Yeeeeeah I don't think I'll ever completely get over that psychologically. I won't relax properly until we're on 52 points. Bloody Allams
I’m nit picking but second half last night when Rovers were playing out from the back Connnolly followed Tufan across the pitch wherever he went . Tufan stopped a pass out by being there but Connolly didn’t by not picking anyone up . They constantly had free ball out to the right and it was driving me mad watching him do it . Was it orders to always keep 15 yds from Tufan rather than move to stop the other outball ?
Macca is by far our worst defender. Would have him shipped and replaced pronto, whenever he comes on he gets cooked or is out of position. Carthorse.
Horses for courses. Macca is more no nonsense, certainly when the ball is on the air. He's also got the best long pass on him out of the three of them. Greaves isn't as consistent but he can put a shift in wide and he's surprisingly good with the ball at his feet running forward. If he could add a Maguire-esque cannon shot to his game he'd be a force. Jones is Mr consistent. He'll deal with whatever comes his way usually and recently his turn past pressing attackers has been the first moment that's set up some important goals for us.
Our squad is amazing. It’s so strong, probably the best in the world…in fact ever. There I’ve done my bit…….. … aah you said in January (is that bit so important)
I don't know about that being a specific order, but Rosenior did say that we tactically sat off them a bit more than we usually do and let them have more of the ball. I suppose that inevitably means they'll have more free passes available at the back.
Our three main centre-halves all have slightly different profiles. McLoughlin’s more an old-fashioned ‘stopper’/no-nonsense type who is good in the air and has a decent long ball on him as well. Jones doesn’t make a lot of tackles but has the best defensive reading of the game out of the three imo. Also improved a lot playing out from the back. I think the main difference in our shocking defensive record under Shota and the improved defending under Rosenior last year was Jones coming in for Figueiredo. And finally Greaves probably has the highest ceiling and the most likely to play at Prem level. He’s not as composed as Jones defensively but he’s a good passer and great at carrying the ball out of the defence. He’s got surprisingly good balance and dribbling for a tall lad who plays centre-half. Also really good at timing his tackles. I agree with another post that McLoughlin is better in a back three. Jones and Greaves is our best pairing but we need quality full-backs and Vinagre is too injury-prone, Christie is way off it and Coyle is a great leader and a lot of heart but not the best technically. Think we need another left-back ASAP in January and sort right-back in the summer. I wouldn’t bother renewing Christie’s contract unless he somehow has a blinder in the rest of this season.
Opinions, eh? As someone else said, all 3 CBs have different qualities. I'd say Macca is very rarely out of position, and the most likely to be in the right position to cut out a cross. Does a lot of unfussy stuff. I like Jones and Greaves but both were caught out by a long ball last night and seem to be immune from criticism.
My Biggest criticism of Macca is he is too slow, if everything is in front of him he is a good defender, but once players get passed him he just doesn't have the pace to stop them.
That’s crazy exaggeration, but McLoughlin is comfortably our third best CB. I’d rather see Andy Smith given another try against Birmingham.
I've always been huge fan of Macca. I think the accusation that he is slow is unjust... BUT, I think I read he was the league leader in defensive headers won, I may have that wrong. His issue 'perhaps' is the way football is going there is less emphasis on balls wide into a big bustling CF. When he's played and JG has been LB he has had to do a lot of covering because JG is not the best positionally at LB. All the same, he's a keep(er) because Greaves gets booked regularly and luckily injury issues dont seem to beset our current CB partnership.
Maybe stating the obvious, but I do think Macca is better when having a run of games. He doesn’t seem as steady filling in for odd games or coming on as an extra defender. Which isn’t ideal when he isn’t first choice.
On the 1st January 2020 we were in 8th place with 39 points from 26 games and a point off a playoff place. At the end of that bizarre and horrible season we'd picked up just another 6 points and finished bottom.
Remember talking to a Stoke fan I was at the cricket with in South Africa at the time about a potential but unlikely play off push, but more likely mid table if we sold Bowen, which was looking likely. By time I saw him again at the Trent Bridge Test in 22 we'd gone on that awful run, been relegated, come back up, changed owner and manager and were about to start our first full season under Acun
