Stick or Twist

[Goliath]

How many nils does it take before we decide that front line isn't getting us promotion. Genuinely none of them are good enough , which is why are goals scored column is so poor. If we lose Brownhill then that's another chunk of our goals gone. I'm not sure we'd be anywhere close to the top 2 without his goals.

Personally, Id be completely changing that attacking set up now. I'd send Sarmiento back to free up a wage and then go big on a centre forward. The 2 from Luton would be upgrades, Kone from Wycombe. There must be something out there.

We also need the Tresor thing resolving immediately. If we could get a front 3 of a fit Tresor, Edwards/Benson and Adebajo/Morris then we would be a totally different proposition.

[cockneyclaret]

We need a better wing outlet on both sides. What we have isn't good enough

[Vegas Claret]

Doesn't matter, Parker would still set us up to not lose and Trafford would still take a minute on every goal kick. It's abysmal.

[Goliath]

We need a better wing outlet on both sides. What we have isn't good enough

It'd also look a bit better if our attacking bench options were Fleming, Anthony, Benson/Edwards, Ramsey and Foster than what they are now

[Goliath]

Doesn't matter, Parker would still set us up to not lose and Trafford would still take a minute on every goal kick. It's abysmal.

It made a difference in the first two games when we had more quality.

[fidelcastro]

You can't send loan players back either.

They can only be recalled.

[Goliath]

You can't send loan players back either.

They can only be recalled.

I'm not sure that's right..it just has to be mutually agreed doesn't it?

[KRBFC]

Again another person brainwashed into naively thinking it’s the players we have and not the way they’re set up to play. We were wasting time in the first half ffs

[fidelcastro]

I'm not sure that's right..it just has to be mutually agreed doesn't it?

No. Who was the last player we sent back?

[gandhisflipflop]

Anthony is an absolute joke out wide.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

Whats Paces plan if we dont go up this year, another year of 0-0's?

[Vegas Claret]

Again another person brainwashed into naively thinking it’s the players we have and not the way they’re set up to play. We were wasting time in the first half ffs

I genuinely couldn't believe what I saw from Trafford today on goal kicks

[fidelcastro]

Whats Paces plan if we dont go up this year, another year of 0-0's?

I doubt it. We won't have anything like the personnel in defence for starters.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

We are not going up under Parker. Time wasting nil nil away to Portsmouth sums up where we are at.
Said it the other night you do not have to abandon all attacking intent to be solid at the back as Dyche showed us.

[Hedontplayforyou]

Anthony is an absolute joke out wide.

I disagree with that but he had a stinker today and for some reason Parker persisted with it. I can understand not bringing Benson on until later perhaps but keeping the personnel as they were was baffling.

Why not move foster into the 9, and Flemming behind for a bit? Move Anthony to the left and bring benson on toward the end? Shelvey for Laurent?

Sonne and Humphreys for Roberts and Pires?

Any of the above would have given us something else. Personally don’t want to see Pires again this season he’s just not good enough.

Parker needs to be braver from here on in. The ball needs moving quicker and more ambition going forward please Scott.

[Goliath]

Again another person brainwashed into naively thinking it’s the players we have and not the way they’re set up to play. We were wasting time in the first half ffs

Brainwashed
I know full well that they are being asked to play In a certain way. But that's because of the profile of player we have. We haven't had the quality in the squad to be a good team going forwards. Until that changes we don't finish in the top 2 it's that simple.

For me one of the big problems is Anthony, he's playing half of the game at wing back atm which suits him as a player but If we played Benson instead of him that wouldn't be the case, he's a totally different profile of player and would look to stay higher.

We allow Foster to stay higher but unfortunately at the moment he's not doing anything with it. We don't have anyone who sniffs out goals, apart from Brownhill. That's the exact type of game where Brownhill knicks a goal and we go on to win it.

[JohnDearyMe]

Parker isn't going to show more ambition. He's given us a very clear sense of what he's about.

[CoolClaret]

Doesn't matter, Parker would still set us up to not lose and Trafford would still take a minute on every goal kick. It's abysmal.

