Interesting that Huddersfield that team, who according to some we should have easily beaten at the start of the season, have the same amount of points as us.
Pukki has been ineffective in plenty of games recently when Hugill hasn't played. Effective partnerships take time to build and you have to start somewhere. Vrancic did ok but the game became much more open when he came on for Skipp, ok when we're pushing for a win, but for me with our current squad I see Vrancic as impact sub rather than a starter. From a tactics point of view I think DF got it pretty much right. We just need a bit more confidence and to be more clinical in front of goal.
I agree. The key thing that Farke got right was asking Buendia to pull a little wider and allow space in the middle for Cantwell around the 35 minute mark. That created the space for Cantwell between the lines and allowed him to turn to face goal with the ball (he actually played a bit of a Stiepermann role). That resulted in loads of pressure on the Birmingham players, you could see how knackered they were by about 80 minutes with several players cramping. Cantwell himself moving wider and allowing Vrancic through the middle actually disrupted our rhythm for a bit, but the damage was done by then with their tired defence. Vrancic’s major offering was the one thing we’ve lacked all season: clinical finishing. But I don’t see him being in that position for 90 minutes.
If you'd said "Farke got it right in the end" I would have agreed with you; but that doesn't change what he got wrong initially. Your pointing out the difference it made to have Cantwell play a more 10- or Stiepermann-like role, actually acknowledges what I'm saying. That's what we needed from the start.
As one of the few on here who rates Vrancic I feel rather smug this morning. I cannot understand why posters still think he should not start.He is a brilliant No10,can pass,free kick specialist,penalty taker etc etc.. In our Championship winning season he was our best player by a mile. Come on guys credit where credit is due
I haven't seen anyone criticising Vrancic on here . I don't think he should start every game because he was never blessed with pace , he replaced Skipp who should definitely start for his passing ability and tireless defending in front of our back 4 . He's 32 years old and would struggle to play twice a week for most of the season. He's probably our best set piece taker and one of our most creative but I see him as an impact sub to introduce when the other side is worn out late in the game. Farke got it just right with team selection and subs yesterday imho
I like Stieperman, but I can't remember the last time he scored a goal and he's had a lot of chances to do so. When Pukki was hot, that mattered less, but he has at times been a weakness when we struggle to score. I don't think he would have been effective against a 9 man defence last night. Rupp's 7.9 on WhoScored just edged Cantwell and Quintilla both on 7.6, but it was a very good team performance, showing both patience and resolution which bodes well for the future.
I never said posters criticised Vrancic DD. I believe that he is our best No10. I would rather start with Vrancic and have 70-80 mins of him than 10-20 min at the end,when we are chasing games. Regarding his "lack of pace".You don't need it at Championship level,what you need is a player with a football brain.Did Wes have pace,no,did Mulryan have pace,no,did Maddison have pace,not really. Skipp plays a different role,and plays it well,Mario is our best No 10,and Farke needs to start him.
Who would you have dropped to fit Vrancic in ? Cantwell started as 10 and was involved in everything, it would be harsh to drop any of the starting 11 imho
Incidentally, I think referee Langford should get some praise. He was perfectly placed to see exactly what happened when Rupp stuck out a leg and nicked the ball, leading to the goal. A referee with a less clear view might well have blown for a foul on the Brum player; Langford got it right
Having played Saturday DF wouldn't have had so long to plan. I suspect DF may have been planning to start with Stiepermann and with his late illness plans would have had to change quickly. Maybe DF didn't get it absolutely spot on but he wasn't far off and I thought he managed the game really well in the circumstances. Had we been a bit more clinical we could have scored a handful. I don't know what the stats say but if i look at the games so far this season we seem to be getting a lot of fouls and penalties with the opposition getting plenty of yellow / red cards, which demonstrates how hard other teams are having to work against us.
Pukki,because he aint a No 10,and played Todd and Bendy as mobile attacking players either side of him. With attacking fullbacks we don't need wide players.
Godfrey wasn't a CB. If we are going to play week in week out against team that play a narrow formation and park the bus, wide players is exactly what we are going to need to get in behind them.
"In our Championship winning season he was our best player by a mile." You think Vrancic was better than Pukki Krul Aarons and Buendia in our Championship winning season ? He was good but I would argue Pukki was our best player with his crazy goal tally