Agree with the comment about him drifting too far left at times. You can tell this is 100% driven by the system rather than him, as Gilbey takes up the exact same position on the right.
They both spend all game running those inside channels so despite being midfield 'partners' they barely get within 20 yards of each other. Can you remember a single pass that was exchanged between Fraser and Gilbey last night? It was the same between Lee and Fraser v Sunderland. Obviously deliberate, but quite bizarre.
Feels like a missed opportunity as Fraser could come deeper and more central like he did for MK and really dictate games. He has so much quality at this level that you could bounce the ball off him game long. As it stands, everything is left to Dobbo in the middle while the other midfielders run high and wide all game with almost zero link-up.
Didn't impress me a lot last night to be honest, for a box to box midfielder he's not that dynamic, ambles about the pitch when we're not in possession. Time will tell as to how good a signing he'll be, but from what I've seen so far he's not the silver bullet people are playing him up to be
Didn't impress me a lot last night to be honest, for a box to box midfielder he's not that dynamic, ambles about the pitch when we're not in possession. Time will tell as to how good a signing he'll be, but from what I've seen so far he's not the silver bullet people are playing him up to be
I don't think he ever claimed to be a box-to-box midfielder, he's a 10. The physical side of his game has always been his weakness but he creates chances.
For the level we're currently at, there will not be many with better technique in our squad next season, regardless of summer recruitment. His calmness, close control and ability to find a man was head & shoulders above everyone else on the pitch last night (yes Dobson was his defensive equivalent but Fraser is slick & understated in his touch, Dobson's more hustle & bustle). We really lost control of the play once he departed which speaks volumes. Would like to see him take more risks (shots from distance perhaps?) in the final third as he builds his match fitness. Could be next season's Dale Stephens if we build a hard grafting midfield around him.
He reminds me of a more dynamic Andrew Shinnie, especially in possession. One of those players who seem to have more time on the ball than others.
I'm not holding my breath, as not sure I can see a pathway for our football style to change under the current coaching team, but if we used him effectively I think we could play some very nice stuff.
That’s where we need to get recruitment right - more players with ability and composure on the ball.
The problem is, and I’m not saying we won’t do well at all, but even if we get better technical players in - I just can’t see us ever playing ‘good football’.
I think we can be, and have indeed been in fits and starts, effective. On occasions we can press well, break down play well, and break quickly and effectively. Which ultimately, if you win, is all that matters.
And sometimes (Portsmouth 1st half, Rotherham 2nd half) it’s very exciting to watch.
Just even with more technical players, at the moment, I can’t see us reverting to a possession based style, or turning into a team that looks to play inbetween the lines and is comfortable building attacks from the back and not just when we turn over play in the middle of the park.
I don’t see Jackson being a pure possession manager if that’s what you’re after, but that’s not always good football - unless you’re getting results it can be frustrating to watch.
Bowyer’s side in 18/19 played the most exciting football in years, far more entertaining than Peeters and Robinson’s possession sides who would tap the ball around at the back without creating anything from it.
I can’t see us becoming an out and out passing team like MK Dons, but I think with better players we’ll play out from the back and between the lines more often. One reason Famewo has been dropped is probably the amount of times he needlessly hoofs the ball up the pitch, it’s clear Jackson wants us to pas from the back when we can. Clare at RCB is further proof of that.
If we’re regularly winning more teams will sit deeper and leave us to have possession (as we did last night from the stats) and that’ll bring new challenges in that we’ll have to break those sides down.
We have too many players at the moment who although they have decent technical ability they don’t have the football brain, energy or consistency we need - Lee and Leko for example.
Big if of course, any improvement relies on us signing the right players.
Fraserburgh looks unfit and slow But when Lee replaced him we lost cohesion Because he gave the ball away to frequently. His one positive was his headless energy.
Not the best poem, but at least the last 2 lines rhyme.
Didn't impress me a lot last night to be honest, for a box to box midfielder he's not that dynamic, ambles about the pitch when we're not in possession. Time will tell as to how good a signing he'll be, but from what I've seen so far he's not the silver bullet people are playing him up to be
Add to that: he bottled the first two challenges that came his way in the first 7 minutes last night, made damn sure he wasn't getting involved in a 50:50 Also waved on Gill's right sided attacks to CBT or The Cat when he was Jonny on the Spot and should have been shepherding the oppo wide or back Looks lightweight and keen to stay out of anything physical, moves away from space and into congested areas when he doesn't have the ball, hiding in plain sight if you will. Sort of jumps for headers but pulls his head down into his shoulders like Clunk from Stop The Pigeon! Can see and occasionally find a tidy pass but he's not answering many questions for us at the moment. He moaned on arrival about previous managers "sticking him out on the left wing" - if he swerves the bustle of the middle of the park the wing's his only option, he can't have it both ways, as one of very few naturally left sided players in our squad that's where he's likely to find himself until he puts his big boy pants on and takes a brave pill.
