20 Apr 2024 20:31:09
Sorry but you can't blame poch for that. And I don't really want him to stay but he set them up and if it wasnt for absolutely no composure in the final third we could of won 3-0.
I personally think we played well. And nullified city for most of the game.
I think if you take off your emotional head that we have just lost again you can see plenty of positives over the last month and half.
Once all the injuries are back and hopefully a world class striker ( could that be nkunku anyway maybe) and replace silva with another experienced CB.
Pertrovic - played well again.
Gusto - quality what happens when reece is back.
Chaloba - assured defending for most of the game.
Silva - usual consistent self.
Cucu - aggressive. I don't blame him for the goal he made the right choice but keeper change direction of the ball.
MC - I think getting better and better. At breaking up play. Shocking at creating or scoring lol.
Enzo - sloppy today still not match fit.
Connor - worked hard, but always lacks finesse. Played out of position. He should of been moved back to the pivot with MC earlier with enzo removed.
Palmer - very quite day.
Jackson - shocking infront of goal. Does other things nice but he is there to score goals. Crying about taking a pen in the last game then goes and misses 3 great chances without really causing the keeper any trouble.
20 Apr 2024 20:53:24
Gusto should go to left back if Reece is fit but that’s a big ask.
Chalobah I thought was fantastic at the back today I don’t think he’s any worse than Badiashile or Disasi. Great squad player to have.
Jackson is so up and down it’s unreal he’s definitely a winger he scores the hard chances but when he has to long to think he misses them. Desperately need a target man in the middle whether that’s Sesko or Osimhen who knows.
Nkunku should play off the left when fit but we haven’t seen him fit yet really. Nkunku is very good in front of goal.
20 Apr 2024 20:55:59
Jsfinchy. I might slightly disagree with some of your player assessments but I totally agree about not blaming Poch.
I’m obviously gutted about the result but not how we performed.
21 Apr 2024 08:31:16
How many times have we said that this season though, good performance, can't score to save our lives.
Where would we be with a CF who can put away the chances we create.
21 Apr 2024 10:28:43
Bill, we have signed plenty of strikers in in the last twenty years and I can only remember two who worked out and one of them it took two seasons.
I do agree we should sign a striker but our history dictates that is no guarantee of success. ’.
21 Apr 2024 11:00:20
Actually make that three. Crespo was class.
21 Apr 2024 12:02:15
Its a shame that Crespo never wanted to stay longer, that goal away to Wigan on first day of the season always lives long in the memory.
21 Apr 2024 12:30:11
Just trying to work out the other two of your three strikers since 2004, Tom (though to fit in Crespo it'd have to be a 2003 start) – presumably Drogba and Costa. Seems a bit harsh on Anelka and Giroud – I'd have either of them in this team in a heartbeat. I'd have Remy too – a wonderful player who wasn't ever really given the chance. Honestly, I'd probably even take Morata or Pizarro at this point.
21 Apr 2024 12:46:45
Edw. good point about Anelka but for me he rarely played for us as striker.
I admired Giroud as a player. Good first touch but was very slow. Scored good goals but never that many for us.
Strangely Remy reminds me a bit of Jackson. He always seemed to struggle when he had time, with the exception of a fantastic goal against the scousers.
21 Apr 2024 15:15:19
You're right Tom, Anelka was often on the wing, but I think that's because we had Drogs up front most of the time while he was with us.
Remy I don't think he was ever given a run. The difference between him and Jackson was that he was proven PL goalscorer – he was incredible at QPR. I think if he'd been given the time in the team that Jackson's had this season he'd have been a great player for us. Could be wrong, of course. We've rarely seemed to play to strikers' strengths – Palmer is maybe the first player we've had who regularly sees a through ball since Fabregas.
21 Apr 2024 15:50:11
It’s the managers job to understand and play to a strikers strengths. The worst example of seen of a manager not doing this was TT with Lukaku.