Josh Earl
At risk of coming across like I'm targeting Josh, his negative play is becoming a problem in my view. Countless times he had the ball in advanced areas and checked back rather than taking on the man and driving to the byline. He needs to be far more aggressive going forward and believe in himself. He has the power and ability to beat a man but he doesn't seem to believe it.
He was good at the start of the season and there was a lot of praise on here for him. He's out of form right now and needs to massively improve his crossing.
This was literally just over a month ago.
Not sure if North Bender is the most reliable of judges.
Even at his best, Earl has looked hurried and we need to strengthen.
Competition is needed down both sides.
Cunningham is a left sided centre back for me these days, doesn't have the legs to get up & down the pitch.
josh wins his fair share of possession from kickoffs and finds space to receive the ball out
on the wing, tall and strong and fairly quick. I just do not understand why he never takes his man on and gets down the wing. Is it working to instruction or is there a problem?
on the wing, tall and strong and fairly quick. I just do not understand why he never takes his man on and gets down the wing. Is it working to instruction or is there a problem?
Another thread from September.
Great source.
www.pne-online.net
Great source.
Earl
Get a feeling that once he scores his first for us we might start to see a few goals from Josh as well. There were a couple of times in the first half on Tuesday where he was clear in behind their full back but Riis couldn’t quite get the pass to him.
www.pne-online.net
It's not instruction. It's just confidence in my view. The only time he looks confident taking on players is when he has the chance to drive on the inside. Anytime he's shown on the outside he won't do it.
He started this season really well and looked way more positive. He's dropping back into old habits in the last couple of months.
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Think Earl is one of the success stories of the season so far, albeit his form has dipped recently. He could do with a rest but we are hamstrung by only having Cunningham as an alternative - just don't think he's got the legs for the wing back role anymore.
To be fair to McEvoy - Earl, Riis and Whiteman all improved during his tenure.
To be fair to McEvoy - Earl, Riis and Whiteman all improved during his tenure.
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- Dec 19, 2004
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Came in and definitively took the shirt from Cunningham. But he's struggled a bit lately. Lets see if Lowe can get what he needs from that position out of him- having the shirt gives him a shot to impress, if he doesn't by January, he may be back out of the team. There's enough positive attributes there that he's worth working on, IMO.
Wow!!
Never seen a wingback cut back every time instead of going to the line.
Never seen a wingback cut back every time instead of going to the line.
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Hopefully Lowe and Marsh can instill some confidence in him, although I'm not convinced wing back is his position.
Almost certain that left wing back will be a priority target for Lowe in January.
We don't know what goes on on the training pitch with regard to developing individuals, but Earl seems to be seriously lacking in aggression and confidence and those attributes aren't neccessarily easily drilled into or coached into players.
If we're to become more attacking and expansive, our wing backs need to be a big attacking threat. Sadly during the last few weeks, Earl seems to automatically look backwards on most occasions.
I would still keep him around because at times he's done okay and he's never thrived out on loan, but we need to sign someone in that position in January. That's if there's room of course. The reality is that we should have brought someone new in in this position in the summer instead of extending Cunningham's deal.
If we're to become more attacking and expansive, our wing backs need to be a big attacking threat. Sadly during the last few weeks, Earl seems to automatically look backwards on most occasions.
I would still keep him around because at times he's done okay and he's never thrived out on loan, but we need to sign someone in that position in January. That's if there's room of course. The reality is that we should have brought someone new in in this position in the summer instead of extending Cunningham's deal.
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Josh Earl didn't make a forward pass all game, pretty much every move that came to him broke down. fail to see what he contributes. One thing is for sure...he's no wing back and never will be..............I would expect either as replacement or perhaps somebody else shoe horned into that role
As soon as he learns that he can now take more risks going forward again, he'll be back in top form. He was playing very well before FM sunk his negative football into him. Think he would benefit from having proper competition as well, he seems like the type of lad that would thrive with it. For once I actually agree wholeheartedly with @DSPP. If he doesn't make the LWB spot his own, I am more than confident that he will be able to slide back into LCB.
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Disagree completely. He played DJ in at the start of the game for a good chance. Was also heavily involved in that lovely move where Maguire was played in but took a dire touch and Browne had a left legged shot blocked. A lot of the time when Earl was on the ball he checked back and gave it to DJ who is much more likely to find a killer pass than Earl.
A lot of our good play and chances came down that left hand side.
I agree that he hasn't been at his best but I feel that his weaknesses can be coached and he will come good. I agree that he needs more competition too but a right wing back, center back and center forward are much more of a priority for me.
Josh is still a youngster in footballing terms, he has been playing in a team that is low in confidence.
I think that over the last year or more, which culminated in half the team looking to leave, things haven’t been as rosy in the PNE garden that they may have liked us to believe.
I look back to when they moved into Euxton and what should have been an exciting time players looked like they speaking through gritted teeth to a script when interviewed.
The likes of Browne and DJ even after getting a pay rise still looked like they weren’t all that happy.
I hope and perhaps believe that RL’s new broom could give a big lift to the squad as a whole and Josh could be a player that benefits greatly.
I guess that we will find out over the next month or two.
I think that over the last year or more, which culminated in half the team looking to leave, things haven’t been as rosy in the PNE garden that they may have liked us to believe.
I look back to when they moved into Euxton and what should have been an exciting time players looked like they speaking through gritted teeth to a script when interviewed.
The likes of Browne and DJ even after getting a pay rise still looked like they weren’t all that happy.
I hope and perhaps believe that RL’s new broom could give a big lift to the squad as a whole and Josh could be a player that benefits greatly.
I guess that we will find out over the next month or two.
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This is not the attacking leftcwinger Josh Earl I saw in the youth team. Why is he no longer prepared to attach his defender on the outside.
Last chance is to try him at left centre back.
Last chance is to try him at left centre back.