Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊
[Albion] Bissouma HAS to start on Saturday surely?
- Thread starter Bring back Bryan wade!!
- Start date
Gritt23
New member
No argument really, it is simply NOT unless you have scrubbed the Archer days out of existence, all the way up to getting planning permission for the stadium, and Bloom putting his hand up to pay for it.
maltaseagull
Well-known member
Edited for you (Duffy had a much better game than Dunk IMHO)
Justice
Dangerous Idiot
No we need to keep possession
Richy_Seagull
Well-known member
Hamstring injury you would think that’s 4 weeks out absolute minimum for Gross. Time for Biss to step up.
E
Eric Youngs Contact Lense
Guest
PG was our most creative last night.. 2 gilt-edged chances for Murray, plus the deflected shot that Schmeical tipped over the bar.. Bissouma catches the eye with incredible, skillful moments and good runs, and is getting better and better. He will start Saturday, and he can try and nail the place down as his to lose, but it will need consistent, mature performances to do it. Kayal will be kept for the Cup game with Gross out (likely) . An injury to either Propper or Stephens on Saturday would be a nightmare..
Gross almost scored and superbly set up what should have been a goal. It's a shame he chugs around like a milk float but 2 or 3 times a match, he delivers potential game-changing opportunities. Exciting as he is and brilliant as he will be, Bissouma hasn't done that consistently yet against Premier League teams.
Miserable Les
New member
- Jan 17, 2019
- 99
Agree with the main issue being the lack of pace when we start Stephens, Gross and Murray, we look so pedestrian at this level the opposition just run rings round us through the middle like Leicester did for the first 10 minutes last night. The fact that we had to revert to a more defensive formation to try and shut the door so early in a game is testament to that. From that point on winning the game was very unlikely.
Bissouma shows far more attacking intent and tenacity in the middle than Stephens, so play him behind Propper if Gross is injured with Kayal doing the more defensive duties. He is still raw and has the same tendency as Izzy to get into great positions and then go for the spectacular rather than play in someone in a better attacking position at times, but I'm sure he'll get past that with more experience. He does also fade a bit as the games go on where he's started. I'm not anti-Stephens per se, but I do think the idea that he is the best protector of our back four is overstated. Several times in the last two seasons in key moments he's been found wanting in that regard, being skinned or putting in powder puff tackles. We just look too easy to play against and not threatening enough going forward with that starting line up at this level, and that's my biggest bugbear with Hughton in that he keeps reverting to it.
Bissouma shows far more attacking intent and tenacity in the middle than Stephens, so play him behind Propper if Gross is injured with Kayal doing the more defensive duties. He is still raw and has the same tendency as Izzy to get into great positions and then go for the spectacular rather than play in someone in a better attacking position at times, but I'm sure he'll get past that with more experience. He does also fade a bit as the games go on where he's started. I'm not anti-Stephens per se, but I do think the idea that he is the best protector of our back four is overstated. Several times in the last two seasons in key moments he's been found wanting in that regard, being skinned or putting in powder puff tackles. We just look too easy to play against and not threatening enough going forward with that starting line up at this level, and that's my biggest bugbear with Hughton in that he keeps reverting to it.
Last edited:
Baldseagull
Well-known member
So maybe we should drop Stephens for Bissouma?
Richy_Seagull
Well-known member
It’s just not that simple though. They play completely different roles. Bissouma doesn’t have the defensive awareness or discipline to play as an out and out holding DM.
The milk float reference made me chuckle.
Perhaps we need, 'Ernie, The fastest milkman in the west'!
He'd add a bit of pace!
But Stephens is in such good form?
Wait, hang on, that's not right, is it...
Wait, hang on, that's not right, is it...
Rodney Thomas
Well-known member
I strongly disagree with this.
sussex_guy2k2
Well-known member
- Jun 6, 2014
- 3,752
Personally I'd be starting him, Propper and Gross. But it's all a game of opinions. We need that verticality and ability to transition for me. And that midfield looked very good against Watford. But Stephens, Gross and Propper is all too pedestrian and makes us easy to overrun in a majority of games. CH loves that combo though so what will be will be.
Stephens looked awful last night.
LamieRobertson
Not awoke
I’n Going to swim against the tide a tad and half agree with you ...reading/listening to reports about last night ..it seemed the end product and conceding was the problem not creativity....he’s got a lot of potential and surely will play a part in the matches to come but I think it’s wrong to suggest that suddenly this one player will change things around
And that wasn't a one off either...
blue-shifted
Banned
It's a pointless debate. As someone correctly pointed out, Gross won't be back for Saturday meaning there's no point debating Bissouma / Stephens, or for that matter any other midfielder.
The midfield now picks itself. There is no chance of 4-4-1-1 now Gross has gone, so it's going to be 4-3-3. So the midfield 3 will be, Stephens (defensive mid), Propper and Bissouma. Kayal will be on the bench.
The only conceivable way Bissouma doesn't start is if we play Andone and Murray up front in a 4-4-2. The thinking being "It's time to go for it". "It's only Huddersfield". Is that the way Chris thinks? Nahhh
The midfield now picks itself. There is no chance of 4-4-1-1 now Gross has gone, so it's going to be 4-3-3. So the midfield 3 will be, Stephens (defensive mid), Propper and Bissouma. Kayal will be on the bench.
The only conceivable way Bissouma doesn't start is if we play Andone and Murray up front in a 4-4-2. The thinking being "It's time to go for it". "It's only Huddersfield". Is that the way Chris thinks? Nahhh