Team for Saturday

Critch might want the options to play different systems in different games. As he has before.

I strangely find myself agreeing with both poolseasider and td53. It's very early days and we probably just need to calm down and stay in touch til Xmas. But it's hard to see how we transform the team into a goalscoring one with the players we have. Still 12 hours to do something!
 
We needed a player of (apparently) Dembele's type as there seems to be very few of them/any of them in the squad and it's obvious that creating chances and scoring goals is a problem.
We needed Rhodes because you always need a forward who can play with his back to goal, can threaten in the air and - in this instance, like GazGoals before him - has experience to help the squad.

Don't see anything wrong with either signing on paper. The 'problem' with Dembele, is we really have no idea whether he's going to cut it in the real world of League 1 football. He wouldn't be the first and won't be the last.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
Things can turn quickly in football and (despite recent results) I think we have more than enough quality to be challenging this season.

It’s more a matter of Critchley finding that formula to make them click. We know Lavery can score goals, Rhodes ought to be decent at this level.., Joseph is yet to feature and Dembele will offer ability on the ball..

CJ & Dale are also more than capable at this level.., Just a matter of using them to best effect.
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Just not sure Rhodes and Dembele are great uses of the loan system? Well have to see, but could we not sign players of similar quality on full contracts? There's obviously room for improvement but the decision making seems flawed. Apter may offer more than Dembele. Lankshear looks a pretty good option at left defence. Develop them in the team. Either loan players like Simms or Ballard, or use our own players.

And have some clarity. I can't see what we are trying to build.
 
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voyeur said:
Just not sure Rhodes and Dembele are great uses of the loan system? Well have to see, but could we not sign players of similar quality on full contracts? There's obviously room for improvement but the decision making seems flawed. Apter may offer more than Dembele. Lankshear looks a pretty good option at left defence. Develop them in the team. Either loan players like Simms or Ballard, or use our own players.

And have some clarity. I can't see what we are trying to build.
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Without understanding the underlying plan it’s difficult to pass considered judgment really. The recruitment team will likely have a longer term
plan for where they want to be, so you’d expect there to be method in what you perceive as madness.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
Things can turn quickly in football and (despite recent results) I think we have more than enough quality to be challenging this season.

It’s more a matter of Critchley finding that formula to make them click. We know Lavery can score goals, Rhodes ought to be decent at this level.., Joseph is yet to feature and Dembele will offer ability on the ball..

CJ & Dale are also more than capable at this level.., Just a matter of using them to best effect.
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I agree it can change quickly but it’s the intent for me. Get on the front foot and let the players/fans know we are turning up to win. We need a much more aggressive approach to the game and I don’t mean out and out kicking, just be positive. Critchleys got to fire the players and the crowd up. Lets go💪
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BFC_BFC_BFC said:
Without understanding the underlying plan it’s difficult to pass considered judgment really. The recruitment team will likely have a longer term
plan for where they want to be, so you’d expect there to be method in what you perceive as madness.
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Let's hope so. It all feels a bit Rolf Harris. In the "can you see what it is yet" sense. Rather than in the abusing people in plain sight sense. Although.... 🤔
 
NC is not going to divert from 3-5-2 tomorrow, but hopefully he now has options to change the system when it goes tits up..
 
Micky Walsh said:
NC is not going to divert from 3-5-2 tomorrow, but hopefully he now has options to change the system when it goes tits up..
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How long before it goes tits up, do you Think? 😆

I suspect the international break coukd be rethink time. Two weeks of back to the drawing board. I bet Critch was good at technical drawing in his school days.

Team for Saturday. Rob Apter as a 10. Not sure about the rest! Grimmy probably. 😀
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
He’s not awful… Sit him on the left against a high line and get balls in front of him and he’s ** lethal.

He’s never going to turn a man or play neat and tidy football, but he can deliver decent balls into the box and his pace is an asset. And despite what people say, he’s fairly solid defensively and positionally aware…. In fact I’m pretty sure that’s why a few managers have favoured him, because he’s intelligent and does what he’s told to do.
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The most frustrating thing about CJ is he is so static. His main attribute is his pace - so for me to ge the best out of him he needs to be on the move when he receives the ball - if he's stood still it gives defenders chance to defend against him. If he's going full tilt chasing a ball then he gets there before a defender 99% of the time - and that's when he is dangerous.

When we get the ball he should be tight to the touchline and setting off down the wing in the hope that somebody can find a ball in behind for him to chase. If it works then he's in...and even if it doesn't it pulls the full back - and even a centre half who would want to cover too - out of position and creates space somewhere else that we can move the ball into.

But he just stands around looking at the ball.
 
CJs weaknesses massively outweigh his strengths in my opinion. He is reasonably effective when the conditions are perfect. Like the opposition has a high line and he has space to run into. So i see him st brst as a sub to bring on in those situations. Like when we are winning and the opposition is pushing for a goal. Like Preston at home.
 
all of you who have Dembele in the starting x11 looks like you/we are going to be disappointed, could be an introduction from the bench reading Critchley’s comments.
 
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