If Kamara is the answer

[Andy S]

For me Kamara has a huge engine but he lacks a footballers brain. In the position he was in during the first half he has to score. He hit the ball without power. It had no pace and the keeper saved it easily. Why because he panicked. 1-0 and West Ham are on the back foot and all we have to do is keep the ball out

[St Eve]

Of all of the things to complain about it certainly isn't Kamara

[davew]

For me Kamara has a huge engine but he lacks a footballers brain. In the position he was in during the first half he has to score. He hit the ball without power. It had no pace and the keeper saved it easily. Why because he panicked. 1-0 and West Ham are on the back foot and all we have to do is keep the ball out

Well keeping the ball out of our net would probably have been beyond our capabilities! AK deserves a regular start in the next few games, we are not exactly spoilt for choice in the strikers department, clear to see that at the moment he is not PL standard, maybe if he had played a lot more games in the past he might have been by now!

[Twig]

You can't play well and miss those 2 sitters.

so by that theory, mitro was pathetic today then. As he hardly did anything and fluffed numerous chances with p1ss poor shots.

Mitrovic didn't miss a 1v1 and a free header from a yard.

Agree with that. I also noted several examples of his heavy touch. AK seems incapable of cushioning a ball and as a consequence he loses control or possession as it runs away from him.  Definitely not premier level technique I am afraid.  He's a trier but that is not enough.

[Statto]

You can't play well and miss those 2 sitters.

so by that theory, mitro was pathetic today then. As he hardly did anything and fluffed numerous chances with p1ss poor shots.

Mitrovic didn't miss a 1v1 and a free header from a yard.

Agree with that. I also noted several examples of his heavy touch. AK seems incapable of cushioning a ball and as a consequence he loses control or possession as it runs away from him.  Definitely not premier level technique I am afraid.  He's a trier but that is not enough.

But there are moments, including today, where his control or a lay off or flick is exceptional
Glimpses of fantastic technique
For me it is still just about composure and finesse, the right manager will make him a good PL player

[Beamer]

Honest hard working trier but PL quality? Quite honestly he never looked like scoring with the one on one, doesn't seem to have that little bit of arrogance that natural goal scorers have. One of several players we have who are simply not PL standard. If they were a well drilled honed unit we might just get away with it but they are not. I am genuinely sorry to say that on the evidence so far players like AK, Christie, Odoi, Ream, Bryan, Johansen, McDonald and Vietto simply look out of their depth. I'm not picking on them just being honest as I feel sure CR is looking at them all and wondering who might step up to the required level. It is easy to blame the new faces but we need a solid backbone of genuine PL standard players (not necessarily stars) before they might blossom in a new environment so I won't write them of yet. Perhaps start by sending TF-M (nowhere near ready) and Schurrle (far too much of a luxury) back if we can and bring in some solid journeymen to strengthen us at the back and in mid-field + a forward who knows how to convert some of the chances we are creating and will take some of the weight off of Mitro.

[toshes mate]

For sixteen minutes we were fine, but then opponents break there is no cover and we fail to track runs from midfield allowing Snodgrass an opportinity which Rico flapped at.   After that it is backs to the wall with a team that has yet to find its spine.  Team work seems to go out of the window once we are behind as if a mini-post-mortem is being conducted by every player on the field.   It is not looking good.

[Baszab]

Who contributed more AK or Mitro yesterday ?
Pretty obvious if you were at the game
Unfortunately AK miss at the beginning cost us the game as we started pretty well

In a proper 442 AK would be great

But if he's  held back trying to cover Seri TC and Schurrle then we losing his forward threat

[davew]

Who contributed more AK or Mitro yesterday ?
Pretty obvious if you were at the game
Unfortunately AK miss at the beginning cost us the game as we started pretty well

In a proper 442 AK would be great

But if he's  held back trying to cover Seri TC and Schurrle then we losing his forward threat

AK no question!!

[Lighthouse]

We all know and can see AK and what his shortcomings as a player are. But then who had the best chances to score for us? Who is the most direct of our players? I agree with those that say we can do with him as part of a two man attack and let the stroller German have a rest for a bit. Two wide players like SESS and or Ayite or Kabano and whoever with Mitro and Kamara would at least make opposition wary of putting too many players forward.

[Dodger53]

Kamara is one of the few I would keep.
Christie, Odoi, Ream, Bryan, Seri, Schurrle, Vietto and then Fabio, KMac, Stefan, Zambo, Fosu Mensah and Cisse would all be out the door before Kamara.
Ranieri is having the same problem SJ had. He cannot believe what a poor squad we have.
After the match he talks about WH have one,two touch players - un said ours are 4 or 5 touch players and then lose it.
He talked about keeping their confidence up - un said, most of you are nowhere good enough for this league but I am stuck with you.

