The slight worry I have is Smith rigidly sticking to the existing formation waiting for it to come right. We have to move away from the "2 number eights" and have two sitting in midfield.
Quote from: brontebilly on September 01, 2019, 01:59:12 PMThe slight worry I have is Smith rigidly sticking to the existing formation waiting for it to come right. We have to move away from the "2 number eights" and have two sitting in midfield.Let’s not chuck everything out just yet. It’s been four games, nowhere near long enough to suggest we are sticking rigidly to anything. Smith is an intelligent man and he will be looking a what needs to improve and figuring out how to do that.
Quote from: Dogtanian on September 01, 2019, 05:10:14 PMQuote from: brontebilly on September 01, 2019, 01:59:12 PMThe slight worry I have is Smith rigidly sticking to the existing formation waiting for it to come right. We have to move away from the "2 number eights" and have two sitting in midfield.Let’s not chuck everything out just yet. It’s been four games, nowhere near long enough to suggest we are sticking rigidly to anything. Smith is an intelligent man and he will be looking a what needs to improve and figuring out how to do that.The trouble is I don't think he's making good subs so far. At Spurs the midfield desperately needed shoring up, but he chose to sub a winger for a winger and brought Jota on. Bournemouth made a sub at half time for their player who was a walking red card. With four yellow cards at half time, and a ref clearly looking to send one of ours off, Smith should have done the same. Things like that.
The next 5 league games will show us how much we need to worry imo. West Ham, Burnley and Brighton at home, Arsenal and Norwich away.
I think not bringing one in was the one misstep the management team made in the summer, but it was a big one.
Quote from: Risso on September 01, 2019, 08:46:09 AMYes. We’re not going to score enough goals, and we’re way too lightweight in midfield.100% correct. We'll be yo-yoing near the bottom of the table most like until we buy something that should have been a top priority this summer, another striker.Going into your first PL campaign after being absent for three seasons with very limited forward options is negligence.
Yes. We’re not going to score enough goals, and we’re way too lightweight in midfield.
Quote from: Risso on September 01, 2019, 05:19:45 PMQuote from: Dogtanian on September 01, 2019, 05:10:14 PMQuote from: brontebilly on September 01, 2019, 01:59:12 PMThe slight worry I have is Smith rigidly sticking to the existing formation waiting for it to come right. We have to move away from the "2 number eights" and have two sitting in midfield.Let’s not chuck everything out just yet. It’s been four games, nowhere near long enough to suggest we are sticking rigidly to anything. Smith is an intelligent man and he will be looking a what needs to improve and figuring out how to do that.The trouble is I don't think he's making good subs so far. At Spurs the midfield desperately needed shoring up, but he chose to sub a winger for a winger and brought Jota on. Bournemouth made a sub at half time for their player who was a walking red card. With four yellow cards at half time, and a ref clearly looking to send one of ours off, Smith should have done the same. Things like that.Surely the players have to take some responsibility for cautions, Trez was very naive and rightfully got a second yellow, I don't think that you can blame Smith for bookings
Quote from: PeterWithesShin on September 01, 2019, 05:22:37 PMThe next 5 league games will show us how much we need to worry imo. West Ham, Burnley and Brighton at home, Arsenal and Norwich away. Seven points, which will leave us with 10 from a possible 21. I'd put that as somewhere between okay and not okay.