I'm amazed that Parky never tried him in that position. He's a great finisher, has a terrific engine which together with his pace must be an absolute nightmare for defenders. We saw the result of that yesterday. Against almost any other forward in this division, that back pass would have been good enough. Not only did Waggy anticipate it, his blistering pace got him to the ball far quicker than the keeper. His workrate yesterday was unbelievable, he brings an energy to our forward line that we haven't seen for years. Great tactical move by Powell, Peacock and Mathew, also in playing Macca who did great work down the right side of midfield. Already we are benefitting from fresh tactical thinking.
[cite]Posted By: nth london addick[/cite]Parkinson, Parkinson, Parkinson.
He is gone thank god move on the man done very little for our youth players.
Apart from properly introduce Wagstaff to first-team football and put his faith in Elliott when most other managers would have gone for a more experienced keeper.
Do people have to sink the boot into Parkinson so relentlessly? Can't they give the bloke any credit at all?
Don't bother answering that, we all know the answer.
Quick, works hard and is a confident finisher. His physique will mean he won't hold the ball up to brilliant effect, but he can work on that - Anyinsah is showing (as did Burton last year) that it's as much about how you position yourself reletive to the defender as it is about out and out muscle.
He'd have been wasted there under Parkinson beacause of how direct we played, but keeping the ball on the deck more, like we seem to be doing now, will benefit him. If we can sign a midfielder who will pick out a few early through balls too, then he may really start to grow into the role.
I'll hold my hand up and say I didn't think Waggy would develop that well, or not at least for a couple more seasons but he's coming along great a quickly too.
Good early start for Powell too - moving Waggy up top is the only formational change he made vs Parky and Waggy scored the first, then one of his subs bags the winner. Good managers are often lucky managers - lets hope those too things are omens!
[cite]Posted By: nth london addick[/cite]Parkinson, Parkinson, Parkinson.
He is gone thank god move on the man done very little for our youth players.
Apart from properly introduce Wagstaff to first-team football and put his faith in Elliott when most other managers would have gone for a more experienced keeper.
Do people have to sink the boot into Parkinson so relentlessly? Can't they give the bloke any credit at all?
Don't bother answering that, we all know the answer.
Well said. Waggy was headed for non league under Pardew but Parky turned his confidence around and has helped him develop into a League One player who was/is really improving.
Managing the young players isn't just about being willing to give them a chance. Play them too early or at the wrong time can destroy their confidence.
Parky overall did a good job managing the young players, considering at the same time the team were under pressure to challenge for promotion. I'm sure Powell will do a good job with them but let's not make out he's done something tactically brilliant after just one game and moving Wagstaff to a position he played at youth level. It was also Matthew and Peacock who originally played him centrally against Spurs.
The Waggy I saw against Colchester and Swindon was a player who's confidence had been shattered. The Waggy I saw against Spurs and Plymouth was a player who was miraculously rejuvenated. Same with Macca and Kyal Reid, who all of a sudden look very good players. If it's nothing to do with the change of management, then I want some of what they're eating! I agree it's not all down to Powell, Peacock was the man to put his faith in Maccoxo when many thought he'd played his last game for the club. Peacock was also the man who got them organised and playing good football against one of the best teams in the country. Powell obviously thinks along the same lines as Keithy, which is very different to Parky's style of play.
Think he has some pace, knows where the goal is and works hard so the ingredients are there. Played 3 games in that position- one away to Spurs and has scored 2 goals so you can't dismiss it.
I think one of the keys to this working is actually having Anyinsah inthe team. Because Joe was receiving the ball to his chest or to feet he was able to hold it up and look for Waggy running around like a lunatic and try to feed him in - once they know each others game/runs better this could really be fruitful.
Benson might be able to do the Joe role if needed but it's Joe's upper body strength that really helps in this tactic as he can hold the defender off while looking up - Benno might not be suited to the muscle side of things.
Either way we have plenty of options as Abbot is also pretty strong and I think he might prove useful in the run in as he should be very fresh as is Sodje
But for me we Waggy is a really important player so far up the field as his eye for goal is superb and his pace will petrify defenders in League 1 - and when he is knackered we always have Eccleston to come on and smash what energy the defenders have left
[cite]Posted By: Swisdom[/cite]Either way we have plenty of options as Abbot is also pretty strong and I think he might prove useful in the run in as he should be very fresh as is Sodje
Abbott's often critisized but to be fair to him, he's not yet had a run of starts alongside a striker with pace. Mainly played with Benson or the odd game on his own with little support.
If Waggy could improve his ability to tackle and put himself about so to speak, I think he could do well playing behind a front two. In other words take the Scott Parker role, although I suspect that he might be too nice a lad.
Joe had an average game - to the extent that some might not have realised the effect he had, He is such a key player for us. Even when he has a quiet game- he is a handful for defenders.
Comments
He is gone thank god move on the man done very little for our youth players.
Apart from properly introduce Wagstaff to first-team football and put his faith in Elliott when most other managers would have gone for a more experienced keeper.
Do people have to sink the boot into Parkinson so relentlessly? Can't they give the bloke any credit at all?
Don't bother answering that, we all know the answer.
He'd have been wasted there under Parkinson beacause of how direct we played, but keeping the ball on the deck more, like we seem to be doing now, will benefit him. If we can sign a midfielder who will pick out a few early through balls too, then he may really start to grow into the role.
I'll hold my hand up and say I didn't think Waggy would develop that well, or not at least for a couple more seasons but he's coming along great a quickly too.
Good early start for Powell too - moving Waggy up top is the only formational change he made vs Parky and Waggy scored the first, then one of his subs bags the winner. Good managers are often lucky managers - lets hope those too things are omens!
Managing the young players isn't just about being willing to give them a chance. Play them too early or at the wrong time can destroy their confidence.
Parky overall did a good job managing the young players, considering at the same time the team were under pressure to challenge for promotion. I'm sure Powell will do a good job with them but let's not make out he's done something tactically brilliant after just one game and moving Wagstaff to a position he played at youth level. It was also Matthew and Peacock who originally played him centrally against Spurs.
Benson might be able to do the Joe role if needed but it's Joe's upper body strength that really helps in this tactic as he can hold the defender off while looking up - Benno might not be suited to the muscle side of things.
Either way we have plenty of options as Abbot is also pretty strong and I think he might prove useful in the run in as he should be very fresh as is Sodje
But for me we Waggy is a really important player so far up the field as his eye for goal is superb and his pace will petrify defenders in League 1 - and when he is knackered we always have Eccleston to come on and smash what energy the defenders have left