There was a reason for those two late goals at Spurs and it identifies a problem that’s qute as big as the current striker crisis.
CandH blogger Rich Sprent was the first to mention it publicly and it’s a very strong point indeed. Both Tottenham’s late goals came down the left and were due enturely to our ongong lack of a proper full back.
When Son cut down that side Michail Antonio – AND I AM NOT BLAMING HIM – failed to defend the run and on the second occasion we were left exposed again and all was lost.
Thie right back position cost us last season after Carl Jenkinson’s injury and is doing so again this.
A top top performance was ruined by our refusal to find the right person to slot into the role as a permanent signing since Guy Demel’s days.
Even when fit Sam Byram is not the answer for me and – no doubt like many of you – I will be very annoyed indeed if we haven’t identified the man for the job and be in advanced negotiations for January.
Yes of course we need a striker but the right back postion is gonna cost us big time if we don’t solve it very quickly.
Michail Antonio scared the living daylights out of England’s Danny Rose all afternoon but is not – nor never will be – a full back.
Slav, for me this is one you HAVE TO SOLVE – immediately.
This club is a joke and it starts from the top…lack of investment and an unbalanced squad…what do you expect !
Agree we should have bought a proper right back, it is astonishing that every fan and pundit is in complete agreement on it but our manager persists and every time is punished, we have a temporary solution in Fernandes, who is decent in that position and gives us great options with passing, likewise what does Fletcher have to do to get a game ? I liked the look of Zaza and thought he would be well suited to the Prem but for whatever reason he is struggling and it looks very unlikely we will take up the option to buy him so best off shelving him and freeing up a slot on the bench for another player and at the same time giving Fletcher his chance, perhaps Slav is protecting him from being on the losing side who knows, whatever the case he needs to bite the bullet and start playing him.
How many times do we have to be mugged with late goals because we sit back for the last ten minutes trying to hang on , before someone realises it’s a tactic that doesn’t work for us ? it didn’t work under Allardyce and it doesn’t work under Bilic . And why does it always seem to be
against Spurs ? Gutted 🙁
It has not worked under many managers for many clubs in the PL since the attacking side tends to be favoured and bigger sides even more, the best form of defence is attack keeping the ball in your opponents half and passing it. Ferguson was the master of this tactic, Ronaldo one of the best exponents, run at pace with the ball at your feet, you may lose the ball once or twice but you commit the opponents defenders you might draw a foul, get a player sent off or you might break all the way downfield and score, it gives you multiple ways in which to release pressure whereas sitting deep only encourages the opponent to throw more men forward and gives them the best chance of a result.
The lack of decent RB has been with us for two years at least (depending on your assessment of those in that role). To say SUGO have not spent is just stupid. The guys have had to prioritise and most fans wanted the serious money spent up-front. I can’t think of any other WH owners that have spent so much. They brought in Sam Byram and Arbeloa, loaned Jenks for two seasons so you can’t say they haven’t tried.
Dear old Tonks would have been useful now but we couldn’t have foreseen that in July. The trouble is, as we get further from a top 5 finish, it’s going to be even harder to tempt-in quality. It may mean having to take a chance on another lower division ‘find’ but we gamble on finding a Cresswell or a Byram. I’m still not sure we’ve given Arbeloa a chance to settle in.
Top 5 finish? Our only aim for this season is now 15th and above.
Go and take a punt on Micah Richards