roversfan99

Where did he mention about ACD?

Im not convinced that we have too many goals over the course of the season. The one natural goalscorer appears to be Ohashi, he is very much solely a penalty box player. Anticipates well, bit of a fox in the box kind of player but offers nothing outside. You look outside of that, Cantwell scored a few at Rangers but isnt going to be prolific, Dolan isnt a natural goalscorer and Hedges chips in with one every half a season. With Gueye, he doesnt seem to have the instinct to get into goalscoring positions too often and when he does, he isnt a very good finisher. I just question if he is perhaps somewhat ill suited to the rest of the squad considering the lack of width and lack of capable crossers. We will see over time I guess if he is up to the standard, if he suits the way we play and his team mates strengths/weaknesses, and if he can score a reasonable amount over the course of a season. Certainly question marks on all 3 fronts. Its not as simple as saying well how many chances were created. A good striker himself creates chances through his movement, thats why the natural goalscorers end up having more chances. Gallagher didnt used to miss many chances because again he didnt get himself into those positions.

I would agree on Hedges and have said a few times lately that he should certainly not be a regular and that I would move him on in the summer. I would also certainly agree that I would rather not let Dolan leave for free. I think the issue might be because hes been a regular, he might want a wage representative of that which is fair enough, but I am not yet convinced that I want him to continue as a guaranteed starter without seeing a bit more from him.

Im just offering my opinion on what I would do. Rather than trying to justify what Eustace is doing. I accept the idea of him drifting inside especially in tandem with an overlapping Beck. But on the flip side I see benefits in having him central, notably not potentially leaving his full back exposed defensively as he isnt the hardest worker as we saw away at Coventry in particular. But also he is our best player at receiving the ball in tight areas and the most likely to unlock a defence. That central role in theory anyway is naturally the one where you will get more influence on a game. I dont feel like Dolan has been any more productive central, and I suspect (just a hunch) that both would rather play central if they could choose. I would rather our best attacker plays there with the team built around him more, I dont think that Dolan does enough to justify guaranteed selection personally but he could play from the left. Hedges would be someone I would happily let go at the end of the season. Dolan is a more complex one. He is still only 22 but he hasnt really progressed anywhere near as I would have hoped over a number of years. I would rather keep him around but unless he has a real breakthrough season, I wouldnt see him as deserving of being offered a wage befitting a guaranteed regular, or indeed a role as such. But he would expect to be and understandably so as he has played so many games. If he does go then another club at this level will definitely pick him up. At the end of the season we have ACD, Weimann, Sigurdsson, Hedges and Dolan all at the end of their deals with us. Its a position I would really want us to overhaul as will likely naturally happen barring a sudden series of contract renewals. We need players in these positions to contribute more and we also need some pace.

I was offering an alternative comparison to Ohashi in Rhodes who also wasnt the quickest. He obviously cant be compared in terms of quality until he regularly scores 20 goals plus a season, but he is very much a penalty box player who doesnt really do anything outside of that. It might well turn out that Ohashi nailing down a regular place depends on the quantity of goals. If he scores plenty then even if it means him doing little aside, and especially considering the lack of goalscorers around him, the goals alone will keep him in the team. Your examples highlight Ohashi's penalty box sharpness and composure. On Gueye, like with all strikers, its not just a case of others supplying chances, you often find that some strikers regularly find chances coming their way because its as reliant on a strikers movement and anticipation. Take Ohashi's goal at Norwich, the little bit of movement made the goal, would Gueye have had the cleverness to be able to do that? But also a question I raised earlier. A striker like Gueye ie one who wants a very specific type of service, he is a poor technical player so he wants regular crosses. Is it not a seemingly strange bit of recruitment to sign a player who perhaps doesnt suit the players around him, ie one that lacks good crossers of the ball notably out wide? Gestede seemingly played a big role in signing him, he must have appreciated the role that the likes of Marshall and in particular Conway had in putting in so many crosses for him to attack as a player. Was there nothing in his mind to say, well we dont have that type of player, so is it wise?

You say Brittain would play there then put JRC in your team on the WBA page. Ultimately I think what you dont understand is that it is possible to have an opinion that doesnt identically match what the manager will do. I think Cantwell will continue to play from the left. But I personally wouldnt. You seemingly are suggesting that we play Cantwell left because you know that Eustace will. He has played in both positions, I have seen him play centrally a number of times for Rangers. My thinking is, he is by far our best technical player, so allowing him to pick the ball up in tight central areas where he is closer to the opposition goal makes sense to me. He is more productive on the ball, and on the flip side he isnt the most athletic nor the hardest worker. I wouldnt like to be a full back behind him as he wont do much covering. I also dont think that Dolan appears any more productive from a central position. I dont doubt that Ohashi works hard but I see him as almost a Jordan Rhodes type. In terms of his all round play, very limited. Not the quickest, wont win many headers in general play, hold up not the best, technically not the best. In the 18 yard box though, he clearly has a natural ability to make clever movement and to sniff out and take chances, all 5 of his goals so far have been very impressively taken. If he scores enough goals, then he can guarantee a place in the team. If he doesnt, then it will be hard to justify. Im not convinced yet that Gueye is of the required standard but of course there is time to prove that instinct wrong. He does some things well, but he must be a frustrating player to play with and he doesnt really look like scoring. And we arent a team that has natural crossers of a ball to feed him.

