Talking Points- What Needs To be Changed To Improve Form?

Having lost our 5th game in 8 after defeat at Norwich City on the weekend, we have to ask – what needs changing to improve our poor run of form?

Some of you – probably only a few – may want a change of manager – but despite recent reports – that isn’t going to happen.

But after naming the same side for the last three games, does Garry Monk need to make some changes to freshen the team up a bit?

The famous saying ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ could be applied last season, as Monk liked to stick with the same line-up unless he was making a change of formation.

But the opposite now applies. If it is broke, you’ve got to try and fix it!

Is it a case of sticking with the same system and players and trying to work on improving aspects of our game on the training pitch? So far, that’s what Monk appears to be trying to do.

After all, following defeat against Stoke – Monk picked the exact team that the majority of our fans wanted (according to our social media response) as we beat Aston Villa. The same side was then used in the next two defeats, against Arsenal and Norwich respectively.

But there’s evidently problems with the team – quite a few of them. Gomis is struggling for confidence, Ayew on the right wing just doesn’t seem to work that creates an inbalance in the side. Sigurdsson is still struggling to fit into the style of our play under Monk – though he has improved since his goal at Villa. Montero’s form has also disappeared, and defensively we’re not protecting the back four and goalkeeper at all.

Drop Gomis – Eder or Ayew Up Front?

After another frustrating performance from Gomis in the defeat to Arsenal, I thought that he should get a maximum of two games – against two promoted sides – as an opportunity to break his goalless run.

Surely, he`d score against either Norwich City or Bournemouth? Well he – and the entire team it has to be said – didn`t look like scoring at Carrow Road so his big chance will be at the Liberty Stadium against a struggling Bournemouth side who have a number of key players sidelined. Compare that to the Swans who have a fully fit squad available – which is also worrying for us.

I expect Monk will yet again start Gomis against Bournemouth, but if he fails to perform and doesn`t score, then it`s got to be the time for him to be dropped. He just can`t keep starting games and playing as bad as he is.

But the problem isn`t just about an out-of-form striker. The team behind him created barely anything in front of goal at Norwich – another big worry – as they leaked 6 goals at Newcastle United recently – hardly a side doing well in the top half of the table.

The midfield isn`t functioning – both as a defensive unit to protect the defence and an attacking one to create chances for the striker and other attacking players.

The midfield needs more balance, Ayew on the right is still a debatable choice as he lacks the attributes to be a winger, but he has shown qualities of a striker – he is our top goalscorer overall.

But could he perform up front in place of Gomis? He struggled in a central position in the defeat to Stoke so that`s doubtful. Ayew`s move there though would allow for Routledge – a recognised right winger to replace him on the flank and add some balance in midfield, and some very much needed support for Naughton.

Of course, the alternative is simply to keep Ayew where he is, and start Eder instead of Gomis.

Start Leon Britton – Move Shelvey further forward?

Another suggestion, is to start Leon Britton, who appears to be closer to Jack Cork now in the midfield pecking order having made a substitute appearance at Norwich. He performed well in the little time he was on. He kept to a disciplined position – as he always does – kept the ball moving – at a quicker pace and was always providing a passing option to his defenders.

In comparison, whilst I think Shelvey has been one of our better performers in recent weeks, (I know many would disagree!) he did slow our play down at Carrow Road, and is the sort of player that always has 3 or 4 touches on the ball, and a little run before making a pass.

He was also guilty of being loose in possession in deeper positions as a result of the above. He`s more effective and safer playing further forward, where he can pick out Gomis` runs with through balls, but then would you drop Sigurdsson again?

So there`s a number of changes Monk could make. Plenty in fact, and he faces some big and very difficult decisions in the next 9-10 days in terms of the team he picks to face Bournemouth – a must not lose game at least.

It’s moments like these where you see what a manager is really made of. If Garry Monk can turn things around then he deserves huge credit for doing so, as the team are really struggling – things just don’t look right, body language looked negative at Norwich and the confidence is non existent.

Have you got faith in the manager? What changes would you make if you was Garry Monk? Let us know via the comments below?