Up front

[Its magnet you idiot]

Have mcburnie and Robinson improved us.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Donny and Marie Osmond would have been a better striking partnership.

 

[Stretch]

Have mcburnie and Robinson improved us.

It's a difficult question to answer, because we are still [in the main] a team of players who haven't played at this level. So let's say we went with Madine as our target man, and Hogan as our off the shoulder option this season. Would they be doing any better? Probably not.

Would Sharp and McG have notched more goals if they had started each game so far? Possibly, but we don't know.

By the same token, stick this strike force in the Championship and I think we would do even better than last season. So on that basis, they have improved us, but when translated to a new league and a new standard, maybe they haven't.

I have had a drink, and expect this doesn't make perfect sense.

 

[Dave9777]

No, not at all. What’s the process for getting rid of both of them? What would their current values be? 5M each? Are they in contracts for the whole season? Need to bin both off, keep Mousset, sharp and Golddick plus one other new decent striker....

Oh and get rid of Clarke too he’s useless, might be worth 500,000?

The focus on defence and mid field is great, rock solid but also need players who can fight in the box & stretch their legs to actually get zee ball in zee net.....

 

[Stebop]

I'm friends with a season ticket holder at PNE, and we aren't playing Robinson in the same position he played for them. He was described as a wide attacker, the worry for me is we don't really have that position in our setup and Robbo's being used as a striker instead. I don't think he's looked anywhere near a striker, so his role and effectiveness at present is far more concerning than McBurnie imo.

As for OMB - I don't know how anybody can start to judge him being as though he's pretty much received the square route of F all in terms of service. The best ball that's been put in to the box for OMB this season was against Leicester, and he absolutely buried it

 

[Charlieblade]

Would Sharp and McG have notched more goals if they had started each game so far? Possibly, but we don't know.

This is something I hope we find out soon. The Arsenal game would be ideal for both to strike up their old partnership.
ETA> with McBurnie, Luke Freeman and Moose on the bench, when our senior lads start to tire.

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

The gap is so big between the midfield and strikers. They have to hold it up and wait an age for the wingbacks to join them....Duffy used to be the go to guy for the strikers and we’ve lost that option now. Watch our highlights last season, Duffy might not actual be the assist maker but he’s a massive part of the build up.

 

[ATL Recs]

I'm friends with a season ticket holder at PNE, and we aren't playing Robinson in the same position he played for them. He was described as a wide attacker, the worry for me is we don't really have that position in our setup and Robbo's being used as a striker instead. I don't think he's looked anywhere near a striker, so his role and effectiveness at present is far more concerning than McBurnie imo.

As for OMB - I don't know how anybody can start to judge him being as though he's pretty much received the square route of F all in terms of service. The best ball that's been put in to the box for OMB this season was against Leicester, and he absolutely buried it

OMB didn’t win one header yesterday he had two chances to run at their defence and was out muscled on both occasions then spat his dummy out
Watched every minute of his games with us and he doesn’t impress .... yet.
other than his goal against Leicester but there, the supply was that good even Leon would have netted it .

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I'm friends with a season ticket holder at PNE, and we aren't playing Robinson in the same position he played for them. He was described as a wide attacker, the worry for me is we don't really have that position in our setup and Robbo's being used as a striker instead. I don't think he's looked anywhere near a striker, so his role and effectiveness at present is far more concerning than McBurnie imo.

As for OMB - I don't know how anybody can start to judge him being as though he's pretty much received the square route of F all in terms of service. The best ball that's been put in to the box for OMB this season was against Leicester, and he absolutely buried it

I saw Robinson play several times for Preston, including both games against us, and I see very little difference in how we are deploying him to how he was deployed there. He's still being used up front - maybe he was a bit more of a touch-line hugger there, but that doesn't explain much.

As for OMB, I can answer your question about "how can anybody start to judge him?" because he's not had the service. I'll tell you how I judge him..Can he control a ball? Can he hold up play and bring other players in? Can he lay the ball off to others? Does he get into good positions in the box? Does he look fit? Has he got enough skills on the ball to suggest he's capable at this level?

I'm afraid I'm coming up with "No" to most of those questions.

However, we can blame others for not giving him the service if you like? But I think that's avoiding the truth. He's not bad with his head - I'll give him that. But I expected more, MUCH more tbh.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

Have mcburnie and Robinson improved us.

We need to discuss your user name....

