Lush Vlad Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Would like him to experiment with his different striker combinations, but unfortunately he can't do that properly yet cos one of the dafties has got himself suspended. Rafa has never played two strikers from the start throughout his career, do you think he will be willing to now? Gayle could possibly play wide, similar to Kuyt? I doubt he has the same tenacity and workrate. But I think it's something we will see. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest neesy111 Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 A lot of the time Shelvey tries his Hollywood pass because he's had the ball for a few minutes and there is no fucker moving in front of him, or he's given it to a team mate and they've ran in a circle and passed it straight back to him. We have such a losing mindset at the moment, I've said it so many times but after a couple of wins we'll be bouncing and the players will look entirely different. Some hyperbole that. Had the ball for s few mins, more like a few seconds. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkhead Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Would like him to experiment with his different striker combinations, but unfortunately he can't do that properly yet cos one of the dafties has got himself suspended. Rafa has never played two strikers from the start throughout his career, do you think he will be willing to now? I may be wrong but I think he switched to 4-4-2 / 4-2-4 at Madrid after some similar criticism. I don't think it's a question of formation anyway. The most worrying thing for me is how we crumbled under the pressure of these two games. We're not even at the stage to worry about tactics and player qualities. The whole team is playing paralised by fear, it's pathetic. I've seen enough in only the Fulham game to know that we're in for a very hard season. Winning games will bring confidence but I don't think we have enough character to maintain the confidence. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The College Dropout Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 But TCD, none of that is 'knowing the league', it is about knowing the team you are working with. Rafa doesn't need to 'know the Championship', he just needs to know his best 11 and best tactics for each game. we are getting caught up in semantics. He hasn't got up to speed with the challenge yet. We look setup to counter from what I've seen and the teams in division aren't interested in attacking us like that. We aren't set up to counter at all. That involves letting the opposition have the ball, sitting deep and hitting them in the break. We've had more possession than our opponents but we haven't got a clue what to do with it. Huddersfield played more counter attacking football yesterday. Okay then we are set-up to pass it around with no purpose Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughesy Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Fully prepared to be shot down on this one - but have we just decided to write off a series of players too early? Take Riviere for example - I fully appreciate that the bloke looked massively out of his depth in the Premier League, but in many ways he seems to fit the bill for what we need in a striker (or at least a back up striker). He's quite quick and mobile, he's got decent enough strength and presence and despite being a very different league has scored the odd goal in Ligue 1. I'd say similar for Saivet whilst fully acknowledging the fact that being a defensive midfielder in Ligue 1 is a very different proposition to the Championship, but we didn't even give the bloke a chance. He might, just might, have the mobility to add something to our central midfield. It's not exactly a high hurdle currently. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayson Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Just wanted to say i agree on Tiote btw, understand he's not well looked upon but he was superb in the prem end of last season. The guy still has the ability, makes no sense to not be playing him. Sissoko constantly talks us down, Tiote says nowt and has played well most times recently? Dont fully get why we're intent on moving him on, he must train awfully or be a really bad influence. Why buy players when you have someone who could anchor a midfield in the prem? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lush Vlad Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 I agree on Saviet. I know Rafa sees him in training every day. So has more of a clue than us fans. But when you look at our midfield options, it does make you wonder whether or not he could offer something? To a lesser extent. It's the same with Thauvin. But in fairness, it didn't seem like he wanted to be here from the start. I just look at our wide men and it's Aarons, who has yet to prove he is any good or that he can stay fit, Ritchie, who looks class and that's it! After that, we have Anita playing out of position, Perez who looks massively out of form and then you're down to the likes of Gouffran, or wasting Armstrong out there. Can't say the same for Riviere. I saw enough of him in the Prem for me to think he is just a bit shit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lush Vlad Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Just wanted to say i agree on Tiote btw, understand he's not well looked upon but he was superb in the prem end of last season. The guy still has the ability, makes no sense to not be playing him. Sissoko constantly talks us down, Tiote says nowt and has played well most times recently? Dont fully get why we're intent on moving him on, he must train awfully or be a really bad influence. Why buy players when you have someone who could anchor a midfield in the prem? Could be massively unfit, again? Used to always turn up to pre-season looking a bit fat, if I remember rightly? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chopey Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Can tiote actually talk ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughesy Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Find it really bizarre that we seem to have a massively imbalanced squad that doesn't work on any level currently. Almost impossible to think a midfield set up that is defensively solid and actually offers a genuine attacking threat and our strikers seem completely ill suited to the football we are trying to play. What I find odd about it is that it can't be every other team in the Championship (admittedly we've played two) has an amazing blend of two Rob Lee-esque central midfielders who can scored goals, create and tackle or strikers that are strong, quick, good finishers and can hold the ball up well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xLiaaamx Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 I'd rather have Gouffran right wing than Anita. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
