He needs competition just think it’s too reduce his game time. Wouldn’t shock me if he’s carrying a knock. I know he’s not ready but we shouldn’t of sent Jack Burroughs on loan imo if we didn’t bring in any other rbs
We didn't do as badly against WBA as many are saying other than the result. They capitalised on a defensive mistake near the end but otherwise mainly kept to long range shots where they got lucky with one of them. They had 2 shots on target and got 2 goals. The story of our season.
If they hadn't got lucky with their first goal and we had taken at least one of our good chances this place would have been full of praise for the away performance. But luck wasn't on our side. This becomes our players are not good enough.
We're not far off being a good side. We just need to start taking our chances and stop letting soft goals in. Let's see where we are after the next 3 games. It could easily change our season.
West Brom.scored and shut up shop. They didn't need to stretch themselves much. Our stats look good because as always we were chasing the game.
As to ' we can't score and let in silly goals all the time, but arent far off being a good side'. It's baloney.
We have problems all over the pitch.
In the immediate aftermath of the game Wednesday I said the only player I would be sad to see leave us is Wright, probably a little bit hasty and wholly unrealistic, I think we are wedded to some of these players for a few years due to length of contracts and money spent on them etc.
Had a little sift through our squad and these are my full and honest opinions on them, definitely a recurring theme amongst the defence and midfield... forwards are probably getting off lightly - prepared to take a beating for some of these shouts but hey ho
Dovin - Should be playing, don't know why he isn't, at least with him when he drops a clanger you can excuse the fact he is 22 and will develop and get better, as opposed to who we are playing at the moment who is 5 years older and is showing no signs of being any better
Wilson - Good servant, doesn't get credited enough for his Golden Glove the other year (Yes we had a good defence but he still had to be good in his own right) would be happy for him to stay as a second choice if he wanted to but if he wants to go and play wouldn't stand in his way either
Collins - Poorest goalkeeper I have seen in a City shirt in a long time, that save % stat is no coincidence we look completely susceptible to conceding whenever he is on the pitch, he would struggle to get a game in our League 1 and sides, would drive him to where he wanted to go if an offer come in
Binks - Think he has been massively overrated, wouldn't have been too bothered eitherway in the summer had he come back or not and stand by it, that being said I would be starting him at the moment
Dasilva - It has not worked, shown glimpses but not anywhere near enough
Thomas - On his day he is good but we do not see it enough
Kitching - Gets a lot of stick (partly understandable due to the fee we probably overpaid for him) but in all seriousness, is he actually much worse if at all than what we have had to put up with this season, he should be given another shot it can't get any worse
Bidwell - Been a bloody good servant and over 100 Championship apps for us is no mean feat but starting to feel he is on the decline now, a new LB would be my priority in January
Latibeaudiere - Another one who flatters to deceive and talks a good game, has the odd game where he looks very useful and follows it up with a stinker - However I do think in a better side, owing to his versatility he would be a decent squad option
Van Ewijk - I do not know whether he is carrying a knock or he has something going on in his private life but he hasn't even looked half the player he did last season, if we can't get him back to those levels he should be moved on as I still think we could get a decent fee for him
Rudoni - His stats are okay but they are probably a little bit deceiving, but I am struggling to work out what he actually is? Is he a no. 10? Is he a central midfielder, is he a wide player?
Sakamoto - He hasn't looked the same player since an admittedly horrible injury, but even so I do feel Championship defenders have ever so slightly sussed him out
Allen - Good servant, a little bit overhated for me when he was getting regular game time but let's be honest we would all be amazed to see him here after the summer
Sheaf - Seems to have shrunk with the responsibility of the armband, but that being said I do not believe he has been fully fit at any point this season, you do not just turn into a bad player overnight there has to be something more to it - Easy to say in hindsight and after losing COH on a free it would not have gone down well one bit at the time, but we should have probably cashed in on him in the summer
Eccles - I think he has had an alright season, I have no issues with him being here and his new deal
Torp - I think we are a better side with him in it, shows glimpses (Watford away he was the best player on the pitch) but like the rest of the side will follow it up with absolute guff
Simms - I don't dislike him, but starting to get the feeling it probably isn't going to work out - Shame as I think when he is on it and full of confidence he can be a good player, I wouldn't be surprised if we let him go and he went and did alright elsewhere
Mason-Clark - I have stuck up for him and I think he will prove a decent buy, no issues with him being around
Wright - Best player at the club and the only one who currently could play at a higher level, without his goals we would be relegation fodder and he cannot come back quick enough
Raphael - Who?
Thomas-Asante - In the minority but I don't mind him, you can find the thread where I said he will be a good signing for us if you care to dig that far and I stand by it, I like his effort and think he could be an okay squad player as I have said before he was top scorer for a better side than us last season, he can't have just turned into a donkey
Tavares - Okay option to bring on against tired legs but again he isn't gonna be here much longer
Bassette - Raw, he will be good but I think he has got a lot to learn
If an assessment had been made after the Wolves and Man U matches last season, there would have been completely different observations. The players added have all been bought for development. King's input to make money I suspect.
A great coach will develop these players and knit them into a very good Championship team.
I don't know yet if we have a set of top coaches. Time will tell.
But the same was true last year and his performances were better so maybe it's got nothing to do with not having competition.
Now you may be right about him not quite being in the right frame of mind with the transfer speculation in the summer, but I'd say it's far more likely that that heavy workload in a very physically demanding position is starting to show.
And while I know you've said he's 24 and shouldn't be knackered, remember he's having to do that at a very high level where everyone around him is of a similar ability and even a slight amount of fatigue can have a huge effect on performances.
So will obviously having competition for him would be best, if we haven't got the funds just a proper alternative would be better. If we're not careful we'll end up Dabo'ing him.
Exactly this. For whatever reason we've been slow starters for years now but with fucking around spending weeks on a recruitment process to end up with the person everyone knew it was going to be before Robins even lost his job appears to have delayed are usual upturn in fortunes.
We've got winable games now against some teams who are pretty terrible. Can't be anymore excuses really, needs to be 6 points from the next 2 games and then a decent run of form over Xmas.
Things will look a lot different if we're going into the January window pushing into the top half of the table and brining a couple of quality loans in, not sure January is really the time for big signings but lets make use of Lampards connections and get some decent loans in.