With hindsight, McLeod's sending off wouldn't have made any difference for us and might even have garnered a response from the others. As it is, it can only be a matter of time before McLeod is cited and punished by the authorities for his violent actions. In his current form fans will hope for a long ban. He hasn't made the grade at Championship or League One level and it's high time we acknowledged this and moved him on.
The big problem is that we don't have anyone who is visibly any better. What surprises me is that with an obvious shortage in defence we are quick to enter the market as Yassin Moutaouakil will testify, but the management and Board seem blind to the deficiency upfront. Dickson and Fleetwood are obviously not the answer and neither are Burton and McKenzie, although both could do a job this season with a proper striker in tandem, assuming they were fit and both look short of that to me.
I wouldn't like to be picking the side for the Southampton game tomorrow night. What a quandry? Does he change it around and risk losing three in-a-row? If he does, then he will at least have a ready-made excuse. If he doesn't and goes with the same side to attempt to atone for Sunday, then he risks tiring the first team squad for the important league match against MK Dons. At least Mk Dons also have a JPT match this evening against Northampton.
I guess changes to the formation are needed as much as the personal although it's hard to argue against 4-5-1 at St Mary's and 4-4-2 at home on Saturday. I would change our central midfield formation and bring Bailey back into the heart of things. That probably means no place for Racon but he's been out-of-sorts lately and needs to think about his contribution.
We look light on the left flank and moving Bailey to the middle won't help that. If Luke Holden is fit, he should be tried. That or play Sam left and Wagstaff right. Upfront is a bit of a lottery but we shouldn't waste a shirt on McLeod. I'd play Burton and McKenzie but would let them know I have Tuna on half-time standby. No place for Shelvey then, but he's simply not playing with the directness and focus of last season or the first games of this year. Can't see much different for Saturday unless Richardson is fit.
Carl Ikeme didn't do anything wrong at Carlisle, but the folly of dispensing with our number two was clear from Sunday's game. Randolph must play in the next couple.
Its ironic that in the past by that I mean the old third division we always seemed to find good strikers but struggled defensively now its the other way round -we have a good defense and midfield but cant find a striker for love nor money. Oh for an Andy Hunt, Derek Hales, Mike Flanagan. Surely the big London clubs could lone us a decent striker or strikers who just want to play every week. Promotion guaranteed if they do.
ReplyDeleteAgreed Dave. Changes required for Wednesday, basically as you said.
ReplyDeleteAs for McCleod, well you didn't post up my last thoughts on him (wisely) But they haven't changed. He has to go, some way, anyway. We'll never regain what we spent on him so anything will do. Even if it's only get him off the wage bill.
I've noticed on other blogs, most fans are supportive of Randolph.
Those that do criticise him cite his indecision for the NV goal. That was the only mistake he made in the game and in fact he kept us in it all along.
His critics never seem to mention Elliots inability at crosses, he constantly flaps at them and misses punches. But because he's a Charlton fan as well as our No1 it doesn't seem to matter.
Just for the record, as things stand, i would wish to keep both Elliot and Randolph. Any money we can find to spend, is needed urgently elsewhere.
I agree with your thoughts on McLeod. I have nothing against the player or the man (save for the removal of his shirt after scoring and his ruthless elbow in front on National TV) but he is clearly not good enough, and I think it is no coincidence that since his inclusion at the expense of Shelvey we have looked significantly weaker.
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of Shelvey, I know we have high hopes for him, but he is 17 - a teenager. I don't know of any teenager that has the maturity to accept being dropped and come back into the side without any petulance in his game. I think we need to persevere with him, give him a run in the side and hope that he finds his form again. Any suggestions that we cannot afford to give him (and a few others) a bit of time to come good are moot as we have so little quality in the squad we need to stick to what we know, or we will end up like we were towards the end of Pardew's reign. Chopping and changing for each game in a desperate attempt to find a win clearly doesn't work.
Even with (minimal) injuries we have a strong defence and a very capable midfield. We, merely, need to find a striker and we could go on a run like the start of the season again. McLeod is not, in my view, going to be part of a successful side at this level, and I think we can place the reason for out demise on his inclusion. Again, I don’t want to have a go at our player, but he just doesn’t look good enough.
CND - wouldn't it be better to be getting pegged back for 3-3 draws than hoping for a 0-0!
ReplyDeleteDaggs - it's sobering to think we once paid £1m for McLeod. Imagine being able to spend that sort of money today. I agree too about Elliot at crosses but he's the best we've got by some way at the moment.
ReplyDeleteKHA - it's been a long time since we have had a side (or squad) good enough to be able to get a response by dropping a player. A lot of that has to do with the manager as far as I am concerned and we all know our shortcomings in that department since the departure of AC. So I am inclined to agree re Shelvey but I think we all feel better in the stands if someone who has clearly not been performing is dropped as I hope is the case with McLeod, although ironically enough, the MK Dons is probably the one game he might be most for.
ReplyDeleteAs well as the quality of the strikers we need to get the right type in. We are desperate for a 'lump' in the Iwelumo mould as well as a poacher.
ReplyDeleteMcLeod is technically a poacher(honest!)but the rest of them do not come under either category.
Get a target man in & have a word with Wenger about loaning one of his young, hungry strikers. Arsenal even continue to pay their wages & 'rental' is free.
A bargain that would give us some urgency & threat up-front.
Watching Leeds against Grimsby in the JPT & the Whites are so hungry for a win.
We do need someone to motivate the troops...