[Mullers OG]

I agree with sunburywhite.  I live in hope that one of these days I will see something in Kamara to be able to understand the support he receives from some on this bb.  Given that we have Ayite and Kebano. both of whom are in my opinion far better players, sitting in the wings I cannot see the rationale in playing Kamara.  He is simply nowhere near good enough.  Mitro needs balls played across the box, not someone getting in his way in the middle.  It also puts real pressure on the RB who has to both defend and provide width going forwards.  That is a particular problem when there is little cover if the RB makes a mistake.  Yesterday was a classic example.  Odoi missed a tackle some distance from goal and there was no cover at all.

My second problem with Kamara is his going to ground.  Once last season was bad enough but to do it again this season is inexcusable.  It demeans FFC.  We are not that sort of club.

[Statto]

Christie, Odoi, Ream, Bryan, Seri, Schurrle, Vietto and then Fabio, KMac, Stefan, Zambo, Fosu Mensah and Cisse would all be out the door before Kamara.

Except for Seri I agree with that list. And considering Kamara couldn't hold down a starting place in the Championship last year that is a bloody terrible situation. Particularly when it includes almost all our defenders. 

[WindyCity]

My second problem with Kamara is his going to ground. 
[/quote]

Really?  What about Mitro?  For a big, strong kid like him, he spends more time polishing his backside with grass stains than he does being vertical.  To his credit, he does draw some fouls.  But I've never seen such a big, strong player go down so easily throughout the course of a match.

[St Eve]

I agree with sunburywhite.  I live in hope that one of these days I will see something in Kamara to be able to understand the support he receives from some on this bb.  Given that we have Ayite and Kebano. both of whom are in my opinion far better players, sitting in the wings I cannot see the rationale in playing Kamara.  He is simply nowhere near good enough.  Mitro needs balls played across the box, not someone getting in his way in the middle.  It also puts real pressure on the RB who has to both defend and provide width going forwards.  That is a particular problem when there is little cover if the RB makes a mistake.  Yesterday was a classic example.  Odoi missed a tackle some distance from goal and there was no cover at all.

My second problem with Kamara is his going to ground.  Once last season was bad enough but to do it again this season is inexcusable.  It demeans FFC.  We are not that sort of club.

totally disagree. Kebano and Ayite are good squad players. They have not played regularly In 2 years. Kamara has real talent. He gives 100%, is very quick and does not get pushed around like our German world cup winner. Is he a super star - no. Frankly he is the least of our problems. Our defense is terrible. Not to single out a player because they were all awful, but Christie's decision making is absolutely baffling. And then the question is whether our defence is that bad or just looks so because our midfield is ineffective. We missed Sess and although it is not a popular opinion I would be inclined to bring McDonald back. Another 100% player, but more importantly a leader which Cairney is not. Let's hope the Cahill rumours are true and CR can work it out quickly

[Facts Not Fiction]

You can't play well and miss those 2 sitters.

so by that theory, mitro was pathetic today then. As he hardly did anything and fluffed numerous chances with p1ss poor shots.

Mitrovic didn't miss a 1v1 and a free header from a yard.

Agree with that. I also noted several examples of his heavy touch. AK seems incapable of cushioning a ball and as a consequence he loses control or possession as it runs away from him.  Definitely not premier level technique I am afraid.  He's a trier but that is not enough.

But there are moments, including today, where his control or a lay off or flick is exceptional
Glimpses of fantastic technique
For me it is still just about composure and finesse, the right manager will make him a good PL player

We don't have the time to wait for that.

[Matt10]

I really liked Mitro and AK up top. They'll make each other better. No, Kamara's not the answer for the rest of the season, but he's who we need until January.

[davew]

Kamara is one of the few I would keep.
Christie, Odoi, Ream, Bryan, Seri, Schurrle, Vietto and then Fabio, KMac, Stefan, Zambo, Fosu Mensah and Cisse would all be out the door before Kamara.
Ranieri is having the same problem SJ had. He cannot believe what a poor squad we have.
After the match he talks about WH have one,two touch players - un said ours are 4 or 5 touch players and then lose it.
He talked about keeping their confidence up - un said, most of you are nowhere good enough for this league but I am stuck with you.

Sounds like a good plan and have to say I would agree with most of your selections, but then would we have enough people in the squad to field a team let alone a full subs bench? Overall I do agree with you though!! This poor squad which we all thought after the last window was the best thing since sliced bread, is just too thin now!!

[Twig]

I really liked Mitro and AK up top. They'll make each other better. No, Kamara's not the answer for the rest of the season, but he's who we need until January.

Nobody will make AK better. He has the touch of a cannon ball. He is incapable of softly cushioning the ball and taking it under control, that's why so much gets away from him. Love his attitude, effort, speed, goals (when they happen) but simply not and never will be the quality we need.

[davew]

We all know and can see AK and what his shortcomings as a player are. But then who had the best chances to score for us? Who is the most direct of our players? I agree with those that say we can do with him as part of a two man attack and let the stroller German have a rest for a bit. Two wide players like SESS and or Ayite or Kabano and whoever with Mitro and Kamara would at least make opposition wary of putting too many players forward.

That doesn't sort out the problem of our defence though?