| Left Back 06:37 - Feb 2 with 2603 views | Gloucs_R |
Hmmmmm...... Thought that would be a priority for Jan.
So what now?
Jordy comes in and Barbet moves over, still relying on Cameron at the back. Who now looks way past his best.
Niko, who I think needs a full year out on loan at a league 1 team. I know some of you disagree but I can't see a championship left back there at the moment.
Wallace..... Glue factory awaits.
Willock?
Does Warbs go back to 4 at the back? Our results have been much better either the 532/352 system.
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| Left Back on 08:02 - Feb 2 with 2421 views | nix |
I think no one else good enough was available/wanted to come to us at the right price and yet we beat a top half (six) team for the first time this season. Also only four other teams have got a better record over the last five matches (a few are the same) so they're feeling a bit more confident in the squad.
I think De Wijs will come in instead of Cameron and we'll play three at the back and either Wallace and Hamalainen will play depending on the opposition/injury situation. Johansen showed enough yesterday to demonstrate he's a decent enough player when match fit to stiffen up our minefield. Cameron can then have more of a rest between matches as he's played an awful lot of football for someone his age this season.
Thomas looked the sharpest I've seen him in his cameo yesterday. And Albert and Willock show we are starting to be able to bring on subs who can hurt other teams.
Fullback is still a problem. Kane did well yesterday but he had so much time on the ball, so I think his weakness is probably when there's a high press and he has to make decisions quickly. But I don't think he'll want to change the Barbet/Dickie/Dieng partnership as they seem to be developing quite an understanding. I think they did brilliantly against one of the trickier teams.
We're going to have other poor patches but I think the strategy is to bed in the players we've got now and then add a couple of signings in the summer and go again next season in a lot better position. |  | | |
| Left Back on 08:12 - Feb 2 with 2391 views | Blue_Castello |
| Left Back on 08:02 - Feb 2 by nix |
I think no one else good enough was available/wanted to come to us at the right price and yet we beat a top half (six) team for the first time this season. Also only four other teams have got a better record over the last five matches (a few are the same) so they're feeling a bit more confident in the squad.
I think De Wijs will come in instead of Cameron and we'll play three at the back and either Wallace and Hamalainen will play depending on the opposition/injury situation. Johansen showed enough yesterday to demonstrate he's a decent enough player when match fit to stiffen up our minefield. Cameron can then have more of a rest between matches as he's played an awful lot of football for someone his age this season.
Thomas looked the sharpest I've seen him in his cameo yesterday. And Albert and Willock show we are starting to be able to bring on subs who can hurt other teams.
Fullback is still a problem. Kane did well yesterday but he had so much time on the ball, so I think his weakness is probably when there's a high press and he has to make decisions quickly. But I don't think he'll want to change the Barbet/Dickie/Dieng partnership as they seem to be developing quite an understanding. I think they did brilliantly against one of the trickier teams.
We're going to have other poor patches but I think the strategy is to bed in the players we've got now and then add a couple of signings in the summer and go again next season in a lot better position. |
Good post Nix I particularly liked the stiffen up our minefield it seemed very apt......  |  | | |
| Left Back on 08:14 - Feb 2 with 2378 views | nix |
| Left Back on 08:12 - Feb 2 by Blue_Castello |
Good post Nix I particularly liked the stiffen up our minefield it seemed very apt...... |
Pun unintended 🤣 | | | |
| Left Back on 08:28 - Feb 2 with 2342 views | Hastings_Hoops |
| Left Back on 08:14 - Feb 2 by nix |
Pun unintended 🤣 |
I think we have to accept that there will be ‘weak areas’ in our squad during this transition / process.
Bringing Austin in has fixed one problem for this season and hopefully coaches Bonne, Dykes and Kelman for next season.
Midfield might be loan-market fixed now after unfortunate injuries - can’t blame the club for those to be fair.
Not sure it’s reasonable to expect further spending with whatever is left of the Eze money on full backs this year. I would anticipate that we’re nailed on to sell Dieng, Chair or Dickie in the summer for decent money to allow us to keep rebuilding all areas of the pitch.
...incidentally- I have a feeling that we have probably spent the Eze money on transfers and subsidising the Covid disruption... my hunch is that these January loans are being paid for by our anticipated summer transfer haul (or subsidised by our owners while FFP rules are relaxed this season). [Post edited 2 Feb 2021 8:29]
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| Left Back on 08:56 - Feb 2 with 2238 views | wortonranger |
I thought Wallace was a big improvement on Niko last night. The whole team was excellent. |  | | |
| Left Back on 09:02 - Feb 2 with 2210 views | OakR |
I don't mind Wallace myself, I think he gets an unfair bashing. He made a few glaring errors, and will likely make some more, but he's made no more than Dickie who gets a free pass on all his pretty much.