I think the back 4 and midfield 2 pick themselves after yesterday, that back 4 is our best, and although Pears is a ticking time bomb I would understand him starting the next game. The attack is where we need to look at changing it up as it didnt work the other day. Im still not convinced we have the right mix of attacking options nor that the recruitment has led (under very limited resources) to us having fully what we need. Its hard to choose and it feels like picking out of a hat each time. Gueye has had 2 starts and flattered to deceive but Ohashi struggled when he came on too. I would build around Cantwell, I would start Cozier Duberry if fit, and maybe even give Sigurdsson a game. Pears JRC Carter Hyam Beck Tronstad Travis ACD Cantwell Sigurdsson Ohashi

Of course, his personal story is a credit from him, released from Preston and dealing with personal tragedy but clearly has done well personally. He perhaps does get an unfair percentage of criticism compared to other similar attacking players who also fail to do enough often enough, maybe thats to do with his contract as much as anything. Although I did debate with a number on here regarding Hedges who also has been criticised for not doing enough. I personally think that either he needs to do more to guarantee a starting spot or risk being more of a squad player, and maybe the inability to tie him down comes from him being able to expect a decent wage considering his sheer number of games. I would like the side to be built around Cantwell but he seemingly will be played wide to accomodate Dolan more than the other way round.

Is he "pretty productive" with his end product, and is his decision making "streets ahead" of when he joined? I am not too sure on either. I think our attacking midfielders across a number of years have in the main flattered to deceive, apart from the odd individual (Szmodics and Brereton) who has contributed above and beyond what you would expect from those positions.

Why is it pleasing? Do you have an affinity for Wolves and/or O'Neil. Even allowing for a spirited performance today, he will be very lucky to keep his job being on 1 point from 8 games.

The reason that streaming has become such a big issue is because of the extortionate cost of buying all of the TV packages. You throw in the total disregard to match going fans in terms of moving so many games, coupled with the fact that as expected, the constantly increasing TV deals notably with Sky do not lead to a reduction in ticket prices. And it is little wonder that streaming is now so popular at a tiny fraction of the cost. Its a mess of the broadcasters and clubs own making. There has been talk of clamping down on it for years but it feels beyond that point now.

I agree on Cantwell. Get him in that position where he can get on the ball more in areas that suit him and has less defensively to do. Rankin Costello is a good full back at this level and has struggled with positional changes elsewhere. He isnt the liability that Brittain is and he helps to link our team from defence to attack. With Ohashi, he has to try and offer more in general play. Numerous attacks broke down as a direct result of really poor (and simple to execute) passes that may have led to him then having chances after that had the attack continued. Gueye must be so hard to play with because he isnt an intelligent footballer nor is he technically any good.

JRC is better defensively than Brittain who is really poor at preventing crosses. The defensive aspect of being a full back seems often to be dismissed when judging them nowadays. I disagree that Cantwell is best wide left. He is a technical player who can take the ball in tight spaces. He is also not the best defensively. It feels like he is being put left as to not move Dolan who is nowhere near as good. You mention playing to those players strengths. If Gueye's strengths are feeding off crosses, he seems a strange signing as we dont have good crossers or any real width in the squad. Ohashi came on at a time when we were playing on the counter and he wasted a number of potential opportunites to counter due to regularly messing up fairly simple passes. Hes not fast either so im not sure that he is suited on the counter. I still think there are huge question marks over both, especially Gueye. I suppose we got them both for very cheap due to the owners not giving a shit and not making a decent budget available, and in the main you get what you pay for.

Really boring game and not one many/any will have enjoyed but its all about the result and our perfect home form continues. I think defensively we defended our box well against a poor side, especially as we became deep and couldnt get the ball to stick. Beck is standout and I also thought that JRC did well, by far our best RB despite rubbish theories about him not being someone who can play there for Eustace. The defence has a better balance to it and I thought the often derided Hyam stood out with some really good interventions. Tronstad is such a reliable player in front of them too. We do have issues going forward though and whilst I feel confidence in knowing that Eustace can have us organised, I dont have that much in him creating a platform for a good attack so there will be lots of bore fests. Cantwell stood out and playing him wide to accomodate Dolan (who goal aside, if he indeed gets the goal from a mishit and deflected shot wasnt otherwise very effective and seems to be getting slower) seems a strange choice to me when he is clearly our stand out player. Hedges again did nothing of note either and we lack pace on the counter which puts more pressure on our defence. The striking position becomes more of a worry as the novelty of the 2 new strikers wears off. Gueye must be so difficult to play with because hes so unpredictable and unorthodox, and is unfortunately looking like a bit more of a donkey with each passing game, does the odd chest/knock down but has a tendency to break down attacks. Ohashi's sub appearance was just a consistent stream of poor passes which led to us handing possession straight back, unless he scores his general game is lacking.

