I guess Sierralta does need a run of games to really see how good he is but it's hard to to just rely on him.
I wouldn’t judge him on this game given the circumstances, or indeed the next few. I’ve every confidence he can make it at this level, at the same time relying on him to be the answer to our defensive prayers was much like relying on Munoz to be a competent manager at this level, extremely high risk.
I know he has not been outstanding in the little amount of game time he has had in the PL, but from our current squad he would be my first name on the team sheet for our defence. Time will tell if he is a good PL defender, but right now he is the best we have.
There’s been nothing this season to suggest that sadly. The argument that we need TWO centre-backs is one that gains traction with every passing game. Sierralta deserves supporters to stay with him given his lack of game-time and fitness. But only for so long and more performances like yesterday shouldn’t be tolerated long term.
To be fair he won 9 out of 10 headers and handled Antonio fairly well. If we stuck him alongside a CB who knows how to pass, in a system with a DM who takes responsibility on the ball, then I think he would do well for us. Because CBs are a cog in the machine as much as an individual, how good they look is partly a function of how the team is set up and who they play alongside. I think FS would look v good alongside Nkoulou or a new CB. But his passing is dire (of which, at least, he is well aware)
At least he looked furious with the goals conceded yesterday, the others don’t seem to give a **** especially Masina
I hope he comes good and I think there is a chance he will, but surely how good he was in the Championship has to be overlaid onto how good the rest of our proven beyond doubt bad PL defenders were at the same level. Masina made the championship team of the season and he’s utter dog shyte at PL level, there is that chance he just won’t be that good.
Agreed, although there's no way Masina was the best LB in the Championship last season, he was good, and as an able-bodied left-sided defender, he was vital to our promotion push, but there were a few LBs better than him!
Yes - of all the players to be selected from is think he was one of the least likely ! Almost like a token gesture.
This. I also think he’d play for free just for the chance to play in the prem again. Leaving us to use his loan fee to re-sign Success to cover for Sarr & Dennis.
I noticed Sierralta didn't appear for Chile in their game against Argentina last night. A bit of googling throws up the fact he had to withdraw from the squad 4 days ago because he tested positive for Covid. https://today.in-24.com/News/896431.html At least he didn't travel, but he's a wretched run of unavailability for selection for club and country this season all told.
Should have saved this scoop for the pod. Crazy how, as you say his season has basically been wiped out so far - no contribution and no real development.
It's alright, I keep the best stuff for the pod but scraps like this and Sarr's FIFA case I throw out on here to give AL a bone or two for his Athletic articles.
That that self proclaimed South American expert/massive GT hating berk actually said this on Talk Sport on Wednesday, so I was actually ITK without knowing I was ITK, but assumed it must’ve already been common knowledge and somebody would’ve posted it somewhere already. He also mentioned Chille were deliberately playing the game in a desert to **** with Argentina.
The great centre back hope has disappeared without trace. Not even getting picked in tbe squad - Gosling-esque. Neither raniera nor Hodgson seems to fancy him. It seems strange to not even make the squad. Is there something more to this?
I actually think our back four are doing OK and yes I include Cathcart in that statement. As for Sierrialta, I to am wondering what is happening with him? However ATM I think the best he could hope for is a place on the bench, because as I said I am likng our present back four. Although if Sierralta could regain his form from last season he could well break into that back four, possibly at the expense of Cathcart even though I am more than happy with Cathcarts current form.
Everything that could have gone wrong for him this season has gone wrong, I understand he got Covid just before he was due to fly out to play for Chile, perhaps that might be why he can't even get in the squad for us now?
99% sure he called Pozzo a **** over the Chile thing. He dominated Norwich on his debut and to have Kabasele picked ahead of him this time was a clear message. It was also a stupid decision that pretty much sealed our relegation.
Why give a young player - who was a shining light last season - an opportunity to further improve, learn, develop and grow in reputation/sale value, when we can just bang our heads against a brick wall with players who have now spent at least two full Premier League seasons failing miserably, letting us down and showing they're no longer anywhere near good enough, and couldn't even get in our Championship side. It's ******* bizarre. It really is. Craig ******* Cathcart is basically undroppable in 2022. Insanity.
I would prefer we had a younger better player than Cathcart, but lets be fair to the man he is doing the business for us right now and is undroppable on merit. I'd love to have the Seirrialta from last season in the side, but for whatever reason he is not even getting on the bench right now. So we can only assume he is not the player he was last season or nowhere near PL standard, I really wish things were different for him so let's hope he can get his form back very soon.
Hahaha, what?! You are aware we've conceded yet another 3 goals in the past two games, right? Brighton could and probably should have scored a lot more than 2 yesterday as well. What exactly is the "business" he's doing? Incredible.
I certainly don’t think Cathcart is unstoppable but can you really say Brighton “should” have scored a lot more than 2 yesterday? Maupay’s goal was an incredibly implausible finish and we only really got opened up in the second half when we opened up (without creating anything) to chase the game. I think their xG was 1.7 or something like that with 2/3 of that coming in the second half
Yep. From memory they missed a big chance with a header with a ball in from their left hand side and another, maybe slightly more difficult header at the back post from from a corner in the first half. Both unmarked. Also remember Foster making a fairly decent save from Cucurella second half and another one that went just wide. How anyone can say Cathcart is suddenly "doing the business" and act like he can't be dropped as we carry on conceding goals and chances and losing week in, week out is just utterly laughable and says it all about our fans. So desperate to give everyone a pat on the back and see things that aren't there, particularly with certain players. The fact that we are still relying on the likes of Cathcart and Cleverley in a Premier League season in 2022 is a huge part of why we're going down. Just nowhere near good enough. But they've been here a while and pretend to look like they care so let's try and find excuses for their complete lack of ability and ineffective at best performances. It's like the Deeney situation again. Clearly completely past it and a drag on the team, but our fans just don't want to see the truth because "lEgEnD m8" and so will desperately search for imaginary positives.
This is a joke, right? Seriously, nobody in charge of their faculties could possibly hold this opinion, so I seriously hope for your sake you’re on a wind up HB1 style.
Come on mate, we've only conceded another three in the last two games (and lost them both, of course) despite now basically completely parking the bus tactically, and we did keep a clean sheet against the team in 20th a few games ago COYH!!!!!