10:52, Mon 18 Mar
i agree, but if the starting point is that Sanderson isnt playing, then Buchanan is probably the lowest risk to play in the middle.
10:54, Mon 18 Mar
Peakyblue
Am I the only person on SHA who went to the game and thought we played quite well against Watford? Obviously apart from the error for the goal and our inability to finish anyway. I thought the defence and midfield were mostly solid and Drameh and Buchanan were good. Aiwu ok too. Maybe it's just that after Boro, some level of improvement is all I was looking for. So I wouldn't have changed a defence that was ok just because a player returns from suspension. Sanderson should prove he's better in training captain or no captain.

I've just posted on another thread that I thought the performance against Watford was really decent.
Similar levels but with more composure in front of goal will see us over the line.
We got to hold our nerve !
Jude should be front and centre of everything England do in the attacking third of the pitch.
Give him the armband now too ! ( AUG 2023 )
10:56, Mon 18 Mar
It was miles better than Tuesday, definitely, was just a bit concerned that we didn't look that threatening, a couple of good chances for Miyoshi aside.
Happy Clapper
10:57, Mon 18 Mar
No, we played well enough

Created enough changes that normally would’ve been enough to win the game.

But the issue is, we lost again.

Something needs to change.
10:57, Mon 18 Mar
HackneyBlue
i agree, but if the starting point is that Sanderson isnt playing, then Buchanan is probably the lowest risk to play in the middle.

If there's no Sanderson then I agree, but he's back and should be playing.
Happy Clapper
11:18, Mon 18 Mar
My Blue Heaven
And me. I’d also start Drameh over Laird

Same for me too.
11:34, Mon 18 Mar
Tilton Rifle
My Blue Heaven
He must’ve upset someone, cos it’s utterly stupid to play 3 fullbacks

I reckon you might be right. He's not just a centre half, he's the skipper.

He wasn't quite 100% fit - still on recovery so I was told.
Mike YOU ESS AYY
Tilton Rifle
My Blue Heaven
He must’ve upset someone, cos it’s utterly stupid to play 3 fullbacks

I reckon you might be right. He's not just a centre half, he's the skipper.

He wasn't quite 100% fit - still on recovery so I was told.

That's my assumption
11:51, Mon 18 Mar
Recovery from what though? He didn't get injured in his last game, no injury as far as I know
Happy Clapper
11:55, Mon 18 Mar
Yep
11:58, Mon 18 Mar
Sanderson this season has been really poor. Whether that’s due to the added stress of being made captain, or he’s just not very good, I don’t know. He’s not a captain in a million years, and defensively he seems out of position, slow, doesn’t win anything in the air, not great with the ball at his feet. If we go down, I imagine he’d be better in league 1, but I think we need better options next year if we stay up.
12:09, Mon 18 Mar
Peakyblue
Am I the only person on SHA who went to the game and thought we played quite well against Watford? Obviously apart from the error for the goal and our inability to finish anyway. I thought the defence and midfield were mostly solid and Drameh and Buchanan were good. Aiwu ok too. Maybe it's just that after Boro, some level of improvement is all I was looking for. So I wouldn't have changed a defence that was ok just because a player returns from suspension. Sanderson should prove he's better in training captain or no captain.

I've just posted on another thread that I thought the performance against Watford was really decent.
Similar levels but with more composure in front of goal will see us over the line.
We got to hold our nerve !

It would help if we told Stansfield ... "yes, we appreciate you want to chase everywhere and tackle everything and run your balls off - abd we love you for it - but can you please be a bit lazier when playing sentre-forward and concentrate on being on the shoulder of the last defender and in the box on the odd occasions some fecker decides to cross it ?"
Belgrade Blue
Mike YOU ESS AYY
Tilton Rifle
My Blue Heaven
He must’ve upset someone, cos it’s utterly stupid to play 3 fullbacks

I reckon you might be right. He's not just a centre half, he's the skipper.

He wasn't quite 100% fit - still on recovery so I was told.

That's my assumption
😁😁😁
Tony Fantastico
La Fine Della Strada
Yep, one of my pet hates too. Made even worse when we have James playing left wing who also comes back inside at every opportunity, leaves us incredibly lopsided.

I also agree with Dan that we need some consistency, not just in the back 4 but for the entire team. I understand there has been a lot of fixtures in a short space of time and injuries/suspensions have hampered us but I think it's really important we try and settle on our best team after the international break and give them a good run of games together to build some sort of momentum.

I'm not sure what the actual numbers are but it feels like we've made 4/5 changes to the starting XI in every game since Venus has taken over, it can't be helpful.
Having Drameh and James on the left with Juke on massively impacts his threat in the air as they can’t go outside and hit the box or stand it up back post. I’d like Miyoshi left and Bacuna right with Juke on for the last 25 or so
Tony Fantastico
According to some on social media, it was recovery from the booze at Cheltenham, he apparently turned up lagging at training.