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Don't get me wrong, I DO actually like Ken Paal - but only in his attacking format.
I have griped and moaned (as many will know and probably will comment) for the last two seasons and despair at his defending!
How many times are we going to see Paal beaten and a cross come in from close quarters or the goal line to the centre of the box leading to a simple tap in. Time and time again the ball goes to our right and 15 seconds later they score a goal.
(This is how sensitised to this weakness I am, I couldn't watch the match yesterday but was keeping track and asked someone who was at the ground whether any of the first two were balls played past Paal and crossed in to the centre and sure enough one was! I'm not psychic, so how did I know that this WOULD be the case? - and if I know this, other teams know this, but clearly Ken doesn't get it!
Surely they analyse and break down who should have done what for each goal and learn from things don't they? In any job, you WILL make mistakes but the key is to learn from them and not keeping doing more of the same?
Teams playing us probably rub their hands with goal inspired glee when they see Paal on the play sheet as a defender.🤔🤬.
We were unlucky with the third but their second, which put us under pressure was, in my opinion, due to Paal's continued lack of awareness and reaction.
But hey, I am probably once again talking rubbish and someone will advise me as such and cite that he does an outstanding job in defence, and clears balls off the line etc.
I’m not a particular fan of Paal. I think he’s overrated by many. He doesn’t stop crosses enough and is often caught too high and central. He’s not awful. He’s 5/10 - 6/10 most weeks and rarely higher.
More importantly though, my personal view is that he is going through the motions this season and coasting through games, not really concentrating, and not really playing with the required intensity. Having been shipped about, and seemingly not getting a new contract, I think he’s playing like a player who a) doesn’t really care where the club ends up next season, and b) doesn’t want to get injured.
I’m not a particular fan of Paal. I think he’s overrated by many. He doesn’t stop crosses enough and is often caught too high and central. He’s not awful. He’s 5/10 - 6/10 most weeks and rarely higher.
More importantly though, my personal view is that he is going through the motions this season and coasting through games, not really concentrating, and not really playing with the required intensity. Having been shipped about, and seemingly not getting a new contract, I think he’s playing like a player who a) doesn’t really care where the club ends up next season, and b) doesn’t want to get injured.
The club supposedly tried to move him on in the summer.
Most people can relate to when an employer just doesn't rate you, and in general, we would all be looking elsewhere, so in some senses, it's understandable he has not performed as well this season.
Our left side is poor in attack without Paal, like against Bristol we just gave away the ball every time it ended up there. With no creativity on the left side it was all up to our right side…Much better at home to Preston with Paal on the left able to combine with Saiko/ Chair, and Dunne on the receiving end. At our budget we struggle to get a better LB than Paal, when not ill as he apparantly was last game. Paal has been very loyal and professional since lured in by Snake… split opinions as always by fans, we even have some that wouldn’t play Chair….
In fairness Gaz, Cifuentes is also on the side of those posters as he has had an issue with Paal from day one and was fully behind getting him gone in the summer.
I cant comment (perhaps you have inside info but I do not on that subject) on what MC wants to do with him but as I have said.....he picks him every time when he is fit - if he did not rate him or rated others more highly I would not expect MC to be doing that.
I’m not a particular fan of Paal. I think he’s overrated by many. He doesn’t stop crosses enough and is often caught too high and central. He’s not awful. He’s 5/10 - 6/10 most weeks and rarely higher.
More importantly though, my personal view is that he is going through the motions this season and coasting through games, not really concentrating, and not really playing with the required intensity. Having been shipped about, and seemingly not getting a new contract, I think he’s playing like a player who a) doesn’t really care where the club ends up next season, and b) doesn’t want to get injured.
Some players look as though they are going through the motions & not got intensity because it is their style of play......I do not see it that way. He is the best we got and better than many LB type players I see in the Championship......and as for somebody saying he was targeted at Norwich seems nonsense too unless it was to stop him getting forward. He played well at Norwich!!! As for not being wide enough and too tight in the middle, perhaps that is what MC has asked him & the RB to do because both Smyth and Saiko pick up wide defenders/attackers. I thought on Saturday he stopped a lot of crosses
Some players look as though they are going through the motions & not got intensity because it is their style of play......I do not see it that way. He is the best we got and better than many LB type players I see in the Championship......and as for somebody saying he was targeted at Norwich seems nonsense too unless it was to stop him getting forward. He played well at Norwich!!! As for not being wide enough and too tight in the middle, perhaps that is what MC has asked him & the RB to do because both Smyth and Saiko pick up wide defenders/attackers. I thought on Saturday he stopped a lot of crosses
He might be the best we have, Gazza, but I don’t think he’s good enough to be anything other than. Bottom 1/3rd Champ player. A braver, bolder full back who works harder to get back into shape when we turn the ball over at left back would improve us significantly. Currently Dunne is a far superior full back for us both in defence and in adding to our attacks.
