Smirking_Saint

Unfortunately I doubt we’ll get a striker now, because we effectively have 4.. 5 including Mara I do agree in regards creativity, that said, we did have 5 on target yesterday, we weren’t ’uncreative’, just wasteful We desperately need a GK, and as much as Im contradicting myself.. we do need more creativity although Im not sure how much AL is going to feature Again our problem is bodies.. Onuachu, Manning, Aribo, Mara or Stewart, Sulemana, Bree, Stephens/ABK, Alcaraz even potentially Lumley are all names that we probably need to move on to streamline the side

Thats was BBD is here for

The game has changed as far as the blueprint around staying in the prem is concerned, for clubs at our level its getting more and more difficult but ultimately you have to attempt to follow Brightons blueprint, educated gambles on undervalued players with a sprinkling of experience Fernandes is highly rated and reinforces a position we are weak in, the hope is the club can make long term profits in the likes of Fernandes, Edwards, THB etc whilst they make an impact in the team… this is how Brighton have solidified themselves as a Prem top 8 side… its also how we survived last year, by being able to drag in significant profits Our BIG problem right now is we have a bloated squad, of what were regarded ‘prem ready’ players from two years ago… all players are a gamble, but young players are slightly less because financially they tend to maintain value

I still don’t see what Ings offers us, at all

I always found Martins lack of faith in Charles a bit odd.. wasn’t there a stat that we always did better with him playing than not, in Downes absence? Charles certainly isn’t the player Downes is, but was comfortably a better option than Smallbone in the 6 amd I personally think that cost us wins at vital points of the season

Its 50/50 tbh The subs didn’t help us at all, we got away with it though We looked a lot more cohesive with an actual back line and midfield structure but before JS went off and after the Smallbone sub we looked all at sea

We’ve let in 10 goals in the four games he’s started in… his presence disrupts the defensive line because he pushes forward, facilitating the need for THB then having to pull back into CB to cover… which is fine, but that in turn exposes our right flank so he’s stuck in two minds Stephens drives into midfield also affect the balance of Downes etc, does he engage the other midfielders ? Does he offer passing lanes? It all just looks confusing Stats wise what does he offer ? His oassing stats are average, he only won 1 of his four ground challenges Regardless of your thoughts on him this experiment is disruptive and confusing

Basically its the Everton situation Which is why rules were changed for this year

Well… suppose you’re right 😂 Unfortunately its not going to happen in our favour imo

I was being questioned about the fact that Id pointed out Leicester’s financial irregularities early season, and that the talk, within footballing circles, was that they would struggle in the Championship financially I was very surprised that they were able to reinforced so effectively. And agree, couldn’t respond to those of you calling me out for being ill informed But here we are… chickens come home to roost I suppose… we obviously hadn’t factored in PL/EFL incompetence around financial management Hopefully we’ll see the breach answered this season but… I doubt it.. so do many that know what they’re on about… seems it’ll probably be punishable from next season so who fucking knows what happens then Only reprieve is there is a SLIGHT chance the EFL attempt to challenge the ruling this year but legally I think it gets tied up too long

His passing was pretty awful past two games, he just switches off and doesn’t see the danger enough, you get away with it a tad as a wide CB but not as a central CB or DM imo The answer is frankly Charles, his passing isn’t as crisp as Smallbones but he is a significant upgrade defensively I think RM has been blindsided by an ambition to maintain possession, its an admirable quality to want that but we aren’t immune to being dispossessed and broken upon from deep, so you frankly HAVE to employ a midfield enforcer (FWOABW) if you are going to push your WBs high

Stephens is terrible as a proactive defender so Id imagine putting him in a position where you need to be even more tactically astute is suicide

Agree except Brooks/Edozie didn’t offer enough defensively… great going forward tonight but they put us under too much pressure imo

Exactly this

Yeah agree, saved us twice as a sweeper

A terrible terrible night and genuinely one to forget Bednarek and KWP maybe the only ones with any credit, Brooks looked ok, he tried We have significant depth in many positions but CF and DM we struggle behind Downes and an in form Adams Charles was poor tonight, but not THAT bad, everyone else was misplacing passes too, we just look so weak with Smallbone in the 6, he’s looked lost every time he’s played there Armstrong, unfortunately cannot lead the line, he’s fantastic at RW, but not ST Manning… Ive said it all year, Danny Fox MK II… great on the ball, awful defensively We looked tired though tonight, as we did at the weekend, a big recovery job needed Friday. No need to panic yet, but we need a reaction

This is laughable

I don’t think he’s good enough, and considering this is a forum to discuss the club then yes, Ill happily make my opinion known

Apologies, didn’t realise I couldn’t criticise our lord and saviour

You realise it was for a professional foul right ?

He made two Arguably he was at fault for the cross too He isn’t very good, he’s never been very good He is a reactive defender that suffers from too much nonchalance or lapses in concentration… he absolutely doesn’t fit this system and for one reason or another has never worked in a partnership with Jan

He is fucking useless

Rodrigues wants a word

Funny how some of us suggested at the start of the season that JS was of a lower quality than JB and THB but got thoroughly shot down in flames The armband frankly should never have been passed to him He is.. ok.. but far too many lapses in concentration to be a consistent performer Great back up at this level, but JB/THB would firmly be my partnership

And yet Rotherham were able to steal a point and we just about got away with it against Hull this weekend which in the end is a great result away from home Again Im generally a happy clapper and my posts history on here is exceptionally pro Russell M and Sports Republic especially in light of my links with the club We’re on an excellent run, after a dreadful run… we now need to maintain this consistency