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Confirmed Ali McCann (New Contract)

Confirmed Ali McCann (New Contract)

Lee Trundle said:
It's not that he doesnt lose it, I'd say he's fairly neat and tidy, it's just he is so utterly incapable of playing through the lines.

He's like that kid in your school team, invariably nicknamed 'killer' or 'bruiser', who was shit but tried hard and won tackles.

I'm not sure I agree with the idea that a DM in a 4-3-3 just needs to recycle the ball. Even under Neil, when we had Fisher and Cunningham as fullbacks, two proper wide men and Gally in midfield, it was still very beneficial to have Pearson's range of passing. McCann is brilliant at breaking up play, unfortunately that is both for the opposition and PNE alike
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Right now, the emphasis in the Championship is having less of the ball, pressing high up the pitch, and breaking at pace. With many teams switching to a 4-4-2. Getting the ball from back to front quickly, without pissing around at the back.

I think he'd also be more than fine in a 4-4-2, alongside a proper creative, ball player in Devine.

Like I say, he doesn't lose the ball anywhere near as much as people claim he does, and it's probably emphasised because of his role, with the not so technical, Storey & Potts usually the players he's linking up with in previous seasons.
 
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SF said:
Depends on the shape and system. If we play with full backs and defenders who can pass, in a proper 4-3-3, then, your DM is there to screen and recycle the ball in my mind. The less touches in our own third and players facing our own goal the better for me.

I also think his poor passing is exaggerated by many. He's obviously not going to pass through the lines, and he can rush into the odd loose pass, but his possession stats were 2nd in the entire squad this season (82.4%, only behind Thordarson), so he's not exactly the liability he's made out to be. People just seem to jump on him losing the ball more than other players.
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In a 4-3-3, he would need even more responsibility to try to pick up the ball from the defenders as he'd be the lone pivot.

That's a crucial position for ball progression in that system. You'd need some very good progressing CBs to try to only use the pivot as a ball recycling player, which IMO is asking a lot and would cost a lot too.

If it was to work, it would need to be in a double pivot, and have someone next to him who's very good at what he's not good at, as they could be more likely to be marked out of the game if have only one progressive midfielder. But I'd rather have two players who can contribute with progressing the ball as it's something we can often struggle with.

Or as I initially mentioned, can do that it if playing a very direct style instead where you're bypassing the midfield which would suit McCann more.
 
monky1234 said:
In a 4-3-3, he would need even more responsibility to try to pick up the ball from the defenders as he'd be the lone pivot.

That's a crucial position for ball progression in that system. You'd need some very good progressing CBs to try to only use the pivot as a ball recycling player, which IMO is asking a lot and would cost a lot too.

If it was to work, it would need to be in a double pivot, and have someone next to him who's very good at what he's not good at, as they could be more likely to be marked out of the game if have only one progressive midfielder. But I'd rather have two players who can contribute with progressing the ball as it's something we can often struggle with.

Or as I initially mentioned, can do that it if playing a very direct style instead where you're bypassing the midfield which would suit McCann more.
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It just comes down to personnel for me, McCann could be a big asset if he's surrounded by players who can progress the ball, particularly the full backs, leaving him to focus on stopping the opposition.
 
SF said:
It just comes down to personnel for me, McCann could be a big asset if he's surrounded by players who can progress the ball, particularly the full backs, leaving him to focus on stopping the opposition.
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Yeah I can see what you mean, I just think it'd be too easy for teams to play against as they'd try force us to play through the middle instead.

But I'm certainly not opposed to keeping him because he does offer something which is very useful to have in a player. Just a shame he lacks in the way he does, which is why where we've been is his ceiling.
 
monky1234 said:
Need him back ASAP. Will be better in Grezza's system and less of a hindrance.

There's not as much reliance on picking the ball up from the CBs and playing through the lines, so his off the ball work would be a big plus.
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I think it's crucial for our season that we don't rush him back, no matter how tempting it is in the short-term
 
Atkypne said:
How many matches has he missed through injury?
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Don't know the exact numbers and can't be bothered to take the time to work it out, but he played 40 games between us and St Johnstone in his first season here.

Every other season he's had no more than 35 - and that's across all competitions.

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