Ipswich 1-1 Saints - Match Thread

[hypochondriac]

That's a bizarre lineup. No one thinks Armstrong up front on his own is ever going to work. 

[sfc4prem]

Armstrong through the middle again 😰

[bangkoksaint]

Stewart ill? Of course he is 🙄🤦‍♀️

[James]

Fraser right wing back? Otherwise like that team bar Armstrong through the middle but away from home I mind it less. 

[RedArmy]

2 minutes ago, trousers said:

Stewart and Downs out "due to illness"

Begs the question why was Stewart taken to a fairly pointless cup game if he was already ill, had to be removed from the squad and has now spread it to another player? 

[Saint Matty 76]

Neither of the big strikers on the bench so it's Armstrong and Archer for the duration.

Hopefully works a bit better against a team who aren't sitting back for the majority otherwise it was a bit painful watching us try to swing crosses into AA against Wrexham.

[RedArmy]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

That's a bizarre lineup. No one thinks Armstrong up front on his own is ever going to work. 

Who else is going to play there today? Archer hasn’t exactly looked any better recently. 

[SNSUN]

Not seeing much in the way of attacking potency there but interesting that Sugawara has been dropped for Fraser. Welington keeps his League place instead of Manning which is telling for how Still sees Welington as our number 1 LB even when Manning had a good cameo last week.

Centre backs are strong, midfield is strong.

At the very least this should be a draw.

[AlexLaw76]

hopefully we will some of this flexibility by NOT seeing the ball pumped up to Armstrong (for it to just come straight back)

[saintant]

Struggling to figure out who will play where or what the starting formation will be. Assuming we start 5 at the back where do Fernandes, Charles and Downes fit in? This is either tactical genius or we're going to look very disjointed and not offer much threat going forward.

Edited 10 hours ago by saintant

[revolution saint]

Ipswich look quite strong up front with Philogene, Clarke, Szmodics and Hirst but think we have the edge in midfield with Charles, Downes and Fernandes able to drop back if needed.  0-0 draw.

[benjii]

5 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

That's a bizarre lineup. No one thinks Armstrong up front on his own is ever going to work. 

Would you have played Archer there instead? Or BBD?

[Harry_SFC]

Can definitely see a new right back coming in given he prefers Fraser there to Sugawara. Looks pretty strong until you get to the attack.

We are desperately short on quality in attacking positions and that's highlighted today. 

[benjii]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Struggling to figure out who will play where or what the starting formation will be. Assuming we start 5 at the back where do Fernandes, Charles and Downes fit in. This is either tactical genius or we're going to look very disjointed and not offer much threat going forward.

They will be in midfield.

[RedArmy]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Struggling to figure out who will play where or what the starting formation will be. Assuming we start 5 at the back where do Fernandes, Charles and Downes fit in. This is either tactical genius or we're going to look very disjointed and not offer much threat going forward.

3-4-2-1 

 

Robinson and Fernandes in behind Armstrong. 

[HarvSFC]

Whenever a player gets ill on Football Manager, I have to "send them home", or it spreads across the squad. Maybe Downes has been cooking for the squad.

A choice between Armstrong, or Archer up top, neither going to work, so shows the lack of depth. You just can't depend on Ross Stewart. If we're chasing the game like last weekend, we can't put all the big men upfront again and launch balls in. The bench doesn't look like it will give us as much help this week.

[Wsaint]

7 minutes ago, santolijador said:

One potential answer is that Stewart and Downs are out with illness per Alfie

Yep answered. Good to see Dibling and Matsuki on bench on second glance. Pretty damning of sugawara that Fraser is ahead of him.

[SouSaint]

Hoping to see us a lot more defensively solid today because Ipswich have the quality to punish us if we defend like we did last weekend. 

[Sheaf Saint]

Dibling on the bench. Interesting.

[whelk]

I have a feeling Armstrong will do ok today. Don’t mind that line up

[saintant]

1 minute ago, RedArmy said:

3-4-2-1 

 

Robinson and Fernandes in behind Armstrong. 

So Will has failed to learn that Armstrong through the middle has never worked.

