Full Claret Jacket 8:28 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

Balbeuna was a real worry for me when he came in as he looked really shaky, slow and made poor decisions. Playing back to back games in a settled system has seen a good improvement, more composure and some decent tackling.
His distribution is still pretty poor and he did play the Sheffield lad onside by not being in line for the chance that crashed off the bar so he is still a weak link but having said that Diop was making constant errors prior to his isolation so maybe it's good to get him out the firing line and so give Balbeuna some confidence.
I certainly would not make changes unless enforced by injury, a run of bad form or fatigue. Clean sheets have been a rarity in the past and we have chalked up a few already.
At least we are not having to talk about Dawson who hasn't even made the bench I think.

Fortunes Hiding 8:26 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

I’ve been a huge fan of Fornals since he joined us.

When he scored that goal against Leicester, i was bouncing off the walls.

But, he has struggled recently, and Lanzini and Said must be a better option.

But, as someone mentioned before, if Fornals gets dropped, would that be the end for him as a hammer?

SUM A DING WONG 8:03 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

You're right let's just play to.Cresswells strength .

Why bother trying to get the best out of our most expensive winger, forward and defender, which potentially would makie us better attacking and defensively, whilst Antonio is out.

It's a game of football. If doesn't work you simply go.back to how it was before.

The world will still keep turning

Hammer and Pickle 8:00 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Threa

It’s an imperative to improve what has been working.

connolly8 7:54 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

Why do we want to change something that is working?

zico 7:50 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

No, no, no,,,, in my humble opinion you don't mess around with the defence unless you have to. I'm not sure anyway that Diop would be any better than Cresswell, Diop doesn't have Cresswell or Masuaku's left foot so you could certainly argue that both are technically better players. The only one I would even consider swapping with is Balbuena but he hasn't done much wrong as yet so I would leave it as it is, in my opinion.

OneAll 7:47 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

i enjoy how we play, all that tippy tappy bullshit is overrated

Texas Iron 7:35 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

Agree
Haller looks overweight...

Also...
Measure strikers on minutes per goal...not per game...

Haller and Antonio would be good against most teams

SUM A DING WONG 7:28 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

He wouldn't be the only wing player, he'd have Benrahma or Bowrn for support.

He would have the extra cover of having Soucek being able to drop back .then have Ogbonna, Diop, Balbuena Rice, Coufal covering the defence. Likewise, Cresswell would do same when Coufal goes forward.

ironsofcanada 7:17 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

SUM A DING WONG 7:12 Mon Nov 23

Cresswell doesn't have the pace and trickery to get in as many crosses if he is the only wing player. Part of why people having been praising him is that he is arriving late and has extra space.

Masuaku can centre the ball after beating his man but I can't remember many actual good crosses he has made.


It ain't broke. And it was before.

SUM A DING WONG 7:12 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

IOC.

Youd stil have Cresswell or Masuaku putting crosses in.

We would still have Balbuena and Ogbonna on the pitch to feal with headers.

ironsofcanada 7:08 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

SUM A DING WONG 7:03 Mon Nov 23

Cresswell has time and space to put in crosses, which he can do. Diop can't. He is one of our primary set piece takers.


And unfortunately Diop has not proved that much better in the air.

SUM A DING WONG 7:03 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

Whats to say Diop wouldnt benefit the same as Cresswell has with the extra man in defence.

Not to diminish Cresswell(and to a lesser extent Masuaku's).contribution this season, but Diop playing at his best is better for us than Cresswell /Masuaku playing at their best.

There would be an element of risk, but surely that's worth it to make us even more solid and get more out of Haller.

We're in a position with the points on the board to try it

Hammer and Pickle 7:02 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

Was a bit concerned with the amount of space the likes of Baldock were getting in front of defence. They had a couple of sold chances and that needs sorting.

Faux Bare 6:55 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

Not really sure why you’d even contemplate fucking about with the defence.

zico 6:53 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

Cresswell is arguable one of our best performers since we went to three at the back and whilst Arthur didn't have his best game yesterday he is far better with Cresswell behind him. We are more solid defensively with Ogbonna immense and Balbuena improving in the three. Unless we start leaking goals the defence is best left alone.

SUM A DING WONG 6:43 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

Whilst Antonio is out, I'd like to see Diop played at CB in between AO & FB.

It would allow Diop to push up into DM when were attacking (Diop was excellent at coming out with the ball and pushing into midfield when he first come to us).

This would allow Soucek to push up further more often, to support Haller. We could then have Benrahma and Bowen either side of Haller.

I think having Diop and Rice sitting deeper would also allow Benrahma and Bowen more licence to stay up and support Haller more.

It would mean dropping Fornals and one of Cresswell/Masuaku but at least it might play to Haller's strengths without having to compromise us too much defensively.

zico 5:43 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

The other thing I noticed yesterday was something that had bugged me about Antonio but the reason showed why yesterday. I'd been a tad frustrated with Antonio that when a clearance was made from our defence/keeper at times Antonio wasn't always stuck on the centre backs but was slightly deeper. If the ball went over the top you felt that if Antonio had been right up top he would have got on the end of it.

Yesterday however Haller was right up top with the centre backs and when certain clearances were made Sheffield's defensive midfielder picked it up challenge free because Soucek and Rice were protecting the back four and Haller was right up with the centre backs. Too often the DM had possession from a clearance when Antonio would have been deeper closing him down.

Sajmo1 5:43 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

Antonio maybe does close defenders down but as soon as the opposition moves on our half his running is done while Haller keeps tracking the ball and at least trying to get the ball back. Not to mention his contribution in defending set pieces. At the end of the day people will see only what they want to and will continue to focus on every mistake certain players makes rather then praise them for the good things they've done.

Mex Martillo 5:33 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

I agree that Haller’s work off the ball chasing and closing players down is not enough.

I don’t agree about his play in around the box, is not good enough. Haller is an intelligent player and gets in good positions. He needs to keep working at it, but he does well. As a team, we also struggle to provide Haller with the ball in those positions. All our players can also work to improve that when an attack is on.

I also think Haller is ok at receiving long balls, holding the ball up and knocking it back to our players. He could be better, but it’s ok.

What he isn’t very good at, is running at players with the ball, muscling past players with the ball and yes he does not have Antonio’s pace. Not sure if he can improve or learn that.

For the money I guess he is a bit disappointing, but he is a good player and I quite like him and am happy enough that he is in our squad.

Sajmo1 5:29 Mon Nov 23
Re: ⚽ Sheff Utd v West Ham - Official Match Thread

I'd say the reason why Haller scored 4 goals in the pl this year might have something to do with him starting maybe 10 games with 3 of them being against City and Liverpool but who knows

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