Think for the third game running I think we should keep the same team. HRK has been doing ok in the wing forward role. Morrison has been steady without being spectacular but is finding his form. Matt Phillips has been immense in his new role.
There are a few sub plots hereIt's possible Barnes hadn't trained much during the international break due to that foot injury that caused him to pull out of the U21 squad - can't imagine he would have pulled out unless it was genuine. Friday to Wednesday is a decent gap between games. Can't see how we can leave him out if he's fully fit.
Tosin, very well thought of at citeh...but as a Cb , clearly playing "for us" at Rb but not great at Ipswich
Do we put mears in, from memory he struggled because he was asked to play RWB but maybe at Rb ?
I think Morrison has been good, but does he need a rest?,would he be happy?
Then the biggie
HRK has played well, Jarrod hasn't (but scored) Barnes looked a little tired (but scored) and Gayle wants to get in
Which 3 ?
Finally, we sign sakho, we wait...he played well...we don't see him...I want him at least on the bench but I'd be tempted with
Sakho. HRK
Gayle.
With two matches in four days next week I've decided I'd rest Morrison for this game Gaz Baz getting the nod. Other than that, unchanged.
Johnstone
Adarabioyo Dawson Hegazi Gibbs
Phillips Livermore Barry
Robson-Kanu Rodriguez Barnes
Subs: Myhill, Mears, Townsend, Morrison, Harper, Gayle, Burke.
Cant see us keeping a clean sheet, so we will have to score at least 2 to win the game.As you say, a draw not a bad result but, looking at tonight's games, even a win may only keep us in contention with the top 2, unfortunately.
I think if we grab an early goal (think I saw a stat that we haven't scored a goal in the first 15 minutes of games) then can really see Swansea being rattled.
As setee said, the longer it goes 0-0, the more they will fancy it.
Would I take a draw? Probably wouldn't be the end of the world.
A win would really set a tone and get us right back on track for the top 2.
Gayle won't play the role in a 4-3-3 as well as J Rod does. J Rod has intelligent movement and can come deep and influence the game.
Gayle can do a job but I'd rather have him on the bench, it's not as if we're impotent without him (six goals in two games) and he's a huge weapon to have on the bench.
he's a huge weapon has he indeed ?? I didn't think this was that sort of site !
The longer it goes at 0-0 the more vulnerable we appear to be, especially away (Boro, Wigan, Hull), but, they were so pedestrian for Norwich's early goals on Saturday, we have to go at them from the off. Get an early goal and i only see one winner.
4 at the back, Gayle in for J-rod with Sako on the bench.
1-3 and, sadly, Potter staring down the barrel.
Think I'd be more tempted to have Gayle in for HRK with Rodriguez operating wide right.
If we persist with 433 HRK has to play as a left footer purely for balance, also Rodriguez is awful out wide. I'd also go for Gayle in Rodriguez out.
Got a sneaky feeling we might go back to a 3 though. With Bartley coming in for Tosin and Gayle coming in for HRK with Phillips back RWB.
Reports are suggesting that Bartley is not going to be fit and without any kind of guideline to when he is expected to be available.
I think we have a terrible recent record at Swansea, don't we?
If we persist with 433 HRK has to play as a left footer purely for balance, also Rodriguez is awful out wide. I'd also go for Gayle in Rodriguez out.
Got a sneaky feeling we might go back to a 3 though. With Bartley coming in for Tosin and Gayle coming in for HRK with Phillips back RWB.
Sako is left footed. Frankly the little I've seen of him I haven't been all that impressed and I wouldn't put him in the team ahead of HRK at the moment. Moore does have to make a choice between Gayle and Rodriguez at Centre Forward there is only room for one in the team. This may have always been the case.Whilst I was impressed with Sako's debut, I agree that HRK should retain his place and that the only change which should be considered is Gayle for Rodriguez. Personally, I would bring Gayle in but would not argue if the same side is retained.
Still no Sako. It's time we learned our lesson and stopped signing these aged sick notesBench a bit weak attacking wise, only Gayle, no Sako or Burke.
With form in mind, i wouldn't be happy with anything less than a win tonight. I think we're 7 points off the top so we need this to stay in touch.We're 6 off norwich, a win tonight would put us right back in contention i think!
1-0 to them
Swansea started well, as I expected. We appear to have reverted to a back 3 and persisted with Gayle on the bench. We have more than enough quality to beat these, they're a very inexperienced team, but we need to cut out the stupid mistakes.
What formation are we actually playing? 3 or 4,at the back?None!... the way it is looking
What formation are we actually playing? 3 or 4,at the back? And if its 4....whats changed as we looked solid Las 2 games?
We are definitely still playing a 4 3 3. Barnes and Rodriguez anonymous.
