The Subhuman wrote: ↑Fri Mar 29, 2024 11:22 pm
If Greuv doesn't play as DMF I'm not sure who does. Kamara and Gray aren't defensive mids imo, Crew has zero experience, Gyabi on loan and injured and Struijk injured also ..
Funny it wasn't that long ago many were critical of spending money on Gruev .... now we can't do without him.
What's the prognosis for Roberts?
If we could have him back on Monday, could have the 3 Welsh lads with Firpo at the back and Gray with Kamara in midfield.
malcolmw wrote: ↑Sat Mar 30, 2024 1:42 am
I agree. Always been a Coops fan for what he's done for the club, but he is now way too slow. Their second goal was from him been a yard behind his man right from the start. Also thought Archie was caught ball watching for their first.
But the first half was always going to be disjointed. Players been in another system with another coach for 2 weeks. Can't just switch it back on.
Second half we were the better team.
MOM for me - Summerville - work rate, skill, reading the game. Goal was sheer class.
At first I wanted to blame Archie for being slow to his man. But on the replay it shows that we got caught by the fast break. Archie couldn't cover his man because he had to cover the guy who passed the ball to him. Basically, Archie was left covering two attackers. So can't blame him for the one he gave too much space to.
malcolmw wrote: ↑Sat Mar 30, 2024 1:50 am
What's the prognosis for Roberts?
If we could have him back on Monday, could have the 3 Welsh lads with Firpo at the back and Gray with Kamara in midfield.
Roberts is 2 to 3 weeks. Same for Gnonto. Gruev a possibility for Monday.
Farke made the comment post match about the importance of players being able to train. I don't know why he didn't factor that into his team selection. Some players you can't do without. But he could still have tried to include some of the players who'd been training with him the last two weeks. Plus it's 2 games in 3 days. So you'd ideally want to rest a couple of players.
Why not Piroe for Rutter who'd just come out of surgery and trained one day?
Why not Anthony for James who'd come back from a pretty emotional and tiring night with Wales?
Elsewhere, we didn't have obvious alternatives. But I do think it might have been beneficial to have started Piroe and Anthony.
andrewjohnsmith wrote: ↑Sat Mar 30, 2024 2:27 am
Farke made the comment post match about the importance of players being able to train. I don't know why he didn't factor that into his team selection. Some players you can't do without. But he could still have tried to include some of the players who'd been training with him the last two weeks. Plus it's 2 games in 3 days. So you'd ideally want to rest a couple of players.
Why not Piroe for Rutter who'd just come out of surgery and trained one day?
Why not Anthony for James who'd come back from a pretty emotional and tiring night with Wales?
Elsewhere, we didn't have obvious alternatives. But I do think it might have been beneficial to have started Piroe and Anthony.
Yeah, I'd speculated the same thing Andrew. I thought Piroe could well sit in behind Bamford. Not the same impact as Georgie of course, but he's big and can find gaps.
I was surprised Georgie started.
But DF seems very disciplined about players returning from injury, so assume he'd rather start with Georgie and take him out later, which is what he did.
It was not an ideal situation and frankly these international breaks are ill-timed.
andrewjohnsmith wrote: ↑Sat Mar 30, 2024 2:13 am
At first I wanted to blame Archie for being slow to his man. But on the replay it shows that we got caught by the fast break. Archie couldn't cover his man because he had to cover the guy who passed the ball to him. Basically, Archie was left covering two attackers. So can't blame him for the one he gave too much space to.
Interesting. I'll have another look.
He seemed betwixt and between to me - neither on his man nor pressurizing the ball carrier.
I think the first half was very disjointed, and to be expected to be honest.
But Coops slowness puts huge pressure on the other defenders. There just isn't the trust.
When you watch our normal back 4 - Gray, Rodon, Amps, Firpo - you can see the trust and confidence in one another. Very hard to break down.
malcolmw wrote: ↑Sat Mar 30, 2024 1:50 am
What's the prognosis for Roberts?
If we could have him back on Monday, could have the 3 Welsh lads with Firpo at the back and Gray with Kamara in midfield.
And that’s the problem. Every single one of those you mentioned looked like they were running on empty after the international break. It’s a symptom of success I suppose. It just highlights how important a quality squad is, but that’s the championship for you. If we’d had a quality squad last season we wouldn’t be in the championship this.
I can’t see the game against Hell being pretty either.
Last nights game highlighted how poorly we play when our central “pairs” are disrupted. Rodon had to do a double shift because his mate Ampadu was elsewhere and Kamara looked lost without his buddy Gruev.
