Is this the season that Ralls steps up a notch and becomes a quality act? I hope so. Plus it would be good to see a fit Dikachoi make Gunnarrson work to reclaim the shirt after a poor season last time around when he rarely did the bare minimum. One who will be looking to improve is Whittingham, who must be given a free role higher up the pitch and hopefully Pilkington will stay fit and be a real goal threat.
I don't want to see Whitts collecting the ball from the back 4 this season. He's wasted in that role and has very little impact on the game lying so deep. Bringing the ball out of defence to feet rather than launching route one punts upfield is obviously the best way to control a game, but Whitts can't run with the ball to any great effect. He holds it and looks for a pass, but 70 yards from their net is not his position. If he was given the ball in the opposition's half rather than ours, his skills could slice teams open where it matters instead of labouring to create something from the back.
Is 'Dicky wats it' the guy to pick the ball up from the back 4. Heard he can pick a pass when given time but loses the ball under pressure. It won't take long for teams to start pressing. Sounds like we'll be playing a diamond with Dicky in front of the back 4, Whits further up the field and Ralls and a right mid field (Pilks?) playing narrow. I'm hoping that Pilks and Ralls play to the width of the 18 yard box and get forward as they both like a pop at goal. If defenders need to come out and close them down it will also give Mason / Doyle / Revell space in the box. As stated often before, we have the players, we need the formation and the game plan. I'd still prefer a midfield 5 though.
Is 'Dicky wats it' the guy to pick the ball up from the back 4. Heard he can pick a pass when given time but loses the ball under pressure. It won't take long for teams to start pressing. True Remote but having had a year out it will take a little time for him to get fully up to speed. From what I saw at Bournemouth, if our other players support him and give options for passes he does a good job. It is when he gets isolated that he is not so strong. However, that will improve he more game time he has and the fitter he gets. Nin's comment about competition for Gunnar is also relevant although I think both he and Whitts got overwhelmed at times last season and they were made to look worse than their true abilities. With Ralls and Pilks playing narrower and giving support in the middle it should make things a little easier on the 2 central players.
Cast your mind back to the season when he got 20+ goals. He was hovering outside the box, and taking shots at goal left right and centre. This "quarterback" role is a waste of time, and as we all tend to agree, he needs to get up the field, and let Ralls and Dikachoi/Gunnarrson do the graft.
His ability to pick the decisive pass around the edge of the box is the other massive reason not to have Whits playing 60 yrds from the oppositions goal. In fairness to Russ he does seem to have based this entire selection around making Whits as effective as possible.
New bit closed so still 12k empty seats elsewhere. Expected with egg chasing at 2.30. Ridiculous scheduling. Good draw for Swans today.
spot on its not about the red anymore its just the football is average at the moment. that said we have shown flashes of decent football in both games so far this season but one thing i wish we'd stop doing is hoofing it up from kick off and maybe it would be better to have a 5 man midfield....
Agree Steveo We should be striking fear into teams. Kenwyne and Mason upfront for me should be a very good partnership!