[Saint Scott]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Struggling to figure out who will play where or what the starting formation will be. Assuming we start 5 at the back where do Fernandes, Charles and Downes fit in. This is either tactical genius or we're going to look very disjointed and not offer much threat going forward.

------------Baz------------------

---- THB Stephens Quarshie ----

Fraser Downes Charles Wellington

------Fernandes Robinson-------

-----------Armstrong------------

[suewhistle]

Will Fraser and Welington provide some of the width? If so let's hope the crosses are low and hard and from the byline to give Armstong and his busy movement a chance.

The good news is that I can watch this down the pub, the bad news is that I'll be without my sedative and calming pints due to a friendly KO at 3pm. Lime and soda it is then..

[SNSUN]

Just now, Saint Scott said:

------------Baz------------------

---- THB Stephens Quarshie ----

Fraser Downes Charles Wellington

------Fernandes Robinson-------

-----------Armstrong------------

Yep. Though the potential is there for a shape shift to 433/4231 if needed.

[coalman]

We've looked poor with either Bree or Sugawara at right back so Fraser in a wingback position isn't the worst shout in the world as he can, at least play to his strengths in an attacking sense. Not sure how he'll do in a defensive sense. A midfield including Charles-Downes-Fernandes is genuinely exciting. Our defence with THB back looks stronger after Ronnie's wayward start to the season. Obviously Armstrong as a lone striker is a concern but at least he has a team behind him that might create something. 

Can see what Still is thinking with that lineup and I don't hate it.

Edited 9 hours ago by coalman

[saintant]

4 minutes ago, benjii said:

They will be in midfield.

So what formation will we play with 5 at the back and those 3 in midfield?

[Saint Scott]

[RedArmy]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

So Will has failed to learn that Armstrong through the middle has never worked.

I don’t think he’s had much choice today with the players available and has made it clear his hands are a bit tied on formation due to the squad we currently have. 
 

Armstrong is only as good as the service he gets, he’s never been one to create his own chances. He does go missing for long periods when he plays centrally, but it only takes one ball in behind from Fernandes. 

[SWLondon Saint]

Just now, saintant said:

So what formation will we play with 5 at the back and those 3 in midfield?

It'll be a box midfield probably, 2+2. *Should* be very hard to play through the middle and force them to the flanks. No long out ball, has to be played to feet.

[Thripp87]

Positives and negatives for Still here.

He’s realised Downs and Sugawara are useless, but he’s persisting with Arma as a lone striker and not playing Manning.

Assume Stewart is injured again as opposed to an illness? 

[saintant]

Just now, SWLondon Saint said:

It'll be a box midfield probably, 2+2. *Should* be very hard to play through the middle and force them to the flanks. No long out ball, has to be played to feet.

New term to me - what is a box midfield?

[maysie]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

So what formation will we play with 5 at the back and those 3 in midfield?

Stop being thick

[saintant]

1 minute ago, maysie said:

Stop being thick

Apologies Einstein. What is our formation today?

Edited 9 hours ago by saintant

[trousers]

1 minute ago, Thripp87 said:

Positives and negatives for Still here.

He’s realised Downs and Sugawara are useless, but he’s persisting with Arma as a lone striker and not playing Manning.

Assume Stewart is injured again as opposed to an illness? 

The 'scroll up' button is your friend...

[Matthew Le God]

3 minutes ago, Thripp87 said:

Positives and negatives for Still here.

He’s realised Downs and Sugawara are useless, but he’s persisting with Arma as a lone striker and not playing Manning.

Assume Stewart is injured again as opposed to an illness? 

Downs and Stewart are ill

[Midfield_General]

Fucking Armstrong down the fucking middle for fucks sake.

Other than that, not a bad side. 

[SWLondon Saint]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

New term to me - what is a box midfield?

2 deeper and 2 central attacking midfielders usually. Gives you serious numbers in there but relies on wingbacks or fullbacks to provide width. Ball in behind on the flank is the danger.

[SNSUN]

1 minute ago, Thripp87 said:

Positives and negatives for Still here.

