Mr Dyche, Do Us All a Favour and Put Captain Fantastic in the Team... at Right Midfield

The team needs an injection of inspiration from somewhere. And we need to immediately pick ourselves up and go again.

I am sure Seamus Coleman is one of the few players we have who can provide the inspiration the team needs, who will also make a difference performance-wise. He is the captain and he will provide fight and a bit of class too.

And I am not even talking about playing him at right-back.

If Sean Dyche is happy with Ben Godfrey at right-back, play Seamus right midfield in front of him. It is a position he has played in before and excelled in. Going back a few years, Phil Neville was struggling at right-back and Moyes played Seamus wide right in front of him. Not only did Seamus play well in that position, he helped to improve Neville's game so much that, in an away game against Spurs, Gareth Bale when he was at his best was kept quiet.

Playing Seamus wide right would enable Dyche to rest Harrison, who could be brought on later in the game when there is more space for him to exploit. We need some inspiration from somewhere and Seamus is the man to provide it.

I don't think it's a negative move either. In my opinion, it will tighten up the right side defensively and Seamus will also give us an attacking boost.

He can use his attacking instincts without having to track back all the way to the full-back position. And by the way, Patterson could do this job too. No need for Young, he can be held back for left-sided cover.

There is also a case for Seamus and Patterson to be paired up on the right side too.

We also need Gueye back in the team as soon as possible because, despite what some people say, he is absolutely essential. It is quite reasonable to think that the Brighton equaliser would never have happened if Gueye had been on the pitch (with Doucoure) and, without any doubt,t he would have been better suited to stop West Ham scoring on the counter last Saturday. His work rate is phenomenal and he is always there putting in challenges.

Onana just can't do it. He is someone for when the going is good.

I did think he did well in the Palace game but he actually contributed to their goal when he came on. His attitude after that did impress me. But he is not Gueye who is more busy with his constant challenges.

Dyche got it wrong on Saturday. His substitutions were reckless. He disjointed an already disjointed team further. And with no Gueye to do the moping up of any counter-attack by West Ham, it was far too risky. It gave me the feeling that the pressure of our current situation is now getting to Dyche too. I am sure he will be now thinking "I wish I had seetled for a point."

Taking Beto off after he had scored was baffling too. Beto was growing into the game, had scored and was up for it. The only changes I would have considered were bringing on Dobbin and/or Coleman in that wide right position.

Against Man Utd we must keep it tight, keep a strong midfield but somehow conjure up a slightly more attacking intent. I feel Seamus would give us this. We also need to be on the front foot more and go after our opponents from the kick off and not let them settle.

It is also time to have Onyango on the bench to give the team some fresh alternatives and enthusiasm. He is old enough and should be given the chance to show us what he can do.

Not winning in 11 is worrying but the fixtures have not been kind. I would have given anything to have played Palace and West Ham at home in the immediate weeks after our 4 wins on the bounce and I can't understand how we can play Spurs (we deserved something out that game) and Man City and, after 3 more games, we play City and Spurs again. Just another Premier League question mark.

But let us go to Old Trafford and give a disciplined but positive performance right from the off. They have ridden their luck against us in many a game recently so we are due something, surely.

---

Return to Talking Points index  :  Add your Comments »

---

Reader Comments (6)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()

---

How to get rid of these ads and support TW

---