So after the complete waste of time that was the World cup qualifiers, we’re back to proper footy and welcome Brighton.
And with it being Steven Gerrard’s first game as our manager, I really ought to be looking forward to it.
Yet I don’t know if I am. The big question for me is what, exactly can Gerrard change or modify, from what we’ve done recently?
I can’t say I’ve watched much of Rangers under the manager, but from what I’ve been reading, he likes to play a 4-3-3 setup with a narrower midfield. Given that that was pretty much the system we play anyway, I don’t see he’ll be changing that. Indeed Gerrard has stated that he’s going to retain Tyrone Mings as our captain and talked about he doesn’t want to change things up immediately.
The interesting part about Gerrard’s Mings being captain comment was that he emphasised “for now”.
I see that as very encouraging, as it suggests that choices will be made on merit. Of course, all managers have favourites to some extent, but it was a criticism that was oft thrown at Dean Smith and hopefully now, that’ll be lessened. Which should be good for the very youngest in our squad, as it suggests they’ll get plenty of chances to feature, something the vast majority of us want to see.
So in the very short term, it would appear that we’re mostly going to be relying on a new manager bounce, where it would seem this is an ideal game to take advantage of it. Next week’s game at Palace looks like we could definitely benefit there too.
Unfortunately, looking at our next few games (Man city, leicester and Liverpool) things look a bit grim.
So if we can get three points tomorrow, it would be pretty monumental, in my opinion.
Squad news then and the bad news is that Luiz and Sanson are both out. Luiz is an obvious miss, but you have to wonder what’s going on with “sicknote” Sanson.
The Evening Mail say the following;
“It’s understood Sanson has picked up a knock having spent time in Paris on a family holiday last weekend.”
What on earth does that mean? That he got the knock boarding the plane, or something?
The whole vagueness of everything surrounding Sanson is really strange, but I can’t see it as being a good thing at all. That said, he’s hardly featured for us since he came to the club, so it’s not like I’m going to miss him in the team. An incredibly disappointing signing so far and there’s no more to be said.
Trezeguet is being integrated back into training, but he’s probably still weeks away, which is a shame because he strikes me as a perfect type of Gerrard player, given his workrate.
Traore (thigh) and Nakamba (groin) are both doubts, with Nakamba being another big miss if he can’t play.
As for our guests, Brighton have goalkeeper Robert Sanchez suspended and Steven Alzate and Danny Welbeck are both out through injury. Enock Mwepu has also been ruled out, but Brighton are more hopeful over the fitness of Dan Burn, while Aaron Connolly has been passed fit.
So we have quite a few talking points. Dean Smith subbed Nakamba off and replaced him with Jacob Ramsey in the Southampton defeat. Does that mean we can expect to see Ramsey in the holding midfielder role? I hope not, as I really don’t feel he’s that type of player.
The only other option though is to ask McGinn to do it, but that blunts his bigger threat of him going forward.
I suppose we could get one of the defenders to do it, with Tuanzebe being favourite, but that would really smack of desperation. Which, to be fair, is just about where we are.
I suspect if Nakamba is anywhere near fit, he can be looking forward to a big fat needle full of painkillers.
And then Gerrard pointed out a few facts.
We’re the 8th highest goalscorers, which surprises me.
But we’re 18th when it comes to conceding, which doesn’t in the slightest.
So the future aim will be to tighten up, with a view to becoming a possession based team.
Hmm, good luck with that Stevie. We’ll need to learn to pass the ball accurately first.
Then again, perhaps a fresh injection of enthusiasm and a threat of losing your place will focus minds, leading to a better standard of play? I certainly hope so.
Will Gerrard play both Watkins and Ings up top? That’s another debating point, but it doesn’t really fit with a 4-3-3, does it?
And then there’s a few facts about Brighton.
They haven’t won a game in their last six, which is worse than us. But they have only lost to Man city in that same six games. Thin dividing lines, isn’t it?
A couple of facts I find fascinating are that only Chelsea and Liverpool have lost less games than Brighton, this season.
The exact same applies when it comes to goals conceded.
So it’s not difficult to see where we’re going to find it tough.
If I also say that Brighton are also one of three teams to be undefeated in away games this season and it’s not hard as to what I’m going to predict.
I don’t see us winning this.
On paper and historically, we ought to, but I don’t think it will happen.
Our biggest problem is going to be scoring against a team that it’s so difficult to get a result against.
Our second biggest problem is going to be trying not to concede, given that on a good day our midfield is ridiculously weak.
The optimist in me says it’ll be a 1-1 draw.
