FriendlySaint

Thought he played well. I thought all of our players played well, hence we were dominant for the whole 90. Just a shame Redmond can't shoot, because everything else he did was good.

Like your comment then. You haven't argued with any of my points. If you don't agree with what I say that's fine, football is a game of opinions.. but Imagine a political debate where the opponent simply said "what you are saying had no substance", you have to explain why ...

He had to track to right back defensively and wasn't far from hugging the left touchline at times. That's left wing for me. Occasionally switching with Redmond. Sounds like you don't think Long was left wing either, he was the majority of the time he was on (reflected strongly by the player position map for the game). Left channel certainly isn't a position, god knows what you're officially calling where Long and Austin played.

Your opinion. Played very well against Prague. We don't have a set piece taker (not what I consider a proper one, just half decent ones) when he doesn't play either, which is why I like him in the side.

What a joke of a reply. I've misunderstood nothing. Austin played mostly on the left wing. You have no substance at all to counteract my reply with.

It is related to the fitness comment. He isn't necessarily short of fitness is what I'm getting at. He's just playing a different role to what he's used to, which makes him less effective than he should be and it's taking a lot out of him. Despite this he has scored 3 goals in 2 games (and had the ball in the back of the net 4 times, plus hit the bar).

Austin played almost the full game against Prague and hasn't been responsible for chasing the opposition full back in his career until now. No other manager he's played under has been stupid enough to give him a role in a side that involves it. I wouldn't give the likes of Ibrahimovich, Costa etc a role that involved burning energy and getting frustrated chasing the opposition full back either. A player like Austin needs to be at striker at all times, in the mix in the box and not wasting energy on the wing or chasing back defending.

Right. If we're going to play the stats game then let's do it properly All competitions: Austin 3 goals - a penalty he won himself - a marginally offside goal in 217 total minutes Redmond 1 goal - 470 minutes played Most goals in a PL season: Austin 18 goals Redmond 6 goals Most officials assists in a PL season: Austin 5 assists Redmond 3 assists Be quiet.

I don't understand it at all. It must be people that said he was **** when we signed him and can't take it on the chin that they are wrong. He's by far and away our best option for striker. A natural goalscorer and proper striker.

Quite like that team, but for me it's a 4-3-3. I'd go with Tadic - Austin - Boufal JWP - Romeu (anchor man) - Davis Bertrand - VVD - Fonte - Cedric Forster I'd like to see Boufal on the left too sometimes as he was very good there for Lille (he can play both wings and 10/SS), but Tadic is definitely better on the left imo. If Tadic isn't on (rested or taken off) then Boufal plays on the left in my system.

If Austin is tired, or needs to be rested, then Long is my 2nd choice at striker. Rodriguez is also a decent shout. Today we ought to have started up with Long striker and Redmond out wide (assuming Austin needed rest). With Austin coming on for Long at striker.

Thanks for backing up my point. Redmond should be on the wing instead of striker. Austin should be the striker in 433...

I'd prefer Austin was on pens. But it's not the point. If Tadic was designated then Austin was out of order. It's ancient history anyway now. We beat Prague 3-0 and won again today with an Austin goal.

Tadic played well today. He's a good player on the left and the right, but he's more effective on the left imo

Austin should have put that chance away too (I'll point out that it was certainly more than 2 yards out though. Looked 7-8 yards out to me at the time, haven't seen it back). I agree with you though that it should have been put away.. Hence why I thought we should have won by at least 4. But you ought to bear in mind that Austin was also only on the park for 35 mins or so and almost bagged 2 goals (Redmond didn't almost bag two, he missed both chances comfortably). And at least the first Austin chance he hit the underside of the bar. Redmond's first chance was blazed woefully high and wide. Hit the target at least, or try to pick out Long (need to see it again , but Long was annoyed he wasn't passed the ball. At the time it looked fair enough to take the shot on). The other one lifted comfortably over the bar, I was amazed when Redmond didn't convert the 2nd chance.

