(13-09-2020, 18:44)BaggieSteve Wrote:

(13-09-2020, 17:12)Slick_Footwork Wrote: Poor from Bilic and the players today.

I really don't think it's time to be experimenting with a new formation in a tough competitive game.

IMO it was a selection made with fear. Leicester were patched together at the back, so sacrificing a forward player for another defender made no sense.

It worked for a while in terms of keeping us 'steady' but as soon as they scored the game was over. We could've played all night and not scored.

We really need an athletic defensive minded midfielder on the books to enable us to play 2/3 creative players in a 5 man midfield (Krov, Grady, Pereira).

I never thought I'd say this, but if Livermore gets injured we will be absolutely screwed. If we have to go with Sawyers and Harper against 3 midfielders, we will get massacred as neither have any defensive awareness. Saywers is a good quarter back if he has options in front of him, but I just don't see what Harper adds. He doesn't tackle, doesn't track, doesn't create, doesn't score. I'd sooner have Field in there because at least he gets around the pitch and plugs the gaps. We really need new blood in this position though. Yet the player we are linked with - Gallager - is yet another attacking midfielder. I don't get it...

We're also desperate for a proper striker and some decent full backs. Not sure if Grant is the man as he was playing on the wing when I watched Huddersfield last season. We have an abundance of wing forwards, IMO we're crying out for a proper number 9 who has some presence but is also mobile (hence not Charlie Austin). Don't see the point in Deeney as he's just another Austin. Could barely run last season and while he takes a good penalty, we're not going to get into the opposition box to win one on this evidence.

I think we all maybe see the problems differently, Slick. For me, Gallagher is exactly the type of player we need - a midfielder who will run with the ball and inject some pace. I’m fine with Livermore playing the defensive tackling midfielder a la Yacob but I have no idea what Sawyers brings to the team. It’s interesting you seem him as a quarterback because I see none of that in him. For me, the quarterback controls the game and dictates the play but I see none of that in Sawyers, nor any desire in him to do so. I see a player with no pace, lethargic, unwilling to run with the ball - he’d rather play the simple, non threatening, non creative ball two yards to the back four. I cannot see Sawyers ever doing anything to change a game. It’s easy to get dispirited after a big home defeat and we have to keep things in perspective but I feel we have a huge two weeks coming up for transfers and, for me, that has to include a dynamic midfielder

(13-09-2020, 19:32)Lord Snooty Wrote: Wasting your money with Grant. Only scored 4 for us in the Premier League.

(13-09-2020, 18:44)BaggieSteve Wrote:

(13-09-2020, 17:12)Slick_Footwork Wrote: Poor from Bilic and the players today.

I really don't think it's time to be experimenting with a new formation in a tough competitive game.

IMO it was a selection made with fear. Leicester were patched together at the back, so sacrificing a forward player for another defender made no sense.

It worked for a while in terms of keeping us 'steady' but as soon as they scored the game was over. We could've played all night and not scored.

We really need an athletic defensive minded midfielder on the books to enable us to play 2/3 creative players in a 5 man midfield (Krov, Grady, Pereira).

I never thought I'd say this, but if Livermore gets injured we will be absolutely screwed. If we have to go with Sawyers and Harper against 3 midfielders, we will get massacred as neither have any defensive awareness. Saywers is a good quarter back if he has options in front of him, but I just don't see what Harper adds. He doesn't tackle, doesn't track, doesn't create, doesn't score. I'd sooner have Field in there because at least he gets around the pitch and plugs the gaps. We really need new blood in this position though. Yet the player we are linked with - Gallager - is yet another attacking midfielder. I don't get it...

We're also desperate for a proper striker and some decent full backs. Not sure if Grant is the man as he was playing on the wing when I watched Huddersfield last season. We have an abundance of wing forwards, IMO we're crying out for a proper number 9 who has some presence but is also mobile (hence not Charlie Austin). Don't see the point in Deeney as he's just another Austin. Could barely run last season and while he takes a good penalty, we're not going to get into the opposition box to win one on this evidence.

I think we all maybe see the problems differently, Slick. For me, Gallagher is exactly the type of player we need - a midfielder who will run with the ball and inject some pace. I’m fine with Livermore playing the defensive tackling midfielder a la Yacob but I have no idea what Sawyers brings to the team. It’s interesting you seem him as a quarterback because I see none of that in him. For me, the quarterback controls the game and dictates the play but I see none of that in Sawyers, nor any desire in him to do so. I see a player with no pace, lethargic, unwilling to run with the ball - he’d rather play the simple, non threatening, non creative ball two yards to the back four. I cannot see Sawyers ever doing anything to change a game. It’s easy to get dispirited after a big home defeat and we have to keep things in perspective but I feel we have a huge two weeks coming up for transfers and, for me, that has to include a dynamic midfielder

(13-09-2020, 19:32)Lord Snooty Wrote: Wasting your money with Grant. Only scored 4 for us in the Premier League.

(13-09-2020, 22:25)drewks Wrote: Good post Slick. It's interesting how we all see players differently; even last year I was completely uninspired by Sawyers, even when he wins the 'highest passing %' and or 'most touches' - to me they are virtually always the safe, sideways /backwards pass, hardly ever incisive or inventive.
I may well be wrong here, but he also (to me) always seems like he thinks he's got all the time in the world - when he hasn't! Far too casual in my mind.
This isn't a witch hunt - I really want him to succeed - I'm just frustrated by him because I think he HAS got talent!

(13-09-2020, 23:58)Dingle-Dingle Wrote: Hate to say it but to get anywhere in this league I think we need a Grealish. Someone who can fall over in the box type player.

DD    

(13-09-2020, 17:12)Slick_Footwork Wrote: Poor from Bilic and the players today.

I really don't think it's time to be experimenting with a new formation in a tough competitive game.

IMO it was a selection made with fear. Leicester were patched together at the back, so sacrificing a forward player for another defender made no sense.

It worked for a while in terms of keeping us 'steady' but as soon as they scored the game was over. We could've played all night and not scored.

We really need an athletic defensive minded midfielder on the books to enable us to play 2/3 creative players in a 5 man midfield (Krov, Grady, Pereira).

I never thought I'd say this, but if Livermore gets injured we will be absolutely screwed. If we have to go with Sawyers and Harper against 3 midfielders, we will get massacred as neither have any defensive awareness. Saywers is a good quarter back if he has options in front of him, but I just don't see what Harper adds. He doesn't tackle, doesn't track, doesn't create, doesn't score. I'd sooner have Field in there because at least he gets around the pitch and plugs the gaps. We really need new blood in this position though. Yet the player we are linked with - Gallager - is yet another attacking midfielder. I don't get it...

We're also desperate for a proper striker and some decent full backs. Not sure if Grant is the man as he was playing on the wing when I watched Huddersfield last season. We have an abundance of wing forwards, IMO we're crying out for a proper number 9 who has some presence but is also mobile (hence not Charlie Austin). Don't see the point in Deeney as he's just another Austin. Could barely run last season and while he takes a good penalty, we're not going to get into the opposition box to win one on this evidence.