Jump to content

Recommended Posts

He's found a winning formula and he's just going to stick with it.  Totally ignoring players on the subs bench that are clearly superior or more suited, than those in the starting XI.

 

I don't think this is fair at all. He started the season without Perez, then he brought him in, then dropped him again. De Jong never played, now he's had a (very short) run of games. Mitrovic was starting and then he dropped out.

 

Whether you agree or disagree with the current lineup is one thing, but I don't think it's fair to say that McClaren never changes things. He just doesn't change things every game.

 

Keeping the same team and tactics, against Villa.  Was always going to be a mistake IMO.  I know it is easy to say that in hindsight, but I think plenty of others on here, were suggesting we should be changing it up and probably starting Perez and Mitrovic. 

 

He's changed things before due to desperation.  In case you didn't notice, we were getting battered most weeks...  Not sure where we found the 'winning formula' beforehand?  Didn't we settle on the Gini and Sissoko wide, Perez behind Mitro, for quite a few games.  Due to a couple of half decent performances and also getting a win (s*** game against Bournemouth).  Mitrovic and Perez were dropped off the back of poor performances/defeats, after that. 

 

He even said pre-match that he was tempted to change it, but kept the winning team from the previous two weeks.  Cisse being injured and de Jong missing that sitter and generally doing f*** all the last two games, might be a blessing in disguise. 

 

That said, the tactics used against Liverpool and Spurs.  Might be more suited against Everton.  I still don't think I'd start Cisse, mind.

 

Maybe I'm being premature.  I just feel like if everyone is fit.  So long as we get a result.  We'll just persevere with the same team week in, week out.  Regardless of opposition or who is in form and showing up well off the bench.  Then we'll wait until a defeat or two.  To suddenly realise we've been figured out and not every team we play is the same.  It reminds me of Pardew so much.

 

I said this a couple of days ago, he's better than Pardew in that at least he'll change a losing team rather than persevere to our detriment. However he got a winning formula against Liverpool then Tottenham and persevered with that, like he's unable to view the Villa game as a different game all together. Sticking with the same lineup and approach against a side with a flimsy defence, rock bottom of the league and rock bottom on confidence was a mistake and showed them too much respect.

 

Villa were there for the taking, yes we didn't want to get too complacent and believe we should just turn up to win but on the flip-side of that we should have gone into that game with the belief we would win and with more attacking intent. That is where he is similar to Pardew in that he approaches every game the same.

 

I think he may change it up against Everton because there were some bad performances at home to Villa. Could go either way against Everton, feels like one of those ganes where a middling team put us to the sword but equally one we could win as their style of play fits our counter attack.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I think the difference will be Lukaku.  The last two teams haven't had a beast like that.  I thought Benteke would give us problems, but Liverpool were unbelievably bad against us and he has been pretty poor for them TBF.

 

The form Lukaku is in, he'll eat Colo alive.  Oh and Mbemba, too.  I better put this in to stop the Contrarian quoting me again.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Play good owld fashioned 442. 2 strikers up top,2 wingers,2 midfielders(1 defensive). Sick of managers jumping on the 4231 bandwagon playing 2 defensive midfielders,load of s****. Have some bottle and play your own formation you farmer faced t***.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Looking forward to Deulofeu against Dummett again.

 

Let's hope it's like the time Jordan Ibe destroyed him...

 

Was thinking more like the time they beat us 0-3 and he got absolutely roasted along with the rest of them.

Link to post
Share on other sites

IMO the midfield is the best we can put out. No qualms about that.

 

 

 

What's this shit? We could easily drop Colback and move one of the "wide" men in to the middle, opening up room for Thauvin out wide.

 

I'd rather see Thauvin - Anita - Wijnaldum - Sissoko, than see Colback anywhere near a football pitch.

Link to post
Share on other sites

IMO the midfield is the best we can put out. No qualms about that.

 

 

 

What's this s***? We could easily drop Colback and move one of the "wide" men in to the middle, opening up room for Thauvin out wide.

 

I'd rather see Thauvin - Anita - Wijnaldum - Sissoko, than see Colback anywhere near a football pitch.

