Miovski, subs and the goals conundrum

Fans want two up top, but Miovski, Gassama and Naderi suit different roles, and subs have often changed games. Bigger worry is conceding goals from few chances, so coaches must tighten margins.

There’s a lot of calls for two up top after the game, but that misses how some of our attackers actually function. Miovski isn’t a Naderi clone; he and Gassama often pose the biggest threat when they come on late against tired defences. That makes the substitutions feel like part of the plan rather than an admission of failure. You can see why fans want more firepower from the start, but role and timing matter.

How Miovski fits

Miovski is stronger when he can run at stretched defences, collect second balls and punish mistakes. Starting him changes the shape because he needs support between the lines, and Naderi’s skillset is different, offering more movement and link play. Gassama likewise is a runner who benefits from space. So asking those three to lead the line together isn’t simply a numbers game; it’s about the template we ask them to play. To be fair, bringing players on to exploit tired legs has worked before.

The worrying goals against

Defensively there were clear issues. We gave opponents few clear-cut chances, yet still shipped goals. As you pointed out, in the last two games we lost 6 goals from 16 shots. That ratio suggests concentration or defensive organisation problems rather than a run of bad luck. Sometimes teams get punished by quick transitions or by not closing down the passer at the right moment. Other times it’s a string of small errors that compound and lead to conceded goals.

Coaches, answers and patience

We have a manager and a sizable coaching group, so the responsibility isn’t solely on one person. They’ll be looking at pattern and detail: how we press, when we stand off, who picks up runners and how we defend rebounds. It’s fair to ask questions, but solutions often take time to bed in. Substitutions have shown they can change games — Chermiti scoring or Moore following up a rebound swings results. The task is turning those flashes into a repeatable habit rather than relying on them to bail us out.

Truth is, the squad has tools but needs clearer structure in certain moments. It’s not just personnel, it’s how we ask them to play together and how coaches tighten the margins. I’m annoyed like everyone, but I’d also like to see a consistent plan rather than knee-jerk chopping and changing.

Written by BearAbroad22: 23 June 2026