Lotus

Think Garner looks a very decent player.

Can’t agree. He’s very competitive, great engine, tactical awareness and an incredible range of passing. Him instead of Longstaff would be like having 12 players on the pitch.

Bruno Fernandes is an excellent player. Would walk into our team.

As an alternative I’m pretty sure some years go Simeone had AM playing in such a way that the 2 forwards did very little defensive work. They saved their legs and all their explosiveness for opportune moments with the ball. The other 8 really had to put a shift in. It’s a system that’s probably very dependent on the players you have available.

I understand the point that if our main striker is not available for 75% of our games, given the fee and the likely wages it isn't an investment that's adequately paying off. However, I think Isak is such a rare breed of player that it's worth persevering with him and/or changing his role so he doesn't knacker himself chasing the ball as it's played between the opposite back 5. From an attacking perspective I think the idea of Gordon and a quality RWF popping up in No. 10 or CF positions and allowing Isak to drift around a little bit would bring out the best in him.

Think that's unfair. He's shown he can play in this league. He has some limitations but his engine is excellent when he's fit and that is worth something. Is certainly is in EH's system anyway.

Thought he showed a good engine in extra time. Looks like he’s getting his fitness back. His ability to run and run is his only advantage over any other journeyman so I’m hoping he gets his distance legs back. He’ll be playing for the remainder of the season so I hope he runs enough to make a difference.

I know I was guilty earlier on in the thread but we have so little information that all speculation has proved pointless. I don’t even acknowledge his existence anymore, tbh. He’s a non factor that as of yet, hasn’t cost anything as far as I know. I’ve no idea what circumstances could change that and I’m bored of guessing.

Defensively decent but offered very little going forward, unfortunately.

Not unusual for players who’ve been out for a long while to have a storming game back and then a few sub par performances. Adrenaline gets them through the 1st one. After that the lack of match sharpness takes a while. He’ll look better in 2-3 weeks. Same with Willock.

Thought he looked very good. However, Blackburn were exhausted and afforded him that extra bit of time and wouldn’t get against Prem opposition. Still, he very much exploited the situation presented to him and made a very real difference.

I actually thought Tino looked great driving forward but was a little lapse in his defensive responsibilities at times. Thought Trippier showed better positional discipline. Tino may have been sent out with a remit of ‘bomb forward’ though….

I haven’t a clue how to fix this but an obvious thing for me is the midfield rarely creates for the striker or even support the striker and neither is the midfield sufficiently covering the defence. So, probably the most important 3rd of the modern game, the middle 3rd is not functioning properly in either direction. Obviously if you have lots of injuries and absentees from the midfield this will undoubtedly explain a lot. But, the nagging issue for me for some time now is: is our only means of midfield advantage that we outrun other teams?

Tbf, I’d need to see Tino get a run of games with what are most likely the best 11 to judge. It could be that it happens and we see what it is that EH is concerned about.

Who was it said Tino wasn’t fast at all? One of the regulars anyway. Very odd thing to say. Being kind it may that his running style doesn’t look like he’s on the point of breaking a lá Gordon or Miggy so maybe they just felt he wasn’t travelling very quick. Anyway, I’d be astonished if Tino hasn’t the tactical nous to hold position to allow Trips to venture forward. Also, it’s not as if Burn never gets forward because he does. And when he does it is impossible for him to quickly or even moderately recover position. Anyway. It’s an odd season and it’s raised as many questions as it’s answered. Hopefully we’ll be able to look back in a years time and understand what was going on.

I’m guessing people would say try a reserve team player to save a 1st team players legs but we don’t have any reserve team players. Especially in that position. It’s more 1st and then kids these days (for all clubs it seems).

I do worry that Isak’s body is not suited to our the high press intensity. I have nothing else to go on with this concern other than his repeated soft tissue injuries. I saw him at Dortmund and RS. He was always a player who played in fits and bursts. Never one to be involved the whole game but would choose good moments to get involved. Either from deep or from the shoulder. Always felt he was more the sniper type rather than the ‘over the top and at ‘em’ that seems to be our prevailing game mindset (which has worked pretty well).

Odd that Nickson wasn’t mentioned either wrt to Howe’s ‘inner circle’. Or was he and I missed it?

I do hope this isn’t indicative of some further issues with the running of the football side of the club. If it is I hope it’s quickly identified and resolved. Does seem odd of him to want to go. Surely we could match the salary offered by Manchester.

Personally I think it was a pace issue. I thought Burn was worried if he tried to close him he'd just knock it past him. Given Burn's lack of pace I think he took the best position he could. Obviously if Tino had been in that position that particular shot probably wouldn't have ended up the same way. Other problems may have come up but I doubt that one. Would really need to see Tino start a few games in succession before making a judgement call. Fwiw, last season I wanted Targett to come on for Burn and couldn't understand why he wasn't playing. When he finally got on it was obvious why Targett had been on the bench... Can't tell with Tino until he gets a run in the team.

Replacing any player will create new problems. You just hope it solves more than it opens so there is a net positive. If we get a new RW who's extremely cunning on the ball and has got 2 feet and can really pick a pass but doesn't run 14km a game at near constant sprints, it will create new problems. It will certainly solve a few but having a gifted player at RW will inevitably mean losing Miggy's energy. A player as good as say, Foden (proven, not just potential) with the ball but relentlessly chases lost causes and is rarely injured will have an extremely long queue of clubs trying to sign him Dan Burn will be 32 in a few months. He won't be speeding up. There's lots I think he's good at. He's got a couple of problem areas that the team covered for last season. This season he hasn't had the help and he's had to defend more 1 vs 1 situations. He's struggled some. Defenders at a Euro level of ambition club should be able to cope with 1 vs 1s more times than not. Sometimes they'll get done, sure. Not every game though. Maybe EH just thinks the team won't cope well with changing shape atm. Maybe he thinks it's better to draw or lose playing the shape he wants now and just wait it out until players return. The growing issue is that the momentum has shifted and that's hard to turn around. Also, reputations are a long time coming but are often quick to lose. I'm worried about PIF.

Tbf to Burn, given how slow he is I thought he positioned himself the best he could under the circumstances. Just that a player with more pace will get a little tighter and give the forward less of the goal to aim at.

Good point, ban multi club ownership along with it. I think it’s imperative for the game to be more competitive that the talent is better spread out. I also believe players give more and play better when they’re actually playing for the club that owns their registration rather than one they’re loaned to. Not in every instance but most.

A limit on how many players a club can have registered and a limit on how many players a club can send out on loan. To stop the horrific practice of rich clubs buying up all the young talent and then pimping them out.

Never thought Glasner looked like a man who could grow a proper beard. I like Palace but having him there would tip it for me. Hope they storm to the bottom.