 

I don't think either are CM's. Wijnaldum wants to play as a 10/forward. He wants to ghost into the box. He barely protects Dummett as it is, he won't protect the CB's. He's all about getting into great forward positions at CM in a 2 he has too much defensive responsibility. Doesn't seem like he wants to dictate the game with the ball either. So far, I haven't seen anything from him that suggests he's going to be a good CM for us. He esentially has a free role in the team and that allows him to do when he does best - get in the box to score or assist.

Link to post
Share on other sites

IMO the midfield is the best we can put out. No qualms about that.

 

 

 

What's this s***? We could easily drop Colback and move one of the "wide" men in to the middle, opening up room for Thauvin out wide.

 

I'd rather see Thauvin - Anita - Wijnaldum - Sissoko, than see Colback anywhere near a football pitch.

 

I don't think either are CM's. Wijnaldum wants to play as a 10/forward. He wants to ghost into the box. He barely protects Dummett as it is, he won't protect the CB's. He's all about getting into great forward positions at CM in a 2 he has too much defensive responsibility. Doesn't seem like he wants to dictate the game with the ball either. So far, I haven't seen anything from him that suggests he's going to be a good CM for us. He esentially has a free role in the team and that allows him to do when he does best - get in the box to score or assist.

 

we could always, you know, tell them to do things other than that they just want to do because they like it :lol:

 

i'm of the opinion it needs trying, ASAP, and if we can't/won't sign a proper CM in the window then it's an absolute fucking necessity

Link to post
Share on other sites

This laughable idea of a 'winning team' is hilarious. Both times we scored only when the hapless De Jong was taken off. I guess McClaren is taking this whole winning formula thing very literally after consulting with Tiote's witch doctor, that we must start with Cisse and De Jong who've combined together for a total of zero goals, to bring on the two guys who've actually scored and assisted for us this season.

 

The strikers were never a problem for us, yet it's the only position he keeps fucking around with while leaving the midfield the same dogshit same, game after game. Unimaginative, cowardly and backward.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I know it's a bit of a cliché - maybe even an undeserved excuse - but I don't think you can make judgements on McClaren's tactical/line-up choices until he's got a squad he can call his own.

 

Granted, he may never do so. And like the man before him, he'll be denied any sympathy if he allows 'the system' to dictate the quality of the squad. Nevertheless, at this point I'm hesitant to say he's this or that - be it reactionary, conservative, counter-attacking, 'cowardly' - whilst he's shackled by having to play two of our three centre-midfielders; none of whom were chosen by him and none of whom are remotely talented.

 

The entire shape and style of the team is shackled by the shit we have in that position. Whoever is playing, there's no attacking awareness, no eye for goal, no structured defensive play (aside from Anita who will hassle the man in possession), no physicality, no vision and nothing to lead by example. We've had worse players technically at CM in my time supporting the club, but as a double act, these lads offer as little as I've ever seen. I'm quite sure the only thing keeping Colback in the side is his vague ability to whip a dead ball in.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I know it's a bit of a cliché - maybe even an undeserved excuse - but I don't think you can make judgements on McClaren's tactical/line-up choices until he's got a squad he can call his own.

 

Granted, he may never do so. And like the man before him, he'll be denied any sympathy if he allows 'the system' to dictate the quality of the squad. Nevertheless, at this point I'm hesitant to say he's this or that - be it reactionary, conservative, counter-attacking, 'cowardly' - whilst he's shackled by having to play two of our three centre-midfielders; none of whom were chosen by him and none of whom are remotely talented.

 

The entire shape and style of the team is shackled by the shit we have in that position. Whoever is playing, there's no attacking awareness, no eye for goal, no structured defensive play (aside from Anita who will hassle the man in possession), no physicality, no vision and nothing to lead by example. We've had worse players technically at CM in my time supporting the club, but as a double act, these lads offer as little as I've ever seen. I'm quite sure the only thing keeping Colback in the side is his vague ability to whip a dead ball in.

 

Fair post.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Everton will smash us

 

So would Liverpool and Spurs. This team is pretty unpredictable at the minute.

 

Of course aye but taking this game on its own merit I think they will.  Looking at their right hand side, centre mid and of course the in form striker in the league. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...