Team to face Burnley (A)

[Wimb]

Well that was an enjoyable week....

For me.....

Feds

Armstrong Kizi Mills Griff

Kebe Jem Tabb/Howard Antonio

Hunt Long

Subs: McCarthy, Ingi, Howard/Tabb, Cummings, HRK, McAnuff, Church


It seems a lot of what was said about McAnuff pre-signing is being proved true, about the dramatic loss of form and the seeming disinterested. I'd argue that he's been going downhill since the day Rodgers left and the embrace between the two at full time Saturday showed the positive relationship they had. That being said he's still shown in patches what a talent he is so long term it's vital we get him back to form. Meantime just give Antonio a chance, let him run at Burnley and he also gives us a weapon from throw ins, can't do any harm with the scarcity of chances we're creating at the moment.

Tuesday also showed the horrific lack of pace in the back four and on that basis I'd at least put a more mobile Stretch in at left back over Harte, though I've still got more faith in Griff then Cummings.

With that move I put Tabb or Howard back into the middle, both are arguably better midfielders then Stretch and should improve the side, but other then that Brian is stuck hoping we come into form.

[26-10-06]

Well that was an enjoyable week....

For me.....

Feds

Armstrong Kizi Mills Griff

Kebe Jem Tabb/Howard Antonio

Hunt Long

Subs: McCarthy, Ingi, Howard/Tabb, Cummings, HRK, McAnuff, Church


It seems a lot of what was said about McAnuff pre-signing is being proved true, about the dramatic loss of form and the seeming disinterested. I'd argue that he's been going downhill since the day Rodgers left and the embrace between the two at full time Saturday showed the positive relationship they had. That being said he's still shown in patches what a talent he is so long term it's vital we get him back to form. Meantime just give Antonio a chance, let him run at Burnley and he also gives us a weapon from throw ins, can't do any harm with the scarcity of chances we're creating at the moment.

Tuesday also showed the horrific lack of pace in the back four and on that basis I'd at least put a more mobile Stretch in at left back over Harte, though I've still got more faith in Griff then Cummings.

With that move I put Tabb or Howard back into the middle, both are arguably better midfielders then Stretch and should improve the side, but other then that Brian is stuck hoping we come into form.

I presume you didn't mean to put Griff left back and Armstrong right back? but yeah defiantly agree with this team.

[silas]

Federici

Cummings Zurab Mills Armstrong

Kebe Karacan (Tabb if fit but I think not) Howard McAnuff

Hunt Antonio

[loyalroyal4life]

Fed
Griffin Kish Mills Armstrong
Karacan (Tabb if fit)
Kebe Howard Antonio
Hunt Long

[andrew1957]

I think our best hope is to do a Scotland and play 6-4-0 - and go for a 0-0 draw -

Fed
Griffin
Ingi
Khiz
Pearce
Mills
Armstrong
Kebe
Howard
Karacan
McAnuff

[Victor Meldrew]

Glad to see that everbody so far thinks that Armstrong should be in at left-back.
I don't agree about McAnuff.
He has been asked to play in a position where he has never played in his career for the sake of the team,as he did when playing at right-back for part of our game at Pompey.
He may not have sparkled in every game and nor has Kebe but I don't think that we are that blessed with players that we can afford to go without either of them.

[A1ndy]

Federici

Cummings
Mills
Ingimarsson ( If not fully fit, Pearce)
Armstrong

Kebe
Karacan
Howard
Mcanuff

Hunt
Church

Griffin was shocking on tuesday night, and I can't for the life of me work out why Cummings has been dropped after looking the most improved player this season. Howard should start as we looked a little more creative when he came on tuesday, and Long was ineffective all night and Churchy should be given a go upfront.

Mcanuff needs to improve quickly otherwise I'd give Robson Kanu a rare start, might make Mcanuff think a little, and Zurabs positioning on tuesday at times was questionable!

[Schards#2]

Federici

Cummings
Mills
Ingimarsson ( If not fully fit, Pearce)
Armstrong

Kebe
Karacan
Howard
Mcanuff

Hunt
Church

Griffin was shocking on tuesday night, and I can't for the life of me work out why Cummings has been dropped after looking the most improved player this season. Howard should start as we looked a little more creative when he came on tuesday, and Long was ineffective all night and Churchy should be given a go upfront.

Mcanuff needs to improve quickly otherwise I'd give Robson Kanu a rare start, might make Mcanuff think a little, and Zurabs positioning on tuesday at times was questionable!

Because he's improved from being 10% as good as Griffin to about 25%.

Fed

Griffen
Mills
Kish
Armstrong

Kebe
Karacan
Howard
Macanuff

Who cares who plays up front, there are all the same sort of player, will run about a lot and won't score

[A1ndy]

Cummings form has been better than what Griffin has shown over the last two games, and ironically we have lost both games and the goal on tuesday night was due to Griffin not closing down the initial cross which led to Bristol's goal.

I can't understand why you would make changes to a side that were unbeaten in four or five games, baffles me that does!

[Victor Meldrew]

[quote="A1ndy"]Cummings form has been better than what Griffin has shown over the last two games, and ironically we have lost both games and the goal on tuesday night was due to Griffin not closing down the initial cross which led to Bristol's goal.

I can't understand why you would make changes to a side that were unbeaten in four or five games, baffles me that does![/quote

It might baffle you but that is what management is about.
Just because somebody has played a bit better than expected(Cummings and Pearce) doesn't mean that they keep their place when the better player is fit.

