I thought Kirk played very well through pre season…
One poor result, of which Kirk was not responsible, and all of a sudden he’s the fall guy again.
For me it’s a toss up between him and Tyreece Campbell for who starts next to Alfie May at the weekend.
I’d probably start Kirk against Orient where we will have more of the ball. And then Campbell at Peterborough when we might want more pace to hit them on the break.
I thought Kirk played very well through pre season…
One poor result, of which Kirk was not responsible, and all of a sudden he’s the fall guy again.
For me it’s a toss up between him and Tyreece Campbell for who starts next to Alfie May at the weekend.
He has been woeful. And he’s naturally better in friendlies as it’s less obvious when he runs away screaming from a potential challenge he has to make.
You really hate him don't you!? Many posts having a go at him. Holden seems to see something in him and rumours are he is well liked in the team. His style is to not run around chasing everything (ala Morgan) and to try and play some good passes and use his football brain to get in the right place. Doesn't always work but he is willing to take risks. If he goes then he goes but if he stays we need to be a bit more patient...IMO.
Currently its a mess. We are playing a system we do not have the wingbacks for, and the defence does not look any better than last season's. Plus we only have 1 fit striker. The fact that there is a serious chance that Kirk will start up front makes me wonder just how successful this 'rebuilding' has been so far.
I thought Kirk played very well through pre season…
One poor result, of which Kirk was not responsible, and all of a sudden he’s the fall guy again.
For me it’s a toss up between him and Tyreece Campbell for who starts next to Alfie May at the weekend.
He was absolutely shambolic against Aberdeen tbh and we looked miles better as soon as he was replaced. I'd say he had a good first half against Millwall and a decent showing against Wealdstone, but he hasn't exactly blazed a trail this preseason, certainly half a dozen players have looked better than him, including Fraser, Campbell, Blackett-Taylor and Payne, who are I'd imagine some of the people he's competing against for a spot.
On the basis that we only have one striker, no left footed CB & Edun isn’t ready to play, we should play 433 on Sat:
AMB
Asiimwe Hector Jones Thomas (ok as a standard left back)
Dobbo Camara Fraser
Campbell May CBT
Worked well for us last season and will prevent us being massively exposed down the wings as per Aberdeen.
Also allows our most dangerous player to focus on what he is good at & actually be a winger.
Would like to see this line-up on Saturday.
So would I but sadly as other poster said. Can’t see anyway that DH is going to after literally almost the entire pre season playing 3-5-2 suddenly go after all that first competitive game we’re playing 4-3-3 just can’t see it happening.
More than likely the team that started was his favoured potential line up with maybe 2-3 positions up for grabs. As even if we got a striker in now he like Taylor and Edun they won’t be thrown straight in I believe.
I'm sure any striker signed this week would at least make the bench.
I don't get the attitude from some of its ok Edun, Taylor etc will be fit in a few weeks. Points in the first couple of games are just as important as any others this season, you dont get more points as the season progresses. A good start is imperative. We finished 30 odd points off automatics last season, that's a hell of a lot to overturn.
And about 7 of the starting 11 will be from.last seasons piss poor effort.
Can’t argue with any of that except we have the reality that two players we wanted and tracked are not yet quite ready. It’s not ideal but it’s where we are. We might have been able to sign a couple of oven ready, I’ll not use turkeys despite the temptation but they might not be either as good as Taylor and Edun or who Holden wanted. If we go into Orient with what we have then we’ll have to get on with it.
Currently its a mess. We are playing a system we do not have the wingbacks for, and the defence does not look any better than last season's. Plus we only have 1 fit striker. The fact that there is a serious chance that Kirk will start up front makes me wonder just how successful this 'rebuilding' has been so far.
Holden clearly has a preferred formation that he wants to drill into the players and hopefully that will be rewarded once the last couple of pieces of the jigsaw fall into place.
For one, I don’t think we’re nearly as far away as some suggest - we’d be confident against Orient if Leaburn was available.
