No matter what the line-up or formation, we are at home and the first 10 or 15 minutes will be key. Start as usual leaden footed selves, struggle, with the crowd getting even more exasperated. However, if we start energetic, with fast(er) tempo, which we haven't seen all season, then the message may have started to sink in, and there may be cause for optimism. But I'm not holding my breath.
Finally Edwards gets the hint about Kabasele. Bench is a horror show. Will be interesting to see how WTE performs in his first full league game since Brentford.
I can handle passing it about at the back. But it's been our only discernable tactic and falls apart going over the half way line... If we get that far. We either get hounded off the ball by a high press or the opposition wait in their half until we hump it forward to nobody in particular.
I think WTE will have a good game. Got good cover around him and will only need to defend deep which suits him. 5 3 1 1 Bachmann Kamara - Cathcart - WTE - Hause - Sema Asprilla - Choudhury - Kayembe Pedro Davis
Never thought I'd be pleased to see WTE - that is how bad our squad is. Wonder what has happened to Pollock as he was being touted as a first team player to some extent in pre-season. No one can convince me he is worse than Kabasele and I have never seen him play.
I was wondering that as well. He looked pretty good pre season when he did get on and certainly looked focused. Ironically, he has just done a peice for the offical site saying he cannot wait to be part of our plans - but it seems he is further down the pecking order than some of our OAP's. Sad scenes all round.
Edwards yet again showing he can’t change. It’s shocking! 3412 again. Kamara at RWB again. CM the same, again. Bachmann Ekong Cathcart Hause Kamara Choudhury Kayembe Sema Asprilla Pedro Davis Lose or draw and he needs sacking. Sunderland playing with no strikers! Zero excuses not to win.
He was absolutely terrible with the ball in that cup game against MK Dons. There’s still no sign we’ll be able to progress the ball forward with this line up, unless Hause is going to do it all himself.
This line up should be a 433 but it isnt cos Edwards is Mr 5 at the back. Bachmann Cathcart Troost Hause Kamara Choudhury Kayembe Asprilla Pedro Davis Sema Is better in my opinion unless Rob believes Troost cant play in a back 4.
Yep, seems most likely to me. At least Kamara will be LB and we have to hold our breath that Cathcart has one of his reasonable games as a RB.
Positives - Davis starting Kamara back Kabasele dropped Asprilla back to thrill and tantalise us with brilliant balls none of our other players can reach/anticipate WTE spent most of his prior career in a back three, so perhaps he'll be able to cope better with that? Negatives - Sarr (or at least the half-animated marionette of him) out completely No fit right back in the entire squad (though not incredibly different to the situation if all our designated right backs are fit, in a functional sense) Rancid bench (as ever) Cathcart still somehow bulletproof (though I do, in fairness, understand why he's there at auxiliary right back, if indeed it is true that he is - another bright totem to the shabby nature of our recruitment) Yet to be decided - Whether any of them can be bothered to recognise they're in a competitive football match and actually start playing the game at the minute it's scheduled to kick off (or, on the weight of Tuesday night, even any minute after that)
It's worth pointing out in defence of our total $h1£show of a club that we have yet to play 10 of the current bottom 14.......
I wouldn't be surprised if Kalu ends up being our best RWB option (if he can stay fit, big if). I'd still rather we just ditched the 3 at the back though.
At which point does he need sacking then? Should he stay if we finish 7th? 13? 20th? What about if we get relegated?
It's time for the supposed 'best players in the Champo' Pedro, Davis and Asprilla to actually win us games rather than flashy passes or nice dribbling. Step up!
Absolutely **** aside from the goal. This constant tapping the ball about at the back is driving me insane. Stop pretending we're a possession based side and get the ball forward Asprilla the only one with any credit with that sublime ball to Kamara, the rest yet again terrified of taking risks and preferring to pass the ball back
If we can’t beat this very average championship team then Edwards should spend the weekend googling independent financial advisors to get some ideas on investing his redundancy package.
