Whilst I really do like your sentiment about patience (and I have plenty..) a) if '7 or 8' of those would make our first eleven when fully fit, I think we'd struggle. b) Stoke were missing more than a few themselves. It was a good point, if a little fortunate. No need for any negativity, but neither is there any need to over-egg the missing player pudding. Mads, Josh and Carlton would be in the side for sure, as would Powell, Campbell and Oakley-Booth for Stoke.
I think it would be interesting with Vita and J Williams fit. Possibly 'proper' fullbacks (I like Brittain and Styles but neither are strong defensively)
Seems like sky trying their best to get more retrospective punishment for us as they are emphasising the ‘barnsley coach throws a punch’. Yet the opposite angle they are not showing showed he just grabbed his collar.
But you also have to consider the strength in depth Stoke have compared to ours. They brought Joe Allen into the team today and then played sam clucas off the bench.
Agree about Moon & Styles; gave Stoke too much freedom, as did Halme and Sibbick at times on the right side. But pleased with a point, from a makeshift side, with so many playing in an unfamiliar position.
Last time Jordan Williams played as a 'proper full back' was when we got beat 5-1 at Preston. He got dropped for ages, then returned on the left side of a back three under Struber then a wing back under Val. Of course he's had time to develop since, but we've no idea how he'd go in a back 4. On the info we do have, not well. I have the same opinion about playing Brittain at right back. Only ever seen him with 3 CB's at his side, so can't judge, but sceptical about how it'd go because the managers he's played for preferred him in a more advanced position.
Good point. But doesn't that mean that if they were missing 7 or 8 themselves, they'd be more likely to have quality in depth than us? You'd kinda expect so given the wages they pay.
It wasnt a penalty as he dived over before Collins got to him It was a red card terrible tackle on Gonez. The Stoke assistant went in to our technical area pushed a barnsley staff in the dug out then pushed Schopp. All facts irrespective of what Sky say.
Totally agree, we had some very good players in our team tonight that we should trust, all teams get injuries and have to tweak things.
I think that's my point? The fact that us having players out has a bigger impact on our first 11 than it would do for Stoke.
All of this. 100% Plus nobody wants to mention that Stoke geezer who thankfully didn't have nails. Otherwise JL would have had half his skin scraped off top of his scalp. 14 seconds on this
I suspect if we do go to a back 4, it’ll still be like having wing backs, just not quite as far advanced, and with a defensive mid dropping back. The space in behind out wide that we’re giving, and the fact we sometimes have a DM dropping back into the defence suggests we’d be better off with a back 4. Though will likely need Andersen or Kitching back to play centre half to do that.
Space in behind out wide was our weak point last season but our high line and efficient offside trap largely negated this. Val only used half of the pitch whereas Schopp is trying to use all of it which is where the opponent's are finding space.
That's how I see it two. Frequently got caught out last season but often saved by Collins or the linesman/woman. It's definitely something which teams are going to try and take advantage of so we need to come up with a solution soon.
I'm not over-egging anything. We are without eight first teamers as I said. Which is not ideal. So with that in mind, I think we will only improve as our options in terms of bodies does. Hence the 'patience' remark. Bit confused as to how you've named a lad who has started five games for Stoke in 18 months as a key player, but it's not really relevant to the point I made.
Didn't see much tonight but I'll definitely take that. Lack of quality can be explained away by players being out, and I don't have a problem with it. What I saw against Bournemouth was a complete lack of effort.