Skip to main content

Petulant Potts

Petulant Potts

Just dropping in the point that nobody here actually knows what Alex Neil is asking his no. 10 or specifically Potts to do tactically.

Burnley friendly : Andrew Hughes has possession and looks up to spot Potts in the ‘ inside left ‘ position... so Hughes pushes the ball forward , into space, anticipating that Potts would sprint forward on a diagonal run to the bye line. What happened ? Potts,stopped, never made the run and just turned and looked ‘ daggers’ at Hughes . Move broke down and we lost possession.

Playing in a team where we have wingers and wing backs high up to overlap - why would he need to make runs out wide? It's likely he's been told to operate in the 1/2 spaces, a common theme within the system we use.
 
It's one of the oddest opening posts to a thread I've ever seen, and that's saying something.

Potts was clearly one of our better players in the last 9 games but he did start really slowly last season, no doubt impacted by injury but he just didn't seem to get in shape. I'd have no problems him starting on Saturday.

And to use one example of good work by Browne in the number 10 spot to try and say that Potts is useless is just odd.
 
officiale4real said:
Really strange how people are obsessing over his looks and demeanour. What he does on the pitch matters !
Click to expand...
Cloughie used to think the two were related:
Quote Garry Parker:
“Soon after I’d signed for forest Mr Clough told me to go and get my hair cut. So off I went to the barber’s again. Then the next day he said it was still too long. Four times I got my hair cut over a few days!”
You can just imagine what Mr Clough would have said to Pottsy:
“Get that thing out of yer hair, get them socks down below yer knees, and start playing some football son, or I’ll transfer you to Blackpool”.
 
chaosphere said:
Just dropping in the point that nobody here actually knows what Alex Neil is asking his no. 10 or specifically Potts to do tactically.

Burnley friendly : Andrew Hughes has possession and looks up to spot Potts in the ‘ inside left ‘ position... so Hughes pushes the ball forward , into space, anticipating that Potts would sprint forward on a diagonal run to the bye line. What happened ? Potts,stopped, never made the run and just turned and looked ‘ daggers’ at Hughes . Move broke down and we lost possession.

Playing in a team where we have wingers and wing backs high up to overlap - why would he need to make runs out wide? It's likely he's been told to operate in the 1/2 spaces, a common theme within the system we use.
Click to expand...
As is 'run the channels'.... so "run" doesnt mean stop.
 
tcinders said:
Interestingly, Hugill and Robinson got a fair amount of stick but went on to earn the club serious money. Mcgeady probably the most talented player we've had recently lambasted by some on here. Players will always divide opinion but some of the criticism of our own players is baffling. Get stuck into the away player's not our own!
Click to expand...

Kilbane was taken out of the team by Moyes because of the unwarranted stick he was getting from some home fans - now what happened to him?
 
paddysr said:
Unfortunately for us if our players were more consistent they wouldn't be playing for us.
Click to expand...

Moyes used to say that every PNE player has flaws in his game, that is why they are playing at the level they are. The managers job, at this level, is to put together a team that does a collective job despite the individual flaws and gaps in skill.
 
Tino said:
It's one of the oddest opening posts to a thread I've ever seen, and that's saying something.

Potts was clearly one of our better players in the last 9 games but he did start really slowly last season, no doubt impacted by injury but he just didn't seem to get in shape. I'd have no problems him starting on Saturday.

And to use one example of good work by Browne in the number 10 spot to try and say that Potts is useless is just odd.
Click to expand...
Better players questionable and even that was in an appalling restart.
 
The Splash said:
Cloughie used to think the two were related:
Quote Garry Parker:
“Soon after I’d signed for forest Mr Clough told me to go and get my hair cut. So off I went to the barber’s again. Then the next day he said it was still too long. Four times I got my hair cut over a few days!”
You can just imagine what Mr Clough would have said to Pottsy:
“Get that thing out of yer hair, get them socks down below yer knees, and start playing some football son, or I’ll transfer you to Blackpool”.
Click to expand...
Doubt Gareth Ainsworth bothers too much with his team at Wycombe
 
First, an apology to DSPP, I missed one crucial word out in my introduction to those two similar passages of play ( first two friendlies). I wrote “ two different responses” and I should have wrote “ two different HOSTILE responses” . Why, well you are correct, there is no “law” in where a pass should be played.. The point , I made not very well, was that Potts showed two different ‘poor’ reactions to when something went wrong. The PNE players are well respected for their togetherness and teamwork so no player has the right to chastise another if things don’t work out ideally on the pitch . Considering Potts is trying to force his way into the reckoning, I didn’t think it is wise to react ,( twice ! ) like he did.
Suffolk White ***... thank you for correcting me on the build up to our Leeds ‘wonder goal’. I really should wear my glasses more often ! It was Barky who provided the final pass to Browne, but with respect, that is of no real consequence, as my point of using this match video was to highlight the swift movement of Browne. Checking again, Browne was in his own half BEFORE Pearson made the forward pass to Barky. Browne then sprinted forward to receive Barky’s pass and with his second touch, and level with the penalty spot, placed it wide of the keeper. A great counter- attacking goal and a brilliant example of one of our players in the No.10 role.
John PNE states that “ all friendlies are meaningless “
Well, just imagine Potts the had a real stormer of a game in that Everton fixture - that would have put selection pressure on AN - but he didn’t make the best of his chance - so his lacklustre performance probably means that he will not start against Swansea.
If we compare that situation to Sinclair.. who started another “ meaningless” friendly against Sheffield Utd on the previous day. I witnessed Sinclair playing as if it was a Cup Final ! He was really aggressive in both attack and defence and he made it very obvious that he was determined to fight for his place. A brilliant run, going through three tackles ended up with his shot hitting the post. I don’t think he started any of our last six matches season. After that performance, I fully expect him to be on our start sheet possibly for the first six matches. Sinclair obviously did not regard the Sheffield fixture as a “ meaningless friendly” ... and fully used it to impress his manager.
Why didn’t Potts do that ?
As I started this thread, it may be appropriate to present my opinion of Potts ... as requested by pneveg
PRO : When news emerged that we were to sign Potts, I immediately looked for any examples of his ability. The skill that impressed me the most was his shooting ability from long range. There was a video of him smashing a ball into the top corner from a free kick ( 25 yards )
Sure enough, this was seen in action when he hit a thunderous shot, in open play during our 3-1 demolition of Norwich ( Feb 2019 ). I note, at corners, he does not go into the penalty area and try to score with a header. Instead, he stands on the edge of the penalty area obviously hoping to score from a weak defensive clearance. Not making best use of his height, but maybe it’s been agreed that he takes that position.
CON:Mr Meeseeks regards Potts as “ an absolute engine player “ ... if that was so, he wouldn’t WALK as often as he does... after every time he is involved , he has a leisurely stroll back into his position. Someone did mention McKenna’s midfield ability, and my recollection of this player was that, at the minimum, he jogged everywhere - obviously increasing pace as required. He was an ‘ engine player “ !
It would be interesting to have the metres covered by every player during a game - to compare players in similar positions ( obviously CH’s would be restricted etc)
White Horse44 ** writes “Potts is more interested in his bloody appearance “... I fully agree !. watch how many times he tugs his shorts down during a game ( prob half a dozen each half ) ... no other player does that...( getting ready for the next photo shoot )
So for me ... midfield three of Pearson, Johnson, Browne... with substitutions of Ledson, Harrop, Potts, Gallagher and Bayliss ... in that order.
So it’s.. P..O..T..T..S
Potts
Only
The
Third
Substitute
 
Back
Top