[Football] Why’s it not quite working at the moment?

Jim Van Winkle · Feb 9, 2019

A1X said:
I think our formation doesn't work. Don't think it's a coincidence we've only won one game since we changed to 4-3-3. Our best football has come when we've played 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2.

Locadia doesn't track back leaving us exposed on our left. Montoya doesn't have the relationship with March which leaves us exposed on the right. Gross isn't where he needs to be. Stephens isn't good enough. Combined, it makes us completely lacking in substance across the middle of the park. Murray, Dunk & Duffy can only do so much with little support.

This with bells on. Stephens looks out of his depth in a 4-3-3.

Stat Brother · Feb 9, 2019

Cos the opposition goalies are.

Kneon Light · Feb 9, 2019

I think the 4-3-3 was needed away from home where something clearly needed to change.
However at home the 4-4-1-1 was working fine so don't think it should have been changed.
Despite what many think Hughton is a very good manager and I have every faith he will sort it out.

Djmiles · Feb 9, 2019

We have suddenly become defensively inept. Conceding 7 goals in 100 minutes against Fulham and Burnley is nothing short of embarrassing.

Wrong-Direction · Feb 9, 2019

Gross is Propper shit. See what I did there? They're both shit.

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GT49er · Feb 9, 2019

Megazone said:
I feel as if the signings we made have only strengthened positions we were already reasonably strong in anyway. The weaknesses in our team were ignored. We're crying out for pace upfront, a tough tackling centre midfielder, a winger who can cross from the byline and more leadership when going forward. It seems last summers signings were too focused on the future rather than the now.

I certainly agree we needed a box-to-box goal-scoring CM who can take a game by the scruff of the neck and dominate it - a Steven Gerrard, Brian Robson, Paul Scholes type of player. I'm sure we'd have been looking for one, but they are a bit hard to find - and even if you do find one there's the small difficulty of affording the fee and the wages, not to mention trying to persuade them to play where they won't get Champions League exposure for a while!

I think we do have players who can cross; they just all seem to prefer to stop, turn and pass it back or sideways. Wish I knew why they can't/won't ping them across.

BensGrandad · Feb 9, 2019

I dont understand why Burnley tried to sign Stephens as they by pass the midfield so he would have been surplus to requirements.

Weststander · Feb 9, 2019

Wrong-Direction said:
Gross is Propper shit. See what I did there? They're both shit.

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Locadia makes them look good, really good.

Weststander · Feb 9, 2019

BensGrandad said:
I dont understand why Burnley tried to sign Stephens as they by pass the midfield so he would have been surplus to requirements.

He was younger then, then a key part of our promotion team and a quality player for us in his first 15 months in the PL.

Weststander · Feb 9, 2019

GT49er said:
I certainly agree we needed a box-to-box goal-scoring CM who can take a game by the scruff of the neck and dominate it - a Steven Gerrard, Brian Robson, Paul Scholes type of player. I'm sure we'd have been looking for one, but they are a bit hard to find - and even if you do find one there's the small difficulty of affording the fee and the wages, not to mention trying to persuade them to play where they won't get Champions League exposure for a while!

I think we do have players who can cross; they just all seem to prefer to stop, turn and pass it back or sideways. Wish I knew why they can't/won't ping them across.

Who drives forward, taking the team with him.

Birdie Boy · Feb 9, 2019

BensGrandad said:
I dont understand why Burnley tried to sign Stephens as they by pass the midfield so he would have been surplus to requirements.

Who cares? That was what 2.5 seasons ago..

BensGrandad · Feb 9, 2019

Weststander said:
He was younger then, then a key part of our promotion team and a quality player for us in his first 15 months in the PL.

He is essential to us but I was saying about their style of play they do not use midfielders it is defence to Barnes and Wood with a long hoof.

Wellesley · Feb 9, 2019

We have a squad of decent players, but not enough special ones. These players all put a shift in and we should never get on their backs because it certainly isn't lack of effort that is the problem. I've always admired Stephens, Kayal, Gross, etc so it's hard to admit that we need players of a higher calibre if we are to succeed at this level. Locadia is hit and miss, maybe Jahanbakhsh needs more time but he hasn't shown enough yet. The jury's still out on Montoya for me. What success is at this level for a club of our stature is another question. If this is as good as it gets, then I am thankful for what we have, but if we want to step up a level then we have tough decisions to make in the summer and need a couple of real quality players rather than quantity. We've waited a long time to face this challenge, let's not forget to enjoy the ride.

blue-shifted · Feb 9, 2019

portslade seagull said:
Gross is awful at the moment and has been for a while. Needs to dropped

Or maybe played in his best position

Hornblower · Feb 9, 2019

Wrong-Direction said:
Gross is Propper shit. See what I did there? They're both shit.

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Sorry, not having that, Gross, who was superb last season has been very poor this season whereas Propper has looked one of our best creative players in what has become a rather poor side. Stephens has been awful, why Bong is played in preference to Bernardo I will never understand and also what on earth was going on in the first half when Gross was playing behind Montoya?

I love Chris but he’s all at sea right now and we need to move into survival mode if it’s not going to be Brentford and Burton next season.

Weststander · Feb 9, 2019

BensGrandad said:
He is essential to us but I was saying about their style of play they do not use midfielders it is defence to Barnes and Wood with a long hoof.

Westwood, McNeil and Hendrick ran the midfield, playing balls on the deck to Wood and Barnes to expose Dunk and Duffy.

Weststander · Feb 9, 2019

Wellesley said:
We have a squad of decent players, but not enough special ones. These players all put a shift in and we should never get on their backs because it certainly isn't lack of effort that is the problem. I've always admired Stephens, Kayal, Gross, etc so it's hard to admit that we need players of a higher calibre if we are to succeed at this level. Locadia is hit and miss, maybe Jahanbakhsh needs more time but he hasn't shown enough yet. What success is at this level for a club of our stature is another question. If this is as good as it gets, then I am thankful for what we have, but if we want to step up a level then we have tough decisions to make in the summer and need a couple of real quality players rather than quantity. We've waited a long time to face this challenge, let's not forget to enjoy the ride.

Very good post.

Wrong-Direction · Feb 9, 2019

Hornblower said:
Sorry, not having that, Gross, who was superb last season has been very poor this season whereas Propper has looked one of our best creative players in what has become a rather poor side. Stephens has been awful, why Bong is played in preference to Bernardo I will never understand and also what on earth was going on in the first half when Gross was playing behind Montoya?

I love Chris but he’s all at sea right now and we need to move into survival mode if it’s not going to be Brentford and Burton next season.

I agree with your other players too

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BensGrandad · Feb 9, 2019

Weststander said:
Westwood, McNeil and Hendrick ran the midfield, playing balls on the deck to Wood and Barnes to expose Dunk and Duffy.

I thought that most came from Tarkowski and Mee and those 3 just picked up the knock back and loose balls from Barnes and Wood.

doogie004 · Feb 9, 2019

BensGrandad said:
I dont understand why Burnley tried to sign Stephens as they by pass the midfield so he would have been surplus to requirements.

I’d drive him up there tonight for free given the chance

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