We definitely need one decent striker and one decent box to box midfielder, and do think we missed a trick in not bringing in another loan player earlier in the month.
In addition, I also think we would benefit signing a commanding '1st ball' CB. Especially one that had quicker feet than Pearce and didn't cause us to defend such a deep line.
Having said that, Pearce has attributes which could prove valuable in a relegation scrap.
My concern with Pearce right now is that he is developing a habit of trying to grab opposition players around the waist with both hands as they go past him. He did once last night and then in another recent game. It isn't particularly subtle and not great if he does it in the wrong area (by that I mean the penalty area, not the opposition players balls!).
I’m just here to wind up those annoyed the thread title is not being adhered too.
Phillips Matthews, Lockyer, Sarr, Purrington Field Cullen, (new signing) Williams Taylor, (new signing)
Doughty starts in a 433/352.
I think it's harsh on dropping Pratley, although a rest is well needed.
Very, but I like Field, and there would still be ample chances for Pratley.
Most definitely, Will be nice when Field is back so we can rotate them around. Just as Field was finding his feet & started to play well he got injured which is a shame.
Especially as we've such a hectic February coming up
Stoke / Forest and Sheff Weds / Huddersfield are two fixtures in a week that'll be ideal to decide which two games are more suited to Field or Pratley
Be intresting what Bowyer does with them, do you almost throw, in terms of team selection, the forest and Wednesday games to focus on the other 2?
Its what Riga did and 1st time round it worked a treat.
Hopefully we'll have the squad selection to make a good fist of both sets of fixtures - Was certainly impressed last night (for the first time this sesson) how fit we looked towards the end after Saturday
Early Sat / Weds fixtures this season saw us really tiring towards the end of the latter which has been our downfall in picking up points from them
Especially as we've such a hectic February coming up
Stoke / Forest and Sheff Weds / Huddersfield are two fixtures in a week that'll be ideal to decide which two games are more suited to Field or Pratley
Be intresting what Bowyer does with them, do you almost throw, in terms of team selection, the forest and Wednesday games to focus on the other 2?
Its what Riga did and 1st time round it worked a treat.
I think Bowyer has a different mentality to Riga. I also believe we have a better team, and are in a less worse position so Bowyer will try and win every game. Sure there will be rotation, but look how we have played when we had all the injuries, we remained competitive. Bowyer likes winning*.
I just can't see Bowyer being the kind of person who would concede defeat without even trying - his record and performances so far show that he demands fight, no matter what.
But he may very well be pragmatic enough to acknowledge that some games are more winnable than others and deal the cards accordingly.
The players we go for may tell us a lot in that respect - are we looking at temporary stop-gaps to see us through and summer will be the big reinventing period or is the rebuild starting right now.
Comments
Courtesy of @AFKABartram
- Taylor Clarke-Harris
subs,,,,Amos Solly Sarr Pratley Doughty Green Hemed..William's stuck in the middle like glue
Alexander-Arnold | van Dijk | de Ligt | Robertson
De Bruyne | Kante | Williams
Messi | Taylor | Ronaldo
I heard ESI were looking at getting in Kante but they decided Cullen was better suited so are pursuing that instead.
Phillips
Matthews, Lockyer, Sarr, Purrington
Field
Cullen, (new signing)
Williams
Taylor, (new signing)
Stoke / Forest and Sheff Weds / Huddersfield are two fixtures in a week that'll be ideal to decide which two games are more suited to Field or Pratley
Bang... Rumour!!!
Its what Riga did and 1st time round it worked a treat.
Early Sat / Weds fixtures this season saw us really tiring towards the end of the latter which has been our downfall in picking up points from them
*apart from the cups.
But he may very well be pragmatic enough to acknowledge that some games are more winnable than others and deal the cards accordingly.
The players we go for may tell us a lot in that respect - are we looking at temporary stop-gaps to see us through and summer will be the big reinventing period or is the rebuild starting right now.