I think we generally look more solid with him in the team, he's played in a number of our clean sheet matches. I'm not saying he is amazing, but he is not as bad either as many make out.
I'm glad for him there are no fans in there, his confidence would be destroyed by now for someone who's not been that bad and has actually played well in a number of matches. | |
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| Left Back on 09:35 - Feb 2 with 2092 views | ChrisNW6 |
I thought Wallace actually had a good game, especially with overlapping runs into dangerous areas in the box or to the by line. I have noticed that Chair more often than not refuses to play the easy ball to the left wingback and prefers to cut in on his right and use the runner as a decoy.
Wallace might yet get a 4month reprieve from the 'glue factory' with performances like last night. He needs to watch the bookings and obviously clear the ball better. | | | |
| Left Back on 09:37 - Feb 2 with 2064 views | gazza1 |
Whilst LB is not our strongest position I believe that Wallace can do a job, better than Niko, and there are other areas of the pitch we need better players.
Many think we can just move Barbet to LB or lets moves someone there, one off, maybe, but long term I doubt very much.....it is not that easy, LB & Left CB are very different positions and playing in terms of positioning and types of play are very different, LB is a specialised and very important position.
Well played Wallace last night along with the Team. | | | |
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| Left Back on 09:53 - Feb 2 with 2021 views | daveB |
Thought we needed a left back but if a good one wasn't available then we did the right thing in not signing anyone.
We do have options at left back/wing back and midfield was a far bigger issue to sort out in January which they seem to have done |  | | |
| Left Back on 10:06 - Feb 2 with 1973 views | TheChef |
| Left Back on 09:02 - Feb 2 by OakR |
I don't mind Wallace myself, I think he gets an unfair bashing. He made a few glaring errors, and will likely make some more, but he's made no more than Dickie who gets a free pass on all his pretty much.
I think we generally look more solid with him in the team, he's played in a number of our clean sheet matches. I'm not saying he is amazing, but he is not as bad either as many make out.
I'm glad for him there are no fans in there, his confidence would be destroyed by now for someone who's not been that bad and has actually played well in a number of matches. |
Dickie's made some errors??
OK he might occasionally give possession away (who in our team doesn't) but he wins virtually everything in the air. He is easily our most consistent performer this season, along with Dieng.
So yes I think we will just have to muddle through with Hama and Wallace for the rest of the season, although I don't think they're quite as awful as some make out. Not great, but not terrible either.
A note on Kane which a mate mentioned, is how much he plays with his head down. By the time he gets the ball, gets ready to cross and looks up, he's already being closed down. Bit concerning for a guy who is 27 years old, but hopefully he can still be coached in playing with his head up more and delivering crosses more quickly. |  |
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| Left Back on 10:10 - Feb 2 with 1960 views | BrianWilson |
| Left Back on 09:02 - Feb 2 by OakR |
I don't mind Wallace myself, I think he gets an unfair bashing. He made a few glaring errors, and will likely make some more, but he's made no more than Dickie who gets a free pass on all his pretty much.
I think we generally look more solid with him in the team, he's played in a number of our clean sheet matches. I'm not saying he is amazing, but he is not as bad either as many make out.
I'm glad for him there are no fans in there, his confidence would be destroyed by now for someone who's not been that bad and has actually played well in a number of matches. |
Agree with that. Think he offers more all round than Niko and would play him there when fit enough. |  |
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| Left Back on 10:18 - Feb 2 with 1906 views | gigiisourgod |
| Left Back on 08:02 - Feb 2 by nix |
I think no one else good enough was available/wanted to come to us at the right price and yet we beat a top half (six) team for the first time this season. Also only four other teams have got a better record over the last five matches (a few are the same) so they're feeling a bit more confident in the squad.
I think De Wijs will come in instead of Cameron and we'll play three at the back and either Wallace and Hamalainen will play depending on the opposition/injury situation. Johansen showed enough yesterday to demonstrate he's a decent enough player when match fit to stiffen up our minefield. Cameron can then have more of a rest between matches as he's played an awful lot of football for someone his age this season.
Thomas looked the sharpest I've seen him in his cameo yesterday. And Albert and Willock show we are starting to be able to bring on subs who can hurt other teams.
Fullback is still a problem. Kane did well yesterday but he had so much time on the ball, so I think his weakness is probably when there's a high press and he has to make decisions quickly. But I don't think he'll want to change the Barbet/Dickie/Dieng partnership as they seem to be developing quite an understanding. I think they did brilliantly against one of the trickier teams.
