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+++ Rob Apter signs on four year deal +++
Comments
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If we have no idea how we'll set up I imagine some of our upcoming opponents will be thinking the same which is good2
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He's certainly star of the show with the cameraman on the Slovenia Day 4 training video, has a couple of nice touches, but they couldn't show enough of the guy...0
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ShootersHillGuru said:One of Apters strengths as I understand it, is his first touch and ability to retain possession in tight spaces. That’s an asset that can be invaluable when you’re defending and looking for an outlet that doesn’t come straight back at you. Of course Apters been brought in primarily for his offensive potential but I can see him being very useful in other ways.0
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There seems to be an exaggerated level of excitement over this signing.
He may have potential but so far he’s only played in League One or below - just like Charlie Kirk, another young lad who’d never left his family in the north-west before.
If the fee is seven figures then it seems extortionate to me.
Obviously I hope I’m wrong and we end up getting an 8 figure fee for him. Our signings since NJ arrived have been better than expected, but there seems rather too much expectation on this one rather than a more realistic hope.10 -
ElliotCAFC said:
I wouldn’t call Apter fast. He’s no slouch, but he’s certainly not the type to burst past defenders with pace and power like Thierry Small.
That’s the concern with him playing the unorthodox RWB role that Small filled. Apter will have to carry the ball from deep, but he’s a player who comes alive around the box - which, funnily enough, is the complete opposite of Small.
More importantly I have complete faith Nathan Jones knows exactly what he's doing and what's required for the level.
We regularly got Small into the areas that Apter wants to be in, just he didn’t have the final ball to the make the most of it1 -
Braziliance said:I can't see Apter fulfilling the Small role, he doesn't appear athletic enough.
I think it will be 343 with TC and Apter either side of a striker, or a 3412 and Apter will play in the 10 or maybe even do what TC does and drift out wide as a striker.
I can't see any scenario where he is up and down the right flank all game, I will be surprised if that isn't Ramsay now based on our transfer business so far, or maybe Costello, but I think he will be pairing Coventry in the middle.Last season he was clearly impacting things for Blackpool in the final third. But also defensively on the right of a 4-4-2 he would have been expected to get back into shape so this feels quite similar to what we would be asking him to do in our lopsided formation. If he did it last season then I don’t see a reason why he can’t now. I actually think if you were to put Small’s role last season into a traditional formation it is probably most similar to RM in a 4-4-2
A big part of our success second half of last season was having a player on the right flank who could go past defenders and attack. We lost that player, but have now signed Apter who has those attributes. I can’t see why he doesn’t just slot in to that role. Ramsay behind him makes a lot of sense, JRC in midfield also makes a lot of sense as he will probably be much better covering from midfield out there than Docherty/Anderson
I can see us flicking between lopsided 3-5-2 with Apter on the right and the 3-4-2-1 you describe. What I definitely can’t see is Jones deciding to play just 2 central midfielders. His whole managerial career any success has come from packing central areas of the pitch, so a 3-4-3 with 2 wide players in the front 3 I just can’t see him going for that. Maybe a 3-4-2-1 with Apter and Carey behind a striker is our defensive option but I still think a lot of games we will be 3-5-2/4-2-3-1 like last season
Would also add that at the start of last season Apter was playing as a wing back in a 3-5-2 so it’s something he has done before, and our wing back role is obviously not a normal one so would suit him more6 -
Riding along on my push bike honey0
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Compare their heat maps for last season (Apter - L, Small - R) and Apter actually played a lot more defensively than Small10 -
NabySarr said:Braziliance said:I can't see Apter fulfilling the Small role, he doesn't appear athletic enough.
I think it will be 343 with TC and Apter either side of a striker, or a 3412 and Apter will play in the 10 or maybe even do what TC does and drift out wide as a striker.
