It’s a useful profile in certain circumstances. And you can balance his strengths out elsewhere in the midfield to increase the games you can utilise him in. Think his presence allows more risks and creativity further ahead in the team. However it’s an interesting inversion imo. Fair few on here spent the early part of the season decrying our lack of a ‘true’ defensive midfield and complaining that Neil simply couldn’t do the role. Samed is exactly the profile described and Neil hasn’t shone (yet) as an 8. Ultimately it’s about balance. Neil works well with Bellingham and Rigg as neither are particularly creative. Samed could be a great blend if we had a more inventive player to counterbalance him.
I do want to also speak about Poveda. Not a lot came of for him but he’s definitely got a bit. He could be valuable, good control, tried to break away and find gaps. Might be a big asset if can get him match fit.
I do feel that many posters are right and we could do with changing things up. I like what Rigg brings, he's so mature, but physically he's not there yet. Here's hoping after the summer we have a gadgie on our books. Another reason he shouldn't leave. Where as someone like Aleksic, for instance, is not only good technically, but is a threat physically with good pace. He can beat his man with ease, like Poveda too. Mayenda is another where we benefit from there, must be about 5 times this season where Mayenda has slipped that same ball for Isidor. Get Le Fee in the middle with Jobe, start Aleksic and Mayenda on the wings.
Very fair mate. Could be that our ‘best’ midfield is Samed sitting behind Enzo and Aleksic. Or is it Dan with Enzo and Jobe. Does this alter when wingers are fit? There’s a lot to consider we could do with a pre season
He's next seasons Mundle. We'll lose a talent in midfield and he will just step in like he's been playing for us for years.
Could be Jobe goes Aleksic steps in and adds an extra dimension with his ball carrying. It’s almost like the succession planning is coming into place….
Just need Rom fit mate. I can’t see any side in this division living with that. You can’t double up anyone in that setup cos you’ll get savaged by whoever gets the space.
Samed just looks very basic to me. A part of that is because we're a little spoilt by Neil's interpretation of that role. Neil is an outstanding deep playmaker at this level and he needs to play in that position for us. I don't mind Samed coming off the bench to help us close a game out, but I just can't see an occasion where I'd rather he started.
100% agree. No doubt he is very good and very tidy at his defined role. Dan has mutated that role. Started the season looking a bit behind on the defensive side, got that right and then started to carry it out more. Dan is absolutely superb. He’s also grown, massively, as a leader and captain. Not a quiet lad now our Dan.
Samed chased the ball carrier with no physical challenge. Let the lad then cut it across him. Then took a decent position in the middle but just stood and watched everythinh unfold. I agree Neil or Le Fee were closer to the ball striker, but Samed wasnt great either. The thing about footy though is individual mistakes arent what win and lose games. It is always the team performance. Yesterday we were well below our expected level.
I agree. Unfortunately RLB can only really test the players by putting them on the pitch. He introduced Aleksic, who was dismissed by some people, but now seems to be in favour. He introduced Samed, who's been dismissed by some people, but may well come into favour. RLB is also trying to adapt the team to different situations and doesn't always get it right ... ... but it's too easy, in my opinion, to keep saying what he should've done.
Last few posts requesting sweeping changes to personnel and formation is so reactionary. A couple of poor home performances doesn’t mean we have to throw the baby out with the bathwater
Still say our lads were very leggy yesterday and possibly a reason for not kicking on after Luke's opener. Without Cirkins moment of madness (did he actually touch the lad?) we go in at HT with the lead and not hand them a lifeline which they took, not sure he'd have shot from there if still chasing the game for they're second goal mind. We never gave up and came close to stealing the 3 points. As for Luton, they haven't played for 10 days and RLB has to lift these lads again in a couple of days which isn't ideal. We need fresh legs and nice to see the earlier subs yesterday. A couple of rotations is in order if Jobe is fit and we go again. Nice to see this board didn't implode after another disappointing result. OaU.
To be fair it does sound more proactive and brave ... ... in my opinion it's sometimes more courageous to carry on, take a few blows and see the job out. If every player, who has a bad game, was dropped we'd be fielding the U21's by now.
As I said yesterday RLB has to play the long game as well as the immediate. It’s important players like Poveda, Aleksic, get minutes or they’ll never be ready. We need injury cover without major adjustments and replacements for tired legs or tactical adjustments so they have to be in the groove. When fans are screaming for the now, it’s good our coach keeps thinking. I have a lot of faith in Le Bris.
I post this only after some careful thought. I dont like to jump in straight after a poor performance, because I can be too upset. I think our performance level is starting to fade a bit. We have been a bit below par in more games since the turn of the year than not. In my opinion. It is consistency that gets the ultimate outcome and I worry we are losing some at the key point. I have tried to think of why and I think one or two things are going on. I think Regis is tinkering to get players in, but disrupting what has worked ao very well up until now. Samed in yesterday and Neil higher prevented so much of our natural game. I think he is toing and froing too much on Mayenda too. Left wing, right wing, striker, second striker. The lad is a real threat through the middle and compliments Isidor. Even little nuances seem to be being brought in. Hume instead of going outside the winger is now coming inside and I think it has cut off the little diamond that worked well out there. I would like a little more consistency from Regis now we are in the business end of things. Maybe more controversially I think Mepham's form has dropped a bit. We look much less secure at the back. It feels like we are conceding more set pieces and sitting maybe 5 metres deeper. I think it is a marginal drop off, but his leadership qualities mean it can impact on the confidence of others. I think Cirkin and Hume have also dropped a little, but arguably it is Mephams form that is most telling. Good players like him play through little sticky spells, and I wouldnt be dropping him for it, but a little extra care in training about the little details may be needed. We arent way off, it is little bits and pieces adding up. And we watch the Boro game and see what our level can be and should be. It is a few little resets for me, and we can string a winning run together again. We have the team spirit spot on, so the platform remains.
