Why Can't We Perform On The Road?

Who are the big guns? Most of those who are out (bar Hughes) have taken part in this run.

As I’ve said elsewhere, I’m certain it’s a directive from Ivic. If we had shown any attacking adventure away from home this season, I’d say it’s likely down to the players. But the same repetitive, ponderous play has been constant.

 

I mean Hughes would make a big difference, we're lacking in creativity in general, especially away from home, and the midfield has often come in for big criticism in these games. Ivic directives or not, the likes of Chalobah should still be able to pass the ball 5 yards wherever they play. Capoue has been missing these last two games as well, and while he doesn't seem the best fit with Chalobah (neither are the most up and at 'em players), he's been missed as well these last 2 away games, hopefully from Rotherham onwards it'll be mainly Hughes and Capoue (plus maybe one other) in the midfield

 

Drop Sarr? You're having a larf. Rest him if he needs it, sure, dropping him not for me and probably not for Ivic either.

 

I don’t disagree. But Capoue has been a shadow of himself so far this season. Needs to do far better. And is Hughes that creative? The one thing he will give us is more pace with the ball as he’s not slow like Garner and Chalobah are in possession. But the only creativity we have in there is Quina who is hit-and-miss at best.

Either Quina needs to be more consistent or we need to find a CM with a little bit of magic in January.

With Femenia showing form and Masina back training, LB suddenly looks less of a pressing need.

In January, I’d be looking at getting rid of Gray, terminating Murray’s loan, enquiring about Vydra and getting a creative CM if finances allow.

 

He was utterly atrocious last night and is one of our worst performers when you take into account what’s expected of him and what he’s capable of.

 

The frustrating thing about Sarr this season is that, although he's the quickest player in the Championship, it rarely seems to enter his head to knock the ball beyond the full-back and run past him to collect it and cross/shoot.

 

I didn't see the game last night, but I got the impression that a number of players were cautious last night from forum comments. Dropping the best player (overall) is managerial suicide imo. And I don't believe Ivic is that stupid.

 

I think you are being a bit harsh, but I agree he is performing well below his talent and our expectations.

 

But the problem is he is potentially our best player, but not realising his potential.

 

Gray wont be going nowhere in January. And If the Pedro, Deeney,Sarr still isn't working away from home when he is back from injury it gives Ivic options, particularly as when Deeney and Gray were on the pitch at the start of that game they were doing alrite.

 

I know what you're saying but when other forum members say drop him, drop him for who? Don't make sense to me as we don't have a right winger as good as him in general, even if he has the occasional bad game. We would just be weakening the team imo.

 

Ability counts for very little if you refuse more often than not to display it.

 

You can’t say that with such certainty. Without question they won’t be happy with him behind the scenes.

Was linked with a move in the summer and he’s done nothing to warrant a more positive outlook since then.

 

So he’s free to just dial in poor performance week in, week out? I’m not saying he’s rubbish - far far from it. But he shouldn’t be played religiously every week when he’s as ineffective as he’s currently being either.

If Quina can be put on the left when Sema is out, nothing to stop us putting Quina out right when he returns and sitting Sarr out.

 

I disagree with your comments about the refusal. If it were true then Sarr wouldn't have played as many games as he has.

Some forum members see something they don't like in a match about that player and want that player not playing next game. Real football management isn't like that. This isn't a Fifa or FM game this is real life. I can't think of 1 player apart from maybe Foster who, I think, has performed consistently good week in week out. But overall our league position is suggesting that despite this the team is doing ok so I don't go overboard in singling players out necessarily as I know what the end of season goal is for Ivic and at the moment there is no cause for alarm, plus some players are missing and he will be well aware that the team needs to improve away from home. I leave the majority of moaning to others, which is fine, and then make my points if need be.

 

Personally I don't see Sarr being 'dropped' for Quina on the right. Just don't see it any time soon.

 

It's the wages more than anything. Don't see it happening in January. A lot of January moves tend to be from teams 'desperate' for something. I don't see any team desperate for Gray in January. In the summer, I can't rule anything out.

 

You’ve missed the point though - it’s not just one game. Sarr has been poor on a number of occasions this season. Three times in the last 4 games for example...
The fact Ivic hasn’t dropped him isn’t a reason for defence - Ivic also took far too long to play a back 4. We’ve now done it and look far better defensively. He’s doesn’t get everything right.

You do love to over-egg your replies! Everyone knows it’s not FIFA or football manager - just as much as no one is demanding free flowing football every week...yet you accuse people of it after every game!

