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FriendlySaint

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  1. Yes I do. If we play to the level we're capable of until the end of the season.
  2. Stephens and Forster dropped for me. Caceres and Hassen in. Rest unchanged. Gabbi Redmond Tadic JWP Romeu Davis Bertrand Yoshi Caceres Cedric Hassen
  3. FriendlySaint

    Puel

    Concerning comments over the "system". We arguably never played a diamond. It was arguably always a 433 with the front three narrow. Even when Tadic was supposedly playing at the tip of the diamond, he was pushed up so high he was effectively a false nine in a 433 with a narrow front three. The "front 2" were split and defending the flanks…because that's literally where they were playing. Austin was defending against their full back as he was playing out wide for example. If we forget the arguable diamond with Tadic at the tip (which only happened for a few games) then for ages we played a 433 with a narrow front three. Redmond in the middle confused many, as he's not a striker. It wasn't a diamond, it really was 433 with Austin out wide (out wide being narrow, as he was playing like an inside forward/poacher and not like a proper winger at all). So we played 433 with an anchor midfielder (Romeu), 2 central midfielders without much license to get forward. It meant the front three has to work their socks off and we had one less attacking threat. Puel also persisted with Redmond central for far too long. Right now we have reverted to the 4231 which is much better. We've got Redmond where he should be (on the wing). Tadic is where he should be (really don't rate Tadic on the right wing, only rate him central or left wing). Ward-Prowse is in the position in my view that suits him most (right wing/right midfielder). The striker is getting more service and a proper one (not Redmond). The shape of the team is better. We have more legs for attacking. I can understand a manager trying to play his own formation, tactics, methods IF the players at his disposal are capable of playing the system better than a basic system like 4231. Puel overcomplicated massively at the start of the season. The players were used to playing 4231 and more suited to it. Right now he needs to stick with 4231 and put his foot down with Forster and Stephens. Also I watched a Steve Waugh career overview on Sky SPorts earlier. First series as a captain of Australia he was 2-1 down away from home against the West Indies. He made the decision to drop Warne and then won the final match comfortably 2-2. A leader needs to be ruthless. Puel needs to be ruthless and drop Forster (who has been hopeless). He needs to be ruthless with Stepehens and accept that right now he's not good enough. Stephens has potential if he bulks up, gets stronger, bigger, bigger leap on him and more aggression. Until then an international class defender in Caceres should be playing instead. He needs to be ruthless, and honest with himself, that 4231 is the best option going forward and stick with it. A proper leader puts his team, and winning, before his own pride. It was a mistake not playing 4231 from the start. But he's put that right. Now he needs to get his side spot on or we will keep leaking goals.
  4. Davis still had a good game whether you like it or not.
  5. He has potential to be good at this level. But we desperately need to bulk him up and get him stronger. Get more of a leap on him too and more aggression into him. That's what's holding him back right now.
  6. I think Watford were really good today personally. Brilliant going forward and direct. We played really good. A lot of teams in the league wouldn't have been able to live with Watford today. Really good performance to win in my opinion. Don't think anyone had a bad game defensively either. Stephens is just limited as mentioned (lack of physicality and aerial ability), he did brilliantly well at that vital moment at 2-2. As for Arsenal..Liverpool were brilliant today. Goals doesn't always equal **** or comical defending. Liverpool's third goal today was a thing of beauty and Mane is impossible to defend against when he's in form. He looked like a man possessed at times today against Arsenal.
  7. On Stephens. He's a very good day tackler one on one. But in this league it's extremely difficult to play with a centre back that's very weak in the air and has no physicality.
  8. If we had Gabbiadini at the start we would be 10 (possibly more?) points better off right now probably? Gabbiadini has made a massive difference. As has switching to 4231 (which I believe the majority here wanted all season long)
  9. I prefer Davis to them too. The issue is Stephens (and Forster), not Davis. In my opinion. We're letting in nearly every shot, Stephens can barely win a header and looks dodgy at best. Really harsh to blame Davis or JWP and want either dropped in my view. We scored 4 today, 3 legal goals against Man u (and hit the woodwork) and 4 against Sunderland.
  10. If I'm a manager then I pick the best team. If that means the captain on the bench then so be it. A proper captain, and leader, won't mind that.
  11. Forster saves practically nothing. Stephens is out of his depth. I'm fine with his selections and rotation generally. This was an unchanged side as mentioned above. The thing I don't agree with is not giving Caceres a chance today, he must start all games from now until VVD returns. Caceres is quality having seen him play a few times internationally and for Juventus. He's an international standard footballer, he must be bewildered that Stephens is playing over him. If he's fit to play, then he should start. I agree that if he doesn't have the fitness then give him a half, or 60 minutes. We can't defend at the minute and Stephens is the weak link of the outfield players. Caceres has to play. I know where you're coming from, but the final bit is uncalled for in my view. He has potential to be very good for us (Puel. I really like him and hope he stays with us long term. He has great potential as a manager), he just needs to be more ruthless with team selection. Stephens needs to be dropped. Let's hope he wakes up and drops Stephens for Caceres until VVD returns.
  12. Thought he was good against Man u too, but ran out of steam around 70 minutes (knackered, but played great) and should have been taken off. Really great from him today. He might become very very good in the future. He is still very raw
  13. Gomes is a way better shot stopper than Forster. Forster isn't better than Gomes at anything. They might be equally **** at some stuff, but at least Gomes makes decent saves and some saves he isn't expected to make.
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