It also means that the opposition has to put at least one player on him so it’s not as if they will have an extra man in our area.
Also they kept on doing the same two man short corner routine and we never figured out that to stop it we needed two players. One every time and they were free to put the ball in as they wished.
I think the prime word in there mate is balance. Some of the young players we signed were first team ready, Clarke, Ballard, Huggins although he got an early injury, Cirkin, Roberts and even Stewart. We had Diallo on top of those players coming in. The problem with the last couple of windows has been signing more foreign players, a little bit younger who will take a couple of seasons to bed in. This is not a criticism of the club as I'm sure if there was another 21 year old Clarke or Ballard who was in PL reserves having been out on loan to a couple of championship clubs we would have been all over it. This is where I feel we need to get the balance right, maybes bring in an experienced striker and play 2 up front or even the experienced striker and put Adil in the 10 role, rotate Ekwah ,Jobe and even Neil in that midfield 2, even bring in an experienced CDM for Neil to play alongside to nurture him in that position for when we need cover. When you look at our midfield 3 I think that's our weakness at the minute. I would have Neil playing every minute he's fit because he's that good but when he's playing the CDM role that's not his best position. Ekwah and Jobe are quality but they are inexperienced with no one to guide them on the pitch. Unless we go on a run and win our next 3 games we really need to give the young lads like Adil, Rigg, Mundle and Pembelle as much game time between then and the end of the season. They could be what defines us next season
When Didier Deschamps was described as 'a water carrier' it was initially taken as an insult but quickly revised. The signing of Evans was greeted with quite some groaning but it's clear we need an organiser who'll guide the young lads, win the ball and quickly give to the ball to the right player. Not easy to find so we might have to create one from within ... ... was the signing of Evans inspired .
Evans is definitely was of those players that you don't realise how good they are till they aren't there. No step overs, no fancy tricks , no spectacular goals but what he does do is far more important. He reads the game, breaks up play, stops their counter attacks, in a game it just looks so basic but when he's not there you realise how much danger he prevents. What we miss him so much for is not what he creates it's what he stops the other team from creating. That only comes with experience, Declan Rice is one of the few younger players that excel at it. Some of the best over the years have always started out as attacking CM and then latter in their careers drop back when they havnt got the legs. Paul Scholes is a prime example
I can see most people's point of view, I'm happy with the direction the club is going. I think the blip we've have was like I said one season the young players we signed were first team ready, the next season they weren't. I also understand people wanting more experience brought in, however I'm not necessarily wanting a 10 million striker that will score the goals so we go up, as to me if he gets injured like Stewart was we are then ****ed and back to square one. The experience I would like is some one of maybes the Niall Quinn mould, not so much a big striker to play long balls to but the experienced bit. He might just get 10 goals a season but he will develop the players around him, we could swap the options around to play with him, so we are developing more players and still being competitive. That's what I think we need to be doing, the experience players that come in improve is by complementing the younger players rather than coming in and being the main focus so if we lose them then we are back to square one
Been saying it for years. Fkn w*nk tactic having everyone back. You leave men on the half way line they have to leave men back. More room for the goalie to take the ball. You will have some saying but this is what they practice all week. So Fk. Who cares change it.
I've always been of the opinion that the team's spine should be the experience with the younger players doing "their stuff". I think it was the reason we did so well last season where we had Baath, Evans and Stewart for the beginning of the season with Pritchard
Could’ve sailed a cruise liner down their left wing most of the first half! Could probably have turned it around there as well! At least he admitted it didn’t work.thought we were the better side comfortably second half. But we were utterly terrible first and poor in front of goal all game. Rusyn subbed, I couldn’t get my head around that. No idea why Jobe played 90 minutes… Although someone correctly pointed out the the Bellingham boys are “Speakman’s”. (I know we only have one btw) Wonder if that has anything to do with how much game time he gets. @Young Ted i used to coach and gave FA badges. I hate the 11 men back, but it is taught and recommended by the coaching courses. Does my head in and I never did it!. The logic is that you have more people to defend a corner, I.e. you’re more likely to win the first ball. I kind of don’t mind it at 0-0 or if we’re winning (not as much anyhow) but when you’re losing, stick the fast lad between the box and the half way line. Takes another player out of your box too. But I’m not paid money to coach, these guys are
Anyone know what contract Beale had? If it was a 2 year thing how much is this costing SAFC and in hindsight would it have been better off signing Keiffer Moore and paying his wages. He's knocked a few in for Ipswich.
Beale signed a 2 and a half year deal. I'm sure there would have been negotiations and we won't pay it all up
I can understand a big striker like Stewart coming back to help out but I'd certainly be leaving Rusyn/Mundle/Roberts (when fit) on the halfway line. Imagine if we left Clarke up there! Teams would keep half a dozen men back.
Always thought it’s mad how people worry about the finances going on this or that. it’s got absolutely **** all to do with me I just like to see a team playing well and giving it all. could not give one single **** how much said person gets paid.
Evans was class at turning a failed attack into a new attack while preventing breakaway goals. Exactly what we need right now. Exactly our vulnerability. He also took a strategic booking when we needed it.
There is an argument with the last two that a better quality/ balanced side and we might still have them.
