Thrashed by Brighton. I've been worried about this happening for a while now. I don't mind managers being smart but I absolutely hate managers trying to be too smart. Potter has to stop shoe-horning players into positions. It is also clear that some players are just not up to the task.
My biggest gripe is Cucurella. How anyone can even describe him as a footballer is beyond me. As a left back, or wing back, he's nowhere near as good as Chilwell. As a centre back, he's non-existent. Awful positioning, can't tackle, no tactical awareness, he's awful. Every time I watch us play with him in the team, we know who the opposition will target.
Moreover, if we have wing-backs in our squad, why are we using Sterling, Pulisic or Loftus Cheek in these positions? Sterling is a good attacking player, but he's not going to track back happily and he's not going to be in an advanced position when we win the ball back. Pulisic is a decent player but again not tactically aware enough to track back.
Similarly Havertz. I know he scored today, but he did little else more than miss two other really good chances. He's not a lone centre forward. If we decide that Aubameyang isn't going to do it, just pick Broja every game and let him get some confidence and experience. He couldn't really do any worse than Havertz.
I'm all for adapting tactics and formations but I find it ridiculous that key positions are given to players who have no idea as to what they are doing. I know it's just one result, but it was a particularly poor performance in the first half where we gave away possession too cheaply, and defended like school children. I want Potter to succeed but he really has to start putting out teams with coherence.
It's going to be a hard season. I hope we can fluke a cup.
Time to play players in position
posted on 30/10/22
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 1 hour, 8 minutes ago
If we had Fofana Kante Koulibaly & James available it'd be a hugely different story.
However, our continued failings up front would still need addressing
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Stop crying about injuries you big plastic girl
posted on 30/10/22
comment by LukaBrasi COYS (U22178)
posted 5 hours, 56 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 1 hour, 8 minutes ago
If we had Fofana Kante Koulibaly & James available it'd be a hugely different story.
However, our continued failings up front would still need addressing
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Stop crying about injuries you big plastic girl
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ðŸ¤
posted on 31/10/22
Great article
Potter's line up against Brighton was extremely ambitious (putting it mildly). One attacker playing WB can work circumstantially, two is just suicide unless you're playing a very weak team but even then there'd be easier way to go about it. And even if you entertain it for whatever reason, the LCB/RCB & two DM/CM's need to have great games to protect them... that didn't happen.
Ironically that was the type of mad scientist line up I was expecting out of Tuchel since he came
posted on 31/10/22
If only we weren't short of two class centre backs a world class DM & a top drawer wing back on the injured bench....
someone who could hit the net fairly regularly wouldn't go amiss either...but that's another story
posted on 31/10/22
In saying this...Potter had Azpi & Chilwell he could've selected....so....
posted on 31/10/22
Pots certainly has you guessing !........
what surprises in store for Wednesday ?
posted on 31/10/22
I said it in the summer, not sure the extent of chillwells injury, I believe a reason we bought cucurella is because of it. Not sure if chillwell will ever reach those early season levels from last year.
posted on 31/10/22
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 4 hours, 52 minutes ago
Pots certainly has you guessing !........
what surprises in store for Wednesday ?
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playing some youngsters hopefully...& one or two first teamers in the right position might be nice
posted on 31/10/22
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 33 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 4 hours, 52 minutes ago
Pots certainly has you guessing !........
what surprises in store for Wednesday ?
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playing some youngsters hopefully...& one or two first teamers in the right position might be nice
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I agree entirely .
posted on 31/10/22
comment by SWTN - Judas is number 1 (U7916)
posted 1 day, 9 hours ago
The continued decision to play Cucarella at LCB is mind boggling tbh. He is a decent LWB and I don't understand why he just does not rotate with Chilwell. In Potters defence with two CBs out injured his options are limited atm but it is clear Cucarella at LCB is not the answer.
Ultimately though we are paying the price for appalling management of player contracts. As a result he bulk of our transfer spending was on defenders.
When I look at the money we have spent on players in the last 5 years, frankly it is a disastrous return on investment.
I just hope FFP will allow us to come back to the market because we need to bring in quality and shift expensive dead wood.
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And another reason for my dissatisfaction with the modern day loan policy.
We could have had Dujon Sterling to cover RWB and Juan Castillo left side had we not loaned them out - especially in Stirlings case where it's well known we have a lack of suitable backup for James!