Leandro Bacuna - Sold

[PeterWithesShin]

Again, most on here were saying the same about Clark and Baker 6 months or so ago. There is no guarantee that Bacuna, Bennett etc will be good enough, but we should have learnt by now not to always state as fact that a young player isn't good enough.

[paul_e]

If 6/7 different fullbacks have all looked largely woeful you have to question the system they're playing in as much as their own ability.  Given how poor Lambert was at some parts of the game I think making the assumption that anyone who played badly under him is automatically a bad player is totally unfair.

As I've said before if you genuinely think the squad is crap and is where it should be you have to accept that Lambert was doing an ok job.  I outright refuse to accept that to be the case which means the players are capable of more.  If that's the case for the guys in the squad no then it may well be the case for a few of the guys who are out on loan as well.

[Mister E]

I've felt that of all the Lambarse write-offs Bacuna, Bennett and Helenius have needed the most consideration - we need to cut them some slack.
I hold with that view under the new manager. We'll see in due course.

[Steve67]

Bacuna or Hutton this weekend. Perhaps that decision is a bit of a marker?

[supertom]

If 6/7 different fullbacks have all looked largely woeful you have to question the system they're playing in as much as their own ability.  Given how poor Lambert was at some parts of the game I think making the assumption that anyone who played badly under him is automatically a bad player is totally unfair.

As I've said before if you genuinely think the squad is crap and is where it should be you have to accept that Lambert was doing an ok job.  I outright refuse to accept that to be the case which means the players are capable of more.  If that's the case for the guys in the squad no then it may well be the case for a few of the guys who are out on loan as well.

This is my feeling. I mean if Sherwood can get Zogbia of all people playing well again, then who knows what he can do.
In terms of some of our failed full-backs, Lamberts tactics for the vast majority of his tenure involved inviting an enormous amount of pressure on our defence. The full-backs in particular suffered. Lets face it, if 90% of the game you have to be defending, often being attacked 2 on 1, then even some of the best fullbacks in the business would struggle to look good.

We might as well re-appraise a few players this summer. One of Bennett or Luna could be useful. My money would be on Bennett as he's played most games for Brighton this season and appears to have got better as the seasons gone on. Luna hasn't played much on loan. I feel for Tony as his confidence took a huge battering last season. He'd started brightly but after a run of bad games he never recovered. The roasting he took from Ben Arfa in particularly killed his season IMO.

[supertom]

Bacuna or Hutton this weekend. Perhaps that decision is a bit of a marker?

We're at home, Swansea aren't in great form. I'd stick with Bacuna and remain attacking.

[Ian.]

Crumbs, Bennett was shit.  Sherwood would truly be a miracle worker if he can sort him out.

I fully expect the resurrection of not only Bennett, but of Tonev, Luna, Sylla and Helenius!

Surely Helenius would deserve a chance? He definitely had potential. He had a few issues which came out later on. I'm still convinced Bennet could be useful player too. You can keep Tonev and Sylla though.

[paul_e]

If 6/7 different fullbacks have all looked largely woeful you have to question the system they're playing in as much as their own ability.  Given how poor Lambert was at some parts of the game I think making the assumption that anyone who played badly under him is automatically a bad player is totally unfair.

As I've said before if you genuinely think the squad is crap and is where it should be you have to accept that Lambert was doing an ok job.  I outright refuse to accept that to be the case which means the players are capable of more.  If that's the case for the guys in the squad no then it may well be the case for a few of the guys who are out on loan as well.

This is my feeling. I mean if Sherwood can get Zogbia of all people playing well again, then who knows what he can do.
In terms of some of our failed full-backs, Lamberts tactics for the vast majority of his tenure involved inviting an enormous amount of pressure on our defence. The full-backs in particular suffered. Lets face it, if 90% of the game you have to be defending, often being attacked 2 on 1, then even some of the best fullbacks in the business would struggle to look good.

We might as well re-appraise a few players this summer. One of Bennett or Luna could be useful. My money would be on Bennett as he's played most games for Brighton this season and appears to have got better as the seasons gone on. Luna hasn't played much on loan. I feel for Tony as his confidence took a huge battering last season. He'd started brightly but after a run of bad games he never recovered. The roasting he took from Ben Arfa in particularly killed his season IMO.

I pointed out a fair few times that in the first 2 seasons one of the regular ways we got caught out was teams switching play quickly.  The reason was the defensive shape we adopted when attacked on the wing was to try to crowd them in, so the fullback closes the player and the Centre half, centre mid and winger/wide forward on that side all try to block his options.  This meant the other centre half came across to cover the front post and the other fullback has to step in and cover the back post.

The concept works really well but like a lot of things Lambert tried to implement he got it wrong and despite crowding the ball we never actually put enough pressure on the ball and we let the fullback get in and support too easily so they had 2 on 1 with the fullback on that side and 2 on 1 on the other side as well, meaning we constantly had our fullbacks forced into deciding whether to stick or twist and then being blamed every time they made the wrong choice.

This season Lambert addressed it by getting the midfield flatter and keeping the centre backs closer together in the middle.  It did help defensively, too an extent, but the flat line and reduced closing meant we had close to fuck all of the ball and did nothing with it on the odd occasion we did win it back.  This got followed up by the 'if you've got the ball you don't concede' pass it between the defenders phase that eventually saw the back of him.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Bacuna or Hutton this weekend. Perhaps that decision is a bit of a marker?

We're at home, Swansea aren't in great form. I'd stick with Bacuna and remain attacking.

Nice problem to have isn't it?

I think sherwood may change formation again though. It will be interesting to see how he sets us up.

[OCD]

The difference in coaching approaches -

With Luna, Lambert - having Butterfield shout at him every time he's out of position during a match (presumably this happened in training too).

With Bacuna, Sherwood - showing him videos of what he had been doing in matches and videos of what he wanted him to do as a full-back and give him praise in post-match interviews.

[nigel]

Again, most on here were saying the same about Clark and Baker 6 months or so ago. There is no guarantee that Bacuna, Bennett etc will be good enough, but we should have learnt by now not to always state as fact that a young player isn't good enough.

Agree.
Bennett was improving in the final few games of last season, and was actually impressive in the Chelsea home game.
He's always looked a tidy footballer and, for me, was a great crosser of the ball.
It didn't help him playing in a struggling side.
If, like Lowton, he's now given the chance to play without fear of making mistakes I reckon he'll become a very useful player for us.

[N'ZMAV]

I've always liked Lowton. I think he'd be better in a more forward position.

[peter w]

It's possible that Hutton will start at right-back and Bacuna right-mid, shifting NZog across and dropping Sinclair.

[not3bad]

Again, most on here were saying the same about Clark and Baker 6 months or so ago. There is no guarantee that Bacuna, Bennett etc will be good enough, but we should have learnt by now not to always state as fact that a young player isn't good enough.

Agree.
Bennett was improving in the final few games of last season, and was actually impressive in the Chelsea home game.

Bennett was a contender for MOM in that match in my opinion. I could see he was up for it from the kick off.

[passitsideways]

I've always liked Lowton. I think he'd be better in a more forward position.

It's not an absolutely crazy idea but I guess the problem with that is that he's slow compared to your average wide player; and that lack of general pace as well as recovery speed probably also contributed to him losing his starting spot at RB. Obviously pace isn't everything but it's really important in the modern game and you have to be good in a lot of other areas to make that up. Lowton's delivery is excellent of course and he looks fairly comfortable in possession, but he needs more than that to be a competent wide midfielder.