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His relationship with Mark Allen will be important too. Man City Academy Director at the same time he was in it.
Where he plays will probably be fluid depending upon fitness/formation. If we assume that Grimes will hold onto the DM role, then that leaves him competing with Downes, Smith, Walsh, Paterson and maybe even Dan Williams for two slots.
That’s the problem with the window though.
We’ve an unbalanced squad now, as we failed to get rid of Grimes to free up budget for creativity and/ or pace.
When we open our wardrobe we have twenty pairs of trousers and two tops.
Better hope one of the tops doesn’t get a tear in it…
We’ve an unbalanced squad now, as we failed to get rid of Grimes to free up budget for creativity and/ or pace.
When we open our wardrobe we have twenty pairs of trousers and two tops.
Better hope one of the tops doesn’t get a tear in it…
We needed a 10 and a left-sided centre half, and probably an upgrade at left wing back.
We got a right-sided centre half (Cabango, Cooper, Naughton), a wide striker like one we just sold because he supposedly doesn't fit in the system, and another 8 in midfield (Fulton, Smith, Walsh, Williams).
And lost a wingback who would have allowed Laird to move to the left (where he had played for Martin with MK Dons at times).
We needed a 10 and a left-sided centre half, and probably an upgrade at left wing back.
We got a right-sided centre half (Cabango, Cooper, Naughton), a wide striker like one we just sold because he supposedly doesn't fit in the system, and another 8 in midfield (Fulton, Smith, Walsh, Williams).
And lost a wingback who would have allowed Laird to move to the left (where he had played for Martin with MK Dons at times).
Couldn’t agree more.
It’s baffling.
We’ve also left ourselves completely unable to change shape if needed (a plan B) as almost all our players are exactly the same.
I’d also say we needed another number 9. Obafemi has taken the number but not sure he’s a number 9. No idea whether he could be.
If we are playing two up top and Piroe for example gets injured for any time what on earth are we going to do?
Edited to add: the issue at number 8 is why I can only assume the plan is to play Ntcham at 10. He did in his early days at Genoa.
We’ve also left ourselves completely unable to change shape if needed (a plan B) as almost all our players are exactly the same.
I’d also say we needed another number 9. Obafemi has taken the number but not sure he’s a number 9. No idea whether he could be.
If we are playing two up top and Piroe for example gets injured for any time what on earth are we going to do?
Edited to add: the issue at number 8 is why I can only assume the plan is to play Ntcham at 10. He did in his early days at Genoa.
[Post edited 1 Sep 2021 15:34]
Maybe the cup final team is a front 5 of
Piroe
Obafemi Paterson Laird
Ntcham
With Grimes and Downes in front of the back three. Based mainly on the assumptions Martin will start his own signings when he can and that if Obafemi was a club signing, he was at least happy to trade him for Lowe.
If not, it’s Piroe behind Obafemi or Ntcham behind either of them. I don’t know where that would leave us on the left though.
With Grimes and Downes in front of the back three. Based mainly on the assumptions Martin will start his own signings when he can and that if Obafemi was a club signing, he was at least happy to trade him for Lowe.
If not, it’s Piroe behind Obafemi or Ntcham behind either of them. I don’t know where that would leave us on the left though.
Would have to be the FA cup final, Obafemi's Cup tied, he played for Southampton against Newport.
With Grimes and Downes in front of the back three. Based mainly on the assumptions Martin will start his own signings when he can and that if Obafemi was a club signing, he was at least happy to trade him for Lowe.
If not, it’s Piroe behind Obafemi or Ntcham behind either of them. I don’t know where that would leave us on the left though.
They aren’t wingbacks though are they? They are level with the striker a lot of the time and have negligible defensive responsibility.
All the defending seems to come from the back three and two in front of them.
Unfortunately that’s a problem though. As the defending to date is shambolic and we are massively exposed out wide. When the centre backs move out to cover we are wide open in the middle as the midfield isn’t right.
It’s an interesting formation. I don’t like it btw. But that’s my opinion. I think by definition you swap a midfielder for a centre back and most don’t have the same ball playing ability and you also end up with width in the wrong place. It gives the holding midfielder too few options other than through the middle or a long ball out to the wings which is invariably under or over hit. The reason it works at the top level is the pace of the wing back / wings to get up and down all game and also the ability of the centre backs and central midfield to thread the ball and to find gaps and get between the lines. With lesser players I prefer a 451. The full backs have always two options - into the holding midfielder or up the flanks in front of them. Also the holding midfielder has 3 positive options - through the middle, out to the side behind or out to the side in front. The pass back t9 centre backs is only a last resort.
Unfortunately that’s a problem though. As the defending to date is shambolic and we are massively exposed out wide. When the centre backs move out to cover we are wide open in the middle as the midfield isn’t right.
It’s an interesting formation. I don’t like it btw. But that’s my opinion. I think by definition you swap a midfielder for a centre back and most don’t have the same ball playing ability and you also end up with width in the wrong place. It gives the holding midfielder too few options other than through the middle or a long ball out to the wings which is invariably under or over hit. The reason it works at the top level is the pace of the wing back / wings to get up and down all game and also the ability of the centre backs and central midfield to thread the ball and to find gaps and get between the lines. With lesser players I prefer a 451. The full backs have always two options - into the holding midfielder or up the flanks in front of them. Also the holding midfielder has 3 positive options - through the middle, out to the side behind or out to the side in front. The pass back t9 centre backs is only a last resort.
or maybe a 4-3-2-1 What you are describing Lisa is how we played under Martinez , then Brendan and to a degree Luadrup though he relied on Mich bursting through the middle
He was a beast for Celtic, don't know what's happened to him since though.
