TimHowardsBeardJuice
Player Valuation: £35m
Lots of discussion going on in the Onana, Iwobi, and Gueye threads. Let's talk about the group.
Most here would agree with these:
Most imporantly:
There have been some good moments and good games. I thought they controlled the middle of the park in the derby, for one. But in our little losing streak here, they're not singing off the same sheet music. There is no group identity or cohesion, yet. They don't keep shape. They are not passing well amongst themselves. I don't get the sense that they step on the pitch knowing how to work together.
Yet.
Frank the midfielder whisperer will coach up the players individually, I have no doubt about that. Frank the tactician and game day manager, I love Frank but I don't like how we set up and play sometimes, especially here. I scratch my head a lot.
What should be done here? Different players starting? Change of shape? More subs? Just give it time?
Most here would agree with these:
- We have better players in the group than we did last season
- We actually have some depth - Gueye, Iwobi, Onana, Garner, Doucore, Davies - the players who were starting last season are now at the end of the bench
- Iwobi has been our best player or close to it for some time going back to the relegation stretch, but has been poor the past couple of games
- Onana is clearly talented but also raw
- Garner is even less experienced, seems to be talented, but hasn't had a shot yet
- We have stiffened defensively, it's not as easy to play through our middle as it was
- Our transition from defence to attack is still dire, this group hasn't figured out how to feed the attack
Most imporantly:
- this group is not playing together well enough, consistently enough.
There have been some good moments and good games. I thought they controlled the middle of the park in the derby, for one. But in our little losing streak here, they're not singing off the same sheet music. There is no group identity or cohesion, yet. They don't keep shape. They are not passing well amongst themselves. I don't get the sense that they step on the pitch knowing how to work together.
Yet.
Frank the midfielder whisperer will coach up the players individually, I have no doubt about that. Frank the tactician and game day manager, I love Frank but I don't like how we set up and play sometimes, especially here. I scratch my head a lot.
What should be done here? Different players starting? Change of shape? More subs? Just give it time?