He might be the best we have, Gazza, but I don’t think he’s good enough to be anything other than. Bottom 1/3rd Champ player. A braver, bolder full back who works harder to get back into shape when we turn the ball over at left back would improve us significantly. Currently Dunne is a far superior full back for us both in defence and in adding to our attacks.
Agree. Most of our attacking threat comes down the right. Paul Smyth is in a good bit of form lately but he's also very well supported by Dunne who regularly gets forward to join in with attacks. Paal is nowhere near Dunne's level at the moment. He was decent when he first arrived but he's only in the team this year due to the total lack of any quality back up. We probably need two new left backs going in to next season. Would be nice if one of them could come from the development squad.
Just been down SAR and can confirm there's a line of top notch left backs waiting at the director's entrance for the transfer window to open, along with what looks like several 20 a season strikers.
And they've all got shovels in hand to help us dig down so we can expand LR's capacity?
The legend, the maverick, the genius, the man that is “one touch Willow” should NOT be mentioned on this thread. He is in a different universe to most left backs you could mention here even should their surname be Carlos
Enough already
Kennef is alright He’s probably run his race here; won’t be getting any cats named after him (RIP my little friend) but he’s done good for this club
Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal
It is a real shame that many posters do not see the positives & good play of Paal. He was one of our better players at Norwich, didn't do much wrong apart from a late bad pass. Close to MOM for me but Nardi & Field were ahead of him because they were 'proper' on the day.
As I said in the OP , it is NOT in attack that I have a problem with him, but in defence and he is (we are) targeted down our left flank and goal line time and again! And, time and again, he allows the attacker to get a cross in to the centre of our box or to the 6 yard line! THAT is what I don't like!
Watch the extended highlights on YouTube and there is a 10 second or so instance which so clearly shows what we keep doing! I've commented on the video but as per my Alan Hanson-esque crap analysis belwo the video, just watch the sequence of play. Pause at 1.48, assess what is going to happen and then play from 1.48 to 2.00. See if you can see the issue and Paal's part in it!
Another very good performance from Paal today......I will not go into detail but I suggest that posters who think he is poor or average have a look at the match replays today. He has a quality left foot, blocked crosses, worked hard, never hid and was a good team players for all today, he was good v Norwich but better today.
Another very good performance from Paal today......I will not go into detail but I suggest that posters who think he is poor or average have a look at the match replays today. He has a quality left foot, blocked crosses, worked hard, never hid and was a good team players for all today, he was good v Norwich but better today.
No complaints from me today. Thought he had his best game for a good long while. Stronger in the tackle, linked up pretty well with Chair. More of that for the rest of the season please Kenny.
He might be the best we have, Gazza, but I don’t think he’s good enough to be anything other than. Bottom 1/3rd Champ player. A braver, bolder full back who works harder to get back into shape when we turn the ball over at left back would improve us significantly. Currently Dunne is a far superior full back for us both in defence and in adding to our attacks.
He is better than a bottom Championship player Hunter, far better. He has been good/very good last two performances.
Dunne is a big player for us without question but he cannot do the passes, crosses and football stuff like Paal can....Paal is a far better footballer and has the best left foot in the club.
Depending on what contract he wants, we would be 'mugs' to let him go unless we have better lined up.
As I said in the OP , it is NOT in attack that I have a problem with him, but in defence and he is (we are) targeted down our left flank and goal line time and again! And, time and again, he allows the attacker to get a cross in to the centre of our box or to the 6 yard line! THAT is what I don't like!
Watch the extended highlights on YouTube and there is a 10 second or so instance which so clearly shows what we keep doing! I've commented on the video but as per my Alan Hanson-esque crap analysis belwo the video, just watch the sequence of play. Pause at 1.48, assess what is going to happen and then play from 1.48 to 2.00. See if you can see the issue and Paal's part in it!
