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AKA ERNIE 1:40 Sun Dec 23
balbuena and hernandez out

for up to a month according to pissed old hugh

Alex V 1:44 Fri Dec 28
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

I'd agree it did look more solid last night. Snodgrass as the off striker/AM does offer more in terms of cover than other options. And Obiang/Rice is just the most solid partnership of the ones available right now. Interesting how solid the flanks looked too, probably as a result of the selection.

It's always a question of finding the right mix in any shape. It depends on the selection and on the opposition. 4-2-3-1 with Wilshere and Noble as the midfield pair obviously looked abysmal early in the season. And if everyone was fit we'd have a bunch of players who want to play more attacking roles who I wouldn't trust in that shape together.

daveyg 7:34 Fri Dec 28
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

Team was the one I suggested, I thank you.

Norflundon 1:29 Fri Dec 28
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

Definite 4231 tonight and I thought we were solid throughout and dominated and controlled the game
Don’t agree with the comment on all midfielders being able to defend all players need to be able to defend but if Lanzini or say Anderson play as a No 10 you don’t put them in there to defend. Rice is clearly sent it to play a defensive midfield role he regularly drops inbetween the centre halves to make a three when both fullbacks bomb on...don’t think we have another player who could play the role he does

Alex V 8:08 Thu Dec 27
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

Norflundon 4:38 Thu Dec 27

Three midfielders will offer better defensive cover than two. 'Holding midfielder' is one of those terms that I don't think really means anything in terms of this league - all central midfielders have to offer defensive cover.

I think our midfield looks too open in 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2. It's contributing to issues around Anderson and Masuaku, not solving them. The best solution I've seen was Rice as DM and two CMs ahead of him.

Norflundon 4:38 Thu Dec 27
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

V
Not with Arthur at fullback And Anderson out wide I think you need the two holding players
And when we can get Lanzini fit I think that will be our best formation

daveyg 4:33 Thu Dec 27
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

Norf
Totally agreed with you there.
Anderson,Snodgrass and Diangana can all interchange across the line.Good passes and are all willing to shoot. Diangana has the habit of hanging on to the ball and retaining it after a dribble.
Having those 3 in front of the midfield 2 means they can slot back creating a five across the middle when defending. Then a quick counter attack.....
Can see us getting a hatful now Norf and I have sussed it

Alex V 4:18 Thu Dec 27
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

>>> I think all our best performances have come with a 4231...

For me we're best with Rice as a dedicated DM in a 4-1-4-1. It enables the two CMs to play on the front foot and push up on the opposition, I consider it a more attacking approach than 4-4-2.

Norflundon 4:12 Thu Dec 27
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

Quite happy about Hernandez
Quite hoping he slots snodgrass or Anderson inside to make a three then puts the young kid back out wide....with Antonio up top
Not overly keen on 442 with the fullbacks and wide players we have and our strikers are not clinical enough I think all our best performances have come with a 4231 granted they’ve come with Arnie as the 1 but although Antonio is miles behind Arnie in ability and class he is the player we have that’s most like him with pace and power

Hammer and Pickle 3:59 Thu Dec 27
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

Are you suggesting Rice is used to getting smacked on the head with a heavy stick?

Lertie Button 3:54 Thu Dec 27
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

Don't want to bore youse but yes strictly speaking the stick is called the hurley, and the sport hurling but colloquially both are often referred to as hurley

Lertie Button 3:46 Thu Dec 27
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

To be sure, to be sure

Mart O 3:34 Thu Dec 27
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

It's 'hurling', Lertie, you peasant ;-)

Anyway,young Declan looked very leggy to me last time out. Thought it was his worst game in ages, even if he did get better 2nd half.

Lertie Button 12:46 Thu Dec 27
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

Rice needs a breather me arse, despite you lot pretending he's English, his stock are used to building your roads 6 days a week then playing hurley for 12 hours on the day off

Lertie Button 12:33 Thu Dec 27
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

Thankfully Carthorse Cole is back, stick him in at centre back

daveyg 5:11 Tue Dec 25
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

Exile
You are right in that Obiang will move to DM. But with Noble needing a rest at some point then Obiang will he needed alongside Rice anyway.(Rice may need a breather too )
You would of thought that both Pask and Oxford have been summoned up to the 1st team squad. The U23's don't play until early Jan. Otherwise we have no cover if Rice,Diop or Ogbonna are injured or suspended.

the exile 9:23 Mon Dec 24
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

If one of our 2 fit centre backs gets injured the obvious thing will be for Rice to move back and Obiang to come in as DM. I can't see Oxford being called up - it's been obvious from recent PL2 games that Josh Pask is now the better player (I only saw highlights myself but that's also what one or two who go to games have been saying).

daveyg 7:16 Mon Dec 24
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

Factory
You could have Byram at left back, I know he's out on loan but his injury us just a delayed reaction.

daveyg 7:16 Mon Dec 24
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

Factory
You could have Byram at left back, I know he's out on loan but his injury us just a delayed reaction.

icwhs 2:07 Mon Dec 24
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

Someone on here mentioned the better the training facilities, the better the training?

GPS to get home son?

Wally

Eric Hitchmoe 2:00 Mon Dec 24
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

I know we have signed our fare share of crocks over the years so cannot be surprised when they get injured (Dyer, Ljundberg, Carroll, Wilshere to name a few) but why do we always have such shit luck when it comes to injuries? Other teams will say they have no luck either but we must be near the top of the table.

Everyone bangs on about how good Spurs are (and begrudgingly they are historically better run than us) but when do their key players get long-term injuries? If they had the luck we had and lost Kane or Alli for 4 months at a time we'd see a different league table.

But is it down to bad luck or are we just perennially un-savvy when it comes to managing players' fitness?

Westham67 2:07 Mon Dec 24
Re: balbuena and hernandez out

Saints are look like a different team under Hasenhüttl we are going have bring our A game to get something

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