I can't see any scenario where he is up and down the right flank all game, I will be surprised if that isn't Ramsay now based on our transfer business so far, or maybe Costello, but I think he will be pairing Coventry in the middle.Last season he was clearly impacting things for Blackpool in the final third. But also defensively on the right of a 4-4-2 he would have been expected to get back into shape so this feels quite similar to what we would be asking him to do in our lopsided formation. If he did it last season then I don’t see a reason why he can’t now. I actually think if you were to put Small’s role last season into a traditional formation it is probably most similar to RM in a 4-4-2
A big part of our success second half of last season was having a player on the right flank who could go past defenders and attack. We lost that player, but have now signed Apter who has those attributes. I can’t see why he doesn’t just slot in to that role. Ramsay behind him makes a lot of sense, JRC in midfield also makes a lot of sense as he will probably be much better covering from midfield out there than Docherty/Anderson
I can see us flicking between lopsided 3-5-2 with Apter on the right and the 3-4-2-1 you describe. What I definitely can’t see is Jones deciding to play just 2 central midfielders. His whole managerial career any success has come from packing central areas of the pitch, so a 3-4-3 with 2 wide players in the front 3 I just can’t see him going for that. Maybe a 3-4-2-1 with Apter and Carey behind a striker is our defensive option but I still think a lot of games we will be 3-5-2/4-2-3-1 like last season
Would also add that at the start of last season Apter was playing as a wing back in a 3-5-2 so it’s something he has done before, and our wing back role is obviously not a normal one so would suit him more
Look at Small, and then look at Apter. Small is more muscly, more broad and we have seen how tough he is, Apter looks slimmer, quite narrow in frame, and I have read Blackpool fans say he isn't someone who is going to get up and down and may struggle against more physical defenders.
It appears Apter is on a different level currently to Small in terms of attacking quality (the stats of footage we have seen don't lie), but if we are talking purely from an athletic build and physical strength, Small looks like he would have his number, which is no sly on Apter, Small is very tough for a full back.4 - Sponsored links:
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Quite Astonishing how close to the touchline Thierry stayed.0
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Braziliance said:NabySarr said:Braziliance said:I can't see Apter fulfilling the Small role, he doesn't appear athletic enough.
I think it will be 343 with TC and Apter either side of a striker, or a 3412 and Apter will play in the 10 or maybe even do what TC does and drift out wide as a striker.
I can't see any scenario where he is up and down the right flank all game, I will be surprised if that isn't Ramsay now based on our transfer business so far, or maybe Costello, but I think he will be pairing Coventry in the middle.Last season he was clearly impacting things for Blackpool in the final third. But also defensively on the right of a 4-4-2 he would have been expected to get back into shape so this feels quite similar to what we would be asking him to do in our lopsided formation. If he did it last season then I don’t see a reason why he can’t now. I actually think if you were to put Small’s role last season into a traditional formation it is probably most similar to RM in a 4-4-2
A big part of our success second half of last season was having a player on the right flank who could go past defenders and attack. We lost that player, but have now signed Apter who has those attributes. I can’t see why he doesn’t just slot in to that role. Ramsay behind him makes a lot of sense, JRC in midfield also makes a lot of sense as he will probably be much better covering from midfield out there than Docherty/Anderson
I can see us flicking between lopsided 3-5-2 with Apter on the right and the 3-4-2-1 you describe. What I definitely can’t see is Jones deciding to play just 2 central midfielders. His whole managerial career any success has come from packing central areas of the pitch, so a 3-4-3 with 2 wide players in the front 3 I just can’t see him going for that. Maybe a 3-4-2-1 with Apter and Carey behind a striker is our defensive option but I still think a lot of games we will be 3-5-2/4-2-3-1 like last season
Would also add that at the start of last season Apter was playing as a wing back in a 3-5-2 so it’s something he has done before, and our wing back role is obviously not a normal one so would suit him more
Look at Small, and then look at Apter. Small is more muscly, more broad and we have seen how tough he is, Apter looks slimmer, quite narrow in frame, and I have read Blackpool fans say he isn't someone who is not going to get up and down and may struggle against more physical defenders.
It appears Apter is on a different level currently to Small in terms of attacking quality (the stats of footage we have seen don't lie), but if we are talking purely from an athletic build and physical strength, Small looks like he would have his number.14 -
fenaddick said:
Compare their heat maps for last season (Apter - L, Small - R) and Apter actually played a lot more defensively than Small0 -
fenaddick said:
Compare their heat maps for last season (Apter - L, Small - R) and Apter actually played a lot more defensively than Small7 -
Braziliance said:NabySarr said:Braziliance said:I can't see Apter fulfilling the Small role, he doesn't appear athletic enough.