Not playing well,where is midfield?Nowhere to be seen again.
This is truly awful.
Gayle has to be starting every game when fit, I don’t care who he replaces, any of the front three who have all been shocking thus far.
This is poor, we're definitely not playing 433 but it's also not a 352, just looks a mess. This "don't change a winning team" nonsense isn't helping, the front 3 have done nothing and the best striker in the league is sitting on the bench.
Disaster waiting to happen at the back again. Forget what you think about them at the top level, but does anyone seriously believe a defence comtainig Hegazi, Dawson and Gibbs shouldn’t be looking capable and commanding at this level more often?
It's worth remembering that games come thick and fast in the championship and players and teams are not going to be 100% at it every single game. 5% off your game makes a difference and if there are four or five players 5% off the difference can be huge to a team.
In this league you have to grind out results when not at your best. We're not going to stroll through every game.
I understand that, however we’ve played 18 games and probably played well twice, possibly three times. We’ve looked solid at the back about the same number of games.
Still, we may just get through again but it doesn’t bode well long term!
I'm taking the positives, we're 2-1 up away from home and hopefully Big Dave makes a few tweaks to ensure 2nd half we control the game a it more.Don't think he'll change personnel but you're right he needs to tweak the formation or at least introduce the midfielders to whatever it is.
We also still have Gayle to come off bench.
Leeds has been our best performance by far and we seem to be reverting back to having no control of midfield. Moore needs to sort this out
Our last two games have seen our best home performance of the season and our best away performance. We're going along the right lines.
Leeds has been our best performance by far and we seem to be reverting back to having no control of midfield. Moore needs to sort this out
Cant see the game tonight and im puzzled. Same players, same formation and we are winning but sound like we are playing awfull??Understatement.
Understatement.
Whats so bad ?bearing in mind i cant watch or even listen to the gameDoesn't seem any direction or ideas.
Whats so bad ?bearing in mind i cant watch or even listen to the game
I'd go 4_4_2 take Barnes and kanu off.
Both having stinkers
Morrison absolutely terrible again. So many haven’t turned up here
But Barnes can make something out of nothing proved over and over again.
But Barnes can make something out of nothing proved over and over again.
Yeah I'd keep him on while we only have a 1 goal lead. Has been well off it though.
Time for Gayle now?I think that would be a good move.
If (and its a pretty big if) we get promoted this team requires a huge overhaul. They'd be horrendous in the premier. Even more concerning two of the best aren't even ours to begin with.
Not sure i'd have much faith in an overhaul given the selections and signings so far either. What a waste of wages Mears, Hoolahan, and Sako are.
All temporary signings due to the window and weve had a new dof arrive since then.
I question the use of them though, Mears is league 2 standard at best, literally signed because his friend is manager - straight out of last century lower league stuff. Hoolahan and Sako have done nothing, were they really required? Could Burke not have been used for the few minutes they've played?
Wasting what little money we have. 3 past it players with no future.
By no means our best performance but did it comfortably enough. Nice to see us take advantage of set pieces glad that's not something we've lost. Morrison and Phillips excellent and the back 4 all played well. Everyone else not great tbh though HRK put himself about.
Onto the next.
8)
Scrappy win, but they all count.
There must be a game plan somewhere, but gawd knows what it is.
Very poor going forward I thought Barnes was attrocious. We looked tired and lacking pace, would have liked to see Burke on the bench as an option.
Defensively we were ok Johnstone should have done so much better with the shot leading to the Swansea goal.
The games come thick and fast and whilst we have won 3 on the trot sometimes the odd change or tweak wouldn't go amiss
I'd like to give a thumbs up for Livermore thought his games of late have shown a calmness personified.just got in the goalies way enough for Hegazis goal, then walked back calmly without over the top celebrations, maybe I'm old fashioned but I like to see that.
Read the in game chat and all I can say is what a bunch of whingers Albion fans have turned into many are beginning to sound like the arrogant mob from down the road very sad.
An excellent result, particularly as we conceded first to a well worked move. We just stuck to the task and got the job done. Not pretty but for those who mention our powder puff attack, I think we are doing Swansea a disservice as they defended quite well and matched our midfield at times. For me special mention has to go to Hegazi and Tosin who I though were immense last night. I thought our passing was very good as well, pinging it about like a training session, we have had games this season where we couldnt pass for toffee.......
A solid performance from all concerned - thanks Darren!
By no means our best performance but did it comfortably enough. Nice to see us take advantage of set pieces glad that's not something we've lost. Morrison and Phillips excellent and the back 4 all played well. Everyone else not great tbh though HRK put himself about.
Onto the next.
8)
Read the in game chat and all I can say is what a bunch of whingers Albion fans have turned into many are beginning to sound like the arrogant mob from down the road very sad.