A touch of the Jonjo Shelvey's about him if you ask me from the clips. (formerly of this parish) . Same valuations when on song. Celtic turned down 15m euros from Porto only a couple of years ago.
Unfortunately that’s a problem though. As the defending to date is shambolic and we are massively exposed out wide. When the centre backs move out to cover we are wide open in the middle as the midfield isn’t right.
It’s an interesting formation. I don’t like it btw. But that’s my opinion. I think by definition you swap a midfielder for a centre back and most don’t have the same ball playing ability and you also end up with width in the wrong place. It gives the holding midfielder too few options other than through the middle or a long ball out to the wings which is invariably under or over hit. The reason it works at the top level is the pace of the wing back / wings to get up and down all game and also the ability of the centre backs and central midfield to thread the ball and to find gaps and get between the lines. With lesser players I prefer a 451. The full backs have always two options - into the holding midfielder or up the flanks in front of them. Also the holding midfielder has 3 positive options - through the middle, out to the side behind or out to the side in front. The pass back t9 centre backs is only a last resort.
Fully agree with that. I don’t like it either. If we are going to persevere with it though, I don’t see the issue in playing a Lowe type striker out wide. If we’re going to play a less extravagant system, then I guess Bidwell is the best option.
I can see how it should work, but you need at least one if not two capable holding midfielders and more options for them from the wide players. With the Britton and Allen of 10 years ago, it could be very effective.
As it stands, we can’t move the ball on from there because they are under pressure and their only real options are each other or to go back. Assuming I’ve understood how it’s supposed to work, the back three and keeper should only really have to play short triangles around attackers until they get the ball to a holding midfielder. From there it should go forward. It’s not at the moment and I believe that’s our biggest problem.
Obviously the lack of possession out wide and in the final third are issues too, but they stem from that.
A touch of the Jonjo Shelvey's about him if you ask me from the clips. (formerly of this parish) . Same valuations when on song. Celtic turned down 15m euros from Porto only a couple of years ago.
I’d agree with that. Definitely no Fer/Agustien laid back type. If we can get him fired up like that, collecting the ball off Downes and either clipping the long pass or running through - in this division he’ll be a big hit. Very impressive clip indeed - another player whose type we’ve desperately needed for a long time. Proof of the pudding is when he gets that white shirt on and gets to work for us
Each time I go to Bedd - au........................
I’d agree with that. Definitely no Fer/Agustien laid back type. If we can get him fired up like that, collecting the ball off Downes and either clipping the long pass or running through - in this division he’ll be a big hit. Very impressive clip indeed - another player whose type we’ve desperately needed for a long time. Proof of the pudding is when he gets that white shirt on and gets to work for us
I agree. It’s easy to get swayed by highlight videos, but I definitely bought into that one. Composure as well as power. Got a finish on him and some lovely long passes.
Unfortunately that’s a problem though. As the defending to date is shambolic and we are massively exposed out wide. When the centre backs move out to cover we are wide open in the middle as the midfield isn’t right.
It’s an interesting formation. I don’t like it btw. But that’s my opinion. I think by definition you swap a midfielder for a centre back and most don’t have the same ball playing ability and you also end up with width in the wrong place. It gives the holding midfielder too few options other than through the middle or a long ball out to the wings which is invariably under or over hit. The reason it works at the top level is the pace of the wing back / wings to get up and down all game and also the ability of the centre backs and central midfield to thread the ball and to find gaps and get between the lines. With lesser players I prefer a 451. The full backs have always two options - into the holding midfielder or up the flanks in front of them. Also the holding midfielder has 3 positive options - through the middle, out to the side behind or out to the side in front. The pass back t9 centre backs is only a last resort.
It’s the formation he used at MK Dons.
One thing I noticed with them was that the holding midfielders picked up a heck of a lot of bookings. On fans forums it was suggested that they often took one for the team after the ball had been given away in a dangerous area with the centre backs out of position.
As bad as some have thought our window has been - in just three or 4 games Piroe has shown real accuracy and intent on front of goal. Ntcham seems to be similarly aggressive player and if Obafemi is the same we will have a lot more shots on goal this season. Such a shame Downes got Covid, he would have been up to speed and firing for us now.
Each time I go to Bedd - au........................
One thing I noticed with them was that the holding midfielders picked up a heck of a lot of bookings. On fans forums it was suggested that they often took one for the team after the ball had been given away in a dangerous area with the centre backs out of position.
No major issue with that. Leon used to do it a lot when we had men forward and teams broke.
Looks much more of a player than Fer did. Hope he can replicate this form for us - if he does he’ll feed Piroe and Obafemi consistently as well as get a good few himself.
Each time I go to Bedd - au........................
Looks much more of a player than Fer did. Hope he can replicate this form for us - if he does he’ll feed Piroe and Obafemi consistently as well as get a good few himself.
Looks that way, although he probably won't get that much room in the Championship that often, clever player, I've seen him play for Celtic on the Tele and he's always impressed me, hope that continues, hopefully he'll get that form back, think it'll take him a while though.
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