Redwurzel
Well-known member
Nsue, Albert and Dimi all deserved the chance. I think Ayala was slightly hard done by as well, although to be fair Chambers did well for us, so really the decision was justified.
Leadbitter was unlucky as he was injured when the season kicked off so it was understandable why Karanka brought in a replacement. De Roon was obviously brought in to be that replacement, and I think him getting injured on the opening day was a massive blow. Karanka wanted to stick with 4-2-3-1 I think but with a midfield 2 of Clayton and Forshaw we were overrun in midfield, that's why he switched to the 3 midfielders, so by the time De Roon came back into the side he was used as a box-to-box midfielder. If we could have used him as another defensive midfielder alongside Clayton I reckon we'd have been able to stick with Ramirez as a no 10 and that would have benefited Negredo, having Ramirez playing off him.
If we'd have had this team that season I think we'd have been fine;
..................................Dimi......................................
Nsue.......Chambers.......Gibson.........Friend
...................Clayton..........De Roon..................
Adomah...............Ramirez................Downing
..................................Negredo..................................
It would have been interesting to see how that team would have coped. I think Negredo would have been isolated because Adomah and Downing didn't really have enough speed and stamina to support him quickly enough. Ramirez was fine up to Xmas then decided he wanted to leave. I would have put Stuani into a forward position and bought a winger and sold Ramirez.