themanupstairs Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Fully prepared to be shot down on this one - but have we just decided to write off a series of players too early? Take Riviere for example - I fully appreciate that the bloke looked massively out of his depth in the Premier League, but in many ways he seems to fit the bill for what we need in a striker (or at least a back up striker). He's quite quick and mobile, he's got decent enough strength and presence and despite being a very different league has scored the odd goal in Ligue 1. I'd say similar for Saivet whilst fully acknowledging the fact that being a defensive midfielder in Ligue 1 is a very different proposition to the Championship, but we didn't even give the bloke a chance. He might, just might, have the mobility to add something to our central midfield. It's not exactly a high hurdle currently. Agree with all this. Unless they are asking for moves away, they should be given chances. It's absolutely insane that we just buy and sell players without ever really giving them a chance. Especially when they can't possibly be doing worse than those who started ahead of them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jayson Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Just wanted to say i agree on Tiote btw, understand he's not well looked upon but he was superb in the prem end of last season. The guy still has the ability, makes no sense to not be playing him. Sissoko constantly talks us down, Tiote says nowt and has played well most times recently? Dont fully get why we're intent on moving him on, he must train awfully or be a really bad influence. Why buy players when you have someone who could anchor a midfield in the prem? Could be massively unfit, again? Used to always turn up to pre-season looking a bit fat, if I remember rightly? Must be. As you said even Saivet has been playing a top level? I dont get this Hayden lad starting, nothing against him. He started about 9 games for Hull last season, hows he walked into our starting line up? He wasnt exactly hugely influential in them making the playoffs as he played less than 10 games worth of minutes. His choice seems bizarre, surely a 21 year old should be getting gradually brought in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattoon Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Tiote played well towards the end of last season, the only explanation I can find for him not playing is he's one of the players Rafa intimated about in the supporters meeting. Saivet is just a mystery, how did he ever end up here? Fwiw I'd still give Sissoko a game while he's here, even a not fully focused Sissoko can't be much worse than we're seeing at the moment. I also agree with the mentality, yes confidence will grow with a win but I think mental fortitude is at such a low ebb right now we'd soon collapse if we went a goal down again, we need a good run and soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lush Vlad Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Tiote played well towards the end of last season, the only explanation I can find for him not playing is he's one of the players Rafa intimated about in the supporters meeting. Saivet is just a mystery, how did he ever end up here? Fwiw I'd still give Sissoko a game while he's here, even a not fully focused Sissoko can't be much worse than we're seeing at the moment. I also agree with the mentality, yes confidence will grow with a win but I think mental fortitude is at such a low ebb right now we'd soon collapse if we went a goal down again, we need a good run and soon. Ask Disco about Mondial Sports! Had so many players that are represented by them. Some good, some utter shite. Obviously Carr's go to contact in France. Hopefully, we'll see no more of that now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughesy Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 What's weird about Saivet is that he was relatively highly rated by people who know what they are talking about in France. And yet we've decided he isn't good enough to get a game against the likes of Ryan Tunnicliffe and Joe Lolley? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figures 1-0 Football Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 I can only assume that those players not featuring are not performing well in training or have poor attitudes/some sort of problem. When Rafa came in, all players were effectively given a clean slate. He's obviously made a judgement on them after seeing them every day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lush Vlad Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Saivet wasn't getting a chance under McClaren, either. The transfer looks a bit dodgy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Crooks Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Keyser Saivet Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkhead Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 My guess is that Rafa doesn't like the general attitude and application of the 'french clique'. Judging only on nufcTV's pathetic content - it felt like Cisse, Saivet, Mbemba, Thauvin were only communicating between themselves in preseason (in French). It seems that Rafa is open to offers for all our French speakers - starting with Sissoko and Tiote, obviously. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Well Cisse and Thauvin were always going to leave, and Mbemba is one of our key players. As for Saivet I haven't a clue what's going on with him given how poor our CM options have been. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Would like him to experiment with his different striker combinations, but unfortunately he can't do that properly yet cos one of the dafties has got himself suspended. Rafa has never played two strikers from the start throughout his career, do you think he will be willing to now? I may be wrong but I think he switched to 4-4-2 / 4-2-4 at Madrid after some similar criticism. I don't think it's a question of formation anyway. The most worrying thing for me is how we crumbled under the pressure of these two games. We're not even at the stage to worry about tactics and player qualities. The whole team is playing paralised by fear, it's pathetic. I've seen enough in only the Fulham game to know that we're in for a very hard season. Winning games will bring confidence but I don't think we have enough character to maintain the confidence. Well this lacking confidence issue is something I can't really get my head around. Why should the opposition feel any more confident than a team which has been playing at a higher level? I think there's more to it than that when you scratch below the surface. A lot of our players aren't really proven premier performers either. As someone mentioned in another thread, is a left side combo of Dummett and Aarons really that much better than most championship teams? Anita, Colback and Perez are getting outmuscled by bigger, faster players, and our captain could barely make the Forest first team a year ago and that was in the championship. There's a lot of players who have 'potential', but that's the case with most championship sides. We'll get better, but there are some glaring weaknesses down the left, and maybe up front as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
olliemort Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 I really do think when mitro is back we will be a totally different team. At the moment all the ball has to go to feet...it's really easy for the opposing defence to judge what we are going to do. I reckon with Galloway in to replace dummett, one more winger and another striker in the mitrovic role we will be sorted Sent from my HTC One M8s using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgie Smuggler Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Going purely from the only time I've seen him play this season, Saivet was head and shoulders above the man he replaced at Doncaster (Colback). On that performance alone, he's definitely good enough for the bench. He complimented Shelvey really well in that 2nd half. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minhosa Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 I really do think when mitro is back we will be a totally different team. At the moment all the ball has to go to feet...it's really easy for the opposing defence to judge what we are going to do. I reckon with Galloway in to replace dummett, one more winger and another striker in the mitrovic role we will be sorted Sent from my HTC One M8s using Tapatalk Agree with this. I think he'll bring back some belief as well with us having a proper focal point to the top third. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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