I think it will be 343 with TC and Apter either side of a striker, or a 3412 and Apter will play in the 10 or maybe even do what TC does and drift out wide as a striker.
I can't see any scenario where he is up and down the right flank all game, I will be surprised if that isn't Ramsay now based on our transfer business so far, or maybe Costello, but I think he will be pairing Coventry in the middle.Last season he was clearly impacting things for Blackpool in the final third. But also defensively on the right of a 4-4-2 he would have been expected to get back into shape so this feels quite similar to what we would be asking him to do in our lopsided formation. If he did it last season then I don’t see a reason why he can’t now. I actually think if you were to put Small’s role last season into a traditional formation it is probably most similar to RM in a 4-4-2
A big part of our success second half of last season was having a player on the right flank who could go past defenders and attack. We lost that player, but have now signed Apter who has those attributes. I can’t see why he doesn’t just slot in to that role. Ramsay behind him makes a lot of sense, JRC in midfield also makes a lot of sense as he will probably be much better covering from midfield out there than Docherty/Anderson
I can see us flicking between lopsided 3-5-2 with Apter on the right and the 3-4-2-1 you describe. What I definitely can’t see is Jones deciding to play just 2 central midfielders. His whole managerial career any success has come from packing central areas of the pitch, so a 3-4-3 with 2 wide players in the front 3 I just can’t see him going for that. Maybe a 3-4-2-1 with Apter and Carey behind a striker is our defensive option but I still think a lot of games we will be 3-5-2/4-2-3-1 like last season
Would also add that at the start of last season Apter was playing as a wing back in a 3-5-2 so it’s something he has done before, and our wing back role is obviously not a normal one so would suit him more
Look at Small, and then look at Apter. Small is more muscly, more broad and we have seen how tough he is, Apter looks slimmer, quite narrow in frame, and I have read Blackpool fans say he isn't someone who is going to get up and down and may struggle against more physical defenders.
It appears Apter is on a different level currently to Small in terms of attacking quality (the stats of footage we have seen don't lie), but if we are talking purely from an athletic build and physical strength, Small looks like he would have his number, which is no sly on Apter, Small is very tough for a full back.1 -
fenaddick said:Braziliance said:NabySarr said:Braziliance said:I can't see Apter fulfilling the Small role, he doesn't appear athletic enough.
I think it will be 343 with TC and Apter either side of a striker, or a 3412 and Apter will play in the 10 or maybe even do what TC does and drift out wide as a striker.
I can't see any scenario where he is up and down the right flank all game, I will be surprised if that isn't Ramsay now based on our transfer business so far, or maybe Costello, but I think he will be pairing Coventry in the middle.Last season he was clearly impacting things for Blackpool in the final third. But also defensively on the right of a 4-4-2 he would have been expected to get back into shape so this feels quite similar to what we would be asking him to do in our lopsided formation. If he did it last season then I don’t see a reason why he can’t now. I actually think if you were to put Small’s role last season into a traditional formation it is probably most similar to RM in a 4-4-2
A big part of our success second half of last season was having a player on the right flank who could go past defenders and attack. We lost that player, but have now signed Apter who has those attributes. I can’t see why he doesn’t just slot in to that role. Ramsay behind him makes a lot of sense, JRC in midfield also makes a lot of sense as he will probably be much better covering from midfield out there than Docherty/Anderson
I can see us flicking between lopsided 3-5-2 with Apter on the right and the 3-4-2-1 you describe. What I definitely can’t see is Jones deciding to play just 2 central midfielders. His whole managerial career any success has come from packing central areas of the pitch, so a 3-4-3 with 2 wide players in the front 3 I just can’t see him going for that. Maybe a 3-4-2-1 with Apter and Carey behind a striker is our defensive option but I still think a lot of games we will be 3-5-2/4-2-3-1 like last season
Would also add that at the start of last season Apter was playing as a wing back in a 3-5-2 so it’s something he has done before, and our wing back role is obviously not a normal one so would suit him more
Look at Small, and then look at Apter. Small is more muscly, more broad and we have seen how tough he is, Apter looks slimmer, quite narrow in frame, and I have read Blackpool fans say he isn't someone who is not going to get up and down and may struggle against more physical defenders.
