pmcla26

Stolarczyk Hamza Okoli Vestergaard Faes Winks James Fatawu Ramsey Mavididi Daka In possession Hamza steps alongside Winks, James steps forward alongside Ramsey. 3-2-4-1.

We need to create more overloads through the centre of the pitch to get the wingers left one v one. The problem is such a lack of presence up front and our full backs not having to be tracked (I'm struggling to work out where Cifuentes wants them to be on the pitch at times, not sure if this is intentional or they're just not carrying out his tactics properly) is meaning we are creating less space out wide.

Yeah would have been silly. If we get promoted this season he’s instantly surplus to requirements and another player we would be stuck with.

I don’t think we do badly hiring decent managers. There’s been more hits than misses in recent years. (Last season obviously a disaster, though) It’s the network behind them where we fail.

£2.5m Still at the time was a decent amount for a Championship club to be paying for a striker.

It wasn’t about Rodgers though, it was the fact that we were going into the season relying on Danny Ward, Daniel Amartey and a young Luke Thomas as 3 out of 5 of our back line.

If we had spent that summer I very much doubt we would have been in that position of panic buying Souttar and Kristiansen in January 2023.

Unfortunately promotion is worth a lot more than developing Ben Nelson. He will get minutes, there is lots of football left to be played. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Faes move in January as well - he will be pushing hard to try get back into Belgium’s squad for the summer, and I don’t think playing in the Championship will get him there. We also paid good money for Okoli, so I wonder if there is also a pressure from the higher ups to prioritise his development with our PSR struggles (i.e. don’t make a loss on him, anything for Nelson would be pure profit)

I thought Danny Simpson was a pointless signing when we were promoted in 14/15.

I don't know why people are so quick to force young players to be so prominent. Look at someone like Semenyo, he's 25 now. Too often see players written off by the time they're only 21/22/23.

Every professional squad has 3 goalkeepers. If one of the two senior goalkeepers gets a long term injury you’re one further injury/suspension away from playing the U21 goalkeeper. We had it in 2014/15 when Schmeichel got injured and Hamer had a combination of injury and poor form meaning we bought Schwarzer in.

He hasn't had a pre-season would be my guess. Maybe needs to learn the language better too.

I would’ve thought he would’ve signed an extension before his loan but it would’ve been kept quiet. Most loans in the last year of a contract happen like this now.

I would say it correlates more to our poorer pressing, compared to 23/24, rather than the quality of players at the back.

Way too attacking - that team would absolutely get rinsed on the counter, especially in the wide areas. Besides, I think we've seen the template with Marti - I don't think he'll stray too far away from it.

Stolarczyk Ricardo Faes Vestergaard Kristiansen Winks Soumare Fatawu James Reid Daka

The game changing mistake was taking Reid off and putting Skipp on. Allowed them to start having time in midfield once we went to having two 6s. Killed our momentum.

I think Ayew’s hold up play has a purpose in some games, but not every week. Teams have seen it now and we’re over relying on the midfield to create chances when there’s a lack of space being created by the 9. I’d start Daka for a few games in the hope his runs in behind pushes teams back and allows a bit more space for those behind him to create.

Stolarczyk Choudhury Okoli Vestergaard Thomas Winks Soumare Fatawu Ramsey Mavididi Daka

Stolarczyk Ricardo Faes Vestergaard Thomas James Winks Soumare Fatawu Carranza Mavididi

It used to be too protect clubs going from losing their professional status, but now that pretty much every club every season in the national league is professional, I don’t see why it’s still only 2.

He was a touch line winger in Enzo’s system, barely played within the width of the goal. With that context his numbers were impressive.

Hopefully he develops into a Danny Simpson at left back. I thought we should have got him gone a couple years ago but I’m fully behind him now.

2-0 Leicester, I expect it will be pretty comfortable at the King Power. Away from home might be a different story but for this one we should be fine.

Naturally gifted athleticism. Got myself fit through the gym and playing football for years but my genetics have made it hard work to be just above average.