 

[JackSUFC]

They’ll come good. Robinson has frustrated me so far though, bar 2nd half at Chelsea. Was on fire towards the end of pre-season. Different standard of opposition though I know.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

No, not at all. What’s the process for getting rid of both of them? What would their current values be? 5M each? Are they in contracts for the whole season? Need to bin both off, keep Mousset, sharp and Golddick plus one other new decent striker....

Oh and get rid of Clarke too he’s useless, might be worth 500,000?

The focus on defence and mid field is great, rock solid but also need players who can fight in the box & stretch their legs to actually get zee ball in zee net.....

So after 8 games you're willing to take a hit of around 15m. Behave.

 

[BettingBlade]

The gap is so big between the midfield and strikers. They have to hold it up and wait an age for the wingbacks to join them....Duffy used to be the go to guy for the strikers and we’ve lost that option now. Watch our highlights last season, Duffy might not actual be the assist maker but he’s a massive part of the build up.

If only we’d brought in a player to replace him......oh wait we did.

Even if Duffy were still here, Wilder wouldn’t be playing him, it’s not that we don’t have the players, we’re obviously intent on not playing the same as we did last season, which is understandable but we’ve gone from one extreme to the other and it’s costing us massively up front.

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

If only we’d brought in a player to replace him......oh wait we did.

Even if Duffy were still here, Wilder wouldn’t be playing him, it’s not that we don’t have the players, we’re obviously intent on not playing the same as we did last season, which is understandable but we’ve gone from one extreme to the other and it’s costing us massively up front.

I don’t know if he trusts freeman, yesterday was calling out for a creator. We seem to be more concerned about losing than winning.

 

[BettingBlade]

I don’t know if he trusts freeman, yesterday was calling out for a creator. We seem to be more concerned about losing than winning.

Yesterday felt like a very Warnock like away performance with the do not lose attitude. Those types of away performances yesterday are ultimately the ones that got us relegated last time.

Genuinely feel sorry for McBurnie and Robinson. We haven’t played to their strengths at all. McBurnie is a great finisher but we aren’t doing anything near good enough for him to be able to show it.

Prime Shearer, Henry, Owen etc wouldn’t have scored for us yesterday.

 

[Ricky]

We should have tried to get Freeman on. But how?

Maybe for Basham and move to a back 4 in a 4-3-1-2 setup?

That may have also helped plug possible gaps for Deulofeu and Sarr to exploit on the counter.

Very unfortunate how he's been frozen out for a month. He was excellent at Chelsea and has proven he can contribute defensively.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

The gap is so big between the midfield and strikers. They have to hold it up and wait an age for the wingbacks to join them....Duffy used to be the go to guy for the strikers and we’ve lost that option now. Watch our highlights last season, Duffy might not actual be the assist maker but he’s a massive part of the build up.

We're currently in a 'damned if we do, damned if we don't' situation. We are currently set up with more defensive solidity, but it means that we haven't got the attacking thrust from midfield. Without losing the new found solidity, the only way is to play 1 up top & one behind to bridge the gap. McG or McB or Freeman might be the hole player, but i'm not sure, other than Mouse we have a player than can play the lone role, as they need to have mobility, physicality, work rate, engine, the ability to hold it up and finishing ability.

 

[BettingBlade]

We should have tried to get Freeman on. But how?

Maybe for Basham and move to a back 4 in a 4-3-1-2 setup?

That may have also helped plug possible gaps for Deulofeu and Sarr to exploit on the counter.

Very unfortunate how he's been frozen out for a month. He was excellent at Chelsea and has proven he can contribute defensively.

We could have just shown a bit of ambition and pulled Fleck or Lundstram tbh. Watford weren’t really causing us anymore problems than teams we have faced last season in the Championship. If we’d have taken a risk and reverted to how were used to seeing this team play at around 60 mins we would have won yesterday. We created absolutely nothing yesterday.

 

[Ricky]

We could have just shown a bit of ambition and pulled Fleck or Lundstram tbh. Watford weren’t really causing us anymore problems than teams we have faced last season in the Championship. If we’d have taken a risk and reverted to how were used to seeing this team play at around 60 mins we would have won yesterday. We created absolutely nothing yesterday.

Lundstram and Fleck couldn't be taken off, IMO. They both played well, the whole midfield did. And at that point it was important to at least avoid defeat, against a team with a good counter attacking threat. I think the 4-3-1-2 may have been the correct balance. In fact it's worth serious consideration from the start. It would get 11 stronger individual players on the pitch (Freeman for Basham).