It appears Apter is on a different level currently to Small in terms of attacking quality (the stats of footage we have seen don't lie), but if we are talking purely from an athletic build and physical strength, Small looks like he would have his number.
Torrid time is such a Charlton Life exaggeration for the narrative. Christ alive man 😂
If you think Apter is as athletic as Small, fair enough.
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Without derailing this thread back onto Thierry Small, my guess is that he found a role with us that catered for his strengths and made allowances for his weaknesses. If he’s reverted back to being a left wing back, which I think is Preston’s intention and Smalls preference, I think the frailties in his defensive duties are going to very cruelly exposed in The Championship. Looks to me like Apter can play the Small roll at least as well and might well have more end product.1
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Garrymanilow said:I'm not going all the way to Blackpool for a stereo
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Braziliance said:fenaddick said:Braziliance said:NabySarr said:Braziliance said:I can't see Apter fulfilling the Small role, he doesn't appear athletic enough.
I think it will be 343 with TC and Apter either side of a striker, or a 3412 and Apter will play in the 10 or maybe even do what TC does and drift out wide as a striker.
I can't see any scenario where he is up and down the right flank all game, I will be surprised if that isn't Ramsay now based on our transfer business so far, or maybe Costello, but I think he will be pairing Coventry in the middle.Last season he was clearly impacting things for Blackpool in the final third. But also defensively on the right of a 4-4-2 he would have been expected to get back into shape so this feels quite similar to what we would be asking him to do in our lopsided formation. If he did it last season then I don’t see a reason why he can’t now. I actually think if you were to put Small’s role last season into a traditional formation it is probably most similar to RM in a 4-4-2
A big part of our success second half of last season was having a player on the right flank who could go past defenders and attack. We lost that player, but have now signed Apter who has those attributes. I can’t see why he doesn’t just slot in to that role. Ramsay behind him makes a lot of sense, JRC in midfield also makes a lot of sense as he will probably be much better covering from midfield out there than Docherty/Anderson
I can see us flicking between lopsided 3-5-2 with Apter on the right and the 3-4-2-1 you describe. What I definitely can’t see is Jones deciding to play just 2 central midfielders. His whole managerial career any success has come from packing central areas of the pitch, so a 3-4-3 with 2 wide players in the front 3 I just can’t see him going for that. Maybe a 3-4-2-1 with Apter and Carey behind a striker is our defensive option but I still think a lot of games we will be 3-5-2/4-2-3-1 like last season
Would also add that at the start of last season Apter was playing as a wing back in a 3-5-2 so it’s something he has done before, and our wing back role is obviously not a normal one so would suit him more
Look at Small, and then look at Apter. Small is more muscly, more broad and we have seen how tough he is, Apter looks slimmer, quite narrow in frame, and I have read Blackpool fans say he isn't someone who is not going to get up and down and may struggle against more physical defenders.
It appears Apter is on a different level currently to Small in terms of attacking quality (the stats of footage we have seen don't lie), but if we are talking purely from an athletic build and physical strength, Small looks like he would have his number.
Torrid time is such a Charlton Life exaggeration for the narrative. Christ alive man 😂
If you think Apter is as athletic as Small, fair enough.That’s where I’d disagree, yes hes not as athletic as Small (not many players are), but he’s played wing back before and looking at his role for Blackpool last season he should be absolutely fine playing the role Small did last season, which is why we’ve signed him imo10 -
ShootersHillGuru said:Without derailing this thread back onto Thierry Small, my guess is that he found a role with us that catered for his strengths and made allowances for his weaknesses. If he’s reverted back to being a left wing back, which I think is Preston’s intention and Smalls preference, I think the frailties in his defensive duties are going to very cruelly exposed in The Championship. Looks to me like Apter can play the Small roll at least as well and might well have more end product.He was much better on the right because he was less predictable, he could go around the outside but also come inside.0
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NabySarr said:Braziliance said:NabySarr said:Braziliance said:I can't see Apter fulfilling the Small role, he doesn't appear athletic enough.
I think it will be 343 with TC and Apter either side of a striker, or a 3412 and Apter will play in the 10 or maybe even do what TC does and drift out wide as a striker.
