by Millsy »
01 Oct 2019 18:18
NewCorkSeth Snowflake Royal NewCorkSeth I'm obviously more of a panicker than you. In my head I know it makes sense to stick with the formation, give it time to gel. But our link up play and finishing worries me. And our defending is atrocious.
My problem with sticking with that side is that:
A) Moore's been awful at RCB
B) Joao's attitude and work rate stinks.
Both have deserved dropping. Injuries and the captaincy has saved Moore. Gomes' inability to give any of his 'back up' players an extended chance has saved Joao even though he's been dropped a time or two.
I may be completely wrong on Joao but I dont think his performances (often poor) have been entirely his fault. I think hes not being used correctly. One of his most impressive attributes is his hold up play but he is being asked to do too much to thrive at that.
I'm delighted we finally have someone who can play with his back to goal. Its essential in bring the best out of Swift and Ejaria, however he cannot do that if he is also being asked to track back into the space between the oppositions midfield and defence. He needs to play higher up.
I agree he can be used better.
Also agree with your later post Ian about him just sulking and throwing his arms about when things don't work and possibly not being a full-on hold up player, but certainly he has the ability to turn and and run at goal, out of nothing.
The goal against Swansea for example was Joao basically running in with some great 1-2s into the box laying it beautifully for Yiadom.
Players like that (who just try crazy shit that sometimes come off) will almost certainly get some moments where things don't work out but I'd honestly be shitting myself playing against the likes of Ejaria and Joao who can just turn and run at you. Big tall lanky f**kers running at you is not something you want as a defender.
One thing that is guaranteed NOT to work is constantly chopping and changing. I think at some point Jose has to just take a punt. I for one have seen enough to say Joao and Puscas should be developed into a partnership.
Joao isn't *just* a hold up player. He can also as above turn and run at you and is a big unwieldy threat up front and we know he has a cracking finish. And Puscas is just a goal-hungry Forster-esque little terror who gets into the right positions 9.5 times out of 10 and miss some 'sitters' but he'll also definitely put loads away. Get them playing well together and they will terrorise defences. Or at the very least they'll allow the likes of Swift and Ejaria and Yiadom to bang goals in as the defence is caught up trying to silence them instead, which is exactly what has been happening. It was no fluke that the top of the league team AT HOME with only one job - to keep hold of a 1-0 lead - were totally unable to do so with Joao running at them.
Dick around with different combinations including Meite, Loader, Boye and we'll be having the same debate come January.
Boye - don't know his role btu probably will do well as a utilty winger type player if we need to change shape. Meite - a great squad player to have who were it not for P&J would be first on my team sheet. For now, supersub. Loader - squad player who hopefully will ease into greatness with time.
Jose just needs to make a decision and stick with it. I'd love him to say "guys - you are my strikers for the next 5 games no matter what happens. Form a partnership and prove me right or I will have a rethink."