But a loss wouldn’t surprise me.
1-1 then. UTV!
I can’t see anything other than this being a really tough game.
It’ll be interesting to see if we do anything different.
Remember playing Burnley (admittedly away) last season – similar sort of report (not by you Badger) – good defence but don’t score many. We lost 3-2!
I just have no confidence soI’m still backing Zuzu against Lawro.
1-2 it is then
Happy to be proved a miserable pessimist 🙂
Hard to disagree with your analysis, especially given that Nakamba is likely to be ‘nobbled’ even if he starts, and Luiz is out.
Not helped that the new coaching team have had only a couple of days with the players because of the internationals.
I’m certainly not expecting anything resembling a good game to watch. Gerrard may pull a surprise somewhere in midfield as an emergency/stop-gap measure just to shore-up the defence, but that would proboably cost us the chance of scoring against a team that have a solid defence themselves.
I’ll settle for a point…
We will win. It’ll be messy but we will win.
With you on that BFR. . Don’t think Messie playing … 😂
Very funny Bill – love it
I know it has been a fault of ours for some time but no self-respecting prem player should not be able to manage decent passing for most of the time – ours has been poor and there seems have been no effort to remedy it – cue new manager. I know the SPL is hardly the EPL but he achieved a great deal there and at the end of the day you can only play the opposition in front of you.
Agree 100%
Isn’t this what managers/coaches are paid to sort-out?
Against Brighton you need your full backs to cope with Lamptey and Trossard. The Polish Cafu’s first half against Hungary was so awful he was hooked at HT, so there is some room for improvement – can he man-mark?
On the other side Targett v Lamptey is a behind-the-sofa watch. Up the other end I predict Watkins will get several chances to shoot from 20 yards or so. Can he pick a spot or hit it hard enough? But, Keinan Davis might be the surprise partner of Ings if Gerrard is looking for a Rangers-style attack.
Pick Davis = abandon all hope.
I was dubious about the appointment of Stevie G mainly because of lack of experience and also we will continually get the Liverpool links just like we had with Jack Grealish moving on. I have been impressed with his interviews so far. He communicates well and seems focused with the job in hand.
As for today’s game however, he will still inherit the problems Dean Smith had. Players injured and worryingly they are mostly midfield players where we are weak anyway. Morgan Sanson seems to be as elusive as a unicorn. Is he really injured or has he been frozen out, possibly because he has upset other players with a rumoured bust up. Let’s get rid in the transfer window and vow never to sign another french player.
I can’t see us winning today’s game but maybe we can get a new manager bounce. I’m going to remain hopeful and predict a 1-1 draw.
Nothing new then!
Ings and Watkins start up front with Buendia and Bailey on the bench surprised that Archer doesn’t even make the bench but Sanson has appeared.
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Nakamba, Ramsey, Buendia, Watkins, Ings. 4-3-3 not a surprise either.
I’d like to mention Sanson on the bench. All this shite about him injured makes me vomit. ..
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Nakamba, Ramsey; Buendia, Ings, Watkins.
substitutes: Steer, Tuanzebe, Hause, Young, Sanson, Chukwuemeka, El Ghazi, Bailey, Davis.
Watkins wide left?????
Naka plays.
Looks like Watkins is wide left.
Cash pushed up straight away.
McGinn is awesome up to now!
While Buendia looks a shadow of the player he was last season 🙁
Decent half.
Watford 2-0 Man U. Ole sacked later?
Buendia ineffective again and Brighton looking the most likely team to score. Plenty of effort but we are chasing the ball and players will tire quickly.
There are too many players who are either woefully out of form or just plain not good enough. I can’t make my mind up which it is.
But if you can’t look half decent today, well, I can see there being changes.
Watkins and Beundia need to sharpen up , both walking in the match when other’s playing their nuts off. Yes Ole sacked now I would think.. as for us we are trying hard to win this ..
Watkins is fucking useless today.
Bissouma is exactly what we need.
Bailey on for Ings, who has been invisible, tbf.
He’s done it again Watkins, lost the ball ,how many time today has he flucked up.. that was a pen, Bailey on . Ings off
Badger – do you think Watkins is unhappy about Smith leaving and that’s showing?
Or is it poor form or he’s been worked out and isn’t good enough to vary his game?
And by your own admission Watkins has been useless and Ings has been invisible – if Gerrard hadn’t realised it must now know that a Watkins / Ings combination doesn’t work.
Buendia is a concern – £38m? At least Sanson only cost £14m 🙂
Discussion points for later Hitch.
I’ll come back to this and address your points in the next post.