| Are we weak at left back?? 13:52 - Jul 28 with 11237 views | Jules4367 |
Not a criticism, not a moan but an observation which I hope the team have seen.
Time and again for the last two seasons goals have come from teams getting round the back and Paal not being able (or willing) to commit to tackling and it is noticeable that the goal came from that same area yesterday.
Does Paal need support on our left? |  | | |  |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 13:55 - Jul 28 with 6370 views | colinallcars |
He's better higher up the pitch. |  | | |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 13:58 - Jul 28 with 6345 views | stevec |
Let’s sort the front four out first |  | | |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 17:02 - Jul 28 with 6159 views | davman |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 13:55 - Jul 28 by colinallcars |
He's better higher up the pitch. |
...but he's not.
I have never seen him beat his man and his crossing is crap.
Add into the mix that he cannot defend and it's not a great picture.
Great touch, good a keep ball, always available and, er, that's it.
Overrated as much as Chair is underrated. |  |
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| Are we weak at left back?? on 17:10 - Jul 28 with 6147 views | nix |
I'm not certain of this but my perception is that he's left more isolated than the right back on average. Paal seems to often have to be 1-1 with an attacker and sometimes 2-1. It's pretty rare that Chair, for example, only has to beat the other team's right back, there's often two players against him.
When Dunne is defending there is often Smyth helping to cover, also Andersen tends to be more on the right of the pitch than the left to mop up balls that fall loose. |  | | |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 17:15 - Jul 28 with 6120 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
I didn’t see him yesterday granted, but I’ve never thought Paal was a weakness. Was a candidate for POTY after the CBs for me last season.
LB not a priority for me. |  | | |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 17:44 - Jul 28 with 6042 views | mart_Goblin |
Paal was targeted by teams last season regularly as players with the run on him beat him
In the air almost every time.
Paal is ok but nothing more. I think we can improve that position as Larkeche isn’t the answer either |  | | |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 17:48 - Jul 28 with 6025 views | Hastings_Hoops |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 17:02 - Jul 28 by davman |
...but he's not.
I have never seen him beat his man and his crossing is crap.
Add into the mix that he cannot defend and it's not a great picture.
Great touch, good a keep ball, always available and, er, that's it.
Overrated as much as Chair is underrated. |
Was top scorer for a long period last year and always gets a high score on gaffr (championship fantasy football). [Post edited 28 Jul 17:49]
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| Are we weak at left back?? on 18:24 - Jul 28 with 5934 views | essextaxiboy |
Another overeaction after a pre season friendly .
Last week it was Santos in one of his first games against a Prem side
Now its Kenny Paal who made a single mistake that cost us a vital win in a pre season friendly .
The guy who came here leaving a pregnant partner on the word of Beale and then played all through the turmoil and angst that came after scoring a few vital goals along the way .
Maybe you would like Nico back ? |  | | |
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| Are we weak at left back?? on 18:34 - Jul 28 with 5919 views | LazyFan |
Paal is a very talented player, I don't agree he's not good in the air, I think he is.
His challenge is that he is not quick enough for the ever faster Championship, and as a result, he gets beaten for pace by players who skill-wise alone would never beat him.
For example, if Smyth were up against him, he would beat Paal many times just on pace alone. Teams are now wise to this and he gets targeted a lot now. Chair, in the latter third of the season, actually did run back and help out a lot, which really helped Paal out.
We also have Fox, who can play that position and did well in it when required. Ideally, we need a new LB who is pacy and a decent crosser (as that's the Champ for you), but we have more significant priorities, which the manager has now made public.
We need more forwards. As I guess read Marti, we need a first-team RW to replace Willock (as Smyth is not a first-teamer and can also play LW as backup if needed). And, of course, we need a number 9 as Frey is not up to it (I would put Kohli ahead of him now as he can play there too), and Dykes is injured and also not up to it. Possibly also a creative player like Andersen who cannot last a full 90, let alone 3 games per week.
So, three players ahead of a LB. And then it seems Varane as DMC is incoming so, that makes 4. Unless, of course, we flog Paal to Watford, which we should do. And then go out and get a real young quick replacement. I doubt we will get an LB without selling Paal first, so that's that, then. |  |
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| Are we weak at left back?? on 20:18 - Jul 28 with 5760 views | aston_hoop |
Ziyad Larkeche is about to join Dundee on loan so we are certainly going to be a little bit weaker at least |  |
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| Are we weak at left back?? on 20:34 - Jul 28 with 5707 views | Logman |
Are we going to need to move another centre back to full back ? JCS ?
(That's not as daft as it sounds) | | | |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 21:12 - Jul 28 with 5581 views | stainrods_elbow |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 20:18 - Jul 28 by aston_hoop |
Ziyad Larkeche is about to join Dundee on loan so we are certainly going to be a little bit weaker at least |
Makes little sense to me, as the squad is already too light. |  |
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| Are we weak at left back?? (n/t) on 21:22 - Jul 28 with 5541 views | Myke |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 21:12 - Jul 28 by stainrods_elbow |
Makes little sense to me, as the squad is already too light. |
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| Are we weak at left back?? on 21:33 - Jul 28 with 5523 views | CateLeBonR |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 17:02 - Jul 28 by davman |
...but he's not.
I have never seen him beat his man and his crossing is crap.
Add into the mix that he cannot defend and it's not a great picture.
Great touch, good a keep ball, always available and, er, that's it.
