DMAA

Rookie defending has made this embarrassing when it should have been tight. But it has to be said they are clearly a better all round team and players and it’s simplistic to completely blame the defence. 

29 minutes ago, BlackSocksRedTops said:

Did Brenda sign him for Leicester?

Yes

1 hour ago, CammyF said:

Just received this so thought I'd share as not seen anything official.

 

"Harry Souttar on-loan all but done apparently".

 

Don't shoot the messanger 

Couple of guys on FF got the same message. Time will tell. Would be an outstanding signing, even on loan. 

22 minutes ago, Blue Moon said:

If Jack isn't fit he should not be playing at that level

A Jack replacement should have been a priority this summer. It’s a weak position. 

It’s good to still be in the tie. I think PSV are clearly the better team and we’ve done well to get a draw last night, as disappointing as it was not to be able to hold a lead. We’re up against it at their own ground, but we were last year too. Huge game for Beale. 

1 minute ago, Bill said:

I’msure the manager had a plan when he gave Sima a shirt tonight. I’m less clear on what it could have been though. 

Loyal to his signings unfortunately. There's no excuse for this.

And we have no confidence whatsoever in our ability to play on the ground. We're just giving the ball back to them.

2 minutes ago, Sutton_blows_goats said:

Everyone : Sima in the team for his pace

 

Sima: slows the game down

It’s chronic. He looks totally out of his depth. Ruining our attacks. 

He’s gone for a bit of balance and solidity with Jack, Cifuentes and Raskin. Downside, as it was against Servette, is a lack of width and dynamism. Understandable at this level. Big game for Sima, who gets on the ball a lot more than Dessers but just lacks a bit of quality. Cantwell will be central to anything we do creatively. 

1 minute ago, BlackSocksRedTops said:

I edging towards this way of thinking tbh. The money we spend on Lammars might have been better spent on a wide player or dare I say it Shankland. 

The Lammers signing never made much sense to me, and it was just more worrying when Beale talked about how he’s known about him for years. Just seems like our transfer policy is driven by players he already knows about, rather than proper scouting. 

11 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

If it's in the #10 role, I agree with you. 

 

I'm still convinced Lammers is a striker, but we're not using him properly. I don't know what the answer is, though.  

Problem is he isn’t a very good striker. Even in his first few games here he’s shown why he’s struggled in front of goal in his career.
 

At this early stage, I think we've spent a lot of money on someone who is a backup striker. Cantwell should be our number 10 and shouldn't be pushed back to accommodate for Lammers. 

Another long season ahead by the looks of things. We need a miracle to get past PSV. 

Just now, DMAA said:

That’s what I’ve been saying. I don’t like him as a wide forward at all. Fast yes but doesn’t have the required technique and dribbling ability. I don't like him much as a 9 either tbh but his attributes are a better fit in there. 

Not dissimilar to how we turned Sakala into a wide forward when he had previously been a 9, even though his technique was badly lacking for it (compare to a Jota for example). At least he could run at defenders and beat a man though. Sima doesn’t have that. 

31 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

I thought Sima was more of a wide man/inside forward. 

 

He seems to be quite good in duels. He has got pace. 

 

I wonder if he's be better developed into a pure #9?

That’s what I’ve been saying. I don’t like him as a wide forward at all. Fast yes but doesn’t have the required technique and dribbling ability. I don't like him much as a 9 either tbh but his attributes are a better fit in there. 

3 minutes ago, Rousseau said:

 

Sima	Dessers	Lammers	Danilo
Minutes played 61	Minutes played29	Minutes played29	Minutes played61
Goals0	Goals0	Goals0	Goals0
Assists0	Assists0	Assists0	Assists0
Total shots1	Total shots2	Total shots1	Total shots1
Accurate passes13/19 (68%)	Accurate passes5/7 (71%)	Accurate passes10/15 (67%)	Accurate passes12/15 (80%)
Chances created0	Chances created0	Chances created0	Chances created1
Expected goals (xG)0.02	Expected goals (xG)0.63	Expected goals (xG)0.03	Expected goals (xG)0.25
Attack	Attack	Attack	Attack
Shot accuracy0/1 (0%)	Shot accuracy0/2 (0%)	Shot accuracy1/1 (100%)	Shot accuracy0/1 (0%)
Touches33	Touches13	Touches30	Touches21
Successful dribbles1/2 (50%)	Successful dribbles0/2 (0%)	Successful dribbles1/2 (50%)	Successful dribbles0/2 (0%)
Dispossessed1	Dispossessed2	Dispossessed1	Dispossessed0
		Passes into final third1	Passes into final third1
Defence	Defence	Defence	Defence
Tackles won1/1 (100%)	Tackles won0	Tackles won1/2 (50%)	Tackles won0
Recoveries1		Recoveries1	Recoveries3
		Blocks1
Duels	Duels	Duels	Duels
Ground duels won2/4 (50%)	Ground duels won0/5 (0%)	Ground duels won5/10 (50%)	Ground duels won0/2 (0%)
Aerial duels won4/6 (67%)	Aerial duels won0/3 (0%)	Aerial duels won1/1 (100%)	Aerial duels won1/2 (50%)
Was fouled0	Was fouled0	Was fouled2	Was fouled0
Fouls committed0	Fouls committed1	Fouls committed2	Fouls committed0
Colour coded stats: 6	Colour coded stats: 2	Colour coded stats: 7	Colour coded stats: 6

Dessers absolutely anonymous. 13 touches and Lammers managed 30. 

53 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said:

 

I think people are being a bit harsh on Dessers.  He puts himself about a bit and I reckon it'll come good eventually.

 

He’s been very weak on and off the ball so far tbh. Just checked the stats and they back that up. 5 ground duels and 3 aerial duels and won none. Dispossessed twice. He looks strong to look at but not in the game. 

6 minutes ago, Blue Moon said:

The first half was awful after the first ten minutes for the most part.  Second half was much better.  Butland, Cantwell and Cifuentes did well and Raskin in the second half.  Delighted to go through though and anything can happen.

There are positives. Cifuentes looks an instant upgrade in midfield. Provides more balance than Dowell too. I thought there were signs that we can play good football too, we had some very good exchanges. More minutes minutes in the strikers legs too, who both seem to need it. We’ll be in a better place next week than we were tonight or last week. 

1 minute ago, alexscottislegend said:

We complain about our referees in Scotland but I lost count of the numbers of times Cantwell was fouled with no free kick given.

Yeh and then their left back buys one no bother. No consistency whatsoever. 

Lammers has struggled 

Our new strikers need to be putting these away

1 minute ago, Rousseau said:

He clearly hasn't read my numerous, numerous posts on the subject. 

 

Muppet...

Cifeuentes' xA on the other hand is looking great. That's all that matters at the end of the day. 

Excellent from Cifuentes though

2 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said:

Souttar, Goldson and Tav all rubbish there.

Souttar’s mistake drags Tav inside though. 

Not the first John Souttar howler

3 minutes ago, Frankie said:

The system will be interesting as Gerrard/Beale often used more of a 4-3-3/4-5-1 but I don't see that with this choice of players.

The new system is very similar to the narrow 4-3-3 Gerrard played to be fair. The main difference is two forwards instead of two 10s.