I think it is a good and valid question - What do we do with/without Seb Larson? Reading so many fellow supporters views on future lineups especially in midfield, I find myself facing a quandary. Seb now finds himself more central in midfield - a position he more than adequately fills, chasing, harrying and closing down. When he has time is looking for some opening. BUT is often left out of our IDEAL starting 11. My question/concern is:- we have nobody and I mean nobody who comes near him when it comes to dead ball situations, especially free kicks. Whether they are direct goal scoring opportunities or wickedly whipped in crosses. When matches - 3pts or cup ties/ or even finals are so often won with pure class dead-ball deliveries - dare we send out a side WITHOUT Seb Larson ? over to you fellow mackems KTF
You simply don't leave him out. Think of how many games he changed last season: Blackburn, Arsenal to name 2. After Sess he is our best player imo. He needs a little time to adjust to playing in the middle but I think Mon will turn him into a great all round cm like he did with Milner at Villa. The bigger question is who plays next to him.
Best dead ball specialist at the club by a mile, works hard yes but in this new central role it isn't working for me. He is best used on the right wing but with AJ coming in now, he isn't as good as he is and therefore is struggling to get a place over Catts, Colback in the centre. Maybe McClean should be rested and AJ played on the left with Seb on the right, or more controversially, if he doesn't pick up his game, Sess after a poor display yesterday. The good thing is we have alternative's and competition for places and those who perform play. Those who don't spend bench-warming? Its what all good team have and absolutely no-one should be exempt from that.
I'm just glad that we have quality manager who can answer the question asked by the OP...we all know he will find the answer!!
Calmcumbrian - a bit of a kop- out,,,,,,, but thats what he is paid for - glad it's not me that has to pick the side lol
I just think that it is great that we have a player of his quality in our squad, and if he wants to become a regular first teamer, he needs to prove he is worth it when he gets the chance..
I dont think Sebs engine is good enough now for a winger, so its midfield, we needs Catts, Colbeck gets better each game he plays in, and can cover at l/b, so its down to rotation, and the strongest in training should get the nod.
My favourite player is Seb. He isn't as effective it would seem in the middle but his problem is he has no pace and MON wants 2 wingers with pace to hit teams on the counter attack....I think MON will give him a fair crack at it and hopefully he will grow more comfortable in his new position...we do have other options for a dead ball situation in Gardner and also AJ but Seb is undoubtedly the best...
safc-noggieland,I admit that my answer appeared to be a cop-out!!I would play Seb every game,his set-pieces are brilliant and I think that he is a class-act.Thank God that I don't have the problem of where to play him!
There is absolutely no doubt he is our best dead ball specialist. We can't play him for just that reason alone though. I have been disappointed with him in MF. IMHO out of his depth there. I would have Gardner there above Seb any day of the week. We now have AJ. And that to me is where Sebs future lies, cover for AJ.
I think Seb is class, agree he doesn't have the engine or speed gives his all for the cause. Brilliant dead ball, scores goals provides assists, maybe he is destined to be more like schwartz? I'm happy to give hima crack of the whip in the middle. I thought he could be moved inside last season.
Reading all your replies I'm still non-the-wiser, without Seb we lose 2,3,4,5 or more very real chances of a goal or an assist, to accommodate a 'speedier,trickier or harder' player that may produce 1/2 situations from open play. How many ( I suspect quite a high %) of all goals throughout a season are direct from a set piece. KTF
I think the one thing we can all agree on is that its a lovely headache for MoN to have. Its not one we have had for a while now. Which top class player should we leave out to accommodate another one of our top class players? Very nice problem indeed.
Cest, the seasons only two games old for us, resting him IMO is not an option, whereas match fitness is.
There will be plenty of opportunities for them all over the season. I would give the current line up another 3-5 games and reassess then.
I think Cest is right we have a great problem having so much quality. Marty will sort it all out. At the moment I would keep Seb in CM and let him develop into the position. No one needs to be "rested" if they don't perform they get dropped simple as there is no point in sugar coating it and saying rested. We have quality to replace quality.
I'm gonna throw a wild scenario out there. Put Seb as the attacking midfielder and put Sess to the left side. Seb has good control, good distribution and he can finish too. With AJ and Sess on the flanks that would be scary for a lot of defenders. Seb doesn't need speed in that role. I realise its different, but different can be good sometimes.
so outrageous it might just work?? del piero played that position his entire career with no pace... that being said, i take it that means leaving out maclean?
