Jobyfox

… or a win

I hope Marti isn’t too reactive with the starting line up. The first 55 minutes or so against Wrexham we looked ok. Far better balance and movement. We just completely lost our way after failing to score the 2nd goal. Start with a similar eleven. There are arguments for: - VK over Thomas (much of a muchness) - Ricardo is better than Hamza - Ramsey v BDCR (although I think Bobby did ok and I’m really not a fan) But please don’t go back to Ayew and drop Skipp out of the squad (he offers nothing) - Better game management required. - Hamza and Ricky would probably both provide better midfield options than Skipp. - Ramsey could replace BDCR and not require a change in shape to the midfield - Only bring Ayew on if we have a 2 goal advantage and need somebody to slow the game down. It’s a depressing squad of players that we have to pick from, but if we play like we did in the first half against Wrexham we’ll go close to promotion. We just need to make ourselves more difficult to play against

I’m not a BDCR fan, but I think he’s had a decent half there

But has still given the team far more than Ayew would have done.

Aahhh …. that would explain why he’s so slow ….

I’m going with that, but in between the Ayew start and shit house goal bit I’m going with…. Dominate possession, but look completely uncreative Concede soft goal via a counter attack Make significant changes after the 60th minute, but don’t take Ayew off Final score 1-1

Carranza’s had: “…. two appearances and doesn’t really speak English” He probably speaks better English than you Freddy

Looking at the latest pre-match thread it looks like the penny has dropped for most people

I do have this nagging worry that none of our other options up front will prove any better than Ayew, but that’s not the point anymore. We’ve now played 7 games with Ayew as the starting number 9 and it’s clear the balance of the team isn’t working with this option. I just want Marti to try something different - anything - to demonstrate that he’s recognised this and is trying to fix it. If he starts with Daka, Carranza, or tweaks the formation and it doesn’t work out I won’t condemn him for trying. If he serves up the same solution, however, for the 8th game running then the alarms bells will start ringing even more loudly

Marti has made some good calls so far and started to fix the right things. I appreciate that there is uncertainty around certain players and their futures, but to get out of this division you really have to manage in the short term. 1. Transitioning Winks back into the team after the transfer window closed was the correct thing to do 2. Bringing Ricardo in once fit was the right call 3. I think he’s managed Monga well 4. The balance in midfield is getting there by bringing James in But….. I was so disappointed to see Ayew starting again as the number 9 against WBA although, to some extent, I have sympathy when the other options are so limited. This, however, is now Marti’s biggest test: 5. Drop Ayew and get more out of someone else (Carranza or Daka) and/or 6. Change the shape of the team to get more goals from the wingers and midfield Solving the above feels like a bit of a crossroads for MC and how fans will assess his progress to date

Daka is sh1t, but there is a big difference between him and Ayew. Daka will drag defenders around and give space to our other attackers. He will miss a lot so will have a poor conversion rate against his xG. Ayew affects the shape of the whole team, which leaves additional responsibility on others to produce the miraculous. The important thing, however, is that his xG will be so low that he won’t even get the opportunity to miss in the first place. Everyone hopes that Carranza will come good but, if he doesn’t, we reluctantly should go with Daka. I don’t think a youth player is realistic. Expecting them to come in and carry a team could destroy their confidence, although using them like Monga as an impact sub is an option. Trouble is I’m not sure any of them are ready

I think Nelson is currently in that zone where a player’s stock is rising because he’s not in the team. It would be good to get him involved and hopefully he’s got a bright future but, if we don’t get promoted, I doubt Vesty and Faes will be the issue. The more pressing concern is our lack of creativity and goal threat. We somehow need to find a fix for that first

Whilst I agree with the sentiment that we shouldn’t judge Carranza too early Vardy is the exception that breaks nearly every rule

It f*****g isn’t with Ayew as a number 9 and, if it is, it’s going to be a long, painful, season!!

….. when the competition is Daka and Ayew

Hopefully it won’t be in a situation when they’re bought on to try and save the game when, if we got the balance of the team right in the first place, that wouldn’t have been necessary

FFS!! I want to be patient and give Marti time, but if he really can’t see that Ayew is a major problem with how this team functions then he isn’t watching closely enough. It wouldn’t be so bad if Mavididi was on form, but you really are just surrendering any outlet up front and hoping for a piece of magic from Fatawu every game.

There is an absolute country mile between them. If we are to compete we’ll need Winks to stay fit, but Soumare is very replaceable. But then I might just be a zombie regurgitating an opinion!

I would be happy with that 👍

Stol Ricky, Faes, Vest, Thomas Winks, James Fatawu, Ayew, Monga Carranza Subs. Begovic, Okoli, Kristiansen, Choudhury, Soumare, Page, Mavididi, BDCR, Daka Something like that, although I wouldn’t argue about some of the positions: Faes v Okoli, Ayew v Soumare with James as the advanced midfielder, Thomas v Kristiansen and whether Monga should start or come on as a sub. I will, however, be severely tempted to commit a violent act on myself or others if Ayew starts again at number 9

Some good news that we can all get behind. There’s no downside to this as he looks a great prospect. That said I think we should be patient with all our youngsters. He will have spells where he’s outside the team or even the squad, but that won’t necessarily mean that he’s not going to make it or the manager is sh1t. It just means that he’s a teenager and being ready for championship football at such a tender age is a remarkable exception and not the rule

All this: “it’s not his fault where he’s being played” ”He works hard for the team” ”He’s having a good season” etc. You can only assess him against the role he’s currently playing. If he’d been playing as a goalkeeper I’m convinced I’d be saying that he’s shite. A striker is assessed on goals, assists, expected goals etc. Guess what? As a number 9 he’s Shite!!! That’s the reality of it

I think that’s where I am with him. I can’t work out what he does well. He’s not a defensive CM, he’s not an attacking CM, he doesn’t tackle well, he doesn’t defend well, he’s not a box 2 box midfielder and he doesn’t pass well. He’ll go on a meandering run every 10 games or so and everybody will think it’s the start of his redemption curve and then - nothing!