I can't see any scenario where he is up and down the right flank all game, I will be surprised if that isn't Ramsay now based on our transfer business so far, or maybe Costello, but I think he will be pairing Coventry in the middle.Last season he was clearly impacting things for Blackpool in the final third. But also defensively on the right of a 4-4-2 he would have been expected to get back into shape so this feels quite similar to what we would be asking him to do in our lopsided formation. If he did it last season then I don’t see a reason why he can’t now. I actually think if you were to put Small’s role last season into a traditional formation it is probably most similar to RM in a 4-4-2
A big part of our success second half of last season was having a player on the right flank who could go past defenders and attack. We lost that player, but have now signed Apter who has those attributes. I can’t see why he doesn’t just slot in to that role. Ramsay behind him makes a lot of sense, JRC in midfield also makes a lot of sense as he will probably be much better covering from midfield out there than Docherty/Anderson
I can see us flicking between lopsided 3-5-2 with Apter on the right and the 3-4-2-1 you describe. What I definitely can’t see is Jones deciding to play just 2 central midfielders. His whole managerial career any success has come from packing central areas of the pitch, so a 3-4-3 with 2 wide players in the front 3 I just can’t see him going for that. Maybe a 3-4-2-1 with Apter and Carey behind a striker is our defensive option but I still think a lot of games we will be 3-5-2/4-2-3-1 like last season
Would also add that at the start of last season Apter was playing as a wing back in a 3-5-2 so it’s something he has done before, and our wing back role is obviously not a normal one so would suit him more
Look at Small, and then look at Apter. Small is more muscly, more broad and we have seen how tough he is, Apter looks slimmer, quite narrow in frame, and I have read Blackpool fans say he isn't someone who is going to get up and down and may struggle against more physical defenders.
It appears Apter is on a different level currently to Small in terms of attacking quality (the stats of footage we have seen don't lie), but if we are talking purely from an athletic build and physical strength, Small looks like he would have his number, which is no sly on Apter, Small is very tough for a full back.
Just because he is bigger and more broader yes it does mean he is stronger physically which is what I was alluding to. He has less of an athletic frame, again, I have seen Blackpool fans multiple times highlight how he may find more physical games more difficult where he won't get as much time on the ball.
Luckily he probably won't be playing the Thierry role of defensive duties as I highly doubt our recruitment team have identified a pure winger to be running up and down busting a gut when we already play with 5 defenders
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Scoham said:covered_end_junior said:From what I've seen of him he reminds be a bit of a Jack Grealish but on the other side.
Not super quick but skilful and good in tight spaces.
That's interesting, I hadn't listened to Cawleys latest stuff but there's definitely similarities there in the way they play.1 -
NabySarr said:Braziliance said:fenaddick said:Braziliance said:NabySarr said:Braziliance said:I can't see Apter fulfilling the Small role, he doesn't appear athletic enough.
I think it will be 343 with TC and Apter either side of a striker, or a 3412 and Apter will play in the 10 or maybe even do what TC does and drift out wide as a striker.
I can't see any scenario where he is up and down the right flank all game, I will be surprised if that isn't Ramsay now based on our transfer business so far, or maybe Costello, but I think he will be pairing Coventry in the middle.Last season he was clearly impacting things for Blackpool in the final third. But also defensively on the right of a 4-4-2 he would have been expected to get back into shape so this feels quite similar to what we would be asking him to do in our lopsided formation. If he did it last season then I don’t see a reason why he can’t now. I actually think if you were to put Small’s role last season into a traditional formation it is probably most similar to RM in a 4-4-2
A big part of our success second half of last season was having a player on the right flank who could go past defenders and attack. We lost that player, but have now signed Apter who has those attributes. I can’t see why he doesn’t just slot in to that role. Ramsay behind him makes a lot of sense, JRC in midfield also makes a lot of sense as he will probably be much better covering from midfield out there than Docherty/Anderson
I can see us flicking between lopsided 3-5-2 with Apter on the right and the 3-4-2-1 you describe. What I definitely can’t see is Jones deciding to play just 2 central midfielders. His whole managerial career any success has come from packing central areas of the pitch, so a 3-4-3 with 2 wide players in the front 3 I just can’t see him going for that. Maybe a 3-4-2-1 with Apter and Carey behind a striker is our defensive option but I still think a lot of games we will be 3-5-2/4-2-3-1 like last season
Would also add that at the start of last season Apter was playing as a wing back in a 3-5-2 so it’s something he has done before, and our wing back role is obviously not a normal one so would suit him more
Look at Small, and then look at Apter. Small is more muscly, more broad and we have seen how tough he is, Apter looks slimmer, quite narrow in frame, and I have read Blackpool fans say he isn't someone who is not going to get up and down and may struggle against more physical defenders.