Its a flawed statement.

Centre backs are not top class by any means and there is a big issue in finding someone to play next to Rice, players with potential but nothing more. And all of the best attackers want to play in the same areas. Undoubtedly have some very good players but equally I think some of those perhaps hide how imbalanced our pool of players is. Left back you mention, we dont even have any decent left backs, just a total absence hence calls for Newcastle squad players and players who have predominantly played in the Championship.

Tuchel would be a surprise appointment in that I expected the FA to go for a clean cut Englishman and would be reluctant to go down this route. But unfortunately the standard of English coaches is poor (hence why the joke suggestion of Lampard was even made) and Tuchel has proven himself at the top level, including in knockout competition. I still think the squad is overrated as a whole in that we have had such good luck with draws in previous tournaments and although we have some brilliant players, in the main the attacking ones all want to operate in the same areas and there are some big weaknesses around that. But I would feel more confident in having someone with Tuchel's CV.

I think the 4 slot rule has been in for well over a year. There has been lots of discussion going back to when we signed the likes of Sigurdsson, Wahlstedt and Telalovic. Seems like Japan are playing tomorrow, regardless of whether he features, I wonder if he is likely to be in contention to start at the weekend. Obviously it is good for him as a player, and good to see our players recognised in one way, but any trips across the world may cause a knock on effect in games after international breaks.

Frank Lampard 😂 at least it caused a laugh in an otherwise boring international break as it surely cant be a serious suggestion. On what grounds (being English and/or a good player in his day dont count) should a managerial failure like him even be considered for the England job? Unfortunately the coaches in this country are not of the required standard at this point in time. Look at the people suggested, Potter failed at Chelsea (and did ok at Brighton and Swansea but nothing groundbreaking), O'Neil is on the verge of the sack at Wolves and people like Lampard are joke suggestions. Howe is the only decent suggestion and he himself has question marks notably over whether he would be interested. Ive never been comfortable with the idea of boxing managers off based on nationality. Capello didnt fail just because he wasnt English, he is an individual in his own right who failed, he isnt foreign manager A. Equally, this idea of copying Spain because an internal appointment worked for them implies that its just down to a formula of coming through the age groups = success. De La Fuentes is again an individual manager, he isnt just an example of the success youll get going down that path. Weve tried to copy off other countries before and its not as simple as that. Hopefully Carsley rules himself out of consideration because he seems out of his depth in such a pressured, senior job.

Obviously that was an oversimplification, but he admitted to leaving our better attackers on the bench until later on as part of what was a failed gameplan. But obviously there is a reliance on keeping the excellent home form up especially as we have yet to win away and have so few points there.

Tuchel would seem a decent appointment if true.

A team build around Dolan with Cantwell stuck out wide. No thanks. Toth JRC Carter Hyam Beck Tronstad Travis ACD Cantwell Sigurdsson Ohashi Sigurdsson was the hardest to pick but we dont have a natural option there so its his turn. I think the likes of Dolan, Hedges and Pears will still play, and players like ACD and JRC will stay on the bench. Hopefully we can keep winning at home to maintain our perfect record especially with the negative tactics away leaving us unable to win.

Obviously he shouldnt be "axed" (can you be axed as interim manager?) based on one game but it might make it slightly more difficult to justify giving him the full time role, of which most would agree would be too big a risk.

It might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. A meaningless glorified friendly nearly 2 years before a tournament but makes it more difficult to justify employing a naive novice like Carsley. He made a rookie mistake of just trying to cram in talented players leaving us imbalanced, then he went the opposite way and stuck 2 up front which again is not something they are used to. I do think though looking at the players we have, people have been perhaps blinded by a few select individuals but its not quite the golden generation. @roverandout may disagree but its not close to the 2004-06 level of squad. Yes, we have sne stand out top level players but most want to do the same thing, Bellingham, Palmer and Foden all want to be number 10s and putting them elsewhere really hinders them and the team, and Kane when fit also wants to drop deep. We have the odd player in other positions (Saka, maybe Trent and if played probably maybe Rice) who are also quality. But we have not one single left back who is even reasonably good, keepers dodgy, centre backs average, big issues in midfield where Rice is good but not sitting and nothing else of the required standard, and as mentioned some quality attackers but mainly ones that want to do the same thing. Bring back club football.

People always say how brilliant our side is on paper but tonight is the perfect example of what happens when you try and stick our best players in together. In 1 or 2 positions there is an embarassment of riches but across the team there are big weaknesses hence why we get beat when we play anyone good.