Agree. Most of our attacking threat comes down the right. Paul Smyth is in a good bit of form lately but he's also very well supported by Dunne who regularly gets forward to join in with attacks. Paal is nowhere near Dunne's level at the moment. He was decent when he first arrived but he's only in the team this year due to the total lack of any quality back up. We probably need two new left backs going in to next season. Would be nice if one of them could come from the development squad.
Yes, a lot of our attacks are down the right but that is primarily because of Smyth being there with his pace and Chair has not been around for much of the season although Saiko has given us an attacking threat down the right......not sure it is Dunne that gives us that attacking threat.
Another very good performance from Paal today......I will not go into detail but I suggest that posters who think he is poor or average have a look at the match replays today. He has a quality left foot, blocked crosses, worked hard, never hid and was a good team players for all today, he was good v Norwich but better today.
Sorry, but he is still a weak link for us. Both Chair and Saito helped him out massively today, he is so often out of position, far to close to Fox today for several of the Watford attacks leaving so much space for Baah to run at, also not closing players down before the cross comes in. A few people saying he’s the best LB we have, he is, but we do need to move him on and get someone in.
Yes, a lot of our attacks are down the right but that is primarily because of Smyth being there with his pace and Chair has not been around for much of the season although Saiko has given us an attacking threat down the right......not sure it is Dunne that gives us that attacking threat.
For me it's the desire that Dunne shows to get forward and impact the game. It doesn't always work but he never stops showing. Paal was good today and okay against Norwich. Today he seemed more up for it and was noticeably stronger in the tackle. If his heart is back in it then we might get him back to his best and maybe he will earn/be offered a new contract.
Sorry, but he is still a weak link for us. Both Chair and Saito helped him out massively today, he is so often out of position, far to close to Fox today for several of the Watford attacks leaving so much space for Baah to run at, also not closing players down before the cross comes in. A few people saying he’s the best LB we have, he is, but we do need to move him on and get someone in.
It is Chair & Saiko job to support the full backs, just like Smyth does for the RB and does it generally better than on the left. Paal's positioning was excellent today throughout, he also cut out many crosse that you are complaining about, it isn't realistic to expect him to stop all of the crosses - did you go the the match and were you watching??
Did you see his excellent weighted pass for the first goal?? Did you see his excellent left foot passes he hit down the line??, did you see the challenges he put in both on the ground and in the air?, I presume not otherwise you would not be complaining about how he played today!!!!. If you are coming all the way from Oxford and you are not seeing these things it seems to me as being quite bazzar.
It is Chair & Saiko job to support the full backs, just like Smyth does for the RB and does it generally better than on the left. Paal's positioning was excellent today throughout, he also cut out many crosse that you are complaining about, it isn't realistic to expect him to stop all of the crosses - did you go the the match and were you watching??
Did you see his excellent weighted pass for the first goal?? Did you see his excellent left foot passes he hit down the line??, did you see the challenges he put in both on the ground and in the air?, I presume not otherwise you would not be complaining about how he played today!!!!. If you are coming all the way from Oxford and you are not seeing these things it seems to me as being quite bazzar.
[Post edited 1 Jan 18:06]
I disagree, Gaz. Sorry. Doesn’t stop crosses, often out of position and the definition of “not brave” on the ball…always playing back inside or lumping it up hopefully. Stood way too far off for the deflected goal. Get tighter and it doesn’t go in, it gets blocked.
I disagree, Gaz. Sorry. Doesn’t stop crosses, often out of position and the definition of “not brave” on the ball…always playing back inside or lumping it up hopefully. Stood way too far off for the deflected goal. Get tighter and it doesn’t go in, it gets blocked.
Opinions Hunter, we have different opinions....I like him, you don't.
I would say though that you are being harsh on the man, he may be told/expected to play narrow as I said earlier. As for the Watford goal - I though Ashby was the player out of position and the guy had yards of space on out right which was left by Ashby, the players then had to regroup and go narrow for safety and when it did get played to the scorer, Paal shut him down and deflected it into the net. Harsh to lay any blame on Paal.
Opinions Hunter, we have different opinions....I like him, you don't.
I would say though that you are being harsh on the man, he may be told/expected to play narrow as I said earlier. As for the Watford goal - I though Ashby was the player out of position and the guy had yards of space on out right which was left by Ashby, the players then had to regroup and go narrow for safety and when it did get played to the scorer, Paal shut him down and deflected it into the net. Harsh to lay any blame on Paal.
Respectfully Gaz, if you think their goal was Ashby’s fault I’d wager you don’t know much about football…
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