05 Jan 2026 04:19:22
Yesterday just highlighted the same problems again.
Our centre-backs are too slow and make too many mistakes. When JB is back, him alongside O’Brien might be an improvement, but I still think we’ll need another CB if we’re serious. At the minute we get punished far too easily by pace and movement.
Full-backs are a massive issue. We need players who can actually defend properly and contribute going forward, offering width without throwing the shape out of balance.
Mykolenko loses possession far too often, his crossing is poor when he does get into a decent area, and technically he just isn’t good enough for this level.
On the right, we’re desperate. O’Brien isn’t a RB, and he offers nothing going forward. There was one moment where he left Dibling isolated against two players in the corner without offering any support at all — that simply isn’t good enough.
Tim isn’t a Premier League player. He gets bypassed too easily and doesn’t know how to dictate the tempo of a game.
McNeil was, yet again, ineffective — no real influence, no impact. There was no link between defence and midfield, which is killing us. We need a more dominant holding midfielder and a proper creative No.10 who can take responsibility and move us up the pitch.
I really hope Dibling comes good, because the talent is there, but he’s getting no help. If he had proper support behind him, along with Grealish on the other side, then Barry and/or Beto wouldn’t be so isolated up top.
Right now, we seriously lack any reliable, consistent attacking outlets, and everything feels disjointed. Until the balance improves — especially at full-back and in midfield — we’re going to keep seeing the same issues repeat themselves.
05 Jan 2026 12:17:22
Spot on with that post OS, other than the fact that it isn't even pace and movement that trouble us. Go back and watch the first goal. Keane has all the problem in front of him and decides to run across and lose sight of it - criminal defending.
Need to go and get Morten Frendrup to sit in front of the back 4. Bags of stamina, never stops harrying the opposition. 10 may be too difficult to find for a decent price in Jan. We need 2 fullbacks and the price won't change too much between the two windows, so we should try and bring Robinson home and then try for Sanchez, Doue, Preciado, Alebiosu or anyone, as anyone would be an upgrade on what we currently have.
If we get those 3 positions sorted, I genuinely think we will get Europe. It will flip the whole team on it's head and all of a sudden our forward players will reap the benefits of getting some decent flankers in.