19 Mar 2022 17:52:43
I gave Gerrard credit for the change to 2 up top but he screwed the pooch today.
As much as I support Konsa, why drop Chambers? Ings works better with number 10s, Watkins works better with wingers so how do you get it completely the wrong way around?
All of our recent success against Arsenal came from Smith enforcing a high press, the starting tactic I knew would take more luck than judgement and we didn't get it.
Yet again JJ gets overly praised and massively falls off, other than seeing the ball out for a goal kick a couple of times he did nothing for the team. Sanson needs to be given a chance now, if he's rubbish then fair enough but there's no good argument against him starting the next one.
Ref was awful, especially the card for Mings.
19 Mar 2022 18:17:02
Rk, i think Ramsey has got carried away in his own hype, he contributed very little yet again, along with Luiz they were poor defensively. They obviously can't be blamed for the whole performance and others were equally lacking. If there are no suitable replacements for Ramsey and Luiz we are in trouble and will continue at best in mid table. We need two quality midfielders as a minimum and at least two strikers, even with these i can't see us threatening the top eight next season. We played in to Arsenal hands with our slow tempo and they easily managed to completely negate any attacking threat because we were so slow and deliberate. Gerrard has to carry the can for the last two lack lustre performances, i would have been happy risking conceding a second goal if we had tried to attack Arsenal with a lot more intent.
19 Mar 2022 18:27:14
I don't know how much we need new midfielders, we just need to give chances to people.
Nakamba will be back after the international break, if he can play how he did before the injury then we're OK in that position. Sanson may not have a million goals and assists in his time on the pitch but he's also done very little that is overtly wrong when he's had the chance and at least gives it 100% all the time. If Gerrard doesn't want to play him then like Targett he deserves a chance to show what he's worth elsewhere.
19 Mar 2022 19:37:16
Rk, i couldn't agree more regarding Sansom
19 Mar 2022 19:55:17
Who'd have thought we'd agree this much a year ago ?
19 Mar 2022 22:27:08
RK Gerrard confirmed before the game that both Ings and Chambers were carrying small knocks, hence the change of personal and formation. Agree though, the two 10s does not work and needs to be scrapped.
Cafu, agree we need 2 Midfielders in the summer, I wouldn't be surprised to see the vast majority (if not all) of our budget go into midfield - Think McGinn needs to be relieved of his defensive duties and take the Ramsey role (a little further forward) next season. Wouldn't be shocked to see Ramsey get an improved contract and then a loan move to a promoted side next season.
Coutinho on a permanent, Saurez on a free and 2 Midfielders, I think we will definitely be after Bissoma and I wouldn't be surprised to see us move for Phillips at Leeds (although that would be a massive ask, think the top clubs will be interested and he's a ready made replacement for Rice should he leave West Ham).
---------Martinez----------
Cash - Konsa - Mings -Digne
---------Phillips----------
Bissoma--------------McGinn
---------Coutinho----------
Ings----------------Watkins
20 Mar 2022 06:59:00
I fast forwarded through the pre match stuff as got back late from furniture shopping with the missus so that's my bad.
There's almost no way we sign both Bissouma and Phillips on top of Coutinho. Assuming we did, you've got them the wrong way around as Phillips has shown for England that he can look pretty good when given the chance to join the attack.
20 Mar 2022 08:23:20
Well I'm not going to argue the hypothetical layout of my imaginary team RK - I don't think we will get both either but I do think we will bring in 2 midfielders in the summer, Bissoma the obvious one given we bid for him in the January. There will also be significant outgoings I'm sure, probably at a loss to what we paid sadly, but wouldn't be surprised to see some (not all) of Traore, Sanson, Bailey, Buendia, El Ghazi, Trez, Davis etc go which will generate funds to refine the squad. We've a massive summer ahead, we can't keep "rebuilding" constantly so need to get it right, and go big, hence the Phillips suggestion.
20 Mar 2022 12:13:31
Bk agree with the names on the clear out, with the exceptions of Buendia, think he still has a lot to offer, i also think Watkins should be moved on. His stats for yesterday were absolutely woeful and not for the first time, we will still get good money for him. I really don't know what's happened to him but he is a shadow of his former self. His control and holding the ball up have almost completely disappeared and he is just not up to the role.