You are crediting Puel with winning the game with a sub? Puel is basically the reason we didn't win by more. Redmond isn't a goalscorer and might never be. He just isn't up to it mentally it seems, he cracks in front of goal. Most of the forum wants to play a formation with Austin central. Puel had Redmond as striker in 4-3-3 all game. It isn't a question of magically finishing chances. Proper strikers like Austin convert clear cut chances far more often than Redmond, that's a fact. If Austin wasn't fit to start at striker then Long should have been the central man, with Tadic and Redmond on the wings (ideally Tadic on the left where he is more effective). Redmond as number 1 central striker today was laughable and proven so by his finishing..even when Austin came on he played most of the game on the left wing, as did Long , with Redmond very reluctant to switch positions with them much (despite Long and Austin being desperate to be central).

Cracking save , luckily the strike didn't have much venom on it..but it was still a very good save. We are quite lucky that we weren't punished having been opened up completely by Swansea for that opportunity

Today the formation was spot on. 4-3-3 has always suited us and we've tended to dominate 9 out of 10 games at home with it. The only problem was Redmond being the striker in an obvious 4-3-3 and not being able to hit a barn door..

Based on today we're much better with 4-3-3 (which we've almost all been screaming out for). If Remond gets into the team then surely it's wide right. Tadic is most effective on the left anyway in attack and defend (although he made a great tackle in the first half today, it's more natural for Tadic to defend from the left anyway being left footed). I'd go with Tadic left, Austin central and Redmond right (although wouldn't mind Long as an alternative sometimes to Redmond). One things for sure. Whenever fit to start Austin must start. And the more minutes he can play the better.

At the end of the day football is about sticking the ball in the back of the net as a striker. For the majority of the game we were a 433 with Redmond as an out and out striker, Long was mostly on the left(occasionally switched with Redmond for short spells) and Tadic played on the right. Even Austin came on on the left of a 433 and occasionally switched with Redmond. The official player position map for the game shows a clear cut 4-3-3 with Redmond bang central, Long left and Tadic right..so this isn't for debate. Austin was basically put on the wing. And no one can tell me he wasn't (apart from when he occasionally switched with Redmond) as he was immediately chasing the opposition full back and his attacking starting position was wide left (and wide left when we had goal kicks). Luckily we were so dominant he could get into the box a lot and his natural goalscoring instinct meant he kept trying to switch position with Redmond. Austin wanted to play central at one point and Puel (I believe it was him, possibly the assistant) came racing out to scream at them to switch back. Puel has an obsession with Redmond at striker. Redmond had a great game APART from the fact he cannot score, it's the point in football (along with preventing goals). Especially so in his role today in a dominant side, I simply can't believe he didn't score today. The problem with Redmond is he has a massive brain freeze in front of goal. The two big chances today it was criminal of him not to at least hit the target. At least make the opposition keeper make saves to stop clear cut chances.

I have a sneaking suspicious it may be due to Austin's fitness. Took a knock and looked knackered at the end. I'd love him to start every game though if capable

Had enough chances to win by 5. We played very well today (apart from sticking it in the net) in which was quite clearly a 4-3-3 imo. Austin (if fit to play 90) must start every single game. Redmond sadly can't shoot , looked dangerous all game but can't hit a barn door. I do think the crowd got on his back too much today though (I'm at the ground writing this). He's still only young and has a lot of potential. Van Dijk was very good yet again today. Completely and utterly dominated Llorente and Swansea physically .

No. No one for me. He's better than alderweireld. Without van dijk we would have been taken to the cleaners a few times this season and lost to Sunderland. Fonte has been an embarrassment at times with his defending and rashness. I honestly hope to see an unchanged back four for the weekend as crazy as that seems

Austin is to blame. Whoever is designated takes the penalty. Complete rubbish to blame Tadic. It's only unprofessional to rob the designated taker of the ball and insist you're taking the pen. Tadic had every right to be fuming and any player would have been in his situation. I do wonder sometimes if some fans have anything going on upstairs. If you don't understand football and designated pen taker then keep quiet. Maybe it's just down to Tadic being Serbian so he's getting the stick over the Englishman

The system is wrong for him. He needs to be the main man in 4231 or 433. Ibrahimovic would be completely wasted and struggle to score in a diamond system where he is expected to chase the opposition full back. There is no use at all playing anyone over Austin. He's a proper and proven goal scorer. And he bagged 2 last night regardless of the system. Martina plays at the weekend for me after the assist last night. Cedric's crossing and shooting is abysmal