For me we should be aiming for at least a draw. Just to have something to build from. But we really need to start picking up wins. And I don't care who it's against. We can't keep saying there's always next week as sooner or later there won't be another chance. And we can't keep viewing every game as being tough for an excuse to say a defeat is acceptable. What are we suppose to do, only beat Huddersfield all season!?
if we want to finish at least mid table then you really need to look to take points in games like this.
From last night's game at Wimbledon and the Arsenal game, I have certainly learned a lot more about the squad and surely Pellers has too.
The only players last night out of the starting 11 for me who took their chance was: Yarmalenko, Rice and Cresswell.
Zabaleta was solid too to be fair. But Fredericks offers far more pace so still starts ahead of him for me.
Obiang was the player I was actually the most disappointed with. Even more so than the strikers. As Perez to be fair has only just had 1 start and I don't rate Hernandez whatsoever, and if I had it my way wouldn't even be at the club anymore. But I was hoping Obiang would show what he could offer with his place in the team under threat. He was in my team for this game from the Wimbledon thread. But after that performance he can stay on the bench where he deserves to be.
The only 2 other things I was contemplating was:
1) After Yarmalenko's promising performance, should he come into the team? And if so who for out of Snodgrass and Antonio?
2) Who should start next to Diop?
I personally think Yarmalenko did show enough to start. His touch was sublime. The only thing I think he was lacking was a bit of confidence. But he will only get that once he scores or assists his first goal. I really do think as soon as he does that we'll see what he can really do. So for me that is my other change. He would start for me now. The question is for who out of Snodgrass or Antonio?
Snodgrass has been superb this season. But lacks a bit of pace. And the trouble is Yarmalenko likes playing on the right like him too. So can it work if you shaft one of them to another position? Whereas Antonio can at least play on the left and has more pace. Albeit lacks the intelligence both Snodgrass and Yarmalenko has.
The partner next to Diop is just as much a dilemma as Ogbonna makes a lot of sense for his experience and height. Plus another reason I thought Diop looked a little bit more comfortable yesterday was because he played on his natural right side. Which he'll get to do if Ogbomna plays. But he has been really poor, so I don't have a lot of trust in him anymore. Balbuena has been 'okay'. But lacks a bit of height. And he seems to be favoured as the right sided centre half, so Diop gets shafted to the left side. Thus he has looked more awkward with the ball at times. I guess I would stick with Balbuena for at least 1 more game. But why not try and play Balbuena at the left side of the 2 centre halves!? At least he is old enough so has a bit of experience on his side.
I presume Noble is still out? I still stick by what I said in the Wimbledon thread that to make us more solid in midfield I wouldn't play Wilshere. It's harsh on him and I think he has played well. But for me we need a bit more defensive steel. I was hoping Obiang would be the answer, but I am not so sure after last night's performance. So crazily I would give Rice more chance in midfield. But next to the more experienced Sanchez along his side.
So my revised team for the game is as follows, pending Arnie and Antonio being okay for the game:
--------------------------------------------Fabianski-----------------------------------------
-Fredericks----------------Diop------------------------Balbuena-----------------Masuaku-
--------------------------------Sanchez--------------Rice----------------------------------------
-Yarmalenko----------------------------Anderson---------------------------------Antonio-
------------------------------------------Arnautovic(c)---------------------------------------------
Subs: Adrian, Zabaleta, Ogbonna, Wilshere, Obiang, Snodgrass, Perez.
Very harsh on Snodgrass, who was my MOTM for the Wimbledon game. But the only way Yarmalenko can grow as a player IMO is for him to keep playing. And he plays in Snodgrass's position. You could play him behind Arnie, a bit like what happened to Downing when we moved him to the middle, but that would mean shafting Anderson to the left, which makes no sense.