A lot of people on here don't seem to rate Lloyd Sam and apparently ignore his value to the team.
Okay, so people think his distibution, crossing and general contribution is poor.
He's got good ability on the ball but he's not an experienced player - although no one can deny that he works tremendously hard for the team. Maybe the fact that he appears from time to time indecisive means that perhaps he's waiting for a run or call from a team mate that doesn't come?
If we look at the Reading match, we'll see that Sam actually played a major part in all 4 goals - not bad for someone regarded by many as ineffective.
First goal: Bailey, just inside the Reading half cooly plays a simple ball to Moo2, who lays off to Sam running hugging the touchline picking out the overlapping Moo2 perfectly - he then sits, covering Moo2 as no doubt he was instructed to do in that situation. Moo2 advances towards the line, loops over a fine cross that the Reading keeper can't deal with ........and you know the rest. The important thing here also, is that when Moo2 gets beyond him, Sam covers and literally becomes the fullback.
Second goal: Out wide but level with his own box, Sam himself crucially dispossesses an opponent, and then makes a strong run before picking out a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Varney, who collects barely breaking stride and surges past Sonko, who shoves him in the back and Charlton are awarded a penalty ......
Third goal: Bailey slips a sublime ball through to Gray just inside the box, who backheels to Varney who's bundled over just as he's about to strike the ball - no penalty according to the ref - the ball comes out wide to Sam who puts over a great cross in the right area and Varney, having picked himself up off the floor, firmly heads home.
Fourth goal: Awkward high ball hit a little too firmly from deep midfield, is pulled down nicely by Sam under pressure. He shields the ball well and lays the simple ball on the floor inside to the advancing Moo2, who loops it across for Buzz to meet ever so sweetly on the volley.
Notice that Sam is invariably in the right place at the right time?
There's no doubt, that Sam is Moo2's other half - they work well in tandem with each other, as proved time and time again against Reading. Sam was remarkably effective but also, Moo2's defensive work was much better with Sam working with him.
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They can and do, wouldn't call him a very hard working player, not saying he's lazy though.
His crossing is poor, but it was good to see he finally got a good ball in.
At times last season he didn't work very well with Moutaouakil, he never game him the ball when he overlapped.
He needs to improve but having a player like Bailey in the team will help, and playing with an attacking full back gives him more options.
Still seems to mess around with the ball far too much, was better on Saturday though.
Against Watford Pards took off the right back Semedo and Sam filled in there. I think with Moo2's ability to get forward its imperitive that the winger sits in the right back position. All in all I like Sam, he's a work in progress but with the right encouragment he can be a really effective player like on Saturday.
the talent is there as is the desire give him time
i think he's as frustrating/annoying as thomas or lisbie, you know there's some ability there but it just doesn't happen regularly enough...... obviously i hope lloyd, like the team can, find some consistency to their good form
I think theres a bit in that Jim....
overall having Thomas leaving will and is having a positive effect .....
Agree completely and had much the same thoughts while watching the game. Whatever criticism he may have earned in his tenure with the team, Sam was pitch perfect Saturday.
Agreed though he works hard and also works well with Moo2 and we can't ask much more than that. However i'd still have Ambrose on the right ahead of him any day.
Exactly, Weegie (and CollegePark too).
Though I suppose there'll always be supporters who ignore what he does right, instead of picking on his occasional mistake. He's a young, inexperienced player learning the game and finding his way.
How he could be criticised for creating our 3rd goal, is beyond me. His cross was absolutely good enough - otherwise Varney wouldn't have met it and scored....(!)
Some people expect our players to be faultless - if they could be that perfect, they wouldn't be playing for Charlton in the Championship, that's for sure!
Who will get the nod for you out of Lloyd or Abrose when he gets full fitness ?
Now, as people know on here, I'm a bit of an Ambrose fan.
But with the best will in the world, I can't see Ambrose grafting to get back covering Moo2 going forward.
And Moo2 without cover is an opposition goal waiting to happen.
I'd be loathe to break up Sam & Moo2 - on Saturday they worked brilliantly in combination, two quick, athletic, energetic tricky young players working well in tandem.
Maybe leaving a clearly unmatch fit Ambrose on the bench for the next few weeks, to come on as required, is the better short term option?
oi oi Westie!!
lol