joey_big_nose

Ohashi makes the whole system work, the ground he covers relentlessly and the way he is always fit is really remarkable. That we can play two forwards and two attacking mids is down to his pressing and physicality Take him out and I think we would be quickly back to the drawing board.

Well we have signed a few (Ohashi, Gudjonsen, Tronstad, Toth, Alebiouso, Mori). But rarely (never?) in January to be fair

We really need cover for Tronstad and Ohashi. I guess getting someone in for Tronstad will be tricky though as the hierarchy will point to Tavares and TGH and say they should be used. Which is annoying as Tavares is lazy and lacks awareness, and TGH is not technical enough to play that deeper role though okay more box to box. But theres no argument not to sign one or two hardworking strikers to give Ohashi and Gudjonsen some support.

Part of me does wonder how Leonard would do in Gudjonson's role. The 352 really helps a non physical striker, and Leonard never got the luxury of playing in a two unfortunately. Id we were still in 4231 i think Gudjonsen would really struggle.

Well we have pulled Pratt and Litherland out of the hat and they have performed really well. We need someone to cover Tronstad and someone for Ohashi. No idea about who could shadow Tronstad (a very very hard role) but whats the deal with Diamini? Does he have a bit of the Ohashi about him?

Or could be that you under estimate the quality of our players?

Yeah looks mobile with real quality.

Nice bit of forward play from Henricksson...

I think Hericksson has been told to push up and play alongside. No idea if he has ever played as a striker.

Triple change seems a bit radical ... I guess idea is Henricksson to press for Gudjonsen. Interested to see how that goes. We have so few options up top we need it to work. Surprised it's Mori for Baradji, as Cantwell looks knackered but fair enough. Hedges for Pickering is right call.

I think I'd get Hedges on now and be thinking about Cantwell off for Baradji. Wish we had someone with a good engine to come on and help Ohashi out.

Defending at corners definitely a problem. Really miss Scott Wharton in that regard.

Think we should get really solid down the left when Hedges comes which is good. The big question is if Tronstad and Ohashi tire. We dont really have anyone who can come on for those two and without them our defensive structure completely falls apart.

Sky commentator "the Blackburn Rovers fans will be delighted with that first half" Not on here mate!

Been so impressed with Litherland. Completely slotted in for Alebiouso, has the engine to get up and down, and a nice bit of quality too.... Really so confusing how we sign De Neve but Litherland only gets a crack through a series of players being unavailable/falling out of favour.

I like McLoughlin but he has a serious issue in his game where he doesn't have control over his headers. They often go up not forward and out.

Think we've done well. Though the pattern is we do okay then give away goals from very little so its hard to really be confident.

Guess we will see Badadji for Cantwell. At least like for like in where he plays.

Absolutely loving Litherland!

Lets hope Litherland can be as impressive as Pratt has been

Maybe he should be at RWB? Is that a possibility?

I guess the approach might be give Mori and Cantwell complete free reign to get forward, maybe with Miller as he has an engine to give a little bit of support. Expect Picking to tuck in beside Tronstad while Cantwell goes very wide left. Id worry if we are expecting Pickering to overlap that he just isn't going to be able to either defending or attacking well as he cant cover the yards (same as Riberio). No point setting him up to fail.

Well no idea how good Litherland is. But generally still feel this team is quite a bit better than the Hope Akpan etc era.

Id say its more like ----------------------Pears -----Litherland---McLoughlin---Pratt Miller------------Tronstad----------------------Picks ------------Mori----Cantwell ---------Gudjohnsen---Ohashi "Playing with two number 8s" in todays pundit speak... How we get up the pitch without Alebiouso and Hedges I am intrigued to see.

The tickets and visiting the US are so so expensive in the midst of a global cost of living crisis I do wonder if the whole character of the tournament will further deteriorate. Will it be mostly rich Americans, celebrities etc, and not many actual home fans? I don't imagine too many empty stadiums, but I expect the atmosphere might be a bit muted and shit. Managing to successfully hold the last 3 world cups in post-Crimean invasion Russia, human rights crushing Qatar, and now daylight robbery in Trumps America is a real hatrick of evil.