It does though, ok they're damn good players, but Mitrovic and Solanke both bagged 30 goals in the Champ under Parker.

Go through the squad, and outside of Barnes (35 yr old, past it) , Flemming and Redmond (been injured all year) quite literally non of them have ever notched more than 10 goals in a season at any level.

There's no goals in this team. No one with a proper striker's instinct (Flemming slowly developing it).

Foster is more suited to a system like Aston Villa's.

We need a proper number 9 that can lead the line.

[Hedontplayforyou]

Parker isn't going to show more ambition. He's given us a very clear sense of what he's about.

He says our goal is automatic promotion , if this is what he’s about he’s going to be very disappointed

[Winstonswhite]

Said it before and I’ll say it again. Building a side takes time. This forward line is not good enough, neither on the pitch or on the bench. Wheel and deal for a better side next season. We don’t have to go up this year.

[Hedontplayforyou]

Said it before and I’ll say it again. Building a side takes time. This forward line is not good enough, neither on the pitch or on the bench. Wheel and deal for a better side next season. We don’t have to go up this year.

I’m not sure that last quote is correct

[Vegas Claret]

It does though, ok they're damn good players, but Mitrovic and Solanke both bagged 30 goals in the Champ under Parker.

Go through the squad, and outside of Barnes (35 yr old, past it) , Flemming and Redmond (been injured all year) quite literally non of them have ever notched more than 10 goals in a season at any level.

There's no goals in this team. No one with a proper striker's instinct (Flemming slowly developing it).

Foster is more suited to a system like Aston Villa's.

We need a proper number 9 that can lead the line.

Mate
Foster left wing
Sarmiento number 10
Fleming up top

It's ******* madness

[burnley007]

It made a difference in the first two games when we had more quality.

Parker hadn't chance to strangle the life out of our players by then.

[fidelcastro]

Parker hadn't chance to strangle the life out of our players by then.

Bore off.

[ClaretAL]

So Parker’s line up is play Fleming who is a 10 as a striker, play Sarmiento who is a winger as a 10, play Foster who is a striker as a winger? And to make it worse all of the above played rubbish today and we had ready replacements on the bench but let’s not use them. Just absolutely ridiculous.

[BabylonClaret]

Said it before and I’ll say it again. Building a side takes time. This forward line is not good enough, neither on the pitch or on the bench. Wheel and deal for a better side next season. We don’t have to go up this year.

Hmmmm. Next season is last chance saloon then. We really do. If we don't go up, we will be saying goodbye to three of our back 5, we have no forwards and we are in another rebuild situation. The debt over the club will kill us

[Bosscat]

Parker hadn't chance to strangle the life out of our players by then.

johnny-english-agent.gif (255 KiB) Viewed 1948 times

[BabylonClaret]

So Parker’s line up is play Fleming who is a 10 as a striker, play Sarmiento who is a winger as a 10, play Foster who is a striker as a winger? And to make it worse all of the above played rubbish today and we had ready replacements on the bench but let’s not use them. Just absolutely ridiculous.

To be fair to Parker neither Foster nor Sarmiento have looked much cop in either of those other positions either. Foster simply isn't good enough and Sarmiento just seems too lightweight

[Tricky Trevor]

For me one of the big problems is Anthony, he's playing half of the game at wing back atm which suits him as a player but If we played Benson instead of him that wouldn't be the case, he's a totally different profile of player and would look to stay higher.

If Anthony played further forward we would concede and need to score two. Heaven forbid.

[Claretforever]

Our problem certainly seems out wide, regardless of an argument that the strikers need to be better.

We can’t beat a man and can’t whip in early balls that have defenders facing their own goal and panicking. It’s all too slow. I really though Koleosho was going to be that player this season but he’s lost a yard of pace with his injury and don’t have the confidence, or authorisation from the Manager, to hug the touchline and use the pace he has to beat a man.

I wonder if Benson might be that player again? I know he likes to cut inside but he could also go down the line too.

[CoolClaret]

Mate
Foster left wing
Sarmiento number 10
Fleming up top

It's ******* madness

Sarmiento is a '10'! That's his position, he's said it himself.

