There was someone on here confidently (and seriously) stating that he would be a future Balon d’Or winner a couple of months ago.
You weren't even replying to that comment in the comment that I replied to, so I don't know why you're picking that out, but either way, once again, this false pretence that analysis/criticism of a player's game/performance is automatically apportioning 'blame' at all, let alone for everything, is incredibly tiresome and childish. Again, point out to me where, in either of my comments on him, I say anything approaching: 'Ismaila Sarr is to blame for the faults that we see in this team and club'.
Very strongly doubt that there is another player right now or previously in the league who cost his club between 30 and 40 million pounds - I might imagine that Solanke comes in second with his reported £19m. Muff managed to get Brooks for just £11.5, apparently.
Ivic's prefered formation is 433, not sure why its not viewed as our best formation with the current squad. Kiko should be able to do an ok job at left back. Foster, Ngakia (Any 2) Kiko, Cleverley Caps Sema, Sarr Gray/Perica JP
He's been our most important player taking all the games played so far. I can't compare with other squads in the division as I don't watch enough of them. His contribution FOR US on the pitch overall has been important. He's lacked consistency but I don't remember a long spell of consistency he has had for us to be honest. The reputation and price tag thing, I will leave it for others to make up their own minds as to what they are expecting. Some will say he should be like Messi in this league others will say he cant do it on his own. FYI, my own opinion of his possible move to Liverpool was that it was too soon, he wouldn't get many games he's not at that standard right now.
I actually thought we did very well first half, and obviously I’m a wetter. The front 3 looked so dangerous. How Ivic saw fit to hook two of them at half time and change formation is completely beyond me. All on Ivic that one for me. Lucky to get a point in the end. We need Gray playing game in game out. He will score a bundle in this league if deployed correctly.
Sarr is a very good winger but a hopeless centre forward. On the wing he can use his pace and doesn't have many decisions to make. In the middle he has more thinking time and rarely comes to the right conclusion.
I’m stumped by it. So we looked good, threatening and scored a goal. But Ivic backed us to be better at defending a one goal lead, than we would be at scoring another goal and also not letting one in, something we’d just done successfully in the prior 45 minutes. Madness. And all this against a team in 18th, not Norwich or Swansea or Bournemouth.
Not sure why Sarr is getting pelters. Think he has been a bit underwhelming but still one of our most important players. My big concern is that Ivic is going to waste this chance to bounce back. The competition is low grade but this must be the season we go up. Sarr, Hughes will be gone next summer. And please play Ngakia!!!!
Another one hyped up no end by the club who isn't playing... They had a big thing with Garner on the site too. Probably knew he wouldn't be involved.
It's a genuine concern. Forums even with banter are fair game - I get that but this fella is just 100% hatred on anything and everything. It can't be healthy.
I strongly disagree with those who said we were rubbish/shyte etc. We did well enough creating chances that we should have been 3 goals up at h/t. It certainly isn't VI's fault that WTE or Wilmot or Sarr cannot convert fairly easy chances. Obviously the second half was much different and Ivic played a big part in this.You cannot save some players for the next game when you need them on the pitch.I guess a victory on Wednesday will mean his reasoning worked but there is no guarantee of that and the 3 points today were there to take. Fair play to QPR who were much improved in the second half and noticed we don't have any full backs who can defend and that dragging Wilmot or Cathcart out wide creates space and opportunities in the middle. Any coach can see where our problems are and they are taking advantage of that.Ivic needs to make the changes to ensure they stop doing that. Roll on Wednesday because it'll be really interesting to see if he has learnt anything.
People can rant on the forum and still be quite happy with the rest of their lives. Quite partial to a moan myself.
Thing is, we could have bought the same attacking threat that Sarr gives us for £5m and bought players to strengthen the rest of the team as well, so we didn't get relegated. As it is we paid well over the odds for a luxury and we are where we are.
On top of that, former pros will fall over themselves to tell you that the most important thing in football is momentum, and that players will put themselves in every minute of every game, given the chance. I'd wager we would be far more likely to have been on the road to a positive result on Wednesday night had we done what was needed and won this one, going into the match top of the league to boot.
Fair point about the first half chances. I have no idea how WTE failed to score,just needed to get it on target and the others weren't much harder.
I’ve never, ever, been a fan or agreed with taking attacking players off to defend a lead. I think it actually increases the likelihood of conceding rather than decreasing it. You’ve got less of an outlet, you invite more pressure on to yourselves and have to sustain more attacks on your goal, not less. A great example was us against Wolves in the cup semi. They had the game won, but flushed it away by trying to stick with what they had and handed the game to us. There are two scenarios to me when it makes sense. You’re playing a big team (like us playing city for example) and you nick an unlikely goal. In that scenario the odds are the opposition will score whatever you do, so you may as well try and defend the lead. It still probably won’t work but it’s worth a try. The other is maybe with 5, at an absolute push, 10 minutes of the game left. Doing it against a lesser team for 45 minutes is complete and utter madness, with only one outcome. You invite them to score a goal for 45 minutes and ultimately they will.
4231 Foster Ngakia-Kabasele-Ekong-Femenia Garner/Hughes/Clevs/Capoue Sarr Pedro Sema Gray 433 Foster Ngakia-Kabasele-Ekong-Femenia Clevs-Capoue-Hughes Sarr-Gray-Pedro plzzz
Well, we bought Sema for 2m didn't we? He's nothing special but at this level, good enough and offers as much as Sarr
I’ve said it before and I will say it again...this is one of the strongest squads the championship has seen for a very long time. My cockapoo could organise this lot into a top 2 side...I’m speechless with that second half performance
It's getting harder and harder to defend Ivic's tactics. Not that I want to. My bed is getting wetter every game. What kind of boneheaded manager makes those changes at half time, trying to sit on a 1-0 lead. Our players, not exactly the most loyal bunch to begin with, must be seeing decisions like that and be tearing their hair out. It feels like he's trolling us at the moment. We will not go up with this turd in charge - and even if we did, would we want him managing us in the Prem? I wish we still had Pearson.
Shame. That was so close to the "Baldrick the cocker spaniel please" line! Nevertheless keep him or her available for the time being please,every chance they'll get the job.