21 Dec 2022 23:05:07
Thoughts on yesterday

Play was not as bad as it seemed first time around especially the second half when Raul and Hwang were on

Too much ball watching by strikers. Look at teams who did well in Qatar not must Argentina but Korea and Morocco they attacked with a belief that the right ball would come in to the box they didn't wait outside the box for a long shot

Ok that's Neves speciality but we need more link up play like we had with Jota and even Podense under Nuno

Costa doesn't seem to be on the same wavelength as any of them and Semedo doesn't either

I want to see JL give this team some belief and bite look at Argentina ok they have Messi but their other forward plays for Brighton so we should be looking at that kind of level at least

1.) 22 Dec 2022
22 Dec 2022 07:54:04
I'm thinking young Babacar Traore if fit for Everton game will give us that energy and drive in midfield.

2.) 22 Dec 2022
22 Dec 2022 08:58:06
A midfield of Neves, Nunes and B.Traore should have enough energy and skill to be comfortable against most teams.

3.) 22 Dec 2022
22 Dec 2022 10:17:50
Winton on paper that should be one of the best midfield inside the top 6 I would think.

4.) 22 Dec 2022
22 Dec 2022 11:17:17
Should be outside obviously!

5.) 22 Dec 2022
22 Dec 2022 11:47:01
I also agree with window,
Would like a solid base and at least 2 forward and/Or forward thinking players to play with freedom and desire to create and score.

I think our squad needed an overhaul at some point and it started to happen under Lage last summer it didn't work out how fosun wanted and now lage and sellars have gone a new recruitment team in place everything imo is set up to give us all what we want.
Imo we all should look forward with mostly confidence than fear of the unthinkable.
The players we have along with players to arrive surely how I think is the best way to think.

Think posters underestimate the consequences of the pandemic how it effected the world how it it put a huge hurdle infront of our progress.
Not using it as an excuse for mistakes from within the clubs direction with sellars and shi new roles but I think it did have a big effect.
Now 2 years or so after the pandemic we are imo ready to be a force again up the top end of the league.

6.) 22 Dec 2022
22 Dec 2022 12:28:53
The first half was underwhelming WW but that's fine as Lops needed to see his players in a competitive game. The important thing was that he spotted the problems, made the changes and from there we looked far more likely to score.

Totally agree about Costa and Semedo though. Maybe Costa needs better service but Semedo's performances are too inconsistent.

7.) 22 Dec 2022
22 Dec 2022 13:49:17
If the first half was a practice match Longmynd then that's fine

Costa does need better service but it takes two to tango - how is he not calling for it or setting up one twos etc like we see the best teams do

Fix that and we're awesome!

8.) 22 Dec 2022
22 Dec 2022 15:38:58
You're quite right WW, for me Costa is a shadow of his former self and doesn't attack the box like Jimenez but I think Lopetegui had to play him. However, if Jimenez is as fit as he looked, I don't think Costa should start again. That birth should be shared by Jimenez / Cunha, assuming he is as good as we are led to believe.

9.) 22 Dec 2022
22 Dec 2022 22:04:59
The best Costa has played is when he came on as a sub against West Ham, use him as an impact player for 20/30 mins at the end of a game if needed. Don’t think he can handle a full game or even 70/80 mins now