In fairness his playing in a two man midfield up against 3 pretty much since his been back in and his a player that thrives on space.... After trying plan A for a while we end up just lifting up to Kermogant completely bypassing him, he should in my opinion be pushing higher up the pitch and looking to get beyond the front two more, but out all the displays today he wasn't the worst
Who ever comes out with he just shoots wide all game and does nothing else is either heavily intoxicated or clueless (possibly both)
Think the problem is that Hollands and Stephens may be our best CM's but not neccessarily our best pairing. The 11 best players don't make the best team.............
Completely agree, trying to accomodate both has not worked. Stephens and Hollands seem to cancel each other out somehow, theyare our best midfielders but are just too similar.
i think stephens is a cracking footballer but since he has come back into the side we have lacked a little bite in the the middle of the park we dont win enough of the ball and to play nice flowing football you av got to win the battle in the middle of the park ie 2nd balls which lately i tend to feel we are watching ,maybe bringing russell ,pritchard or hughes back in could be the answer.
I was going to restart my thread, but got beaten to it...
He was better than usual in the 2nd half, but clearly there is a problem in the centre of the park, as the midfield 2 have no energy, and so often the CBs have to aim long, or the FBs taking throws have nobody to throw to.
Why Russell didn't play or come on as a sub is a complete mystery to me.
In a season dogged by injury and the inevitable upheaval of moving down south, Dale has still shown enough to me that he is set for a very succesful career in the Championship at least. Although Hughes may have an impact if brought in, Dale is the future. He is a gifted footballer.
Obviously Stephens will pick up the flak but Hollands hasn't been great recently either. Neither have been playing that well but they are being outnumbered in the middle.
Stephens and Hollands are both super players but, together, is it a bit like Lampard with Gerrard, i.e. their roles are too similar. We need a Graham Stuart in there sorting things out in the middle.
No one is going to convince me that Pritchard, Hughes and Russel are not better options then Stephens. We are going backwards with him in the side. Powell has the squad but will not use it.
The 2000/01 team was better than this one and they took 4 points from last 7 games. It can happen and will again if changes are not made.
No one is going to convince me that Pritchard, Hughes and Russel are not better options then Stephens. We are going backwards with him in the side. Powell has the squad but will not use it.
The 2000/01 team was better than this one and they took 4 points from last 7 games. It can happen and will again if changes are not made.
Of course that team was better , it got promoted to the prem.
Stephens right now is a luxury we can't afford. Russel back in for Scunny
When Stephens was in the team earlier in the season, he had BWP and Paul Hayes playing up front. Both were good at making runs, taking defenders with them, thus creating openings and goal scoring opportunities. With Yann upfront, Stephens becomes far less effective and he is finding it much harder to play the killer through ball.
Just think for some games we also need to go for 3 in the centre of the park but that would then mean dropping one of the strikers. He has a lot of faith in BWP and Kermogant has been sensational all season so it would have to be a very hard decision. Glad I'm not the one making the calls................
Powell must know that he's got to stiffen midfield - that takes pressure off the defence and supports the front line.
If he should play 3 in the middle, maybe the wild card would be to play Kermogant as Attacking Midfield - meaning that he's played to feet, and in a deeper role draws their CBs out of position ;o)
Think the problem is that Hollands and Stephens may be our best CM's but not neccessarily our best pairing. The 11 best players don't make the best team.............
nail on head-I posted this after the Bournemouth game, a lot of others did after the Colchester defeat
Powell must know that he's got to stiffen midfield - that takes pressure off the defence and supports the front line.
If he should play 3 in the middle, maybe the wild card would be to play Kermogant as Attacking Midfield - meaning that he's played to feet, and in a deeper role draws their CBs out of position ;o)</</b>blockquote>
That's not a bad shout Oggy. Yann tracks back and defends and part of our problem in the last couple of games has been the head tennis we invariably lose.
i would say his role was to be the person everyone whinges about at the moment. off his game at the minute seems lightweight and low on confidence. time for a change i think with someone with a bit of bite. take your pick.
In fairness his playing in a two man midfield up against 3 pretty much since his been back in and his a player that thrives on space.... After trying plan A for a while we end up just lifting up to Kermogant completely bypassing him, he should in my opinion be pushing higher up the pitch and looking to get beyond the front two more, but out all the displays today he wasn't the worst
Agree with this. Stephens knows that the further you pass the ball, the less chance of finding a red shirt. The defence is no longer playing the ball out, so he has to come and get it. Once on the ball he has less options because the defence is quite distant and usually harried by a forward or two, so he has to play a negative pass. It's up to CP to get the players moving forward together as a team.
All good points here I have to say last two matches we looked outnumbered and outfought in midfield so as bubble said we end up hoofing it forward for Yann to flick on. For me the solution is clear given that we played some really good football when we had a holding player in midfield. That could be Russel or Hughes this in theory would allow Hollands to move forward more often and give Green/Wagstaff more room. You don't have to pass the ball 40yds to be effective just look at Xavi or Iniesta most of the time their killer pass is 5-6yds!
I would like to see Dale as the creative player not having to battle for the ball this lad is a good player but not a ball winner, in my opinion he is being slightly misused and required to do something he isn't capable of.
Stephens has got potential, if we go up do we see him setting the Championship on fire? Who knows, if we go up we won't be facing teams packing the midfield so he would get a bit more time on the ball
Stephens has got potential, if we go up do we see him setting the Championship on fire? Who knows, if we go up we won't be facing teams packing the midfield so he would get a bit more time on the ball
I doubt it will be much different in the Championship, it's not as if it's a division full of budding Swanseas.
All good points here I have to say last two matches we looked outnumbered and outfought in midfield so as bubble said we end up hoofing it forward for Yann to flick on. For me the solution is clear given that we played some really good football when we had a holding player in midfield. That could be Russel or Hughes this in theory would allow Hollands to move forward more often and give Green/Wagstaff more room. You don't have to pass the ball 40yds to be effective just look at Xavi or Iniesta most of the time their killer pass is 5-6yds!
I would like to see Dale as the creative player not having to battle for the ball this lad is a good player but not a ball winner, in my opinion he is being slightly misused and required to do something he isn't capable of.
i heard xavi and iniesta were house hunting in greenwich. :oD
Comments
Who ever comes out with he just shoots wide all game and does nothing else is either heavily intoxicated or clueless (possibly both)
does not go with his runner and this really causes us problems.
He was better than usual in the 2nd half, but clearly there is a problem in the centre of the park, as the midfield 2 have no energy, and so often the CBs have to aim long, or the FBs taking throws have nobody to throw to.
Why Russell didn't play or come on as a sub is a complete mystery to me.
We need a Graham Stuart in there sorting things out in the middle.
The 2000/01 team was better than this one and they took 4 points from last 7 games. It can happen and will again if changes are not made.
Stephens right now is a luxury we can't afford. Russel back in for Scunny
If he should play 3 in the middle, maybe the wild card would be to play Kermogant as Attacking Midfield - meaning that he's played to feet, and in a deeper role draws their CBs out of position ;o)
we can all see it-can SCP and Alex Dyer?
If you had a question for Chris, it's how do you adapt to that tactic
I would like to see Dale as the creative player not having to battle for the ball this lad is a good player but not a ball winner, in my opinion he is being slightly misused and required to do something he isn't capable of.