DMAA

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dessers absolutely anonymous. 13 touches and Lammers managed 30.

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.

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.

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

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

Excellent from Cifuentes though

Souttar’s mistake drags Tav inside though.

Not the first John Souttar howler

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.

It’s certainly a more conservative lineup. It will be good to get another look at Cifuentes. Definitely a bit of a concern of lack of width and runners, but we do have plenty quality in the team, and we should be able to keep the back door shut with that team too.

Gerrard and Beale always went with pace in the forward areas in away European games too.

Lol. Typo.

We should be hammering teams like this.

It’s never a good sign when even YouTube doesn’t make it look like they have good technique. I’m hoping he can do a Sakala and come up with goals despite his limitations but the early signs haven’t been there.

I’ve no idea how Sima fits in. Seems like we just signed him because Beale knew of him, and he was highly rated a few years ago. Why was he seen as a good fit for our system?

It all feels a bit pointless because we aren’t going to beat PSV are we