Attack Attack Attack

I've always believed that attack is the best form of defence and seeing as we have not got the latter at the moment then attack is the only option.

It's plainly obvious that whomever we stick in defence they are unable to perform either individually or collectively. Constant changes are not working and we need to get a settled back four if we are going to achieve any sort of consistency. Dropping Stephan Andersen was, in my opinion, wrong because he is without doubt our number one goalkeeper not only in the long term but for now also. After all, it isn't as if dropping him has made a difference is it. Deano has come in and conceded eight goals in two home games and has hardly looked convincing in the process, being at fault for a number of those goals conceded. It's obvious that HH should be playing at left-back and an effective partnership found from the remaining centre-halves one of whom, I believe, should be Chris Perry. Who should partner him is up for debate but El Karkouri doesn't do it for me, Spector looks out of his depth, Fortune has his limitations and Sorondo is the great unknown. Sorondo has looked woeful for the reserves but I believe that is through a lack of motivation as opposed to lack of ability. Some players are unable to produce it in the reserves but when brought into the first team perform admirably. Paul Konchesky was a prime example of this. What is without question is that Curbs has to sort this out now once and for all or we are in deep trouble. If he doesn't, the transfer window may be too late an opportunity to do so.

It's probably stretching the point to call this Saturday's encounter with Sunderland at The Valley as being a six pointer but it isn't far off it. A defeat, however unimaginable, is certainly a real possibility if we defend as we have recently. Deano, in his infinite wisdom, believes we need to get back to being 'nasty' and 'horrible' and 'hard to beat'. Hard to beat yes, but I can't remember us ever being nasty and horrible, at least not in the last fifteen years or so. That's probably part of the problem, we have always been too 'nice' but you can't get back to something you've never been. Unless of course he means being defensive, dull and boring. Now, we have been that in recent years but now isn't the time to revert to those tactics. We can't defend at the moment so the best option is to attack, attack, attack and relieve the pressure on the defence. The worst thing to do is to defend, be cautious in attack and hope to keep a clean sheet and hey, if we're lucky, nick a goal. Problem is we may nick a goal but run the risk of conceding anyway but will inevitably end up conceding but not scoring ourselves. We are playing Sunderland, arguably the worst team the Premiership has ever seen, and there is no reason why we shouldn't approach the game with an attacking mentality. Anything else will be foolhardy.

It's high time for a return to 4-4-2 and Jay Bothroyd's cameo against Man City suggests that he may be the man for the job and Thomas deserves a starting place also to provide some width, sadly missing against the Massives. I'd go for the following :Andersen; Young, Perry, Sorondo, Hreidersson; Ambrose, Murphy, Smertin, Thomas;Bent; Bothroyd.

Attack, attack, attack and three points will be ours. Up The Addicks !!