Even Jimmy struggled (apart from his wonder goal) without Firpo (even I’m not sure I’m being serious, there). As much as I like Byram on the left, I think he gets in Jimmy’s way sometimes.
If DF fannys about with our core (forced or not), we’re looking at play offs.
From a psychological perspective I think DF got two things wrong. Firstly, James should never have started. There’s no way his head could’ve been right after the Poland game. I’m sure DF would have asked “alles klar, Dan?”, and Dan would have answered “yacky da, boyo”, but he clearly wasn’t.
As for Georgi, his doc should have given him a sick note for another week, at least. I know if I’d had an operation I’d have swung the lead for more than a few days.
Orange Box wrote: ↑Sat Mar 30, 2024 7:10 am
Last nights game highlighted how poorly we play when our central “pairs” are disrupted. Rodon had to do a double shift because his mate Ampadu was elsewhere and Kamara looked lost without his buddy Gruev.
Even Jimmy struggled (apart from his wonder goal) without Firpo (even I’m not sure I’m being serious, there). As much as I like Byram on the left, I think he gets in Jimmy’s way sometimes.
If DF fannys about with our core (forced or not), we’re looking at play offs.
Totally agree
It just goes to show, our squad is not strong enough in certain positions when we lose a couple of players to injury. Farke needs to find a way not to break up our strongest combinations, especially in the spine of our team.
We did look better when Firpo came on down the left, there seems to be telepathy between Firpo & Summerville.
Look how comfortable we appeared when the changes were implemented.
Why did Cooper leave his marker Bayo at the back post & position himself on the goal-line, Meslier makes a great save only for the ball to drop to the unmarked Bayo? His defending was poor for both goals.
Chilli D wrote: ↑Fri Mar 29, 2024 10:04 pm
I don't care who DF plays in midfield on Monday but he must play Ampadu alongside Rodon.
The change he made to put Byram at right back and move Archie into the middle an drop Ampadu back alongside Rodon and allowing Firpo to operate at left back was inspired and allowed us to get the draw. I hope he goes with that setup on Monday
Never confuse intellect with imagination.
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Sean_Nile wrote: ↑Sat Mar 30, 2024 9:29 am
The change he made to put Byram at right back and move Archie into the middle an drop Ampadu back alongside Rodon and allowing Firpo to operate at left back was inspired and allowed us to get the draw. I hope he goes with that setup on Monday
He did that on 63 minutes and his even later 80th plus minute subs nearly won the game and still he’s criticised by a lot of people.
I declare my love for Saint Daniel and I can shoehorn him in to any conversation.
malcolmw wrote: ↑Sat Mar 30, 2024 6:14 am
Interesting. I'll have another look.
He seemed betwixt and between to me - neither on his man nor pressurizing the ball carrier.
I think the first half was very disjointed, and to be expected to be honest.
But Coops slowness puts huge pressure on the other defenders. There just isn't the trust.
When you watch our normal back 4 - Gray, Rodon, Amps, Firpo - you can see the trust and confidence in one another. Very hard to break down.
Fir me it was Byram that was badly caught out twice for the first goal and Cooper for the second. Waving his arm for offside with Rodon 5 yards behind him was embarrassing.
Like others here, I couldn't understand breaking up a bullet proof central defence to shore up (ineffectively, as it happened), a weakened midfield.
Add to that there were so many tired performances from James, Gray, Rutter and Kamara, it's a miracle we got a point.
Anthony and Joseph have to be given longer time in the game. They have the energy and attitude that just seems to be on the wane elsewhere in the first 11 at the moment.
It wasn't the best of performances but, considering players out for one reason or another, a point on the road is OK, I think a lot of folk are just looking at the table where we could and should have gone clear, I've been saying for a while that easter would be the testing time.
DF did what he thought would be best, his subs actually inspired us and got us a point, did'nt think I'd say this, but firpo was an asset last night, probably because we were always on the attack by then but nevertheless, well done and keep it up.
Hull will be a tight affair, one we cannot lose, we haven't been beaten all season at home so thats a possitive, 3 points would be just the ticket.
Too many players had off games last night, we don't have the strength in depth for the PL thats for sure.
" Man is not affected by events but by the view he takes of them "
Thank god, Mateo was involved towards the end of the game, however Joseph miskicked his first shot & I'm not entirely convinced he hit the ball for his goal, I've viewed the goal over & over again, and it looks like Joseph kicked the defender's leg & the ball flew into the net.
Maybe my new pair of spectacles are deceiving my eyesight.
