I agree. If McCarthy had been fully fit he would probably have started having seen how we set up. No one is like Eze in our team but he is a luxury player and we were definitely set up not to lose, so not really required. 4-3-3 basically is 4-5-1 defensively but it hardly got a chance to be 4-3-3 as we were under constant pressure. You could of course argue that both crosses for the goals came from the players in their 4-3-3 positions.

There is no way we could have played 4-4-2, as we would have been torn apart in midfield, more so than we already were.

I thought we had players who did very little last night. So little we barely noticed them. I didn't notice Ward or Reidewald much. I noticed Eze in the full back position several times - which said to me he was forced to cover Mitchell, who is OK but not great really. Luka was awful and made his usual bad challenge.
I'm basically saying the vilification of Eze is a bit strong, as he obviously had to go deep to get the ball. There was no one running to make space so he could pass and he was forced into running down blind alleys himself. He basically took one for the team. Even though it was a relatively gutsy performance there were a couple of players who did very little/nothing: that is more worrying than trying to run and trying to play, as Eze did.

Red and Blue Army!

Eze was poor, and not for the first time.

I thought the 4-4-1-1 formation was designed around him, but he failed to have any real impact leaving JP too isolated upfront and not really offering much elsewhere.

Luka was poor again and wasn't always offering himself when the defence had the ball - which is surely his role in the team.

Jairo was a bit all over the place, positionally he is poor. Notice how forward he was when Tekkers scored in the 95th minute. Nice to see but surely he should have been further back.

Andros offers so little now, even defensively although fantastic cross.

Mitchell looked nervous but is still learning and it is difficult to criticise our back 4 after their efforts last night.

Luka & Eze for me, Mitchell thought he ran and ran his socks off but Clearly a pants perfomance all round apart from the two goals.
We were all sweating on holding on the the point and hiding behing our hands etc.

It was all hands to the pump defending and dont forget we're playing with a patched up 11 and yet we've still amassed more points at this stage of the season and that without fans!
Am not saying all is rosey but to beat a pretty football playing team which Brighton were last night & with those stats is nothing short of a miracle & amazing!

Am still buzzing! " There are Teachers and Pupils

Oh yeah that sonic boom echoing around the Amex when Tekkers hits it gives me goose bumps everytime!

Edited by Barcelona Based Fan (23 Feb 2021 4.14pm)

TaxiMark
Sheffield Wednesday Fan
Posted 23 February 2013 - 07:49 PM
I don't mind palace to be fair. Much better club than tinpot Charlton and Brighton

I don’t think any of us is calling out Eze it is just an observation of one particular game but it was clear that in a backs to the wall game Eze is not the best contributor. Every player has his strengths and weaknesses and when we are in attacking mode his contribution will be much more positive. Mind you it would be nice to see us in a more attacking mode !! COYP

Agree with that and also the work rate and forward drive of Schlupp
. However last night with the players we had available it was the only way to play after our last two performances we had to shut up shop and boy did it work COYP