Not really sure what I was expecting, but have been underwhelmed to date. Sure he has technical ability and may be able to bring more players into the game in future, but he seems very slow, and lacking in physicality and dynamism.The kind of player that might thrive when things are going well but may disappear when things get tough.
he won his fair share of tackles, not all but a fair share. He wasn't scared of the ball, kept possession well, moved into space at throw ins and used the ball well. He played a great ball into gilbey who headed tamely wide. We noticeable got worse once he went off
It was his second start for us? He has been injured pre signing for us and suffered from covid. He was a solid 7/10 last night and showed promise that there is hopefully more to come.
he is playing for a lower level league 1 team, if he was box to box and won all the 50/50 tackles, he would be playing at a higher level.
People need to realise that we are league 1 and not in the premier league and every midfielder that plays for us isn't Scott Parker or mark kinsella levels of ability, especially in league 1
In League One you don't get players who are good at everything - or at least, they don't stay there long. Every player is realistically going to have weaknesses in their game.
We knew when he signed that he was good on the ball but not going to be a combative midfield terrier.
I think we need to be realistic about what he's signed to do rather than judge him for what he's not.
He is exactly what this team has been crying out for, someone who can be utilised in transitions. We have no one with any authority, composure or ability to pick a pass forward when on the ball. He will be the man next season, should we able to build around him.
Fraserburgh looks unfit and slow But when Lee replaced him we lost cohesion Because he gave the ball away to frequently. His one positive was his headless energy.
His positive was his negative. He was all over the shop.
Fraser as a CAM and Dobbo as a CDM, the absolute highest level you can have at this level of football.
His passing was immense at times yesterday, our team just aren’t good enough to read his play or not used to it, he made one bad pass the whole game imo, second half when I think Washington was thru and he opted for the left wing rather than an over the top.
I genuinely reckon we need to build our team around Dobson and him next season, go to a diamond, 4231 or 4312. Dobson is absolutely brilliant for us now at protecting our defenders and finding a way out, he’s reminding me of Buyens slightly, probably just a bit less class and finesse but makes up for it with his pace and grittiness in winning the ball back
Not sure I've seen much from him yet that Morgan doesn't have in his locker, but I'm pretty confident there is more to come from him and he'll start to stand out soon.
Has looked very lacking in match sharpness and fitness but I thought he looked a bit better in that department last night and was getting more involved and then was a bit quicker in his use of the ball playing a few nice passes. He's never going to be crunching into tackles left right and centre but neither did Claus Jensen. The key thing is will he work hard to get goal side when we lose the ball, close down space and pick up players, if he does that then he's contributing and Dobson can get on with leaving stud marks on a few shins.
Gilbey frustrates the hell out of me, but his running and ground covering does add balance to the midfield and helps a player like Fraser concentrate on what he's good at and not have to expend so much energy chasing after the ball. Hopefully JFC comes back the player he was when he got injured as he could be good balance between Gilbey's inconsistent technique and tireless running.
Fraser as a CAM and Dobbo as a CDM, the absolute highest level you can have at this level of football.
His passing was immense at times yesterday, our team just aren’t good enough to read his play or not used to it, he made one bad pass the whole game imo, second half when I think Washington was thru and he opted for the left wing rather than an over the top.
I genuinely reckon we need to build our team around Dobson and him next season, go to a diamond, 4231 or 4312. Dobson is absolutely brilliant for us now at protecting our defenders and finding a way out, he’s reminding me of Buyens slightly, probably just a bit less class and finesse but makes up for it with his pace and grittiness in winning the ball back
I feel like we have a good spine of the team arranged now with Lavelle, Dobson, Fraser and Stockley through the middle. If McG can up his game or more preferably AMB make the step up and the right recruitment surrounding them we could be in a very strong position next season
Even in his first few games, his composure receiving the ball in tight areas and creating space with a first touch is miles ahead of anything else we have.