Foster played wide left/right under VK... Flemming is more of a second striker, yes, and that combo of Foster and Flemming needs to be tried for sure.. but I don't think Foster plays the 9 role how SP wants a 9 to play.

That aside, you still didn't address my point - who in this squad has ever notched goals at any level that is not past it?

[KRBFC]

Brainwashed
I know full well that they are being asked to play In a certain way. But that's because of the profile of player we have. We haven't had the quality in the squad to be a good team going forwards. Until that changes we don't finish in the top 2 it's that simple.

For me one of the big problems is Anthony, he's playing half of the game at wing back atm which suits him as a player but If we played Benson instead of him that wouldn't be the case, he's a totally different profile of player and would look to stay higher.

We allow Foster to stay higher but unfortunately at the moment he's not doing anything with it. We don't have anyone who sniffs out goals, apart from Brownhill. That's the exact type of game where Brownhill knicks a goal and we go on to win it.

The profile of player, you mean the players Parker bought? Nobody forced him to potentially spunk over £10m on Jaidon Anthony.

[Vegas Claret]

Sarmiento is a '10'! That's his position, he's said it himself.

Foster played wide left/right under VK... Flemming is more of a second striker, yes, and that combo of Foster and Flemming needs to be tried for sure.. but I don't think Foster plays the 9 role how SP wants a 9 to play.

That aside, you still didn't address my point - who in this squad has ever notched goals at any level that is not past it?

it's very clear the top quality departed but you might as well go and talk to yourself in the mirror if you think our squad shouldn't be creating way more chances than we are - Pompey created more than we did and were better all across the pitch - not one of their lads gets in our squad. So your quality argument only goes a small way.

Edit: To your goal scoring point - nobody scores if you don't create chances

[CoolClaret]

it's very clear the top quality departed but you might as well go and talk to yourself in the mirror if you think our squad shouldn't be creating way more chances than we are - Pompey created more than we did and were better all across the pitch - not one of their lads gets in our squad. So your quality argument only goes a small way.

We were poor today (well for the majority of the game) - no one is denying that.

Talking across the season as a whole, there just aren't goalscorers or genuine creative players that have been in our matchday squad.

I think that if we opened up more, the extra chances created would be negated by chances conceded the other way. For me, the players we have in the final third aren't good enough.

[Vegas Claret]

We were poor today (well for the majority of the game) - no one is denying that.

Talking across the season as a whole, there just aren't goalscorers or genuine creative players that have been in our matchday squad.

I think that if we opened up more, the extra chances created would be negated by chances conceded the other way. For me, the players we have in the final third aren't good enough.

hopefully this new lad will change everything if we get him, I genuinely don't see us being near the top two if we carry on like this. It's going to be interesting to see how long the club persists with Foster before cutting their losses on him, he's offering very little.

[CoolClaret]

hopefully this new lad will change everything if we get him, I genuinely don't see us being near the top two if we carry on like this. It's going to be interesting to see how long the club persists with Foster before cutting their losses on him, he's offering very little.

Hopefully yes he does.

Have to ask again though Vegas, who do we have in the side right now that has ever scored goals or provided goals at any level, that isn't completely over the hill?

[Vegas Claret]

Hopefully yes he does.

Have to ask again though Vegas, who do we have in the side right now that has ever scored goals or provided goals at any level, that isn't completely over the hill?

Nobody, but do you think Tella scores 19 (i think that's roughly how many he got for us) in this side ? I bet he wouldn't even get double figures.

Parker's priority is not to lose - he just said today's result is a good point. I've said it loads, really like the lad, he's done incredibly well to unify the squad and no doubt the lack of top quality isn't helping but our squad is still far better than most, 10 0-0 draws in this division is inexcusable given the money spent. The team are capable, we've got some good results here and there.

Edit: I'll just add, in his post match he says there are a couple we are looking at bringing in

[CoolClaret]

Nobody, but do you think Tella scores 19 (i think that's roughly how many he got for us) in this side ? I bet he wouldn't even get double figures.

