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Sinclair Crosses

Sinclair Crosses

drawingpin

drawingpin

Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Messages
318
Location
New Jersey
Something has been bothering me since the game on Friday. Frank Sinclair seemed to get too much time to cross the ball on quite a few occasions. At first I joined the anti Hill brigade, but then I started to wonder. What got me wondering was where he he was crossing from. The crosses were coming from deeper areas. This made me wonder where was Pugh?

I have started to think beyond the last game. Last season Hill was pretty good. For most of this time he Davidson in front of him. A player that is more likely to be in the right place defensively. This would give him more license to attack on the over lap.

This season we have Pugh. I think he is decent crosser of the ball. He is however IMHO weak defensively. If you watch him, he stands too far back giving the full back too much time. This means Hill has to stay with his man as the ball always comes down that way. This does put him in a good position to intercept the ball when the ball comes to the full back but he does not put many challenges in.

This means the full back has time cross from deep. It also means Hill is pegged back. It under mines his confidence in the guy in front of him and probably under mines his own confidence.

I'm not sure everybody will agree but I had just had to get it out there.
 
Re: Sinclair Crosses

I have to admit I can see where you are coming from , Hill last season was IMO a decent performer week in week out , this season he has looked at times out of his depth at this level , Davidson without question is better defensively than Pugh and Hill and Davidson seem to have a better understanding and I agree that Pugh is a decent 5-10 yard play maker and can provide a decent cross but from a defensive point of view its not his strongest area and does leave Hill a little exposed at times

However Hill rarely gets a decent tackle in and his heading is frankly a joke, if a ball comes into the box he looks to back in at best and whilst I accept he's not the tallest he bottles most headers and also his distribution this season has been well below par , for me he either needs to be rested or when fully fit drop Pugh and bring Callum back into the side , it to me is our only really weak link so far this season ( I do accept Grezza got a toasting on Friday as well )
 
Re: Sinclair Crosses

You have a point regarding his heading. You can see when the ball is coming towards him he looks like a rabbit staring into the head lights of a car! May be instead of dropping Pugh we should drop Hill. I think Davidson is a better full back than Hill and maybe the exposure has brought out weaknesses in Hill's game that Davidson used to cover for. I think Davidson would be able to handle the space that Pugh leaves better.
 
Re: Sinclair Crosses

Really ? Given the size of him, he's not the worst in the air.

Looking ahead to Saturday though, Carlos Edwards will be a significant threat. I've seen him twice this season and he's in good form. Loves to get to the by-line and then continue into the box if he can. I'm not one for worrying about the other side too much, but stop Edwards and you stop Luton.
 
Re: Sinclair Crosses

drawingpin said:
h
This season we have Pugh. I think he is decent crosser of the ball. He is however IMHO weak defensively. If you watch him, he stands too far back giving the full back too much time. This means Hill has to stay with his man as the ball always comes down that way. This does put him in a good position to intercept the ball when the ball comes to the full back but he does not put many challenges in.
Click to expand...

Pugh is not playing Wide-left/Winger he is playina a tucked in left midfield role as per simpsons game plan. That puts more defensive onus on the full back.
 
Re: Sinclair Crosses

Maybe the tactics need to change then. Whoever is playing bad or where ever they are playing, the crosses from Sinclair still came in from deep areas. They were whipped across the box and very difficult to defend. Ask Sledge.
 
Re: Sinclair Crosses

I think what is coming out of this is that Callum needs to come into the side as soon as he is fit enough to start - whether in place of Hill or Pugh.

I don't really accept the argument that Pugh is playing left-midfield rather than left wing. Thats is essentially where Callum has played when he's was used in left midfield, and whatever you define the position as it is still the widest midfielder's responsibility to help out the full-back on his side of the pitch. I accept that it's less easy to do that when playing narrower than an orthodox 4-4-2 it is still his job.
 
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