[Albion] Come on then geniuses what's The TinkerMan supposed to do?

[trueblue]

Trouble is he shipped out several players and didn't replace them. He'd have more to pick from if he hadn't inexplicably decided to get rid of Knockaert, Locadia and Andone without replacing them. Also he didn't seem bothered by not signing anyone in the January window when nearly all the fans were crying out for the club to sign another striker. So yes he can only pick the players he has but he could have had several more to choose from but doesn't thanks to his decision.

*EDIT* I see you've basically replied to a post similar to mine already.

Knockaert (sulky, no better than what we've got), Locadia (wardrobe/DJ), Andone (nut job). It's not difficult to read between the lines and guess why those 3 weren't wanted around the squad.

And as for not being bothered in Jan, what does a manager do if the club can't provide a suitable striker? He has to say he's happy and back the current squad. What's he going to get from the players he's left with if he's publicly saying they're not up to it?

***Edit: Locadia scored on his MLS debut, which no doubt will send some into a complete meltdown. For a sense of perspective, Bradley Wright-Phillips is a scoring legend in MLS***

 

[HalfaSeatOn]

Liking posts in this thread that have us as a solid defensive unit (Duffy, Dunk, Burn) fast wing backs (where was Bernardo yesterday?) and our most skilful & attack minded midfielders in play (incl Bissouma, Alzate)

 

[DarrenFreemansPerm]

Just sit back and relax, we'll be playing championship football next season.

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I think in reality this is the best attitude to adopt. As far as I see it we’re as good as down, we can’t score, we can’t keep a clean sheet and we have a horrific run of games coming up. If I was Tony Bloom I’d be absolutely fûcking livid that all these well paid folk that are running the club have assembled an expensive but sub par squad, and appointed a very inexperienced management team. Cluster fùck of the highest order. Tony should be demanding that heads roll.

Moving on. As it stands we haven’t kept a clean sheet in the last 17 games, meaning we need to score at least 2 goals to win any game, that’s simply not good enough. Our survival last season was built on the Dunk and Duffy partnership, it’s time to rekindle it. Let’s make ourselves hard to beat, not a soft touch that can’t buy a lead in a game. I’d personally like to see 3 centre backs, Dunk, Duffy and probably Webster though I’m not sure he’s any better than Burn, let’s actually use some pace on the flanks, play Bernardo lwb and Montoya rwb, 3 man central midfield with Stephens the anchor, Alzate and Pröpper further up. For the 2 forwards either go big man little man with Murray and Maupay or play 1 striker with either Groß, Mooy, Trossard or Jahanbakhsh behind. Some defensive stability, width and pace and a midfield that shouldn’t get overrun.

 

[Wardy's twin]

Some fair points .... some massive assumptions and opinions also.

No it isn’t just about yesterday but until we have a manager who is backed financially to match the aspirations that Bloom and Barber keep proclaiming things we remain as they are now.

Asking Potter to come in and play a style of football that Bloom/Barber/Ashworth want with the players we have here is like asking Lewis Hamilton to win driving a Ford Capri.

that's not strictly true because we have actually played excellent football at times. The issue is not potterball but what has happened to potterball because we don't play it anymore. What we do now is some passing around at the back and have forgotten that we are then supposed to go forward with it. Yesterday we played a poor team (and yes had 3 great chances to score) but we didn't play fluidly and we were slow to get it forward.

 

[amexer]

Well I would stop tinkering and tell following they will play remaining games to get us out of trouble Ryan Montoya/Lampty Dunk Bernardo Propper Mooys Macallister Trossard and Maupay. If havent produced make changes at half time with Ali J Murray March and Alzate If we are in lead Stephens and Gross. No centre back on bench, We need 3 wins and 2 draws

 

[Invicta]

Well I would stop tinkering and tell following they will play remaining games to get us out of trouble Ryan Montoya/Lampty Dunk Bernardo Propper Mooys Macallister Trossard and Maupay. If havent produced make changes at half time with Ali J Murray March and Alzate If we are in lead Stephens and Gross. No centre back on bench, We need 3 wins and 2 draws

Starting with 10 and then 4 subs, that will confuse the opposition !

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Bissouma and Alazate need to start every match in centre midfield from now on. Most of the players look like they are struggling for confidence and it is effecting their decisions, they’re slow, ponderous and predictable on the ball.

These two don’t seem to have that problem. They have a confidence and almost arrogance on the ball the others don’t and we really need that at the moment. They might make the odd mistake and give the ball away occassionally but so beit, they’re positive, quick and dynamic and we desperately need that at the moment.

