saintant

This is how I see it.

If we continue with a back 5 surely it will be only 2 in midfield? I don't like it but that seems to be what we've done so far this season.

If people are going to be calling Tamesaint, 'Thamesaint' it's going to be an even longer season!

If that's the most we have to worry about it's going to be a brilliant season 🙂

Oh it was very clear on TV that we were being overrun in midfield. I'm hoping Will Still saw it too because that midfield will struggle against Ipswich without an extra body.

Yeah, good finish that. Wondering why he can't get in our first team squad 🙂

14th of August 2023. Not sure what point you're making but I was replying to someone who suggested we might sell Dibling too late to give us time to bring in a replacement.

That would be a very stupid thing to do but then again, this is SR we're talking about.

Because we're playing 5 at the back which leaves a midfield of only 2 players who have too much work and get overrun. We saw this last night even against opposition as poor as Northampton. Downes, Fernandes and Charles would potentially be an excellent midfield 3 if we had them all playing there at the same time. When it's two from three they struggle to cope and therefore look poor. We need to switch formation to 4231 or similar to get more bodies in midfield where most of the action takes place. Playing a 5 at the back means you are reliant on a centre half (Edwards has tried) moving forward at times to help the midfield or the two wingbacks. For me it's a very difficult system to master and we are not very good at it.

In a nutshell. He's currently far too eager and his feet are well ahead of his brain. Needs to realise he has more time than he thinks, time his runs much better and he'll arrive at the right point rather than a split second too early. On the plus side he is getting into position and making good runs - he just needs to calm down and the goals will come. The one he scored in the preseason friendly was very good but it was one where he ran onto the ball and finished instinctively so he needs to work on the bread and butter tap ins from close range. He's young and hopefully, with the right coaching, will learn quickly and develop.

As another alternative maybe try to get in Fellows rather than Rudoni and play him and Spertsyan either side of Fernandes. Think this would offer more goal threat.

This is my hope especially if we sign Rudoni and Spertsyan. The only way we'll slot in all our midfield players is to play 4231 with a line up something like; Baz New RB Stephens Quarshie Manning Downes Charles Fernandes Rudoni Spertsyan Stewart Use Robinson and Fraser as impact players off the bench to run at tiring defenders. We'd need the 3 advanced midfielders to weigh in with their fair share of goals. There are obviously possible better configurations but, having seen how light we are in midfield playing 5 at the back, I think 4231 is the way to go.

We won tonight but not sure Will covered himself in glory with the starting formation and the refusal to change when it clearly wasn't working. Surrendering midfield to Northampton is not a good look.

Sesay won't be involved much if we get the two in so that leaves five assuming Fernandes doesn't go. That's good midfield options which we'll need over a long season.

Ah, was tongue in cheek cos I obviously know nothing about him. I take it back 🙂

Both Rudoni and Spertsyan would be great business. Fingers crossed.

Think we desperately need a creative one like the Armenian.

Yeah, which is not what you would expect from a professional striker - it's basic stuff.

Yeah, take your point and agree entirely about midfield. It concerns me if Will Still and Trollope couldn't see what was happening - we'll not get away with that sort of midfield against Ipswich on Sunday.

I've erased it from my mind already 🙂

Glad it wasn't because there's a chance we'd have missed the penalty.

If we play five at the back they'll dominate in midfield and it'll be a very tough game.

Not what I was expecting. He's rawer than a serving of sushi. Will take a hell of a lot of polishing from what he showed tonight.

Shhhh! 🙂

He's far from the sharpest tool in the box.