He’s realised Downs and Sugawara are useless, but he’s persisting with Arma as a lone striker and not playing Manning.

Assume Stewart is injured again as opposed to an illness? 

You serious? He's played 30 League minutes. On his debut, in a new country. And 60 odd in a cup game playing in a disjointed side. I know Saints fans rule their players out quickly but that must be some kind of record. And he's ill, not dropped.

[beatlesaint]

14 minutes ago, saintant said:

So Will has failed to learn that Armstrong through the middle has never worked.

Or his hands are tied because Downs and Stewart are both out.

[saintant]

1 minute ago, SWLondon Saint said:

2 deeper and 2 central attacking midfielders usually. Gives you serious numbers in there but relies on wingbacks or fullbacks to provide width. Ball in behind on the flank is the danger.

So it's 5221 then.

[Saint86]

Are we playing Fraser as right wing back in a 5? Or is someone like Stephens / Quarshie playing RB in a 4? 

I am confused. If we wanted a proper right back or right wing back we'd use bree or suga?

Edited 9 hours ago by Saint86

[Saint86]

8 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Downs and Stewart are ill

Can't-shoot-itis?

[whelk]

14 minutes ago, Saint Scott said:

Whilst I agree Ipswich should be bookies favourite to win the league, looking at that line up not coveting many of their players. Jack Clarke maybe

[santolijador]

1 minute ago, whelk said:

Whilst I agree Ipswich should be bookies favourite to win the league, looking at that line up not coveting many of their players. Jack Clarke maybe

They seem happy with it for today. Philogene can also cause problems. Not much in the way of a bench though, asides from Cajuste

Edited 9 hours ago by santolijador

[S-Clarke]

I'm a bit confused by the comments on this thread - I agree with peoples thoughts generally on Armstrong, but just look at the available options for today - who else? This makes me wonder if we need to bring in another CF, as once again it's shown that we cannot rely on Stewart.

I think it's quite a kick for someone like BBD, hopefully he'll realise he needs to be out of here before the end of the window as Still obviously doesn't trust him (none of us do really)

Fraser at WB (i'm sure that's where he will sit) is also a kick for Suguwara, but it also underlines why we're looking at other RWB's as I don't think Still is particularly happy with the options.

We're starting with Fernandes, Robinson, who are inside forwards. The width will have to be provided by the full backs, which is why we've gone 3 at the back to accommodate. Otherwise we'd have been too narrow. I can see what he's doing, and he's using the tools he has to build what he feels is closest to what he needs. It won't look like this in October.

All this shows to me is how much work we need on this squad before the end of the window, we don't have any real wingers.

Edited 9 hours ago by S-Clarke

[Saint NL]

Dibling on the bench.

Although if he comes on, with Fraser behind him there isn't much protection on that side.

 

[Chez]

17 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Fucking Armstrong down the fucking middle for fucks sake.

Other than that, not a bad side. 

Looking at it positively, he got in the position to have four chances in the first game. He didn't take any, but on another day...today perhaps? 

 

[Saint Fan CaM]

Mmm, I’d be using BBD in the middle - more ability to hold the ball up than Armstrong or Archer, but we all know who will come on at around 65 minutes…Archer and nothing will change for the better.

The good news is the midfield looks reasonable, so if we press well we may gain advantage. How we use that advantage is another question.

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Mmm, I’d be using BBD in the middle - more ability to hold the ball up than Armstrong or Archer, but we all know who will come on at around 65 minutes…Archer and nothing will change for the better.

The good news is the midfield looks reasonable, so if we press well we may gain advantage. How we use that advantage is another question.

I wouldn't, he's a pub player with the touch of a drunk oap. It looks like Still sees the same.

Edited 9 hours ago by S-Clarke

[Chez]

33 minutes ago, benjii said:

Would you have played Archer there instead? Or BBD?

Was just discussing this on the transfer thread (I didn't know down and Stewart were out) that Brereton was a decent target man at Forest and I can't understand how he has become a wider forward. Its been a while, but if needs must perhaps he could take his chance and be the focal point up front...you never know he could be resurrected.