Hopefully Mac Allister will also bring that confidence when he’s eventually allowed to play.

 

[Seagull1989]

Start by going back to 5 at the back, we look so much more fluid in this formation. Dan Burn being one of the centre backs not LWB, as he gets forward well and helps outnumber the opposition in their half. Solly or Alzate as LWB.

Also strict instructions on Glenn Murray to stop drifting out to the left wing !

 

[whosthedaddy]

My tuppence worth.

For a stable and tight set-up...
Ryan
Montoya Duffy Dunk Barnardo
Stephens
Propper Bissouma MacAllister
Maupay Murray

Most used subs: Alzate or Mooy (for any advanced midfield player, or striker option) then Schelotto and March

For more advanced attacking option...

Ryan
Duffy Dunk Barnardo
Schelotto Propper Bissouma MacAllister Alzate
Maupay Murray

Most used subs: Mooy, March & Trossard, across the middle where & when required

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

Prior to March, I'd say we were extraordinarily fortunate last season. Heading towards Christmas, Murray had ridiculous stats - something like scoring with 7 of his only 8 shots all season. That luck was never going to be sustainable. This time around, the underlying figures have always suggested we will start scoring and winning... unfortunately, it hasn't happened. Maybe because confidence has tailed off with results.

I call that good finishing and correct team selection, something that Potter apparently cannot see. (Whilst I don’t see Murray as the ideal option, what are the alternatives?)

the whole ‘luck’ thing doesn’t wash with me, we’ve got people saying we’re unlucky at the moment. It’s largely the different between good and bad finishing. You finish where you deserve to, as per my original point Hughton did a job keeping us up last year (on a bottom 3 budget).


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[trueblue]

I call that good finishing and correct team selection, something that Potter apparently cannot see. (Whilst I don’t see Murray as the ideal option, what are the alternatives?)

the whole ‘luck’ thing doesn’t wash with me, we’ve got people saying we’re unlucky at the moment. It’s largely the different between good and bad finishing. You finish where you deserve to, as per my original point Hughton did a job keeping us up last year (on a bottom 3 budget).


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I totally agree that Hughton did a good job in his time at the club. Where it seems I differ is that I think we would be bottom of the table now if we'd started this season with the same tactics - and there was very little indication he'd change. It was clear by the end of the campaign that he'd more or less lost the dressing room and that key players were very unhappy with being told to hold back all the time. His cautious approach gave the creative players little chance to shine at all and, in the case of new signings, next to no chance of fulfilling their potential. Ali J being a prime example.

Murray's finishing was good - thank goodness, because he was scoring just about every chance we were creating. This season, although he's had limited chances, he hasn't seized those opportunities to make himself indispensable, bar the West Ham game perhaps. Totally agree our finishing has been poor this season but we're still in reasonable shape for the run-in. Creating chances offers hope of the wins we need. We had next to no hope of saving ourselves last year beyond this stage, where we resorted to sitting 11 players behind the ball at all times, praying for a draw. Watch the extended highlights of Saturday's game now the dust has settled and it becomes clear why the likes of Dan Burn are still convinced that the team can keep themselves out of danger.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

I totally agree that Hughton did a good job in his time at the club. Where it seems I differ is that I think we would be bottom of the table now if we'd started this season with the same tactics - and there was very little indication he'd change. It was clear by the end of the campaign that he'd more or less lost the dressing room and that key players were very unhappy with being told to hold back all the time. His cautious approach gave the creative players little chance to shine at all and, in the case of new signings, next to no chance of fulfilling their potential. Ali J being a prime example.

Murray's finishing was good - thank goodness, because he was scoring just about every chance we were creating. This season, although he's had limited chances, he hasn't seized those opportunities to make himself indispensable, bar the West Ham game perhaps. Totally agree our finishing has been poor this season but we're still in reasonable shape for the run-in. Creating chances offers hope of the wins we need. We had next to no hope of saving ourselves last year beyond this stage, where we resorted to sitting 11 players behind the ball at all times, praying for a draw. Watch the extended highlights of Saturday's game now the dust has settled and it becomes clear why the likes of Dan Burn are still convinced that the team can keep themselves out of danger.

The players are hardly going to say we’re doomed....... or criticise the manager.

In terms of AJ, at the moment I would suggest Hughton got it spot on, as Potter rarely selects and he’s probably made less appearances this season.