[Hoop Blah]

Griffin to blame for the goal?

What about Harte who got beaten far too easily for the ball to be headed back across goal?

What about Karacan who was ball watching and after following the goalscorer into the box got drawn to the ball like a U12s schoolboy leaving his man in acres of space behind him?

Do they both get off scott free?

If they're anywhere near fit I'd return one of Tabb and Howard to the midfield in place of Armstrong. It's a bit of a toss up to pick the left back, but I think Armstrong is the better defender.

[surrounded by saints]

i,d like to see antonio on from the start,as a striker.otherwise,if were not going to give him a chance, offer him to the saints as a swap/px for lee barnard,who looked a decent striker when we played them pre-season. living in southampton,and knowing a few saints fans,i know they all rated antonio. come on brian,at least give the guy a chance.

[Snowball]

Cummings form has been better than what Griffin has shown over the last two games, and ironically we have lost both games and the goal on tuesday night was due to Griffin not closing down the initial cross which led to Bristol's goal.

I can't understand why you would make changes to a side that were unbeaten in four or five games, baffles me that does!

Cummings' single worst trait is his inability to stop wingers getting their crosses in!!

He has promise, on his attacking side, but is not a great defender, tho' hopefully that will come in time.



As for Griffin, here's a tip. WINGERS beat FULLBACKS. It's their job! How many times has Kebe ripped full-backs to pieces? Ditto HRK or McAnuff.

Wingers will usually beat full-backs a number of times per game. The trick might ideally be to never get beaten but that is rare.
Instead the full-back tries to stop the cross being "perfect"


But all this wailing and gnashing of teeth about the defence is quite silly.
We are joint-second best on goals conceded this season, equal with Cardiff (2nd) and Burnley (4th)!!

Three players (plus the midfield) were at fault for the goal at Bristol, Griffin (partly) Harte (partly) and Mills who may have been pulled to the floor, ie fouled.

4 clean sheets 6 x a single goal conceded, once we let in 2 (first game of the season) and once we let in 3 (goal in the first half-minute) at Boro

That's 12 games, and a pattern emerging. Overall the defence doesn't leak goals, but the midfield and attack is failing to score enough.

[Hoop Blah]

Great, now snowballs moved onto saying how good our defence is and how it's the bedrock of our 'success'.

I'm sure a few weeks back it was how we were right up there with the best in terms of scoring goals...look where that got us!

[loyalroyal4life]

I actually think Kish could do a decent job as holding midfielder allowing pearce to step in at cb

[Kitson12]

Griffin to blame for the goal?

What about Harte who got beaten far too easily for the ball to be headed back across goal?

What about Karacan who was ball watching and after following the goalscorer into the box got drawn to the ball like a U12s schoolboy leaving his man in acres of space behind him?

Do they both get off scott free?

If they're anywhere near fit I'd return one of Tabb and Howard to the midfield in place of Armstrong. It's a bit of a toss up to pick the left back, but I think Armstrong is the better defender.

What about Matt "windmill" Mills? Who was beaten to the header by John Stead. He's not a captain, I didn't see him marshalling his defence once, bring back in the form player, Pearce, abd give the armband to Khizanishvili. Also, drop Griffin, two games where he's showed his age. Oh and the sooner Tabb is fit the better so Stretch can go back to his natural LB role.

[Alan Partridge]

Had McDermott kept Cummings and Pearce in the team with Mills and Grifin back available and the results been the same there wold be outrage at not playing 'your best team'
It's a tough one.
I have always agreed with the way Coppell went about it, if you are in posession of the shirt and the team is winning you don't change it. Then again he'd rarely change it if they were losing sometimes!!

[Kitson12]

Had McDermott kept Cummings and Pearce in the team with Mills and Grifin back available and the results been the same there wold be outrage at not playing 'your best team'
It's a tough one.
I have always agreed with the way Coppell went about it, if you are in posession of the shirt and the team is winning you don't change it. Then again he'd rarely change it if they were losing sometimes!!

+1

[Hoop Blah]

Coppell also changed winning teams as well though, only very slightly and when it was needed.

Griffin is still better than Cummings and I have no qualms about that switch. Mills for Pearce was maybe less justifiable, but I don't think Mills was as culpable as the others for the City goal, although could've done better. I was highlighting the fact that it wasn't Griffin's fault we conceded, although like all the others he could've cut it out.

[Snowball]

Great, now snowballs moved onto saying how good our defence is and how it's the bedrock of our 'success'.

I'm sure a few weeks back it was how we were right up there with the best in terms of scoring goals...look where that got us!

RUBBISH. I've never said we are high on scoring goals.

I said we were doing OK on GD BECAUSE WE HAD A TIGHT DEFENCE.


and right now we have the sixth best goal-superiority in the league

1 12 +21 +1.75 Queens Park Rangers
2 12 +10 +0.83 Burnley
2 12 +10 +0.83 Cardiff City
4 12 +9 +0.75 Watford
5 12 +7 +0.58 Derby County
6 12 +3 +0.25 Norwich City
6 12 +3 +0.25 Reading

Now, how come, after 3 games where we have scored just 1 goal, 4 games where we scored just 2 goals
we are nevertheless still joint sixth on goal superiority?

We are now EIGHTEENTH in terms of goal-scoring, but 6th in terms of GD.


And the morons moan about the bad defence!