It appears Apter is on a different level currently to Small in terms of attacking quality (the stats of footage we have seen don't lie), but if we are talking purely from an athletic build and physical strength, Small looks like he would have his number.
Torrid time is such a Charlton Life exaggeration for the narrative. Christ alive man 😂
If you think Apter is as athletic as Small, fair enough.That’s where I’d disagree, yes hes not as athletic as Small (not many players are), but he’s played wing back before and looking at his role for Blackpool last season he should be absolutely fine playing the role Small did last season, which is why we’ve signed him imo
You challenging my view of him not being athletic enough is basically the same thing, cmon, don't play coy.
I mean it's likely that he physically will not be able to match strong attackers, Small can and has. That's where my part about athleticism comes from, not that he can run up and down a pitch which I expect any professional footballer be able to do.
Do you know how insane it would be to spend 2 and a half million on a winger to make him play as part of a back 5 who has never been succesful there as a professional off of the back of a season playing purely as a winger. (Which is what Small was doing out of possession playing in a back 5)
Last post on it genuinely cause it sounds like I am digging him out, I think he's going to be quality but only for where I believe Jones will play him. That's that.0 -
Braziliance said:NabySarr said:Braziliance said:NabySarr said:Braziliance said:I can't see Apter fulfilling the Small role, he doesn't appear athletic enough.
I think it will be 343 with TC and Apter either side of a striker, or a 3412 and Apter will play in the 10 or maybe even do what TC does and drift out wide as a striker.
I can't see any scenario where he is up and down the right flank all game, I will be surprised if that isn't Ramsay now based on our transfer business so far, or maybe Costello, but I think he will be pairing Coventry in the middle.Last season he was clearly impacting things for Blackpool in the final third. But also defensively on the right of a 4-4-2 he would have been expected to get back into shape so this feels quite similar to what we would be asking him to do in our lopsided formation. If he did it last season then I don’t see a reason why he can’t now. I actually think if you were to put Small’s role last season into a traditional formation it is probably most similar to RM in a 4-4-2
A big part of our success second half of last season was having a player on the right flank who could go past defenders and attack. We lost that player, but have now signed Apter who has those attributes. I can’t see why he doesn’t just slot in to that role. Ramsay behind him makes a lot of sense, JRC in midfield also makes a lot of sense as he will probably be much better covering from midfield out there than Docherty/Anderson
I can see us flicking between lopsided 3-5-2 with Apter on the right and the 3-4-2-1 you describe. What I definitely can’t see is Jones deciding to play just 2 central midfielders. His whole managerial career any success has come from packing central areas of the pitch, so a 3-4-3 with 2 wide players in the front 3 I just can’t see him going for that. Maybe a 3-4-2-1 with Apter and Carey behind a striker is our defensive option but I still think a lot of games we will be 3-5-2/4-2-3-1 like last season
Would also add that at the start of last season Apter was playing as a wing back in a 3-5-2 so it’s something he has done before, and our wing back role is obviously not a normal one so would suit him more
Look at Small, and then look at Apter. Small is more muscly, more broad and we have seen how tough he is, Apter looks slimmer, quite narrow in frame, and I have read Blackpool fans say he isn't someone who is going to get up and down and may struggle against more physical defenders.
It appears Apter is on a different level currently to Small in terms of attacking quality (the stats of footage we have seen don't lie), but if we are talking purely from an athletic build and physical strength, Small looks like he would have his number, which is no sly on Apter, Small is very tough for a full back.
