austsaint

Note

Don’t write him off. What’s he had since the 6 month layoff…..a couple of weeks of training and three short cameos late in the game. He definitely looked sharper, and more effective yesterday, threw himself into the play and didn’t shirk the Norwich intensity. He won’t return to his Prem heyday, but he still has plenty to offer at Championship level. I’m more worried about the contributions of Stephens, Wood, Fraser, Manning and Bazunu than Romeu who will only improve with more game time.

That’s the core of the problem. There has been no development/improvements in Bazunu’s game. His only clear strength is with the ball at his feet; all the other fundamentals of goalkeeping are sub-standard or inconsistent, and have remained so over four years, including the loan spell. To think that in such an important season, we have continued a four year stretch (Ramsdale’s season excepted) with McCarthy and Bazunu as our goal keeping choices is a shocking indictment of the Club’s recruitment. The rumoured loan deal in January for another keeper has to happen.

Nervous

Commitment

Arrow

Free

Key

Bitter(s)

Balance

Like you, I got it wrong with Azaz. He’s benefiting from the speed of build up and being played further up the pitch as a 10. He also seems to have upped his work rate. The assist for the Armstrong goal was superb. A big tick for Tonda and a fail for Still.

Rose

That’s a fair question. Yes, I suppose I’m calling for Manning to be replaced by a better defensive option who could play tighter to the wide right attacking opposition players who time and again have space and time to cross, pass or run into dangerous areas. I’m also not seeing the three-at-the-back helping out Manning much except when Quarshie has played as the left sided CB. Stephens and Wood in particular often play central and congested, almost getting in each others way. Why not use the box-to-box qualities of Jander and Charles backed up by a holding Downes who in turn helps out THB and one other CB with a LB like Wellington (wish we had better) to tighten that left side. I’m not saying there’s a problem with the current formation which includes 3 CBs, just that tweaking things might work even better - make us defensively sounder without changing players roles much.

It would be another tick for Tonda if he gets a tune out of Archer and judged on Archer’s cameo yesterday he just might. The resting of Scienza and AA in favour of Robinson and Archer worked well enough, as did the introduction of Romeu and Edwards. Eckert’s game management (early days) is several notches higher than Still, Juric and Martin. Like to see him experiment with a back four and abandon the idea of Manning as a wing back. Good left foot though he’s got, he is just too slack defensively (even if played as a LB) which results in a barrage of unchallenged crosses and runs which will eventually be converted by the better sides. Give Wellington a run of games at LB to see if he can regain that early promise…… one of his first appearances v Palace comes to mind as eye catching. Play THB and one other at CB, and have a three man central midfield with Jander, Downes and Charles with Downes sat behind the other two as defensive cover. Downes was very good today and would shore up our defence in a way that Stephens and Wood consistently don’t. That leaves Scienza, Azaz and Armstrong as the attacking three with help from Fellows, Charles and Jander. Come on Tonda, give it a go!

Impediment

Folk

Crumbling

Off

Liner

Piccadilly

Bloc

Do you want them in alphabetical order?

Knife

Erase

Moon