But in terms of change, yes, Hughton prefers a defensive solution and Potter doesn’t. It feels like Potter is as stubborn IMO, as he persists with certain playing personnel regardless of form.

Re Murray, forwards need games and the constant changing is unhelpful. What happens vs Wolves and Arsenal, play Murray drop Maupay - then switch back? There is no continuity. As per my para above, some players seem beyond reproach and never get dropped, others aren’t given the same chance.

In terms of where we’d be this season, no-one knows. The whole summer signings would have probably been different. We can only say Hughton kept us up for two season’s, and we hope Potter does the same.


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[trueblue]

As per my para above, some players seem beyond reproach and never get dropped, others aren’t given the same chance.




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It seems like some people are arguing that Potter changes the team too much - but also that he doesn't change it enough. I'm just not sure who's beyond reproach... I'd argue Webster has probably been given more opportunities than he deserves, Murray, Duffy and Bernardo too few (though Burn's consistency makes it hard to leave him out). The nailed-on starters are Ryan, Dunk and Propper, the latter pair probably the only 2 whose performance rarely drops below an acceptable level. How many players have been dropped after an absolute blinder? Ali J is the only one I that springs to mind after Bournemouth at home. I get what you're saying about consistency in team selection being a benefit - but then if Potter leaves a player in who might need the minutes and a bit of belief (Trossard for instance), he gets criticised for that too. A bit like Albion, he can't win.

Murray did well against West Ham but made little impression at Sheffield United, where Maupay scored. Not surprising really that Maupay got the nod against Palace - and caused them problems. His finishing was a let-down but Murray wouldn't have been in a position to finish any of those chances, which were created by Maupay's pace. The bottom line I think is we've got a squad of players that are largely bottom 6 PL quality (in line with our budget)...so we are where we are, and doing ok to be near the top of that group.

 

[Wozza]

Just need to look at our 2 best results this season, 3-0 v Spurs and 2-1 v Arsenal. Common link?

Opponents in turmoil.

 

[Bry Nylon]

The bottom line I think is we've got a squad of players that are largely bottom 6 PL quality (in line with our budget)...so we are where we are, and doing ok to be near the top of that group.

And this is the crux of the issue. After all, how many of regulars would feature in the starting XI for any other PL club outside of the bottom 3? Dunk? Definitely. Ryan? Possibly. But after that?

Painful as it is, we are probably where we should be, given the pool of talent at the manager's disposal.

 

[trueblue]

Opponents in turmoil.

In Spurs' case such "turmoil", that the only other league game they lost to an equivalent club in the first half of the season was at Newcastle, 1-0. The other defeats came against Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea. Arsenal have only lost to one club other than Albion from outside the top 4 all season and that was at Sheffield United.

So pretty good victories really.

 

[trueblue]

And this is the crux of the issue. After all, how many of regulars would feature in the starting XI for any other PL club outside of the bottom 3? Dunk? Definitely. Ryan? Possibly. But after that?

Painful as it is, we are probably where we should be, given the pool of talent at the manager's disposal.

I suppose some might feature and do ok, surrounded by better players. But as a collective, it's a different matter.

 

[trueblue]

Don’t by any means consider him the saviour. This is the team I would go with based on what I’ve witnessed over the last month at least.

We need to shake it up, maybe some “big” names wouldn’t like being dropped however I would be looking to try something different as have no confidence in Montoya, Greyhound, Mooy, gross biss, Webster based on recent performances.

Never thought I consider us missing Stephens but he plays a part in the small chance of survival we have


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Bissouma's played very well the last couple of appearances.

 

[fleet]

It is very clear that Potter wants players to play (almost) any position in (almost) any formation. What we see is players having no idea what they are meant to be doing most of the time. Two players in the same position on the field and no one to pass to. We must have a settled team to build understanding between the players. Changes should be limited to injury:suspension and total loss of form - that is 0, 1 or at worst 2 changes for the next game, not 4 every game.

 

[Hungry Joe]

Haven't read the other replies, so apologies if this has already been suggested, but personally the key for me is playing key players in their preferred positions and playing to their strengths a bit more. I'd play Propper further forward with Stephens behind, start Alzate in midfield and change our style a bit to play more balls over the top for Maupay to run on to. Be interesting to see if MacAllister can make the grade, as we desperately need more goals from midfield. I also don't see the point of playing Montoya at right back if we are playing the passing it around the back to draw teams onto us, as if the ball goes wide to him he is too defensive to take advantage of the overload. Still think Bruno hung up his boots a season too early on that score, maybe Lamptey can be the answer, but a bit of a gamble.