He has already shown glimpses of what he offers. A few of the threaded passes he played last night were class. He is a few seconds ahead of his teammates atm but he will he great for us I'm sure. Knowing I'm going to get pelters here but him and Gilbey will be a class above this league once they click
Not sure I've seen much from him yet that Morgan doesn't have in his locker, but I'm pretty confident there is more to come from him and he'll start to stand out soon.
He's got that extra bit of skill and touch on Morgan. Great player for Morgan to learn a bit from. (Ground passing is much better than Albie, but think Albie edges crossing)
For me he joined for next season when we grabbed him in the January window a bit like when Curbs ( as a player) joined as the first part of Lennie's promotion rebuild or BWP in Powell's.
Along with JFC we now have good left footed options in midfield for next season.
Fraser as a CAM and Dobbo as a CDM, the absolute highest level you can have at this level of football.
His passing was immense at times yesterday, our team just aren’t good enough to read his play or not used to it, he made one bad pass the whole game imo, second half when I think Washington was thru and he opted for the left wing rather than an over the top.
I genuinely reckon we need to build our team around Dobson and him next season, go to a diamond, 4231 or 4312. Dobson is absolutely brilliant for us now at protecting our defenders and finding a way out, he’s reminding me of Buyens slightly, probably just a bit less class and finesse but makes up for it with his pace and grittiness in winning the ball back
Comments
They both spend all game running those inside channels so despite being midfield 'partners' they barely get within 20 yards of each other. Can you remember a single pass that was exchanged between Fraser and Gilbey last night? It was the same between Lee and Fraser v Sunderland. Obviously deliberate, but quite bizarre.
Feels like a missed opportunity as Fraser could come deeper and more central like he did for MK and really dictate games. He has so much quality at this level that you could bounce the ball off him game long. As it stands, everything is left to Dobbo in the middle while the other midfielders run high and wide all game with almost zero link-up.
Could be next season's Dale Stephens if we build a hard grafting midfield around him.
I can’t see us becoming an out and out passing team like MK Dons, but I think with better players we’ll play out from the back and between the lines more often. One reason Famewo has been dropped is probably the amount of times he needlessly hoofs the ball up the pitch, it’s clear Jackson wants us to pas from the back when we can. Clare at RCB is further proof of that.
If we’re regularly winning more teams will sit deeper and leave us to have possession (as we did last night from the stats) and that’ll bring new challenges in that we’ll have to break those sides down.
We have too many players at the moment who although they have decent technical ability they don’t have the football brain, energy or consistency we need - Lee and Leko for example.
Big if of course, any improvement relies on us signing the right players.
reckon he'll be a very key player for us next season
I was also delighted that we saw some good things from Gilbey.
Get those two firing on a regular basis and we have something to work with.
Apologies @Leuth ... I know that will upset you, but you can console yourself with a dream team of Jaiyesimi, Aneke and the returning Omar Bogle.
Also waved on Gill's right sided attacks to CBT or The Cat when he was Jonny on the Spot and should have been shepherding the oppo wide or back
Looks lightweight and keen to stay out of anything physical, moves away from space and into congested areas when he doesn't have the ball, hiding in plain sight if you will. Sort of jumps for headers but pulls his head down into his shoulders like Clunk from Stop The Pigeon!
Can see and occasionally find a tidy pass but he's not answering many questions for us at the moment.
He moaned on arrival about previous managers "sticking him out on the left wing" - if he swerves the bustle of the middle of the park the wing's his only option, he can't have it both ways, as one of very few naturally left sided players in our squad that's where he's likely to find himself until he puts his big boy pants on and takes a brave pill.
he won his fair share of tackles, not all but a fair share. He wasn't scared of the ball, kept possession well, moved into space at throw ins and used the ball well. He played a great ball into gilbey who headed tamely wide. We noticeable got worse once he went off
It was his second start for us? He has been injured pre signing for us and suffered from covid. He was a solid 7/10 last night and showed promise that there is hopefully more to come.
he is playing for a lower level league 1 team, if he was box to box and won all the 50/50 tackles, he would be playing at a higher level.
People need to realise that we are league 1 and not in the premier league and every midfielder that plays for us isn't Scott Parker or mark kinsella levels of ability, especially in league 1
rant over
We knew when he signed that he was good on the ball but not going to be a combative midfield terrier.
I think we need to be realistic about what he's signed to do rather than judge him for what he's not.
For me he joined for next season when we grabbed him in the January window a bit like when Curbs ( as a player) joined as the first part of Lennie's promotion rebuild or BWP in Powell's.
Along with JFC we now have good left footed options in midfield for next season.