So today we name an unchanged team. Hell, when was the last time you heard that?
What an irony it is that we are going into the game with a settled side, now that it’s too late, when it’s what many of us have been crying out for all season long?
Lennon does love to tinker. Amazing that now he’s realised that some of the players he spent so long ignoring are actually capable of putting on a show that he’s got a recognised starting eleven.
What a shame these guys weren’t in the team before now.
The window has almost closed.
It’s pretty near inevitable that we’ll sign at least one player on loan before it shuts. That’ll spark a whole new spell of chopping and changing, so I don’t expect this period of calm to last very long.
There are obvious gaps if you look at the side right now; at a time when we’re a central defender down we have to play one at right back because we’ve sold our best player in that position.
It sums up the schizophrenic nature of our approach.
I gave up ages ago trying to work out the strategy behind our signing policies.
Four strikers on the books?
Let’s persist for most of the campaign with one up front, even no strikers at all for an important Champions League tie.
Short at centre back? No worries. Let’s sign a central midfielder.
Short on the right flank? Not to worry, we’ll spend £5 million on a keeper.
I’m sure there’s a world where it all makes sense; it’s just not this one.
Even so, I am pleased enough that we’re at long last seeing what looks like a settled side. I
disagree strongly with the decision to give Bain the goalie gloves, and we could argue all day about whether Elyounoussi should be playing wide right or that Ajer should be sacrificed at central defence because we don’t have a right back, but this is where we are.
No changes for once.
Griffiths and Eddie up front.
Turnbull and Soro in the midfield berths where they belong.
This is the formation that might have saved our season … but we didn’t get here, or to the settled team-sheet, quickly enough.