Agree with shooters.midfield is a massive issue and I wad hoping it was something we would of sorted in the last week.
Powell seems to want to go in with a narrow midfield which means with the first choice midfield you play four centre midfielders over a limited space and we ask jj and pritchard to play as the wide men. At times this May work but times like today we get found out.
Personally I would of liked to of seen another experienced centre midfielders come in which would of given us licence to use green or waggy
Not going to write off one of our best players of the last couple of seasons just because he hasn't set the world alight in the first few games of this season.
I personally thought he looked much better playing in CM he tracked back and worked really hard second half which most seemed to have missed. I agree that he's not a LM in this league but I think playing CM he was in my opinion better than Hollands in the second half.
He looked a lot better today at CM in the second half, he can be wasted out on the left in certain games but I would not say that he's not good enough four games into the season.
I also don't understand why kermorgant doesnt take our FK's. he's so brilliant at it
If the free-kick is on the left or central, Kermy would probably be first up, but on the right it needs a left footer if you want a decent attempt at goal. From that angle, all Kermy (or any other right footer) could have done is knock it to the back post, hoping someone will get their nogging on it.
I think there's a place for a player of JJ's quality in our team, it could well be supporting Hollands in CM.
He didn't cover himself in glory today but was by no means the worst.
Agree with this. I'd like to see him play as a number 4, just sit in front of the back four, provide cover, get the ball, move it on and keep things ticking - just like Gillett today, who was excellent. You don't need great pace for that role as you barely move more than ten yards in any direction, and his free-kicks/passing/heading ability/penalties won't be lost to the team. Still need more width though, not least to give full-backs more cover.
Dont think its fair at all, after everything hes done in the last year , and your kicking off 3 games into the championship season about his performance's ?
Could be a good shout to give him more then 3 weeks before you start judging him ?
I think there's a place for a player of JJ's quality in our team, it could well be supporting Hollands in CM.
He didn't cover himself in glory today but was by no means the worst.
Agree with this. I'd like to see him play as a number 4, just sit in front of the back four, provide cover, get the ball, move it on and keep things ticking - just like Gillett today, who was excellent. You don't need great pace for that role as you barely move more than ten yards in any direction, and his free-kicks/passing/heading ability/penalties won't be lost to the team. Still need more width though, not least to give full-backs more cover.
I can see JJ doing this role, but isn't this what Stephens is doing most of the time, as he does spend a lot of time around the centre circle, it would also sacrifice his ability to get into the box, as even this season he has been getting into some dangerous positions.
I agree with an earlier poster, that having got promoted with an excellent team full of admirable individuals, it would be a shame to have dumped them all to bring in 'better' players. It may take a bit of time, but many players do eventually step up to the new higher level.
Why single Jackson out , yes he's not the fastest player we've got and he's not had a great start but its too soon to be writing one of our players off , all of our players have got to prove that they are good enough for this division and above , not just Jackson.
I like the idea of playing him more centrally, or even in front of the back four -- he could still be ghosting into the opposition box to do some damage at set-pieces or if we were in the ascendancy.
JJ was the single most influential player for us last season. Solly and Yann may have been better individually but in terms of his importance to the team, his defensive work, his incredible amount of goals for his position including the critical goals against the Sheffield teams.
Our side this season is very much about keeping it tight as we just dont have the offensive threat that other sides have and JJ is important for that, ask Wiggins who he would rather have in front of him.
Lets give the fella more than 4 games before we cane him please.
I think there's a place for a player of JJ's quality in our team, it could well be supporting Hollands in CM.
He didn't cover himself in glory today but was by no means the worst.
Agree with this. I'd like to see him play as a number 4, just sit in front of the back four, provide cover, get the ball, move it on and keep things ticking - just like Gillett today, who was excellent. You don't need great pace for that role as you barely move more than ten yards in any direction, and his free-kicks/passing/heading ability/penalties won't be lost to the team. Still need more width though, not least to give full-backs more cover.
I can see JJ doing this role, but isn't this what Stephens is doing most of the time, as he does spend a lot of time around the centre circle, it would also sacrifice his ability to get into the box, as even this season he has been getting into some dangerous positions.
I agree with an earlier poster, that having got promoted with an excellent team full of admirable individuals, it would be a shame to have dumped them all to bring in 'better' players. It may take a bit of time, but many players do eventually step up to the new higher level.
