Tactically - Lampard is pretty good (4 Viewers)

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Honestly? I think we’ll beat them comfortably. Their away form is decent but have also lost 7 games and as also, back us to score 2 goals most home games.

Sure, just against teams who adopted similar tactics (thinking Oxford, Swansea, Bristol C) we struggled to score. MR will undoubtedly set them up for the 0-0 and I think generally we do better against teams who try to take us on.

 

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[KenilworthSkyBlue]

I’m interested to see how things go against a Stoke side who you’d expect to sit in deep and hit on the break in classic MR style. That’s been an Achilles heel for us and we couldn’t break Oxford down doing it the other week.

I don't think they'll sit in anywhere near to the extent that Oxford did.

Oxford have the lowest possession % in the league this season. They literally set up just not to lose pretty much every game.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I don't think they'll sit in anywhere near to the extent that Oxford did.

Oxford have the lowest possession % in the league this season. They literally set up just not to lose pretty much every game.

Perhaps, but Bristol had a very clear gameplan to hit on the break and with better up front than Armstrong it would have come off.

Need to play at a higher tempo to pull apart these low blocks.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Sure, just against teams who adopted similar tactics (thinking Oxford, Swansea, Bristol C) we struggled to score. MR will undoubtedly set them up for the 0-0 and I think generally we do better against teams who try to take us on.

That’s no really their game, they have a lot of possession for a side that doesn’t really score goals.

It’ll probably play out similar to the FA cup game but I don’t think we’ll try to be as possession dominant. We’ve become a bit more direct in recent games in line with how we were earlier in the season.

The amount of high balls Grimes has put in to Haji, EMC has increased a lot compared to Dec-Jan.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Perhaps, but Bristol had a very clear gameplan to hit on the break and with better up front than Armstrong it would have come off.

Need to play at a higher tempo to pull apart these low blocks.

Yeah but Bristol generally are a team that tends to sit in more than Stoke do. Stoke's average possession % pretty much mirrors ours over the course of this season. Bristol's is about 5% lower.

We had 74% possession against Oxford and they had zero shots on goal. Their entire game plan was to just sit on the 12 yard line and keep everything out. I really don't see Stoke replicating that to that extent. That's never really been Robins' style.

Against a low-block I think we're better off starting EMC and Esse on the wings as they're able to unlock defences by taking players on, with probably Simms in the middle as we'll be forced to put more crosses in as he's better with his head than Wright.

Then probably Torp instead of Rudoni as I feel he's better from distance as we'll inevitably see a lot of the ball in and around the 20-25 yard line.

 

[shmmeee]

But as Brighton said, it’s our shape, it’s so much better with him in the team.

I thought our shape against Oxford was good tbh. I can see this is going to be like Jamie Allen all over again so I’ll leave it, but not sure a midfielder who makes five successful passes in a game is someone who has changed the fortunes of a side single-handedly.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

I thought our shape against Oxford was good tbh. I can see this is going to be like Jamie Allen all over again so I’ll leave it, but not sure a midfielder who makes five successful passes in a game is someone who has changed the fortunes of a side single-handedly.

You forgot to call him a Premier league failure

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I thought our shape against Oxford was good tbh. I can see this is going to be like Jamie Allen all over again so I’ll leave it, but not sure a midfielder who makes five successful passes in a game is someone who has changed the fortunes of a side single-handedly.

Don't think anyone has said that, but I think his inclusion has helped us to make the adjustments we needed.

 

[TomRad85]

Great signing Onyeka. Looking forward to seeing him in the Prem for us. Given the impact, if we go and finish the job it could end up being one of the most important signings we've made.

 

[clint van damme]

I thought our shape against Oxford was good tbh. I can see this is going to be like Jamie Allen all over again so I’ll leave it, but not sure a midfielder who makes five successful passes in a game is someone who has changed the fortunes of a side single-handedly.

Our shape at home has been good all season, hence we've only dropped 6 points.

I can't understand why people keep making comparisons between our home form and our away form from mid November onwards, there's never been an issue with our home form.

And Oxford didn't exactly show a lot of intent with regard to crossing the halfway line.

 

[shmmeee]

Our shape at home has been good all season, hence we've only dropped 6 points.

I can't understand why people keep making comparisons between our home form and our away form from mid November onwards, there's never been an issue with our home form.

And Oxford didn't exactly show a lot of intent with regard to crossing the halfway line.

No but you could tell we’d changed how we set up

 

[clint van damme]

No but you could tell we’d changed how we set up

But it was still at home against a team with little attacking intent. It really doesn't prove much.

 

[shmmeee]

Don't think anyone has said that, but I think his inclusion has helped us to make the adjustments we needed.

Lots of people have said that. I’ve been pretty whelmed with him. The view from that Brentford fan seems spot on from what I’ve seen so far. He’s made two or three good tackles, a nice dive to break up play last night, been an absolute bomb scare on the ball. But he’s starting and it’s working so I won’t complain too hard.

 

[shmmeee]

But it was still at home against a team with little attacking intent. It really doesn't prove much.

Well it proves that we’d already changed things before he came into the side. Which is what we’re discussing.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Lots of people have said that. I’ve been pretty whelmed with him. The view from that Brentford fan seems spot on from what I’ve seen so far. He’s made two or three good tackles, a nice dive to break up play last night, been an absolute bomb scare on the ball. But he’s starting and it’s working so I won’t complain too hard.

