How do we improve?

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

We lack pace in the side and whilst we do lack width that's more to do with the system than the personnel.

The only time I can remember an overlap down the right flank last night was when Stones did if from the CB position!

We're too static and aren't moving the ball quickly enough in the final third.

When we are getting into crossing positions we've usually taken that long getting there, that the opposition back line are set and our forward players are static and as a result not attacking the ball.

 

[Loz]

I agree that width is our biggest problem and in overcrowding the middle we are our own worst enemies. Even our most creative players vcan't dig themselves out when surrounded by three or four other blue shirts and the opposition.
I think we need to play to players' strengths again....Mirallas (I still like the guy despite last night's miss because he still wants to try to attack and score goals) should be played on the right where he can use his pace and his right foot. Oviedo should play on the left of midfield where Pienaar used to play when he had some pace. Oviedo is left footed and it was ridiculous to see him on the right flank last night having to stop, cut back inside and then throw in an in-swinging cross for the keeper to collect.
Having those two on the flanks of midfield will also allow Baines and Coleman more security to get forward like last year as Coleman seems frightened to leave his own half these days.
My line up would be

Robles/Howard (when fit)
Coleman Stones Jagielka Bains
Mirallas Besic Barry/McCarthy Oviedo
Barkley/Naismith
Lukaku

The opportunities for Lukaku should increase as there will be more service from the flanks from Coleman, Baines, Mirallas and Oviedo and also the opportunity for Barkley to thread him through the middle. If our midfield is not over pressed in games, one central midfielder could drop out and Naismith could come on playing in front of the remaining midfield and behind Lukaku in the hope that his stamina will get him into the box at times to get on the end of things as he can poach better than Lukaku.

 

[Alex Hindmarsh]

I think John Stones did it and that was about it.

FFS John Stones!!!!!!!!

Quality him though isn't he. Could play anywhere on the pitch and be our best player.

 

[Big Fat Sam]

McGeady, Barry and Naismith to start the next game. Imagine that, hahaha!

 

[Loz]

McGeady, Barry and Naismith to start the next game. Imagine that, hahaha!

lol

Was McGeady only banned for one game? Can't we appeal that and have it increased to three?

 

[Pittsburgh Footy]

Thing is, McCarthy is not going to add much creativity when he returns. We do actually miss Osman as he is a clever footballer. Not everybody's cup of tea on here I know!

Besic has to play with McCarthy when all fit for me and Barkley or Osman in front of them behind Lukaku.

Mirrallas and McGeady or Peinaar out wide when fit and available.

J Mac won't add creativity, but his presence will allow others to be more creative. I really think his absence has changed the way our team has felt comfortable playing, b/c we've been burned so many times with midfield errors and errors at the back. I think J Mac will give everyone that security blanket to be more aggressive.

 

[Big Fat Sam]

I'd suggest Barry sitting a little deeper but never as last man. If Stones goes up he can sit alongside Jagielka to make up the back line again. If Barry must play, it must be merely soak up anything between midfield and defence and give the ball out wide asap to a full back. Surely it's not too difficult an ask.

Time to forge some partnerships on the flanks again, get the players partnering up training. Baines and Oviedo, Coleman and Mirallas or vice-versa. Absolutely no reason why those two pairs cannot be lethal.

Barkley or Naismith, never, EVER both. And if both are in woeful form as this season, get Kone in in a 4-4-2.

McCarthy in the side as soon as possible.

 

[sageyefc]

Change the formation, switch it up and go a proper 433 or his favoured 352

 

[TheFinnFan]

Barely having a shot on goal, never mind failing to score, isn't exactly dominating a game, imo. If a team is deliberately allowing you to have the ball all game long, without it putting them under any real pressure, then it actually shows that it was they who were in charge of the game, not us.

point taken

 

[helpimonfire]

Sack Roberto

Tell Kev to grow up or feck off.

 

[toffeestillidie]

There is no creativity from central midfield. WBA were so deep yesterday that the ball was played into Barry as he was standing on the centre circle, there was a good 15 yards worth of space between Barry and the WBA defence, but instead of running into that space and charging at the defence in the way that any decent attacking central midfielder would do, it was put out wide again, something which WBA could deal with all day.

We have missed Osman a bit, he's no world beater but he has been effective in the final third over the years. Our current first 11 has no creativity whatsoever.

Spot on. We badly need to find an Osman/Pienaar type player. Barkley, Lukaku, and Mirallas are all fantastic on the ball; Barry and Besic are great at getting the ball to a player in space or out wide, Naismith and McCarthy have good movement and are able to give the players in possession a second option, and Oviedo does a bit of everything without doing any one particularly well.

None of them however can do what Pienaar and Osman (and Arteta when we had him) could do, which would be to unlock a defense with tricky passes. Pienaar especially was great at reading when a defense was shifting to one side to cover us, and would redirect our attack to exploit open spaces.

Right now, our only player capable of making those sorts of passes is Baines, but we typically rely on him to get behind the defense and whip in a cross, rather than staying back and trying to unlock the defense the way Osman/Pienaar do it.

If we don't sign someone who can do this (preferably someone 10 years younger than our current options), we might look to play Baines in midfield again and give Garbut some more time at fullback. It's far from ideal, but we desperately need to change something.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

Well if you're gonna put Brian Oviedo on the wing then use him ffs, it happened the other week (although he was playing left back that night) and then again last night, he was in loads of space out there on the wing & you've got Barry or Barkley heading diagonally towards him he's arm is raised asking for it there's a big hole behind the defender and then they turn back inside and Ross or Gaz Baz gives it to the other or heads for the other side thats a lot more congested, usually to give it to Seamus who then after they lose the ball has to get back, at least on the Left with Oviedo there's Baines still in position at LB.
Before anyone says he aint a winger, well he used to play reg on the wing at Copenhagen apparently and as he plays as a wing back then he's capable. The odd times he got it he could get a cross in.

Gareth Barry though has been a disgrace this season in comparison to last, he worked his backside off to get a contract (be it here or elsewhere) and seems to be resting on his laurels now he's got it.

 

[L4Everton]

We have missed Osman a bit, he's no world beater but he has been effective in the final third over the years. Our current first 11 has no creativity whatsoever.

Osman's turn. Sweet. We're getting there.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

Funnily enough we actually missed McGeady last night and he probably would have made a difference in my opinion.

I'd get a Carbon Monoxide test done if I was you. He would've run into defender after defender and walked his dog more than the 'Stop Walton Hall Development' lot.

You're entitled to your opinion like as we live in a free society, but then so's Farage.

 

[TheFinnFan]

so basically we are trying to do somersaults with wheelchair.