That’s probably his best game of note and it only really started after they went down to 10. For such an experienced pro you’d expected something more at this stage.
His problem is he can't really run. Put legs alongside - or basically the same player we'd like to see play with Seri and he'd probably be more than adequate cover for Seri when not available.
I mean he kept the ball didn’t make a single tackle. I haven’t said he didn’t play well on Saturday but he made his biggest contribution when they had 10. Not going to pretend he’s not been a massive disappointment because he had a good 45 minutes.
It really is a tight league this season, even though we are a point above the relegation zone, we are only 8 points off the playoff places. A couple or 3 wins and you shoot up the table.
I've felt like he's playing because we don't really have anyone else there. It's not Doch's position, Slater has been overran there this year, Tufan is preferred higher up so it doesn't leave anyone really. As you've said, he's been remotely average at best. In hindsight, I really wouldn't have been against Smallwood playing alongside Seri for this season. As daft as it sounds, Smallwood over Woods would actually give us more mobility too whilst improving us tenfold defensively.
None of the players are even playing. Seri best player we have,Tufan changes things every week and we are still persisting with Grants boys. How can we expect to be any further on from where we was playing the same players where majority came from League 1 or had us fighting down the bottom end of the table? Facts are if we have the whole squad fit and playing we would be fine but we don't and that is resulting in sub standard players who admittedly work hard getting minutes. A fair critique for me would be has he signed crocks? There is a chance he has and that is never good IE Bullard.
Don’t get the Woods hate at all. We have improved massively since Dawson decided to play Woods and Seri together as a pivot, and while Seri may be the classier, it’s the fact that Woods is there which allows Seri more time and space (therefore doesn’t get caught on the ball quite as much), and both are capable of playing exquisite passes - eg Woods’ one for the equaliser. Was it Blackpool or Rotherham who admitted we’d ‘passed them off the park’? That was down to Woods and Seri together, and it was true for both games. And who do we play next? Blackpool. I’d like to see pretty much the same team as played them away - ie Oscar down to the bench, and Longman back up top with Sinik in for him, and Doc instead of Smith.
The Championship has always been like that, who can forget Roy Keane winning promotion with Sunlan coming from the bottom of the table? It allows us to have optimism deep into winter that we might turn our season around. And then we see Coyle and Slater in the starting 11 on Boxing Day and realise 'there is always next year'.
We need to fully unlock Seri, he’s been our best player with Christie for a while but not only is he our most creative he’s also our best ball winner. Slater, Woods don’t cut that side of the game and it’s all about elevating us as a team and we focus a lot on forwards but I actually think this would elevate us more. As it’d mean Ros doesn’t have to keep playing defensive midfielders out wide
I don't see anyone hating on Woods, but he's definitely not been a stand out player for us in any moments I can think of so why pretend he has been? Even the Grant lads have had some standout moments amongst the fair amount of dross this season.
Probably a question of legs with Tufan. He has the skillset to play deeper, but if he hasn't the legs to get up and down then you perhaps get more from him in a more advanced role. He is looking fitter and leaner now though. So maybe he comes into contention in a deeper role?
I’d probably stick with Woods/Seri for Blackpool with Tufan in front behind Oscar. Those 2 linked up well early doors this season, most notably Burnley away. Slater for me drops out he’s been anonymous for ages
Won a pen last time out. On balance though yeah, in the absence of Pelkas we lacked a creative spark until Tufan came on. I'd drop Smith ahead of Slater to accommodate him though.
I don't see anyone claiming Woods is a stand out player, but he's definitely not deserved to be hated on in any moments I can think of so why pretend he has been?