For two, any formation is going to require hours of drilling on the training pitch. How much time does Holden want to take away from 3-5-2 to practice a formation that will only be preferred for one or two games?
Kirk is the epitome of a luxury player - apparently only effective with an attacking left back behind him doing all the work so he can apply the final pass - yes he can pick a pass and shoot but has no pace and can't beat his man - won't do battle with a centre back and hold the ball up so useless as a striker and goes too quiet to be effective in any midfield formation we might try - if Holden is picking him in the friendlies its because he has little choice as we don't have a complete squad yet. He could start the first couple of games and still be off if a) we strengthen the squad and b) some team is prepared to buy him.
Kirk hasn't just become a forward because we don't have anybody else to play there and he's done okay in friendlies when afforded time and space in his pink boots.
I really don't see how Kirk gets in ahead of Campbell. OK if Campbell isn't the alternative I'd rather have DJ than Kirk, or even Kanu up front with May which I don't think has been tried yet. The way I see it there are at least those three players I'd have in the team ahead of Kirk.
You really hate him don't you!? Many posts having a go at him. Holden seems to see something in him and rumours are he is well liked in the team. His style is to not run around chasing everything (ala Morgan) and to try and play some good passes and use his football brain to get in the right place. Doesn't always work but he is willing to take risks. If he goes then he goes but if he stays we need to be a bit more patient...IMO.
I'm not against Kirk, but I am definitely against him playing that forward role. If we're not playing with wingers then I'd move him on. Please no more square pegs.
Currently its a mess. We are playing a system we do not have the wingbacks for, and the defence does not look any better than last season's. Plus we only have 1 fit striker. The fact that there is a serious chance that Kirk will start up front makes me wonder just how successful this 'rebuilding' has been so far.
Holden clearly has a preferred formation that he wants to drill into the players and hopefully that will be rewarded once the last couple of pieces of the jigsaw fall into place.
For one, I don’t think we’re nearly as far away as some suggest - we’d be confident against Orient if Leaburn was available.
For two, any formation is going to require hours of drilling on the training pitch. How much time does Holden want to take away from 3-5-2 to practice a formation that will only be preferred for one or two games?
We’re in a better place now than either of the last 2 seasons at this stage. It’s a low bar but still a positive
I don't think we would go past the summer transfer window without bringing in another forward, when that happens Kirk will either need to up his game or be moved on. I didn't think he did too bad against Millwall and the goal he scored is what he needs to do if selected, arriving late and getting on the end of a very good pass. I would love him to blossom into the player we all would like to see but I have my doubts.
A few random thoughts - only seen the millwall friendly but I thought Kirk was the weak link then - I thought the right side with Anderson, Asimwe and deji was very good and they bullied millwall with their physical ability - desperate for a striker ti compliment may as we all know but I’m happy to persevere with 352 - 433 has never worked for us anc I do t like having 1 striker - I’d probably bandy go 4411 at the moment until we get another striker - I’d put Anderson on the right with Asimwe behind him - have Dobson and camara ? In the middle and CBT on the left with Fraser in the hole - simple
Comments
One poor result, of which Kirk was not responsible, and all of a sudden he’s the fall guy again.
For me it’s a toss up between him and Tyreece Campbell for who starts next to Alfie May at the weekend.
Assume it's behind closed doors or a Charlton XI game.
Give him a decent strike partner and he will ne a huge success
For one, I don’t think we’re nearly as far away as some suggest - we’d be confident against Orient if Leaburn was available.
For two, any formation is going to require hours of drilling on the training pitch. How much time does Holden want to take away from 3-5-2 to practice a formation that will only be preferred for one or two games?
*phew,sentence over*
The way I see it there are at least those three players I'd have in the team ahead of Kirk.
Fill sure had he not been injured against Welling we would have sold him.
Really glad we can improve him over the next 5 months. He is the hub which we can work around.