 

A forum is about opinions, if I have an opinion then I may say something about it. If its arguing a point then fine if it feels like an accusation from some then fine. Haven't I been accused of being a 'you know what' for looking on the bright side? It doesn't matter too much to me if they don't like it, its just someone's opinion.

In this instance your opinion is that Sarr should be dropped for Quina. I just happen to disagree.

 

Again...it's not my opinion that Sarr SHOULD be dropped for Quina on the right. It's my opinion that it's an option - which you claimed we don't have.
But my strongest opinion is that a player who the club value at close to £50m is playing to nowhere near that valuation. And for as long as he puts in poor/average efforts more often than not, then he shouldn't be classed as 'untouchable'. I really don't see how that point can be argued against right now.

 

It's an option, sure, if that was what you was getting at. Just not an option I think should happen at this time as I prefer Sarr there.

 

Well, he was a wonderfully promising youngster. A pleasure to watch. But 'timid' now? I think a couple of Forest players have sore ankles right now and they might argue with you. When I said he might have got two yellows, I probably should have said should have been given them. Others thought they were straight reds.

 

Seeing as we essentially didn't spend anything in the summer, and couldn't even get a free agent arranged to fill the gap at left-back, I highly doubt we'll spend any money in January, unless we get rid of Sarr (not entirely unlikely) Gray (fairly unlikely, I can't see anyone come in for him now), or send Murray back and save a few quid in wages

 

Up until quite recently, he definitely could be described as 'timid', though he has been chucking himself about in the challenges recently. Shame about his passing ability, and I don't know if that's gonna come back any time soon...

 

Sarr hasn't been rubbish game in game out though, has he? Three goals (OK, one was from the spot), 2 outright assists, 2 penalties won, and he played a part in the first two goals against Blackburn without actually being credited with an assist, so he's played a part in 9 goals in 12 games, and that's without taking into account that his mere presence occupies defenders and takes away some of the attention from King Ken. We definitely shouldn't be too blasé about getting rid of him, but it's so frustrating, he can do and has done things that nobody else in the squad can, it's just that he hasn't done them anywhere near as consistently as he should. Imagine if he did suddenly start showing his true ability now...

 

We may be able to secure decent loan deals though depending on where we are in the table...

 

Again, I haven’t said it’s game in, game out so it’s not really a question to answer. But he’s not performing to any kind of decent consistency for a player of his supposed worth and ability and until he does, I don’t think it should be seen as sacrilegious for him to be considered to be dropped for the odd game, especially given the truncated nature of the fixture list.

Nobody should be in any doubt what I think of him as a player. He’s class. And our best player. But he’s not close to being consistent. Last nights game was pretty concerning watching him as he’s been off his game for a few games now - and last nights game was played at snails pace with very little energy. Should have been a game for him to grab by the scruff of the neck. But he was always on the fringes of it and did very very little.

He’s either lacking in confidence or annoyed at some of the restrictions being placed on his game by the coaching staff in my opinion.

 

Yep. Especially with Masina and Hughes presumably back by then.

 

Are you joking?!

Do you even watch our games?

The fact that you've asked this question is signposting you as having such terrible observational abilities that it renders pretty much any football-related opinion you may have as instantly discountable.

 

Despite him looking uninterested for most the match yesterday he still put in one, possibly two sensational crosses in to the box which we should have scored from if we'd had decent strikers.

 

Pot, kettle.

 

Every team should play us the same way:
1) Pack the center
2) Defend deep
3) Kick the snot out of Sarr

Make us beat you some other way.

Home, away or in the park... teams that do this we struggle with. That's why when we lost Deulofeu it hurt so much.
3 Techniques to beat this are (in no order whatsoever)
A) Attack down both flanks at pace.
B) Quick strikes through the middle, one-touch passing.
C) Shots from distance and crash the box for rebounds.

Without Sema at this point, it's hard to do A. Quina and Femenia are out of position on that flank.
With only Garner in the side at the moment who is calm on the ball, this is hard also.
I hate this. It sucks... but it's probably what we're best built for now. Quina has a cannon, as do a few others.

The return of Sema and Hughes (and the old Capoue) will help greatly, but Garner is really the only player we have who can run at people out of the centre of the pitch.

 

U wot?

Ken Sema has made 35 appearances for this football club, yet you don't know what foot he uses!

 

Sarr was absolute dog **** last night, you couldn’t see it?

 

He was crap for most of the night, yet still produced our best moment of quality.