We're going to have other poor patches but I think the strategy is to bed in the players we've got now and then add a couple of signings in the summer and go again next season in a lot better position. |
Agree with every word, if we have/get enough to stay up, I would plug Kakay and Hämäläinen with as much game time as possible and make an assessment on them at the end of the season. Feel the general consensus on them is correct and they would benefit from a year on loan in league 1 and will need two new signings in the summer, but hopefully getting games into them at this level will help their development/prospects of selling on if not good enough. | | | |
| Left Back on 10:18 - Feb 2 with 1904 views | BerkoRanger |
Apparently Sam Field has played left back before. | | | |
| Left Back on 10:24 - Feb 2 with 1876 views | ngbqpr |
Wing back is so different to full back. Our squad has been built for 4231, only Kane of our 4 full backs looks genuinely comfortable as a wing back (arguably more effective than he is at full back), but Niko / Wallace / Kakay are full backs.
Fair play to Warbs for changing to 532 / 352 and getting results from it (also disproving those who says he is inflexible / has no plan B) -but I think once the safety line is in sight, we'll be back to 4231. |  |
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| Left Back on 10:31 - Feb 2 with 1843 views | Dorse |
I think the LB discussion is an interesting one. For what it's worth (i.e. bugger all divided by six), I think moving Barbet* to full back is a mistake. Shifting centre backs out there rarely pays off in the mid/long term. In fact only Paolo Maldini and Liverpool's outrageous backline of Babbel, Henchoz, Hyppia and Carragher (4 CBs playing across the back 4!) are the only exceptions that spring to mind.
I think we get the best value from Barbet as the left sided CB in a back three. However, his mediocre pace means that whoever has the left sided wing-back role is going to need to cover him. The knock-on effect may be that one or other of the midfield has to sit slightly deeper to manage this in-game. Quite often, both this season and last, teams deliberately target our left back channel: with Manning they would play the ball from deep on a diagonal to get the striker in behind, leaving him caught upfield; with Niko it is a similar ploy but using a forward to drag Barbet inside so he can't cover. In a three that's less of an issue.
* Other pronunciations are available. Contact N London for full details. |  |
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| Left Back on 10:34 - Feb 2 with 1818 views | qprd |
Hamalainen, for all his deficiencies, is a better player than Wallace
He’s amazingly under contract for another 3.5 years..... I’d rather see if we can discover a player in there than trotting out Wallace who is a total liability on both ends | | | |
| Left Back on 21:06 - Feb 2 with 1579 views | OldPedro |
I think, if both are fit, Warburton will play Wallace more than Niko - both have issues but as it stands, only Niko is contracted for next season, so we need to give him enough minutes to, hopefully, develop him further. Very likely that we will need another left back/left wing back in the summer. |  |
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| Left Back on 21:48 - Feb 2 with 1476 views | stevenagehoop |
| Left Back on 09:37 - Feb 2 by gazza1 |
Whilst LB is not our strongest position I believe that Wallace can do a job, better than Niko, and there are other areas of the pitch we need better players.
Many think we can just move Barbet to LB or lets moves someone there, one off, maybe, but long term I doubt very much.....it is not that easy, LB & Left CB are very different positions and playing in terms of positioning and types of play are very different, LB is a specialised and very important position.
Well played Wallace last night along with the Team. |
Problem with him is that he is not consistent enough and for an experienced defender makes silly decisions.
In the minutes before Cameron’s moment of madness he headed up in the air in field without getting any distance on his header , not the best decision and then instead of planting the ball into touch took too long and tried to clear upfield which resulted in the ball being put into the box leading to Cameron’s clanger. For an experienced defender he leaves us too vulnerable.Both Barbet and the the Dutchman are both left footed players - gives Warburton a few options. |  |
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| Left Back on 21:52 - Feb 2 with 1458 views | OakR |
| Left Back on 10:06 - Feb 2 by TheChef |
Dickie's made some errors??
OK he might occasionally give possession away (who in our team doesn't) but he wins virtually everything in the air. He is easily our most consistent performer this season, along with Dieng.
So yes I think we will just have to muddle through with Hama and Wallace for the rest of the season, although I don't think they're quite as awful as some make out. Not great, but not terrible either.
A note on Kane which a mate mentioned, is how much he plays with his head down. By the time he gets the ball, gets ready to cross and looks up, he's already being closed down. Bit concerning for a guy who is 27 years old, but hopefully he can still be coached in playing with his head up more and delivering crosses more quickly. |
I'm not having a dig at Dickie, I like him, he's generaly been great and will only get better but yes he has made errors directly leading to goals inc his sending off. My point is had Wallace made those he'd be crucified.
Dickie is the better player no doubt, that's not my point. I just don't think Wallace gets a fair hearing.
Anyway, my core point is I think we are more defensively solid with Wallace in the team, with our current squad (bar new signings I know nothing about).
and lastly, we won, I'm still over the moon about that, so will leave it there and think of that instead! | |
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