Apart from the result the positives outweighed the negatives for me yesterday. AA played well and will improve. Despite carrying two passengers for most of the game we were unlucky to have Randolph at his best and a ref not at his.
He seems technically talented but will need lots of hard workers around him. Agree his best position may be behind strikers in 451. He's no winger as he has little pace. But he may be able to play the playmaker role well.
Got to own up, I said that I thought he was rubbish last week, but he played well yesterday, his only downfall may be his lack of pace.
His game doesn't appear to be based on speed and athleticism though - that's where the likes of Cousins or Poyet would come in and balance things. In the same way, Jackson a few years ago was pretty slow, but his timing was excellent and he was in the right place regardless of his low speed. It's only recently JJ has got just too slow to be effective (for me.)
I wish he played with a bit more urgency - he seems happy to juggle the ball on the spot, but I don't remember him bursting past defenders on the wing to whip one in...
With that skill I expected him to beat more players tbh, instead the times he did skill was usually standing still with defenders closing in, or flicking a ball on.
I wish he played with a bit more urgency - he seems happy to juggle the ball on the spot, but I don't remember him bursting past defenders on the wing to whip one in...
With that skill I expected him to beat more players tbh, instead the times he did skill was usually standing still with defenders closing in, or flicking a ball on.
That's true, which is why he's probably not a winger.
A loan, but as an RD product we will probably keep hold of him come summer. Looks to me like a bigger Jackson in his prime playing wise, with a bit more pace besides. Reza and Polish Pete are the big names but this chap might just be the best business of them all on current evidence!
I agree he is good and I would be happy if we did keep him beyond the end of the season. However even though he is contracted to one of RD's clubs, I'm not sure that the player would want to play in League 1 if we were relegated.
Well I love the guy all ready. I started to pay particular attention to him, and you don't need to worry about where he is told to start, he was all over the pitch, left right and centre, a total class act. This fellow plays with a passion, hates to lose, and might make a really good captain.
looking at that clip of the scissor kick what gives me heart even more is that Reza was in there looking for the rebound or spill from the keeper. Long while since we have had anyone wanting to do that.
My concern is that he is a luxury player, like Taarabt who does all of his best work going forward but isn't going to contribute too much defensively. However, given our potentcy in front of goal, I think he has to play. So the issue for the coaching team is how to accomodate him? So far Powell has gone for a narrow 4-4-2 with Astrit at the top and Poyet at the base of the diamond. With JJ and JC covering the wide areas it makes us more solid defensively but weak going forward down the flank as everything has to go down the middle. The option we haven't tried is more continental 4-2-3-1, with a couple of holding midfielders and then three attacking midfielders. This would give us more threat down the wing but I can halve our already isolated forward threat. Not sure we have the ability to do this though.
Personally given the current personnel I would at least try the latter. Thuram; Wiggins, Morrison, Wood, Wilson; Poyet, Cousins; Jackson, Ajdarevic, Reza; Polish Pete.
My concern is that he is a luxury player, like Taarabt who does all of his best work going forward but isn't going to contribute too much defensively. However, given our potentcy in front of goal, I think he has to play. So the issue for the coaching team is how to accomodate him? So far Powell has gone for a narrow 4-4-2 with Astrit at the top and Poyet at the base of the diamond. With JJ and JC covering the wide areas it makes us more solid defensively but weak going forward down the flank as everything has to go down the middle. The option we haven't tried is more continental 4-2-3-1, with a couple of holding midfielders and then three attacking midfielders. This would give us more threat down the wing but I can halve our already isolated forward threat. Not sure we have the ability to do this though.
Personally given the current personnel I would at least try the latter. Thuram; Wiggins, Morrison, Wood, Wilson; Poyet, Cousins; Jackson, Ajdarevic, Reza; Polish Pete.
I like that side, though it does leave us with 3 left footers behind the striker, which isn't very balanced. Desperately need a right-sided winger or attacking midfielder.
Guess that'll be the problem NWA; finding a winning combination in time. Thought he was very encouraging yesterday, if not quite the Messiah some have already seen (cue Terry Jones). Twice in quick succession towards the NW corner he performed great skill in very tight situations, only to have the ball bulleted back at him by a bewildered Evina.
Certainly looks very skilful; not sure yet about the "getting stuck in" comments. Along with all the others, he's going to need to very soon.
My concern is that he is a luxury player, like Taarabt who does all of his best work going forward but isn't going to contribute too much defensively. However, given our potentcy in front of goal, I think he has to play. So the issue for the coaching team is how to accomodate him? So far Powell has gone for a narrow 4-4-2 with Astrit at the top and Poyet at the base of the diamond. With JJ and JC covering the wide areas it makes us more solid defensively but weak going forward down the flank as everything has to go down the middle. The option we haven't tried is more continental 4-2-3-1, with a couple of holding midfielders and then three attacking midfielders. This would give us more threat down the wing but I can halve our already isolated forward threat. Not sure we have the ability to do this though.
Personally given the current personnel I would at least try the latter. Thuram; Wiggins, Morrison, Wood, Wilson; Poyet, Cousins; Jackson, Ajdarevic, Reza; Polish Pete.
I like that side, though it does leave us with 3 left footers behind the striker, which isn't very balanced. Desperately need a right-sided winger or attacking midfielder.
Nego right back and Wilson in the three on the right in place of Jackson maybe?
Comments
My preference of the two by a long way.
AA played well and will improve.
Despite carrying two passengers for most of the game we were unlucky to have Randolph at his best and a ref not at his.
Decent technique from
KermoAstro and on target - Randolph did well there, but even so spilled it.With that skill I expected him to beat more players tbh, instead the times he did skill was usually standing still with defenders closing in, or flicking a ball on.
The ball to cousins for the effort was nicely slid in
So far Powell has gone for a narrow 4-4-2 with Astrit at the top and Poyet at the base of the diamond. With JJ and JC covering the wide areas it makes us more solid defensively but weak going forward down the flank as everything has to go down the middle.
The option we haven't tried is more continental 4-2-3-1, with a couple of holding midfielders and then three attacking midfielders. This would give us more threat down the wing but I can halve our already isolated forward threat. Not sure we have the ability to do this though.
Personally given the current personnel I would at least try the latter.
Thuram; Wiggins, Morrison, Wood, Wilson; Poyet, Cousins; Jackson, Ajdarevic, Reza; Polish Pete.
Certainly looks very skilful; not sure yet about the "getting stuck in" comments. Along with all the others, he's going to need to very soon.