ACF

Thomas LB has me worried

Russell, of course the criticism is personal, your ther person in charge and you’ve been found out again as having no idea. Having 70% possession is wonderful if you’re doing something with it. We’re 23rd on goals per game, 20th in big chances and XG, 23rd for possession won in final third despite wanting to be a pressing team. Despite having the ball for 70% of a game, we’re middle of the table for XG conceded, 6.9 XG conceded vs 7 conceded, so it’s not like we’ve been unlucky with some great goals being scored. You’ve got an attack which is failing to create chances, and a defence that concedes goals despite the other team never having the ball. Its personal because it’s your system and everyone other than you can see despite you caring for the aesthetics and energy of the players, it’s ****ing shit football because it doesn’t win.

Fixed

I think it makes sense as it could allow Alves to drift, McFarlane to stay wide, JJ can do whatever he pleases, and one of the deeper midfielders to bomb forward, with their still being cover in the back. Even if it was Cullen/BDCR for Doyle, they end up playing as a second striker pulling the defence apart for the late run. Whichever CB we fancy most with the ball can step into midfield, and we’re not left short on a counter attack.

He’s a RW, trying to cut inside with his right foot, because he hasn’t got the pace to around the outside of the defender.

One of the many things I don’t understand about this bloke, we heard and saw during preseason that he wanted to be defending high up the pitch, putting the press on. I don’t think I’ve seen us press well all season, we’ve been cut through or had balls hit over the top consistently. We just haven’t won the ball back in threatening places to create chances. That Oxford third goal was awful defending, but credit to Ramsay for getting the keeper to get into an area they can win a second ball and move forward. It then looks like they’ve never thought the ball could get through and they’d be running back towards their own goal. From watching I could not tell you how he wants us to defend. If he wants to continue playing with so much possession, forcing overloads, you have to expect that when we lose the ball, we’ll have players out of position meaning they can counter quickly. The pressing aspect of the preseason seems absolutely pointless.

Think we really need a BDCR move to free up some space in the middle. There’s no way he’s leaving out Lundstram, Cullen or Chaplin when fit. Sammy and Page have done nothing to warrant their dropping, but Brighton will have sent Doyle with an expectation of some playing time too. That’s 7 midfielders, with now no false 9 position for Cullen and BDCR to take up. I know it’s a long year but would rather someone like Neale occupying that 7th slot. Or Alves/JJ if we’re in a pinch.

If you said at the start of the summer that 1. Braybrooke Page Alves & Joseph were starting games 2. 4 loan signings from PL clubs 3. Hamza, Vestergaard, Winks, Skipp, Mavididi, Ayew, Daka, Kristiansen, Vietes, Begovic were all no longer at the club (even though some are loans) 4. We actually sold some academy deadwood I would’ve snapped your hands off. For me, the disappointments are: 1. Not clearing Faes, Okoli, BDCR and Woyo 2. The prioritisation (even if they’re free or very cheap transfers) of players that won’t grow with us, leading to Evans out on loan, Motsi leaving, and Hutchinson nowhere to be seen 3. Monga sale (even though we knew it was coming) 4. I think Cartwright could’ve contributed this season but don’t begrudge him and the club making the move Juries still out on the new boys so won’t judge them as part of the rebuild just yet.

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Can’t believe West Ham are going to block the development of a youngster for this bloke

If he was Scandinavian he’d be N’Guessansson

That’s a fair finish from Lacey

He’s been very good. Seriously think he could do a job at the 6 and slot Aluko in at RB.

Stolarczyk Aluko Souttar* Thomas McFarlane Joseph Howell Page Braybrooke Alves Bristric *if here, if not, the new boy Roo