Same challenges as SDW; without Smith we don’t have the hero-ball factor, so the squad has to 1) make a team goal, or 2) hope for a golazo to go up early. The normal panic-attack reaction to the high press won’t help with #1.
The backline and DMs have to be solid and not give up dumb-mistake goals. The get-pressed-turn-over problem hurts …
Same challenges as SDW; without Smith we don’t have the hero-ball factor, so the squad has to 1) make a team goal, or 2) hope for a golazo to go up early. The normal panic-attack reaction to the high press won’t help with #1.
The backline and DMs have to be solid and not give up dumb-mistake goals. The get-pressed-turn-over problem hurts with that, too.
I’d be more confident if we hadn’t seen this stuff on and off all season. Yes, we’re due for a good game. No, that’s not a given, and last week was kind of scary in the “needs to rise to the occasion and doesn’t” sort of way…
I really hope Norris doesn’t continue on with his super high fullbacks. Midge and Lynn will destroy Kling and Natu, and exposing our CB’s when they also have Esther and Stengel centrally is asking for a bloodbath. Even if they both stay home more, they’re both gonna struggle with the speed. As you said, the DM’s are gonna have to have a very good game. Both of them. This has been the most inconsistent season I can remember in recent history, so I have no confidence in, well, anything. They could show out and put on a clinic, or they could immediately crumble. Honestly it’s been either one or the other all season and we have no idea which team decides to show up! Gotham will punish us if we are not 100.
I think the critical thing is to avoid the play-in. So even a draw - not that I’d be okay with that! - is the minimum acceptable. Ideally the squad will come out sharp, possess, score early, and stay organized. But if it means bunkering for 90+ to secure a scoreless draw?
Ugh. Hate it…but sometimes y’gotta go with what works.
Same challenges as SDW; without Smith we don’t have the hero-ball factor, so the squad has to 1) make a team goal, or 2) hope for a golazo to go up early. The normal panic-attack reaction to the high press won’t help with #1.
The backline and DMs have to be solid and not give up dumb-mistake goals. The get-pressed-turn-over problem hurts with that, too.
I’d be more confident if we hadn’t seen this stuff on and off all season. Yes, we’re due for a good game. No, that’s not a given, and last week was kind of scary in the “needs to rise to the occasion and doesn’t” sort of way…
I really hope Norris doesn’t continue on with his super high fullbacks. Midge and Lynn will destroy Kling and Natu, and exposing our CB’s when they also have Esther and Stengel centrally is asking for a bloodbath. Even if they both stay home more, they’re both gonna struggle with the speed. As you said, the DM’s are gonna have to have a very good game. Both of them. This has been the most inconsistent season I can remember in recent history, so I have no confidence in, well, anything. They could show out and put on a clinic, or they could immediately crumble. Honestly it’s been either one or the other all season and we have no idea which team decides to show up! Gotham will punish us if we are not 100.
I think the critical thing is to avoid the play-in. So even a draw - not that I’d be okay with that! - is the minimum acceptable. Ideally the squad will come out sharp, possess, score early, and stay organized. But if it means bunkering for 90+ to secure a scoreless draw?
Ugh. Hate it…but sometimes y’gotta go with what works.