Chesney Christ
New member
I've realised something that baffles me about Gus and his obsession with playing "the right way" (passing football/possession football/keep-ball), and I think its why we are struggling so much.
He keeps signing players not even REMOTELY suited to playing in that way.
Lets look at Saturday's side against Middlesborough for example.....
The back four is fair enough. Greer, Bruno and Bridge are all very strong technically. El Abd not as much, but has improved a lot in that area.
But when you look at our midfield line-up its utterly bewildering. Okay, so Bridcutt is gifted and can pick out a pass, but Crofts and Hammond are workers, not creators. They're not exactly known for their one-touch brilliance, or range of glorious passes. They are good old-fashioned British "huffers and puffers". No shame in that whatsoever, but a baffling selection when you consider Gus' OBSESSION with passing football.
Meanwhile, on the bench sits Gary Dicker (not a Gus signing), a man who, for all his shortcomings, is suited to the passing game..... his strongest attribute, by far, is passing. In the meantime, Jake Forster-Caskey, a player PERFECTLY suited to the "Gus way"..... is playing for f***ing OXFORD.
Up front, its even more bizarre. I love Barnesy, but technical brilliance is not high on his list of attributes. He's game, selfless and works hard. But his touch and passing are probably two of his weakest areas. Then you've got Macca, who runs about a lot and can finish. However, like Barnes his link-play and passing is poor.
Of the front 6 on Saturday, only Bridcutt and David could be considered even CLOSE to resembling the sort of side you'd want if you were creating a Swansea style keep-ball philosophy.
Put simply, the players he is signing and picking are MILES away from being able to apply the philosophy he wants them to. They simply aren't those sorts of players. I haven't lost faith in Gus.... however, I've never been quite so baffled and disillusioned with him.
Up until now, we've always had a clear understandable approach.
He seems to be at conflict with himself. Something needs to give.
He keeps signing players not even REMOTELY suited to playing in that way.
Lets look at Saturday's side against Middlesborough for example.....
The back four is fair enough. Greer, Bruno and Bridge are all very strong technically. El Abd not as much, but has improved a lot in that area.
But when you look at our midfield line-up its utterly bewildering. Okay, so Bridcutt is gifted and can pick out a pass, but Crofts and Hammond are workers, not creators. They're not exactly known for their one-touch brilliance, or range of glorious passes. They are good old-fashioned British "huffers and puffers". No shame in that whatsoever, but a baffling selection when you consider Gus' OBSESSION with passing football.
Meanwhile, on the bench sits Gary Dicker (not a Gus signing), a man who, for all his shortcomings, is suited to the passing game..... his strongest attribute, by far, is passing. In the meantime, Jake Forster-Caskey, a player PERFECTLY suited to the "Gus way"..... is playing for f***ing OXFORD.
Up front, its even more bizarre. I love Barnesy, but technical brilliance is not high on his list of attributes. He's game, selfless and works hard. But his touch and passing are probably two of his weakest areas. Then you've got Macca, who runs about a lot and can finish. However, like Barnes his link-play and passing is poor.
Of the front 6 on Saturday, only Bridcutt and David could be considered even CLOSE to resembling the sort of side you'd want if you were creating a Swansea style keep-ball philosophy.
Put simply, the players he is signing and picking are MILES away from being able to apply the philosophy he wants them to. They simply aren't those sorts of players. I haven't lost faith in Gus.... however, I've never been quite so baffled and disillusioned with him.
Up until now, we've always had a clear understandable approach.
He seems to be at conflict with himself. Something needs to give.
