youngsters signed recently must come in with MacManus to lead them (and hopefully Greg will not be out too much longer) or Derek, IT WILL COST YOU YOUR JOB, AND SOON...! As for tonight, we seem to have re-erected the glass wall 25 yards from goal. What is the point of having 2 wingers on the pitch if they don't cross the effing ball...! - we would go down the line, get into a position to cross and then come back, pass across the pitch to the other side and do the same thing there and more often than not, the move would fizzle out... Get the ****ing ball in the box and whilst we are at it, have more than our 2 forwards attacking the ball - when one winger crosses, we should have a minimum of the forwards plus the winger from the other side plus at least 1 midfielder attacking the box but this never bloody happens...!!! I still have faith that you will be a big success here in time but it was a big mistake with Davies tonight, you will soon discover that the public here don't tolerate taking the only bloke who looked like a real threat off, that cost you some fans tonight so act now and don't make it any worse... Rant over, please act now or AG will be like a ghost town soon...
Well said prem,he lost the crowd tonight,and will do saturday if he does it again.i hope he can learn and learn quickly.
--------------------------Heaton---------------- Edwards (recall)--J Wilson---Holloway--Bryan Adomah-------Skuse-------Reid-------Anderson -------------Taylor----------Davies--------------- A team full of hunger! but being honest players like Bobby Reid and James Wilson need to be given game time
We've scored 8 goals against Blackburn, Burnley and Bolton - that is enough to win 4 or 5 (or more) games and yet we've got 0 points to show from the 3 games. The defence, and the sheer number of goals we are shipping, remains the obvious problem, but the midfield isn't doing its defensive job either. Time to stand up and be counted Del as this cant go on for months on end.
I have said this till I'm going to burst. If you watch Davies he is not afraid to tackle, players struggle to get the ball of him, not afraid to head has a lovely pass and vision on him, the cross ball that went out if only Albert moves into these openings that ball would of been perfect for him. Davies can hit a freekick place it or just use power with it as well. He can be a fantastic midfielder. And most importantly he can score. Last night I spent ages just watching him to see what he can offer and still believe he is the answer. if you don't think so just try and watch his game closely next time. So based on this here is my team, .....................Heaton.................... Foster....J.Wilson...McManus...Bryan Adomah..Skuse...Davies....Anderson ..............Baldock....Pitman............. I will now give Brett a chance simply because we will have Taylor to change things if needed and perhaps we might have a Riley Neville partnership two not so tall hungry players who will take shots instead of lumping it long all the time.
I agree rod but taking him away from a striker role would be criminal. Hes so good up there reminds me of Rooney if tracks back put tackles in spreads the ball and has one hell of a shot on him. The reason he came here is because he was promised a striker role. See his interview on the BBC for that ...................Heaton Foster Holloway McManus Bryan .....................Elliott Adomah........Pearson......Anderson ..............Davies ..............................Baldock
The back 4 has been constantly changing. We need to get a consistent line-up. Not sure how serious Font's injury is, but could mean another change. We miss Cunningham big-time - difficult for Foster being right footed and playing at left back On a brighter more optimistic note - Goals are the hardest thing to get in football - our side seems to have that - solve the defensive issues and we are decent
I have been saying for 12 months that if Fontaine is the answer it must have been a bloody stupid question. He does not in general put as much into the game as most other players, with the exception of a few games just after DM arrived and that seems to have blinded Del to his many faults, Cunningham back and another rt sided CB and I think we could expect things to improve Carey is a leader but getting slower by the game, McManus is a genuine CB stopper but we need a Collier type of player alongside him someone who can win a ball in the air but be comfortable with the ball at his feet as well. We have enough forwards and midfield players though Skuse is another who flatters to decieve, when Elliott is fully fit that will help the engine room especially if played along side Morris, So there is only really one place that needs filling and TBH I said before we should have signed Amougou when we had the chance.
R.O.D if you plan on moving Davies back into midfield why lumber him with Skuse as a partner? at least play Elliott or Morris alongside him last season it was shown that Skuse was better at rightback than Centre midfield.
With our shambolic defence our only hope with our existing squad is to play Elliott and Skuse in CM. Anyone who disagrees or laughably thinks Morris can play Championship is a sandwich short of a picnic.