Just because he is bigger and more broader yes it does mean he is stronger physically which is what I was alluding to. He has less of an athletic frame, again, I have seen Blackpool fans multiple times highlight how he may find more physical games more difficult where he won't get as much time on the ball.
Luckily he probably won't be playing the Thierry role of defensive duties as I highly doubt our recruitment team have identified a pure winger to be running up and down busting a gut when we already play with 5 defenders8 -
Braziliance said:NabySarr said:Braziliance said:fenaddick said:Braziliance said:NabySarr said:Braziliance said:I can't see Apter fulfilling the Small role, he doesn't appear athletic enough.
I think it will be 343 with TC and Apter either side of a striker, or a 3412 and Apter will play in the 10 or maybe even do what TC does and drift out wide as a striker.
I can't see any scenario where he is up and down the right flank all game, I will be surprised if that isn't Ramsay now based on our transfer business so far, or maybe Costello, but I think he will be pairing Coventry in the middle.Last season he was clearly impacting things for Blackpool in the final third. But also defensively on the right of a 4-4-2 he would have been expected to get back into shape so this feels quite similar to what we would be asking him to do in our lopsided formation. If he did it last season then I don’t see a reason why he can’t now. I actually think if you were to put Small’s role last season into a traditional formation it is probably most similar to RM in a 4-4-2
A big part of our success second half of last season was having a player on the right flank who could go past defenders and attack. We lost that player, but have now signed Apter who has those attributes. I can’t see why he doesn’t just slot in to that role. Ramsay behind him makes a lot of sense, JRC in midfield also makes a lot of sense as he will probably be much better covering from midfield out there than Docherty/Anderson
I can see us flicking between lopsided 3-5-2 with Apter on the right and the 3-4-2-1 you describe. What I definitely can’t see is Jones deciding to play just 2 central midfielders. His whole managerial career any success has come from packing central areas of the pitch, so a 3-4-3 with 2 wide players in the front 3 I just can’t see him going for that. Maybe a 3-4-2-1 with Apter and Carey behind a striker is our defensive option but I still think a lot of games we will be 3-5-2/4-2-3-1 like last season
Would also add that at the start of last season Apter was playing as a wing back in a 3-5-2 so it’s something he has done before, and our wing back role is obviously not a normal one so would suit him more
Look at Small, and then look at Apter. Small is more muscly, more broad and we have seen how tough he is, Apter looks slimmer, quite narrow in frame, and I have read Blackpool fans say he isn't someone who is not going to get up and down and may struggle against more physical defenders.
It appears Apter is on a different level currently to Small in terms of attacking quality (the stats of footage we have seen don't lie), but if we are talking purely from an athletic build and physical strength, Small looks like he would have his number.
Torrid time is such a Charlton Life exaggeration for the narrative. Christ alive man 😂
If you think Apter is as athletic as Small, fair enough.That’s where I’d disagree, yes hes not as athletic as Small (not many players are), but he’s played wing back before and looking at his role for Blackpool last season he should be absolutely fine playing the role Small did last season, which is why we’ve signed him imo
You challenging my view of him not being athletic enough is basically the same thing, cmon, don't play coy.
I mean it's likely that he physically will not be able to match strong attackers, Small can and has. That's where my part about athleticism comes from, not that he can run up and down a pitch which I expect any professional footballer be able to do.
Do you know how insane it would be to spend 2 and a half million on a winger to make him play as part of a back 5 who has never been succesful there as a professional off of the back of a season playing purely as a winger. (Which is what Small was doing out of possession)
Last post on it genuinely cause it sounds like I am digging him out, I think he's going to be quality but only for where I believe Jones will play him. That's that.I think you’ll be surprised how we use him. I think it will be a mix of the Small role in a 3-5-2 and then maybe an advanced role against the big teams in a 3-4-2-14 -
Interesting I've seen a few Blackpool fans say that they think his long term role actually projects playing inside as a 10 where he can get on the ball with his close control.1
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MarcusH26 said:Interesting I've seen a few Blackpool fans say that they think his long term role actually projects playing inside as a 10 where he can get on the ball with his close control.0
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NabySarr said:MarcusH26 said:Interesting I've seen a few Blackpool fans say that they think his long term role actually projects playing inside as a 10 where he can get on the ball with his close control.0
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