Consortium of one

Bruno should be starting against Brentford.  Jonjo could use a rest and I think we'll see that anything Jonjo can do Bruno can do better.

I rooted real hard for Miggy but a few things are obvious, he's too one footed and, at this point, his confidence is shot.  For his own sake I think he should be moved on in the summer.

He's got a lot in his tool bag and I love to watch him play.  He doesn't have to score to impact the game but it's really sweet when he does.

I hope we make an offer to make it permanent.  Really good defensively.  Needs work moving forward but he's still quite young.

really happy with the overall competitiveness of the squad and the result.  Only real complaint is the crossing from the FBs.  Krafth's always seemed to float to high and too far While Targett's were too whippy and short.

15 hours ago, Dr Venkman said:

I think there’s argument to be made for moving Lascelles on because he absolutely can NOT be captain.

Can't disagree.  New CB & Burn starting with Fede and a younger CB to develop.  Trippier is Captain.  Schar walks.  Peddle Lascelles and Clark.

May get 3 games at the end.  Dammit but that really sucks.

I don't see the formation changing.  Slot Krafth in until Manq is healthy.  Next man up and all that.  Sore blow but we have to carry on.

He profiles as exactly the type of player we're going to let go.  Good servant in his day but aging and declining.  His spot should go to a younger player with the potential to develop.

ASM is fine.  I'll take him just the way he is.

Every time they cut to Gerrard he had this look on his face like he knew it just wasn't going to be his day.

was all over the pitch today and always popping up in the right spot.  I think he had gotten to a point where he didn't know what he was supposed to do and it showed in the helter skelter way he was playing.  Now, he seems composed and in rhythm with his team mates.  He's not rushing and making sound decisions on and off the ball.

I've said many times that Shelvey is a useless waste of a spot but fair play to him for the way he has played.  Right now we have 4 midfielders that are worthy of starting and that a good problem to have.  As long as the club afre winning I'm not sure how Eddie drops any of the starting three.

any doubt, sit him out.

both players could make the opponent shit themselves.

Not to get into the argument but ASM is more choppy with his stops and starts.  He's like that ankle breaking PG at the top of the key.  HBA was more elegant almost.  He saw what he could do and one second he was there and the next second he was by his man.  Both are/were incredibly effective but in different ways, IMO

I just think his confidence and belief in himself are shattered.  Even though he helped open things up for Ayoze and Rondon the goals never came.  Then he got shifted to the right for ASM and the goals never came.  Then as Bruce's no tactics approach flourished he was playing deeper and deeper and, of course, the goals never came.  And not just goals, as we know, assists have been hard to come by as well.  I really think the best thing for Miggy and his career is to ship him out in the summer.  He needs a fresh start somewhere else, maybe some place in a second tier expected to push for promotion.  I don't know what he is any more.

I think we'll see 4-3-3 next year.

I think we'll definitely be in for Botman.  I'd love to see Kamara.  I quite like Targett.  He's not flashy but is steady and balances offense/defense well.  We'll need a CF as well.  It also looks like they'll be looking at keepers too.

                                GK

Trippier       Lascelles     Botman  Targett

                           Kamara

              Guimaraes     Willock

Fraser                                       ASM

                           CF

Krafth, Clark, Schar, Dummett, Hayden, Ritchie, Miggy, Darlow, Dubs will all be gone, maybe more.  Can't turn over the whole roster in two windows.

That would leave Woodman, Gillespie, Manquillo, Burn, Lewis, Longstaff, Shelvey, Murphy, Wilson, Wood, another CB, another wide player and some kids.

Just saw on twitter that ASM had more than twice as many successful dribbles than the next highest player.

3 minutes ago, HWTL said:

You can't play Joelinton sitting in front of back 4, definitely isn't that type of player and you still need someone with a decent pass and composure there.

And it's better to have Shelvey there to break up play?  It's asking a lot for Joe to transition from attacker to holding MF  but who would have thought he could have been successful as a box to box guy?  Howe definitely has decisions to make and I'd suspect any decision will be subject to his review.

2 minutes ago, KaKa said:

 

He's a central midfielder that is more of an allrounder, and so he has to be given the freedom to get up and down the pitch. At Lyon he played beside Caqueret who was the holding midfielder that was more defensive minded. Not sure why we'd now want to bring him in to sit in a holding role and neutralise some of his best qualities. 

So if he can make those same types of passes from a more forward role doesn't he still make Shelvey redundant?  If I'm Eddie Howe I'd want to play out the back and get the ball right to Bruno's feet and bypass the DM in most cases.  Unless the plan is to go to a 2 man MF or use Big Joe deeper both of which leave Shelvey out of the squad IMO.  Of course I am admittedly looking at it from the perspective that I want Willock for pace energy and pressing as well as late runs into the box.

2 hours ago, LV said:

Over who though?

 

Cant see Shelvey, Willock or Joelinton being happy about being dropped for him. It’s a consideration that Howe will have in mind. 
 

It’s going to take an injury or a poor game from one of them before Bruno starts I’d say. 

I'm under the impression that while he's extremely active defensively he is also an exquisite passer.  That points right at Shelvey.  I am no fan of Jonjo but I do appreciate that he has been willing to work to improve his game.  However, when a guy like Guimaraes comes in someone knows they are dropping down.  Longstaff has already dropped a peg.  If Bruno can pass, carry the ball and break up play he wins over Shelvey.  Then what does Shelvey give you over Willock and Joe?  He has no pace.  He can't press.  He doesn't break up play unless it's confined to a very small space.  It has to be Shelvey and I wouldn't expect him to be happy.

2 hours ago, Lotus said:

As he had a goal and an assist he clearly had an effect on the game.

However, apart from energy I can’t really see that he’s offering much if I’m judging the season so far rather than just the 1 game.

Seems a great guy but he’s the most droppable player for me atm.

He's a bridge player.  He'll help us this year and next but the squad will out grow him.  

I'm utterly baffled by the fact he cannot adapt to any other position/role.

I'd already like Targett to be a permanent move in the summer.  Ideally Lewis would be his deputy and learn a thing or two along the way.  Then I'd like to see someone brought in to be Trips understudy.  I know it might spell the end of Manq but this should be the way forward: established starter> younger guy that is established with room to grow>youth players.

For next year I'd love to see two viable players for each position so we can fight for a top 7 (maybe? too ambitious?) AND make a couple of cup runs.

I think we need a pacy, mobile striker and still more depth in the midfield and at CB.  Plus the second 11 will have a lot of turnover and those players will need replacement.  It will certainly be interesting to see how Ashworth and Howe start to remake the squad

I'll trust Eddie with Howe he handles this.  Everybody lauded Cabbagehead as a great man manager because he joked and slapped backs and asked how the kids were.  A real man manager reads his room and uses that to help inform his decisions.  However he introduces Bruno into the squad is fine by me.