Squad Rotation

[Kingsland Red]

In his programme notes NA refers to squad rotation over the festive period.

If this is really necessary after a two week break, surely he should have played our strongest available starting XI and brought on the best options as subs today, the 'easiest' match of the period.

 

We now require points from unexpected sources as we only have QPR of the bottom eight teams left to play at home.

[S-Clarke]

In your eyes, what were the best sub options? What would have been the best 11 based on what we had available?

 

To my eyes, that was pretty strong. People have been clamoring for Mayuka to start for weeks, and when he does, it seen as some sort of ''weak'' team selection.

[Saint_clark]

In your eyes, what were the best sub options? What would have been the best 11 based on what we had available?

 

To my eyes, that was pretty strong. People have been clamoring for Mayuka to start for weeks, and when he does, it seen as some sort of ''weak'' team selection.

 

Personally I was surprised Rodriguez didn't start up front, but I was interested to see what Mayuka could do.

Other than that it was our strongest team. On the bench...Lee instead of De Ridder for me, maybe even Reeves.

Edited 22 December, 2012 by Saint_clark

[The Kraken]

In your eyes, what were the best sub options? What would have been the best 11 based on what we had available?

 

To my eyes, that was pretty strong. People have been clamoring for Mayuka to start for weeks, and when he does, it seen as some sort of ''weak'' team selection.

 

4-4-2 doesn't work at this level. It just doesn't. Plus it means we waste our most creative player by dumping him out wide where he doesn't really belong.

 

Admittedly we looked only a little less sh*te when we reverted to 4-3-3 (or whatever we're calling it); but I'll be happy to never see us start with 4-4-2 in the Premier League again. We'd have been better off IMO just slotting in Mayuka at LM (or switching Puncheon there). Forcing a new 2 pronged strike partnership; nope, not for me.

 

Sadly we had no proper replacement for Lallana today, and it very much showed. Anything we did today was a p*ss poor compromise.

[Kingsland Red]

The best attacking option, against Reading last time out, was Rodriguez - he didn't feature.

Ramirez plays well in a 4-4-1-1 behind Lambert.

Mayuka would have been better placed down the wing.

 

However Steve coming on, having not featured all season, and then Guly instead of Rodriguez, suggested we had not targeted this game as a 'must win'.

As I mentioned , other than QPR we only play top half teams at home now.

[jasoneuelllfanclub]

I dont get the logic shown by Adkins. De Ridder hasnt even featured for u21's in weeks/months yet gets a place on the bench ahead of lee and reeves who have played regularly for the u21's and impressed. not saying they are the answer by any means and probably are not but I would imagine they are pretty disillusioned by SDR being selected ahead of them.

 

Only the club know the true extent of Lallana's injury but I really hope they have someone lined up early in the transfer window to not only provide decent cover but also competition as we cannot expect the trio of lallana/ramirez/puncheon to remain injury free for remainder of season. we are woefully exposed when they are out injured or out of form as the "several options" Adkins talks about is non existent and will send us down unless we do something about it.

[the stain]

we cannot expect the trio of lallana/ramirez/puncheon to remain injury free for remainder of season.

 

Lallana is injured already.

[SuperMikey]

I think we set up wrong. Ramirez is ineffective on the wing and was drifting into the centre anyway. He needed to play through the middle with Rickie up top, Punch right and Guly left. I would've started Guly because he's more physical than Mayuka/Lee and holds the ball better too. You have to admit that we looked better when he came on.

[jasoneuelllfanclub]

Lallana is injured already.

 

If you read the whole post you will know what I meant. Just to be clear when lallana comes back we cannot expect the trio to stay injury free right though until the end of the season. The fact he is currently injured strengthens need for cover and competition pronto.

[Saint Garrett]

I think we set up wrong. Ramirez is ineffective on the wing and was drifting into the centre anyway. He needed to play through the middle with Rickie up top, Punch right and Guly left. I would've started Guly because he's more physical than Mayuka/Lee and holds the ball better too. You have to admit that we looked better when he came on.

 

Noone will admit on this forum that Guly has actually done really well in all games he's played this season.

[Legod Third Coming]

I don't know what formation we played and to be honest I don't care.

 

But for the first 40 minutes we dominated the game and only had one shot at goal... Ludicrous!

 

It was a damp day and keepers struggle with these light balls at the best of times.

 

We could and should have tested their keeper. The goal when it came was almost inevitable and against the run of play. But if you have that much control and don't score you've only yourself to blame.

 

I don't know what the feck we were doing second half but it was cobblers football.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Yes Ramirez should have been played in the centre where he has been the most effective. However, Lambert has become a liability to the team now IMO - he is slow, predictable and does not move away from defenders in the area to give himself a chance. We try playing the ball to his head largely when he's stationary - it's so easy for two defenders to take him out the game. I would drop him in favour of JR at least while Lallana is out. I agree we should be playing our best players but I am not convinced SRL is one of them now to be honest. Perhaps we need an upgrade now?

 

We nearly always go wide to then cut back into the middle...it's SO predictable, it's no wonder Puncheon got no joy yesterday and Mayuka doesn't have the experience yet to know how to unlock a resolute defence. There is a very, very urgent need to coach some different attacking methods - ones that involve passing through the channels for example rather than fannying around passing backwards and sideways. Pass and move triangulation - works well in the 1st and 2nd thirds of the pitch, so why not in attack?

[Window Cleaner]

I don't know what formation we played and to be honest I don't care.

 

But for the first 40 minutes we dominated the game and only had one shot at goal... Ludicrous!

 

It was a damp day and keepers struggle with these light balls at the best of times.

 

We could and should have tested their keeper. The goal when it came was almost inevitable and against the run of play. But if you have that much control and don't score you've only yourself to blame.

 

I don't know what the feck we were doing second half but it was cobblers football.

 

 

We did put in a few shots early on, including one from Ramirez that looked handy if not vicious, but Mignolet looked pretty assured with whatever we sent in. Not a bad keeper. However we sent in a lot of high stuff to the box, with the conditions a lot of skiddy, nasty, low stuff might have produced more results because between Mignolet,Cuellar and O'Shea our high balls were just a waste of time.