BAD TO WORSE

It hasn’t taken very long but our season is already in danger of imploding. If you had told me last season that we would be fielding an ‘attack’ of Hume, Rigg, Le Fee and Tutierov, I would have said ‘you’re having a laugh!’ That’s a strike force consisting of no recognized striker or winger! How’s that going to work, Regis? Not surprisingly, it didn’t. This was a crucial game we had to win against a fellow struggling side. To field such an apologetically weak attack was beyond explanation. This was a blunt pencil of an attack, reminiscent of our worst times in the Premier League under David Moyes.

As I have written many times, our strike force of Brobbey, Isidor and Angulo looks mightily thin. While Brobbey has had his moments this season, Isidor, never a prolific scorer, has struggled with being in and out of the team, and Angulo is a green and unproven youngster. Yesterday with Brobbey injured and Isidor missing, Le Bris once more went for the inexplicable in playing Tutierov (a winger) up front on his own with predictably fruitless results.

At the other end, things were no better. After a promising start, Kevin Danso’s season has swiftly fallen apart. Our other centre back yesterday, Alderete, has had a disastrous time dropping one clanger after another.

So what’s done to be done? Le Bris is not at his best when drastic surgery is required. He is a coach who thrives on consistency, loyalty and the same systems but with us at danger of being cut adrift at the bottom, bold, major changes are required.

In midfield, Jules Ahoka already looks the real deal and has been one of the few bright sparks of the season. He should come in either for Le Fee to move out wide or even for the misfiring Xhaka. Diarra also provides another much-needed goal threat. And if Brobbey isn’t fit, Angulo will have to play. And we need to stop the pointless exercise of playing Hume or Meunier as a winger in games we need to win. Talbi should be in the side. Unfortunately, however, it appears his relationship with Le Bris has broken down and the coach appears determined to never play him again. In a team struggling for goals and quality from our wingers, Talbi’s ongoing banishment looks like foolish self-sabotage.

I didn’t expect to say this at this stage of season but things have quickly come off the rails and major change is needed to get things back on track. Whether Le Bris is ready to ring the necessary changes remains to be seen.