Not only have we been crap since his injury, but he was a virtual ever present in our long unbeaten run . Whatever the opinions on the terraces, the team works really well with him in it. If he goes in the summer, he helped us to arguably our best period ever with a never before FA cup triumph. Got him for no fee, he will owe us nothing.
Squad for the rest of the season
- Topic starter PatrickA
- Start date
The squad looks quite unbalanced now.
We are just about OK at the back but it’s clear from Glasner’s comments that they were chasing an extra CB in January but the selling clubs refused to sell.
I have no idea how all the forwards will fit in, we have gone from famine to feast (once everyone is fit). Mateta clearly isn’t in the picture at the moment and Nketiah is not ready yet, but that still leaves Larson, Sarr, Johnson, Guessand, Pino and Uche (though I doubt we will see much of him now). Presumably it will be Larsen and Sarr lining up against Brighton with one of the others (Johnson?) alongside them and Pino and Guessand on the bench.
I am not expecting a great deal of fluidity whoever the front three are as they will have had very little time together to develop their understanding. In the Olise, Eze, Mateta glory days they knew instinctively where each other would be and the flicks, dummies and feints worked, that doesn’t happen overnight.
We are just about OK at the back but it’s clear from Glasner’s comments that they were chasing an extra CB in January but the selling clubs refused to sell.
I have no idea how all the forwards will fit in, we have gone from famine to feast (once everyone is fit). Mateta clearly isn’t in the picture at the moment and Nketiah is not ready yet, but that still leaves Larson, Sarr, Johnson, Guessand, Pino and Uche (though I doubt we will see much of him now). Presumably it will be Larsen and Sarr lining up against Brighton with one of the others (Johnson?) alongside them and Pino and Guessand on the bench.
I am not expecting a great deal of fluidity whoever the front three are as they will have had very little time together to develop their understanding. In the Olise, Eze, Mateta glory days they knew instinctively where each other would be and the flicks, dummies and feints worked, that doesn’t happen overnight.
It sure does feel a bit unbalanced.
As you said, I reckon we wont see much of Uche now. Might not even make the bench.
Nketiah cant stay fit, and Mateta might be off to have his op.
Well certainly be interesting to see who starts on Sunday.
Yep, i suspect Guessand is the Uche upgrade from the bench.
Larsen will definitely start and Sarr will play, probably on the right.
On the left i'm unsure - can Johnson play there? Pino, otherwise, however, i think he desperately needs a rest based on his poor form over the last month or so.
At least we have choices and hopefully impact subs
That is purely coincidental. We also had a manager committed to the club - and a team who could trust their manager - and a fit and firing striker - and a consistent availability of Sarr and Munoz - and a focused captain and world class CB. Those played far bigger role in our unbeaten run.
Cheers
after yesterday's team selection and comments regarding the squad being unbalanced i think we now have options upfront, but the back 5 almost picks itself (well 4 of the 5).
Starting at the back - the only selection choice is the 3rd CB. Lerma played there yesterday and did well, although he did get exposed for pace early on. Riad is the back up but will need time to gain sharpness (he was rushed back last week as Lerma had to play in midfield due to Adam's silly suspension) and Canvot is clearly now the 5th choice option.
Midfield 2 - having Kamada back will help here and he had a good cameo. Hughes get's booked too often and both him and Wharton struggle physically after 70 minutes or so. We also have Lerma here if he's not used in the back 3. Rotating these 4 , or 3 plus Wharton, seems to be the way forward.
Front 3 - when all fit we have 8 options, but i think Uche can be removed as he will barely play now and of course Eddie and JP are injured.
Without JP Larsen is a shoe in as is Sarr on the right. Pino is really struggling and his confidence appears so low that he clearly needs a rest. He was anonymous yesterday.
Guessand looked lively so i'd start him v Burnley.
Johnson is a strange signing at such a high price (and wages, i assume). He appears to be a poor man's Sarr.
So really the bulk of the squad is as it was but with 3 now back form injury and Afcon (Munoz, Kamada, and Sarr) but with a lot more options upfront, which has to be a positive.
I will still be worried if we get 1 or 2 injuries to specific players - Mitchell, Lacriox, Munoz and Wharton etc as we have no natural replacements.
Starting at the back - the only selection choice is the 3rd CB. Lerma played there yesterday and did well, although he did get exposed for pace early on. Riad is the back up but will need time to gain sharpness (he was rushed back last week as Lerma had to play in midfield due to Adam's silly suspension) and Canvot is clearly now the 5th choice option.
Midfield 2 - having Kamada back will help here and he had a good cameo. Hughes get's booked too often and both him and Wharton struggle physically after 70 minutes or so. We also have Lerma here if he's not used in the back 3. Rotating these 4 , or 3 plus Wharton, seems to be the way forward.
Front 3 - when all fit we have 8 options, but i think Uche can be removed as he will barely play now and of course Eddie and JP are injured.
Without JP Larsen is a shoe in as is Sarr on the right. Pino is really struggling and his confidence appears so low that he clearly needs a rest. He was anonymous yesterday.
Guessand looked lively so i'd start him v Burnley.
Johnson is a strange signing at such a high price (and wages, i assume). He appears to be a poor man's Sarr.
So really the bulk of the squad is as it was but with 3 now back form injury and Afcon (Munoz, Kamada, and Sarr) but with a lot more options upfront, which has to be a positive.
I will still be worried if we get 1 or 2 injuries to specific players - Mitchell, Lacriox, Munoz and Wharton etc as we have no natural replacements.