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Cole Skuse, In the Middle of Our Pitch
Written by everhopeful on Friday, 17th Apr 2015 14:55

The ball is shifted sideways. There’s space to go forwards, space to meet it, space to shoot. But just as people all around Portman Road begin to lift up in their seats, they realise with an upsetting sense of inevitability – it’s Cole Skuse.

Remember Jimmy Bullard? That’s who you’d want right now. Anyone but Skuse. Even Tommy Smith’s calling for the ball back.

Or that’s what you’d have thought this time last year. That’s what I’d have thought. “He’s not a bad player, that Skuse” they used to say, “but he can’t shoot”. People forget that neither could Roger Osborne, and look where that got us.

Skuse’s rocket against Cardiff marks the apogee of a brilliant season for the former Bristol City man. Skuse’s journey has dovetailed nicely with my own. Skuse has always been a useful shield for the defence, but time and again last year I was left looking at the Skuse/Hyam partnership in the centre of the park as the reason for our lack of creativity. Sometimes, you don’t realise what you’ve got.

His work may not be the most eye-catching, but we’re a much worse team without him. Strong in the tackle, good in the pass and clever with his positioning, Skuse is one of the few players we have who is composed and confident when in possession. In terms of strategy, in terms of ball retention, he’s invaluable – he dictates the pace of the game, he settles us when we’re under the cosh and, right now, he’s in form.

It’s not just that we miss him when he’s gone, as after Christmas – it’s that this year we’ve grown accustomed to seeing him, as against Bournemouth, gallop across the centre of the park like Suffolk’s answer to Yaya Toure. Against Wolves, it’s not Daryl Murphy we’re relying on for a result – it’s that central spine of players built around Skuse.

Christophe Berra has been superb in the run-in, whilst Freddie Sears looks an absolute steal. But it’s Cole Skuse who connects this spine, who shields Berra and is the medium by which we get the ball forwards.

Sears has been a revelation – he’s a good dribbler of the ball with a fast turn of pace and he’s the means by which defence becomes attack, bringing the ball forwards. But when pressure comes, as against Watford, it is players like Skuse who we rely on to soak up the pressure and shift the ball forwards.

Look at Richard Chaplow’s goal against Watford: as we win the ball back, there are seven men on the edge of the box. Skuse and Berra at the back, Sears bringing it forwards. Those last 10 minutes against Wigan when Skuse came off we really missed his ball retention and calm. We need both those things against Wolves.

At times, Berra has been titanic and against his old club, he’ll need to be. There’s been a lot of talk about our mentality going into the Wolves game, to go for the win or to play for the draw. We’re at our best when we do neither, when we rely on this spine and simply play our game.

Murphy’s been phenomenal, but he doesn’t bring the ball from deep like Sears does: there’s no one you’d rather put on the end of an incisive pass like Skuse’s against Cardiff, but he needs supplying. It’s not Murphy who will decide the course of the game at Wolves.

Rely on this spine: if Berra’s tight at the back, Skuse controls our pace and distribution and Sears brings the ball forwards, then goals will come, whether from Murph or not. We saw that at Watford. We’re in the lucky position that we don’t need to go at Wolves, that we can rely on this spine, play our game and see what comes. If we don’t concede, then it’s job done.

It’s no coincidence that when this spine holds true, and we don’t concede, we tend to win: we’ve only had two 0-0 draws this season, against Bolton and Wigan, whilst we’ve only lost four times in games we’ve conceded just once. In the eight games we’ve won without conceding, we’ve scored 15 goals and in that run beaten Watford twice, Charlton on their run and Middlesbrough.

He may not always hit the back of the net, but when it comes to the Wolves game, I’m trusting in Cole Skuse for goals.




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gippeswyk added 18:39 - Apr 17
It seems a long time since we haven't conceded. Our defence was our strength. Now it makes me cringe every time a cross or long ball comes in. I agree that Skuse and Berra are on form at the moment and just in time. Hope it continues, along with Freddie's goals. Murph must be relieved to get off 23 and I hope he gets a few more this season. He has been our hero.
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KiwiBlue2 added 06:58 - Apr 18
Thank you for a thoughtful blog, I too am ever hopeful. On this occasion I just hope that MM goes with a more attacking approach than he normally takes to away games. If we can score early and add to it before halftime then I think that we should take it out comfortably. There has been considerable comment about Wolves defense not standing up well under pressure so lets pile it on.......
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DurhamTownFan added 07:46 - Apr 18
agree with the able post: we've hardly been watertight at the back in the last two games?

Absolutely key role in the modern game though, especially since so few teams now play two out strikers. Someone needs to pick up in that little hole. The other reason we need a Skuse is because of our direct style. If we don't win the long ball, you need someone to read that and cut out the opposition at source, and I think that's his best attribute.
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Fred added 09:06 - Apr 26
The midfield has been woeful this season - 'the (hoof) long ball' has dominated.
The answer is there
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