 

[BigBed]

Have mcburnie and Robinson improved us.

No.

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

The frustrating thing for me is how good Robinson looked last season and in pre-season. He’s not a bad player at all, but he’s also a link up man and likes to run in from wide as does McBurnie. They’re too similar.

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

Yesterday felt like a very Warnock like away performance with the do not lose attitude. Those types of away performances yesterday are ultimately the ones that got us relegated last time.

Genuinely feel sorry for McBurnie and Robinson. We haven’t played to their strengths at all. McBurnie is a great finisher but we aren’t doing anything near good enough for him to be able to show it.

Prime Shearer, Henry, Owen etc wouldn’t have scored for us yesterday.

Agree, you can’t score without creation behind you...prime Ronaldo had modric / prime Messi has Iniesta / prime Rooney had Scholes / prime Billy had Duffy

Three hardworking centre midfields is great but it’s not going to win us games.

 

[Swannyblade]

Lundstram and Fleck couldn't be taken off, IMO. They both played well, the whole midfield did. And at that point it was important to at least avoid defeat, against a team with a good counter attacking threat. I think the 4-3-1-2 may have been the correct balance. In fact it's worth serious consideration from the start. It would get 11 stronger individual players on the pitch (Freeman for Basham).

I think the unexpected form of Lundstram is what’s keeping Freeman out. And to be fair, he’s un-droppable on current performances. It’s whether we’ve got the balls to move from the flat(ter) midfield 3 and go for the win. Last year when going for promotion, we would always chase the win as a draw wouldn’t be enough to keep pace with our rivals for auto promotion. This year, a draw away should be considered a point gained, so less pressure to take a risk and push for the win.
With a flat midfield 3, most of our chances will come down the flanks from wing backs and overlapping CBs. If Robinson is prone to pulling out to the wing, it could get congested down that side. Yesterday, I would’ve pulled Robinson and give Freeman the free role behind McB/Sharp to try and bridge the gap between midfield and forwards...worth a try.
In all honesty though, I think Watford set up to defend their 18 yard box, stifle our threat and stop their rot. It worked - for all our possession, we created no clear cut opportunities.

 

[blademark]

Lundstram, who has hardly put a foot wrong to be fair, is the key to our defensive solidarity, but also to our attacking shortcomings. It's a delicate balance and one that I'm sure Chris has pondered many times. It will all fall into place, possibly by accident or injury, and maybe with a couple of additions in January. As it is we are on course for 43 points, and when some of our lads gain a bit more confidence I don't think 50 points is beyond us. This will be a brilliant foundation for going forward, and more investment in quality in the coming seasons. The future is rosy.
Edit, I may have duplicated some of your words Swanny.

 

[Its magnet you idiot]

We need to discuss your user name....

The user name is in response to idiots around me who sing a gallon of maggots. I will forgive younger fans who never tasted the dark nectar, but grown men have correctly been put in aforementioned idiot class

 

[Grappler]

I guess at some point CW and AK will decide to bite the bullet and replace one of the three midfield lads, but at the moment, who would you drop? We are much more solid in defending as we are currently set up, if not for that howler from Deano we would have held Liverpool to a 0-0 draw.

Feel sorry for Freeman L though, he has looked good when he has played and not out of his depth at all in the Prem.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

The user name is in response to idiots around me who sing a gallon of maggots. I will forgive younger fans who never tasted the dark nectar, but grown men have correctly been put in aforementioned idiot class

Your neighbours are perfectly correct, but admittedly in a minority..

Quality over quantity every time......

 

[Akinbiyi]

other than his goal against Leicester but there, the supply was that good even Leon would have netted it .

You’re either pissed up (already) or you’re joking. That header was of the very very highest quality.
And here’s your proof

 

[Rochdaleblade]

Don't wish to jump on the bandwagon, but I don't understand what Mousset has to do to get a start. At the very least his pace would force defenders 10 yards back as they would be worried about the ball in behind.

 

[Akinbiyi]

Please read this before battering the strikers, it’s beyond some to comprehend for some reason.

Defending/Attacking Balance

So we aren’t scoring many goals, our top scorer is OG, and we all keep discussing strike pairings as if it’s suddenly going to click us into scoring 4 a game. You’re wrong, it won’t. Be it Billy with Oli, Didsy with Moose or Billy with Robinson - we simply will not become a free scoring team and...

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