j.mitchel

Am I the only one with any sympathy for the players and the fixture congestion? That was our 15th game since the start of December, whereas it was Brighton's 9th. That's a team that's played a game every 3.2 days, against a team that's played a game every 5.5 days. It's a huge difference in this league where anyone can beat anyone. Although I don't believe in it myself, I'm seriously thinking we should start pulling 'sickies' like other teams seem to be doing, even when it's not all covid related! The one player I can't have sympathy for is Lukaku, and I'd be surprised if any of the players around him have much sympathy for him after the disrespect he gave them with his interview, let alone his apparent lack of interest in matches. I've got no doubt we'll come back from this soon, but the finger pointing and moaning at the players as TT at the moment is ridiculous.

First of all, I'd like to say that I'd love for Frank to turn things around and for him to stay for years to come. However. Even Frank has admitted this season that if you don't get the results as a manager, then it's likely that you'll lose your job. Quite 'frankly', I think this time has come. The most frustrating thing that I have seen from our side is the bloody-mindedness of sticking to a 4-3-3 through thick and thin, without any consideration of the abilities of our players (mainly the newcomers). Werner for instance, played his best games for Leipzig on a front 2 or as a number 10. Havertz performed best for Leverkusen as an attacking midfielder and, for a successful period, as the lone striker. Pulisic has been played too wide and too deep. His best games have been played as the CAM, a position that gets him a starting position for his neat dribbles further up the field (and more likely to win dangerous free kicks or pens). The only 'wingers' we have are Ziyech and Hudson-odoi, with Chilwell and James doing good jobs as wing backs when needed. A 4-3-3 simply doesn't work with all of these players imo, so why are they so fixated on it? My suggestion: 3-4-1-2, changing to a 4-4-1-1 in defence. Havertz and Werner up top. Pulisic as CAM. Chilwell and Ziyech the wide players. Mount and Kovacic in the middle. Silva, Zouma, Azpi at the back - but Chilly filling in when the opposition have the ball.

First of all, I'd like to say that I'd love for Frank to turn things around and for him to stay for years to come. However. Even Frank has admitted this season that if you don't get the results as a manager, then it's likely that you'll lose your job. Quite 'frankly', I think this time has come. The most frustrating thing that I have seen from our side is the bloody-mindedness of sticking to a 4-3-3 through thick and thin, without any consideration of the abilities of our players (mainly the newcomers). Werner for instance, played his best games for Leipzig on a front 2 or as a number 10. Havertz performed best for Leverkusen as an attacking midfielder and, for a successful period, as the lone striker. Pulisic has been played too wide and too deep. His best games have been played as the CAM, a position that gets him a starting position for his neat dribbles further up the field (and more likely to win dangerous free kicks or pens). The only 'wingers' we have are Ziyech and Hudson-odoi, with Chilwell and James doing good jobs as wing backs when needed. A 4-3-3 simply doesn't work with all of these players imo, so why are they so fixated on it? My suggestion: 3-4-1-2, changing to a 4-4-1-1 in defence. Havertz and Werner up top. Pulisic as CAM. Chilwell and Ziyech the wide players. Mount and Kovacic in the middle. Silva, Zouma, Azpi at the back - but Chilly filling in when the opposition have the ball.