Overrated as much as Chair is underrated. |
"Overrated as much as Chair is underrated"
I think they're both underrated. |  | | |
| Are we weak at left back?? (n/t) on 21:34 - Jul 28 with 5515 views | Myke |
| Are we weak at left back?? (n/t) on 21:22 - Jul 28 by Myke |
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I am less concerned about Paal's ability than the fact that he is in the final year of his contract and either needs to sign an extension or be sold before we lose him for nothing. He is not the quickest but is reliable in every other way and with our new found solidity in the middle, crosses into the box are not the danger they used to be (Dunne is a huge part of that) I would be happy for Paal to play every game next season IF he signs an extension
With regard to Lakeche if he is going on loan that is not a bad plan as he is very inexperienced and we have Fox to cover if necessary. Also frees up another few quid
But we need the Paal situation resolved ASAP. | | | |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 21:52 - Jul 28 with 5467 views | LazyFan |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 21:12 - Jul 28 by stainrods_elbow |
Makes little sense to me, as the squad is already too light. |
If they loan him out, it's usually to free up wages and bring in someone who they feel is better suited for the same position.
Like we did with Dozy for Hayden. I thought we should have given Larks more starts as he looked okay to me, but others disagree and maybe they know better as I have not watched him that closely. Also, Marti clearly thinks there is no point so, hence the loan.
Marti is, in one way, quite ruthless; in another, he gives players such as LLyod and Tuck chances. And then, if they cannot, loan them out so they can at least get minutes elsewhere.
He even did it with Richards.
I quite like this approach, you know, playing players to find out if they could get in the team, maybe in a diff position such as he did with Dunne and Fox last season.
It's a shocking concept, I know. | |
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| Are we weak at left back?? on 22:16 - Jul 28 with 5409 views | wombat |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 13:55 - Jul 28 by colinallcars |
He's better higher up the pitch. |
Presume you wasn’t at millwall away ? That little experiment of paal playing midfield failed miserably |  |
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| Are we weak at left back?? on 23:15 - Jul 28 with 5282 views | numptydumpty |
I think Larkeche could improve but rumours of a loan.
Paal - is for me inconsistent - but weak in defence at times.
Strange both are rumoured for moves. |  |
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| Are we weak at left back?? on 09:47 - Jul 29 with 5069 views | Hooparoo |
Surprised that Larkeche is going out on loan. We don’t have many natural lefties and I was hoping to see more of him this season |  |
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| Are we weak at left back?? on 09:50 - Jul 29 with 5038 views | TheChef |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 09:47 - Jul 29 by Hooparoo |
Surprised that Larkeche is going out on loan. We don’t have many natural lefties and I was hoping to see more of him this season |
Paal has been very good for us, I mean he played virtually every game last season and I think rarely put a foot wrong.
For sure though he does lack support/competition, especially if Larkeche is going out on loan. But if that is happening that would suggest we have someone else lined up to come in (you would hope...). |  |
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| Are we weak at left back?? on 10:35 - Jul 29 with 4929 views | thehat |
Not a huge fan of Paal - He certainly gets targeted by opposition teams with diagonals.
My biggest criticism of him is he hardly ever manages to stop crosses. | | | |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 11:23 - Jul 29 with 4846 views | francisbowles |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 21:52 - Jul 28 by LazyFan |
If they loan him out, it's usually to free up wages and bring in someone who they feel is better suited for the same position.
Like we did with Dozy for Hayden. I thought we should have given Larks more starts as he looked okay to me, but others disagree and maybe they know better as I have not watched him that closely. Also, Marti clearly thinks there is no point so, hence the loan.
Marti is, in one way, quite ruthless; in another, he gives players such as LLyod and Tuck chances. And then, if they cannot, loan them out so they can at least get minutes elsewhere.
He even did it with Richards.
I quite like this approach, you know, playing players to find out if they could get in the team, maybe in a diff position such as he did with Dunne and Fox last season.
It's a shocking concept, I know. |
Larkeche was given a start in the behind closed doors friendly last week. If this rumour is true, it suggests Marti didn't like what he saw.
For me, Larkeche is exciting as an impact sub going forward but has been poor defensively.
As for Pal. He was very good for us for most of last season but he has been very poor so far, in pre season.
Either way one left back may be required. | | | |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 12:06 - Jul 29 with 4767 views | kernowhoop |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 21:12 - Jul 28 by stainrods_elbow |
Makes little sense to me, as the squad is already too light. |
The club must know best, but this move disappoints me. I saw him as part of the squad - versatile and an under-developed talent. I hope that he comes back better for the Dundee experience. | | | |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 21:40 - Jul 29 with 4567 views | Jules4367 |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 18:24 - Jul 28 by essextaxiboy |
Another overeaction after a pre season friendly .
Last week it was Santos in one of his first games against a Prem side
Now its Kenny Paal who made a single mistake that cost us a vital win in a pre season friendly .
The guy who came here leaving a pregnant partner on the word of Beale and then played all through the turmoil and angst that came after scoring a few vital goals along the way .
Maybe you would like Nico back ? |
With respect -
No- not an over reaction based on pre-season as the OP clearly states!
It was a question and at least some if the replies concur that there IS a weakness there, if only lack of support/cover!
Let’s see how it pans out and whether teams again focus on a right sided overlap and crossing attack - as they have for two seasons!
Time will tell and, as both Marti and his post match interviewer said- better to react to things seen in friendlies than wait till the season and start losing points! | | | |
| Are we weak at left back?? on 22:08 - Jul 29 with 4517 views | gazza1 |
Paal is the least of our worries, we need a striker and, perhaps, another CM player.
As for Larkeche, send him out and sell him if we can - not good enough. | | | |
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