Parker's priority is not to lose - he just said today's result is a good point. I've said it loads, really like the lad, he's done incredibly well to unify the squad and no doubt the lack of top quality isn't helping but our squad is still far better than most, 10 0-0 draws in this division is inexcusable given the money spent. The team are capable, we've got some good results here and there.

Nobody. Exactly.

Mitrovic scored 26 and Solanked bagged 29 when he managed them in the Champ. I don't think this team is capable in the final third.

I was always reserving judgment till we had players like Ramsey and Tresor back fit (who I thought would be playing right now).. I'm obviously not happy with the 0-0s, but I just don't think we have the players.

[123EasyasBFC]

Playing the forward line in their correct positions would be a start. Foster and Flemming have both been fit to play together for 6 weeks and have only had 20 minutes at home to stoke together where Parker still got the positions wrong, had foster in the 10 and Flemming in the 9.

Get them up front together and get two proper wingers in the side with Cullen and Shelvey in a 2

[Goliath]

If Anthony played further forward we would concede and need to score two. Heaven forbid.

It's that type of thinking which is why we never score a goal. If Roberts can't handle an occasional 1v1 with the help of a central midfielder coming across as well then maybe it's he who is the weak link. Maybe Parker doesn't trust Roberts to be reliable when exposed so feels he has to over protect him.

Would make sense as to why we went and got Sonne.

[Tricky Trevor]

It's that type of thinking which is why we never score a goal. If Roberts can't handle an occasional 1v1 with the help of a central midfielder coming across as well then maybe it's he who is the weak link. Maybe Parker doesn't trust Roberts to be reliable when exposed so feels he has to over protect him.

Would make sense as to why we went and got Sonne.

Can I clarify. That is not my thinking but my interpretation of SPs.
Wingers should come back and help their FBs but ours are far too deep in their starting positions when we are in possession. It would help if our passing could make sure they are better fed.

[dougcollins]

Sarmiento calls himself a number 10, yet nothing about his play suggests it.

[Dark Cloud]

Losing JBG just before the start of the season has proved to be a huge, huge loss. Far bigger than anyone could have foreseen. His crossing ability was streets ahead of anything we have now. It seems a strange to say, but Humphreys is arguably our best crosser right now.

[Goliath]

Losing JBG just before the start of the season has proved to be a huge, huge loss. Far bigger than anyone could have foreseen. His crossing ability was streets ahead of anything we have now. It seems a strange to say, but Humphreys is arguably our best crosser right now.

That was the one we should have played hardball on.

[Dark Cloud]

That was the one we should have played hardball on.

But at the time I don't think anyone, even me, thought it would make much difference to us. He'd left the second the season finished (because of Kompany) and we all genuinely thanked him for his amazing service and cheerily waved him off accepting that his time was up. He returned a few weeks later when Kompany jumped ship, which told it's own story I guess, but nobody really thought he'd be pivotal to our chances of bouncing back. How wrong we were. It's been clear from really early in the season that he's exactly what we're missing and a few pinpoint JBG crosses could have made all the difference in those 0-0's and could even have made Foster and Jayrod look miles better than they have.

[Goliath]

Parker hadn't chance to strangle the life out of our players by then.

Marcus Edwards must have a weird fetish then

[Clive 1960]

Said a while ago we needed a decent striker to push us over the line for automatic promotion if not it's the lottery of the play offs..

[dsr]

Nobody. Exactly.

Mitrovic scored 26 and Solanked bagged 29 when he managed them in the Champ. I don't think this team is capable in the final third.

I was always reserving judgment till we had players like Ramsey and Tresor back fit (who I thought would be playing right now).. I'm obviously not happy with the 0-0s, but I just don't think we have the players.

Parker playing a style that works if you have Mitrovic or Solanke up front. We don't have M or S, so this style isn't working all that well.

So why are we still playing it?

[Burnley87]

We could sign Nathen Tella and he would play on the left hand side with a midfield Three of Brownhill, Cullen and Laurent when fit.

Same team, same style same outcome barring one result at Plymouth which they did there best to make it easy for us that day.

If you keep doing the same things and getting the same outcome make a change

[whiffa]

For me Parker/Pace have until the window closes on Monday night to give me some hope back. Simple as that.