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AN & radical don't sit very well in the same sentence.
Full Backs
AN & radical don't sit very well in the same sentence.
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Exactly what I said in #42 & have posted the same before.
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I'm not entirely sure that's on Sinclair though. Most of our players, when in good positions, rarely seem to take on their man, they always tend to turn around and look for the safe option. I think that's one of Neil's quality tactics
I think he just looks like a marked man at the minute.
In their defence;
Rafferty was a late addition as a squad player and has improved markedly at PNE, he is neat and has a good cross but is neither assertive nor aggressive. Remains a good committed squad player.
Hughes was an immediate successor to Cunningham. Sometimes awkward in turning but his front foot high pressing has recently been key to our away attacking performances. However, he seems slow to recover and we are consistently being caught out when he is dragged upfield and nobody covers for him. (Missing Davies and Pearson) He will benefit when we can select a settled team and he develops a partnership with a wide left midfield/ strike team mate. FIRST CHOICE.
Alternatives;
Fisher always aggressive and committed, attacking threat and very rarely outdone physically but prone to error. FIRST CHOICE.
Browne, capable committed utility player, clearly doesn't like full back and his presence in midfield- probably as a harassing number 10, is very important.
Earl, good all round player, can be slow on the turn and still unproven, hasn't shone when out on loan, needs time in first team squad before being preferred to Hughes.
Rafferty was a late addition as a squad player and has improved markedly at PNE, he is neat and has a good cross but is neither assertive nor aggressive. Remains a good committed squad player.
Hughes was an immediate successor to Cunningham. Sometimes awkward in turning but his front foot high pressing has recently been key to our away attacking performances. However, he seems slow to recover and we are consistently being caught out when he is dragged upfield and nobody covers for him. (Missing Davies and Pearson) He will benefit when we can select a settled team and he develops a partnership with a wide left midfield/ strike team mate. FIRST CHOICE.
Alternatives;
Fisher always aggressive and committed, attacking threat and very rarely outdone physically but prone to error. FIRST CHOICE.
Browne, capable committed utility player, clearly doesn't like full back and his presence in midfield- probably as a harassing number 10, is very important.
Earl, good all round player, can be slow on the turn and still unproven, hasn't shone when out on loan, needs time in first team squad before being preferred to Hughes.
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I don’t think you can be certain about Earl’s ability at left back. We haven’t seen him in a championship game for quite a while and he certainly wasn’t brilliant then. The reports from his loan spells were mixed.
Having said that I would like to see him start on Saturday so that we can reassess his quality.
Fisher and Davies at fullbacks. Two up front and Pearson for either Browne or Potts, but not playing as a sitter. The discussion about who might replace Neil isn't going to keep him in a job for much longer, so he might as well be more radical. As regards who would replace him, anyone with a positive attitude who can motivate the players would improve things.
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Davies at fullback?! We're asking for more creativity here - I really can't imagine him bombing up the wing and putting balls in
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I understand that but I'd rather give Earl a shot at LB and keep Davies in the middle. Even though he's played there a few times, Davies would just be so unorthodox in that position and I can't see him being much better than Hughes.
Davies was an awful left back. Mental suggestion.
Aye when he was about 10 stone and 17 years of age. I'm not sure dropping Earl into a struggling back 4 after hardly playing would help. Hughes has at least one glaring mistake in him each game and the opposition play on it.
When Davies made his debut at left back I think he gave a penalty away but I was really impressed with his calmness and time on the ball. I remember on here likening him to a young Lawrenson. He’s been all round the houses playing for York City and Fleetwood where they got the best out of him on the left of a back 3. Never looked comfy at left back though imo
If you're going to quote stats at least provide some context to them. 22.6% cross completion is nothing special but it isn't poor either, especially when there's usually only been Maguire to aim at. We don't get anywhere near enough bodies into the box when the ball goes wide, there's only one man to blame for that.
Liverpool won the league last year and none of their players, including Alexander-Arnold, averaged more than 27% cross completion. The Premier League average was 18.9%.
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People have said he’s fantastic at crossing. I’ve just provided his stats - no comments for or against.
Aye when he was about 10 stone and 17 years of age. I'm not sure dropping Earl into a struggling back 4 after hardly playing would help. Hughes has at least one glaring mistake in him each game and the opposition play on it.
Looks like he’s put on less weight in the last 8 years than I have.
Looks like he’s put on less weight in the last 8 years than I have.
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Alex Neil in the LEP today
“We couldn’t move the ball between the lines to hurt them, when we did get into good areas we over-hit crosses from the right side four or five times in the first half.”
Impossible that mate, Rafu is a better crosser than Beckham
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crossing eh, some more stats, thats not even the problem, its the general lack of any attacking threat whatsoever from our full backs that is the issue, are teams worried they will drive the ball up the field, get round the back, slide a through ball into the channels? no