We have a very capable squad but somehow we never really look like bossing games (discount Sydney). I remain bewildered by a lot of Kossie's decisions but he's getting results. I guess the question is always "are we achieving what we could". I'm not convinced. The last few weeks have really shown up the weaknesses.
Bruce is a poor striker. He's a great guy, has a brilliant workrate, does some good hold-up work but he's so out of form in front of goal it's becoming embarrassing. There's no point talking about Serg because Kossie has decided he won't use him. The reasons for that being part of the great mystery of human existence.
The other week Bruce did the hard work to win the ball and gave himself a one-on-one with the keeper. He then totally ignored the square ball to Ramsey for a tap-in because he SO wants to score. He shot and stuffed it, the ball falling luckily for Ramsey to put it away. It was great lead-up play from Bruce but terrible decision making that stems from not scoring. Say what you like about his play, a striker is there to score goals as well as the other work he does. It's got to get to him that he's never on target.
Playing him with Jero next to him makes so much more sense for both of them. Jero is not a winger and he's not a midfielder - he is a striker and he knows where the net is and he shoots. But he's small and needs to play off a target man. Equally he can make goals for others. Our one striker system doesn't suit our strikers! Would it be so silly to try a Jero/Kosto front two? Kosto is faster than Bruce, more mobile and pretty strong. His ball control is better (a bit).
Our creative midfielders are sublime but there's a reason that most teams don't try and play so many. They are rarely ball-winners and they need to drift. Vido and Chello sometimes compliment each other but too often make us look like we have no midfield at all. Both wonderful players but both on the field makes us lightweight. Something Zenon can't really rectify as a sub!
Kosto is not a winger either. He's a centre-froward. He's come on in leaps and bounds but he's not quick. Ramsey and Fabs are quick. They are wingers.
Malik has been amazing all season but he plays the hardest position on the pitch. I'd like to see McKain given a try there and on the bench to bolster the DM strength when we get into strife.
It just seems we're not utilising the squad all that well and we're trying to play a sytem that doesn't suit the personnel on the pitch always.
So...
Hugene
(Bowles/Watson) (Golec/Boogs) Fyfe Cassio
(Malik/McKain) or Malik & McKain (especially if Bowles is on)
Fabs (Vido/Chello) Ramsey
(Bruce/Kosto) Jero
Drop one forward if we need to bolster DM and utilise the wing-backs more to counter. I'd even consider playing Vido out on the right in place of Fabs (who isn't in the same class). Vido is fast and clever enough to play wide.
I'm probably completely wrong about all this but I am getting frustrated watching our team set up with players unable to manage the system.
And please don't make me watch Barbs again. He can be mascot.