Fair point re Stephens - but I would play him too, but further forward. One of the advantages of playing Jackson in that no 4 role is that he could also provide cover the full-backs while they bomb on and let Hollands or Stephens get into the box - much as Hughes did when he was in the side last year, helping give us the width we need. Best example of what I'm talking about is Hollands' goal v Preston at home last year. Wiggins could make a nuisance of himself on the left wing all game because he knew Hughes had his back. Jackson's intelligent enough and has the ability to do that role, I reckon. And all his other attributes won't then be lost to the team.
It's not just four games this season that fans are doubting him. You will find threads going back to the end of last season pointing to him running out of steam early in 2nd half, asking if he was carrying an injury, and questioning whether his lack of pace would find him out this year. The opening games have just confirmed these fears. I think moving him inside would expose his lack of mobility even more and would not compensate for his decent distribution.
It's all well and good waiting another 4 games. But what if (and it is only an if) he still looks a bit behind the pace? We have then wasted 4 games when we could have strengthened with a top class loan signing.
I just think that many here have underestimated this league with the confident predictions of mid table safety. It will be a tough slog and it is hard to think of 3 teams that we definitely have astronger squad than. As such we need to strengthen - and we need to get the strongest team possible together and on the pitch ASAP. Whether that is with JJ or without.
you know in the film "Coming to America" when the singer Randy Watson says "sexual chocolate"? That's the only way I can pronounce the name Johnnie Jackson. sorry this hasn't added to the debate much.
you know in the film "Coming to America" when the singer Randy Watson says "sexual chocolate"? That's the only way I can pronounce the name Johnnie Jackson. sorry this hasn't added to the debate much.
Our midfielders as individuals are good enough. I just don't think they complement each other as a unit. Nowhere near enough creativity and nowhere near enough pace. All our central midfield choices are very pedestrian. SCP can of course persevere with what he has and there is a good argument for that but my own humble opinion is that this is the area where we need to bring in at least one player. I hope Chris doesn't later in the season regret perhaps being too loyall
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Powell seems to want to go in with a narrow midfield which means with the first choice midfield you play four centre midfielders over a limited space and we ask jj and pritchard to play as the wide men. At times this May work but times like today we get found out.
Personally I would of liked to of seen another experienced centre midfielders come in which would of given us licence to use green or waggy
He didn't cover himself in glory today but was by no means the worst.
Any thatt one fancy s a POP at johnnie j needs to get past me 2st
Could be a good shout to give him more then 3 weeks before you start judging him ?
I agree with an earlier poster, that having got promoted with an excellent team full of admirable individuals, it would be a shame to have dumped them all to bring in 'better' players. It may take a bit of time, but many players do eventually step up to the new higher level.
"Johnnie, oh Johnnie Jackson ambles slowly down the wing for me"
It is a definate slow walk
I like the idea of playing him more centrally, or even in front of the back four -- he could still be ghosting into the opposition box to do some damage at set-pieces or if we were in the ascendancy.
Our side this season is very much about keeping it tight as we just dont have the offensive threat that other sides have and JJ is important for that, ask Wiggins who he would rather have in front of him.
Lets give the fella more than 4 games before we cane him please.
I agree with an earlier poster, that having got promoted with an excellent team full of admirable individuals, it would be a shame to have dumped them all to bring in 'better' players. It may take a bit of time, but many players do eventually step up to the new higher level.
Fair point re Stephens - but I would play him too, but further forward. One of the advantages of playing Jackson in that no 4 role is that he could also provide cover the full-backs while they bomb on and let Hollands or Stephens get into the box - much as Hughes did when he was in the side last year, helping give us the width we need. Best example of what I'm talking about is Hollands' goal v Preston at home last year. Wiggins could make a nuisance of himself on the left wing all game because he knew Hughes had his back. Jackson's intelligent enough and has the ability to do that role, I reckon. And all his other attributes won't then be lost to the team.
I just think that many here have underestimated this league with the confident predictions of mid table safety. It will be a tough slog and it is hard to think of 3 teams that we definitely have astronger squad than. As such we need to strengthen - and we need to get the strongest team possible together and on the pitch ASAP. Whether that is with JJ or without.