He won 5 fouls, made 2 blocks, 2 interceptions and 5 recoveries against Boro.

"2 or 3 Good tackles" is completely underselling him.

 

[clint van damme]

Lots of people have said that. I’ve been pretty whelmed with him. The view from that Brentford fan seems spot on from what I’ve seen so far. He’s made two or three good tackles, a nice dive to break up play last night, been an absolute bomb scare on the ball. But he’s starting and it’s working so I won’t complain too hard.

Not being good enough for a top 8 PL side really doesn't suggest a player isn't good enough for us.
If any of our players were at that level Im sure bids would have come in

 

[clint van damme]

Well it proves that we’d already changed things before he came into the side. Which is what we’re discussing.

We were pretty much camped in their half, I'm not sure that game told us much about anything.

 

[TomRad85]

He won 5 fouls, made 2 blocks, 2 interceptions and 5 recoveries against Boro.

"2 or 3 Good tackles" is completely underselling him.

He wants him to be a bad signing and I can't understand why tbh. I think he's been great, we don't have anything like him.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

He wants him to be a bad signing and I can't understand why tbh. I think he's been great, we don't have anything like him.

I've never known someone on here be so wrong, so often and still double down on it.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Lots of people have said that. I’ve been pretty whelmed with him. The view from that Brentford fan seems spot on from what I’ve seen so far. He’s made two or three good tackles, a nice dive to break up play last night, been an absolute bomb scare on the ball. But he’s starting and it’s working so I won’t complain too hard.

We didn't need a midfielder that's good on the ball though - Torp, Eccles, and Grimes are all excellent in that department. We needed one that can do the dirty work by breaking up play, putting tackles in, and providing additional cover in front of the backline in the transition.

To be honest what I've probably been most impressed with so far is his work off the ball.

 

[clint van damme]

He wants him to be a bad signing and I can't understand why tbh. I think he's been great, we don't have anything like him.

It's clear Lampard saw him as the answer to the problems we were encountering on the road. The last week would suggest he was correct.

 

[shmmeee]

He wants him to be a bad signing and I can't understand why tbh. I think he's been great, we don't have anything like him.

Grow up, obviously I don’t want us to make bad signings. I just don’t think he’s been this levels above game changer people are making out and last night I though he was pretty crap.

 

[TomRad85]

Grow up, obviously I don’t want us to make bad signings. I just don’t think he’s been this levels above game changer people are making out and last night I though he was pretty crap.

Well he quite literally has been a game changer. You're the only one refusing to see it.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Well he quite literally has been a game changer. You're the only one refusing to see it.

Since he's been here we have won every game. He's not a game changer though.

 

[shmmeee]

Well he quite literally has been a game changer. You're the only one refusing to see it.

Oh no will the cool girls not let me sit at their table if I’m not wearing pink?

He was rated the lowest of our starters by fotmob and who scored last night. I guess they’re just not in the club either.

 

[TomRad85]

Oh no will the cool girls not let me sit at their table if I’m not wearing pink?

He was rated the lowest of our starters by fotmob and who scored last night. I guess they’re just not in the club either.

I don't know what that means but you seem to always need a target atm and its usually someone you'd made your mind up on beforehand so I'll leave you to it.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

I don't know what that means but you seem to always need a target atm and its usually someone you'd made your mind up on beforehand so I'll leave you to it.

I think he's a 40 year old bloke quoting mean girls.

 

[robbiekeane]

Wright 2 in 17 starts. Apparently he is brilliant

love dragging up some of these childish tantrums

 

[clint van damme]

Oh no will the cool girls not let me sit at their table if I’m not wearing pink?

He was rated the lowest of our starters by fotmob and who scored last night. I guess they’re just not in the club either.

Fotmob? Why didn't you say, Onyeka out!!

 

[Evo1883]

Oh no will the cool girls not let me sit at their table if I’m not wearing pink?

He was rated the lowest of our starters by fotmob and who scored last night. I guess they’re just not in the club either.

You kind of get the feeling that you made your bed with onyeka before he signed ..

I give you he wasnt great last night but he was very good in the previous 2

 

[Ccfcisparks]

You kind of get the feeling that you made your bed with onyeka before he signed ..

I give you he wasnt great last night but he was very good in the previous 2

He was telling us he wouldnt be good and a Premier league failure before signing. He has too much ego and pride to admit he was wrong.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

You kind of get the feeling that you made your bed with onyeka before he signed ..

I give you he wasnt great last night but he was very good in the previous 2

None of the midfield were great last night, especially in the first half. I also thought he looked knackered which played a big part in him perhaps not having the best game.

 

[TomRad85]

None of the midfield were great last night, especially in the first half. I also thought he looked knackered which played a big part in him perhaps not having the best game.

Can we afford rest him at home to Stoke? I kind of feel like we can. There are good options.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Can we afford rest him at home to Stoke? I kind of feel like we can. There are good options.

I think theres a case for Eccles filling that place.

 

[TomRad85]

I think theres a case for Eccles filling that place.

Been really quite impressive recently i think. He's gone up a level imo.