The balance is just not quite there with the three behind Jerome

I agree we looked better with Mulumbu on. Yet another example of a Neil substitution not only not improving us but actually making us worse.

However for me the main problem at the moment is that Neil is trying to pick his best players rather than perhaps the best team or combinations. yesterday was another example. if he wants to play Mulumbu to give us more defensive solidity and a platform in midfield then fine but Howson wide right does not really work and we all know it. Nor does Wes playing wide really work. And yet so far this season we are persisting with trying both in order to accommodate Naismith in the middle. Maybe we can get away with one of Wes or Howson playing wide but not both. It needs more pace and natural width on at least one of the flanks to stretch the play better. I also think that the current very narrow midfield system is very, very tough physically on the fullbacks which may mean it is no coincidence that we have already seen two fullbacks go off injured in four games.

My hope with Pritchard is that he can eventually settle into the wide left role with Wes in the central role.

Posted By: Jim, Aug 22, 10:22:40