wingsnwheels
Star Player
Nathan Ake has a good footballing brain, I'd certainly like to see him in an attacking midfield role, getting forwards in support of the strikers. Something to work on for next season?
....one option is to play Ake as a ball winner in midfield, maybe giving Simpson or Mings a chance in the last few games at Centre Back with Steve Cook?
We are not going to be relegated so Howe has a few competitive games to try Simpson or Mings in defence.
If Adam Smith is fit then I would play him at RB, give Brad Smith a couple of matches at LB to see if there is any potential there?
Ake has such good composure on the ball too, alongside Lewis Cook he could benefit the side with his ability.
Eddie really has to look beyond Francis,Arter,Gosling Surman and Daniels for next season.
We have enough in attack with Wilson, King, Mousset and Defoe.
The wingers look okay in Ibe, Fraser and Stanislas.
It is the back line and central midfield that he needs to remedy IMO
...think athleticism is a good description, something we have lacked since Harry Arter has been missing.
Strangely, we lack the combative type of player that most teams seem to have in their ranks in The PL at present
...hopefully we can pick up someone in the summer window?
Eddie does seem to like his wingers though!
Interesting comments in the Mail’s The Verdict from the reporter covering the match - Howe has potentially heart-wrenching decisions to make this summer - must consider defensive upgrades -Ake head and shoulders above the rest - continuity from the 2015 championship side has given us a platform in the PL but comes a time when you have to move on ....think athleticism is a good description, something we have lacked since Harry Arter has been missing.
Strangely, we lack the combative type of player that most teams seem to have in their ranks in The PL at present
...hopefully we can pick up someone in the summer window?
Eddie does seem to like his wingers though!
....one option is to play Ake as a ball winner in midfield, maybe giving Simpson or Mings a chance in the last few games at Centre Back with Steve Cook?
We are not going to be relegated so Howe has a few competitive games to try Simpson or Mings in defence.
If Adam Smith is fit then I would play him at RB, give Brad Smith a couple of matches at LB to see if there is any potential there?
Ake has such good composure on the ball too, alongside Lewis Cook he could benefit the side with his ability.
Eddie really has to look beyond Francis,Arter,Gosling Surman and Daniels for next season.
We have enough in attack with Wilson, King, Mousset and Defoe.
The wingers look okay in Ibe, Fraser and Stanislas.
It is the back line and central midfield that he needs to remedy IMO
...I think that most teams probably do enjoy playing against us and let us have the majority of the possession knowing that we are not really hurting them. Sometimes a more urgent approach is require to throw our opposition off their guard.
We're kind of stuck between two generations of players, and two systems of play, at a cross roads. It's down to Eddie and Jase to sit down this summer and make some decisions, and take us down one road or another.
This point is key. I've been quite vocal about Eddie's insistence on 4-4-2, but what is worth remembering is that we have a relatively aged squad with primarily a lower league upbringing. This includes the management team too. Its no surprise that 4-4-2 is the default safe option as its what most will be familiar with.
As we look to replace the old guard, we need to realise the calibre of player we want to attract won't have been schooled in the 4-4-2 so much. Whether that be someone from abroad or a younger player from the English academy system, they will be more familiar with a more modern approach.
This .This point is key. I've been quite vocal about Eddie's insistence on 4-4-2, but what is worth remembering is that we have a relatively aged squad with primarily a lower league upbringing. This includes the management team too. Its no surprise that 4-4-2 is the default safe option as its what most will be familiar with.
As we look to replace the old guard, we need to realise the calibre of player we want to attract won't have been schooled in the 4-4-2 so much. Whether that be someone from abroad or a younger player from the English academy system, they will be more familiar with a more modern approach.
We might “have enough in attack” possibly but Wilson has ‘nt performed for ages.King comes and goes,Mousset is an unknown and Defoe doesn’t fit in with current tactics and none of them can hold the ball up.So if it’s not their fault then the problem must lie with the supply lines and the service?
I think we all agree on some element of "upgrading" in certain positions but there is only so much in the pot and gambles like Ibe could prove costly. None of us know what is going on behind the scenes but it could end up with spend on players and stay in the golden trough or patch up build a new stadium.
The first part of the legacy should be the training ground for the future because with I believe 300 houses being built close by the present lack of action looks like the training ground could be the get out of jail card for the owners if it all goes belly up. Sadly one season regardless it will be we are just 1of 11 trying not to be the bottom 3.
Are main problem is we give teams 1 or 2 easy chances a game with silly or bad choices...I think that most teams probably do enjoy playing against us and let us have the majority of the possession knowing that we are not really hurting them. Sometimes a more urgent approach is require to throw our opposition off their guard.