| At around this stage last season 15:38 - Feb 11 with 5145 views | FromReuserWithLove |
KM settled on a consistent starting XI that saw us go on that incredible run to the end of the season. I wonder if we'll see the same this year? If so, do we see any big shocks? Chaplin and Burns may be the stalwarts under the biggest threat and Cam may find himself back in the side before long. |  | | |  |
| At around this stage last season on 09:23 - Feb 12 with 994 views | PhilTWTD |
| At around this stage last season on 08:49 - Feb 12 by itfcjoe |
Woolf plays such a unique role for us, and plays it so well - he basically defends the whole width of the pitch at times and doesn't have the luxury that the RB and LCB have of being able to use the touchline or have any extra support.
I don't think Edmundson has the positional discipline to play that - Woolfie made a mistake at the weekend, but he's prob trying to win the ball back to keep possession and get us going opposed to taking the easy option and knocking it out as KMc always wants us to keep it in play and keep the waves of attack going. In hindsight that was an error then - but 9 times out of 10 he just turns round with the ball there and leaves Fellows in his wake.
I know people don't, but I'd urge them to watch back some games, and watch just how much responsibility he has defending for them, he's done an incredible job in an incredibly different role - but when a striker is running at him one on one like that there has been a team failure up the pitch for it to happen.
For the goal (and some of this has been pointed out to me in our excellent Blue Monday Telegram group so can't claim the credit for spotting it all), they get out too easily from the full back position....when Asante drops in to win the header a CB (Fridge) needs to go with him, as it is Morsy does and then the ball lands in the exact spot SM has vacated, whilst Luongo tries to cover that space Wallace runs off the back of him to get the ball and then pulls Woolfie slightly over, Clarke misses this initially but when he spots Woolfie has gone left he has to then try and get back to recover but it's too late. Lots of minor mistakes, but it compounds by putting Woolfenden in a tough position which we wouldn't want to happen and then he makes the mistake of not clearing out man and ball and then the ball is in the back of the net.
It's always easiest to point at the last mistake, but goals like that are team failures and compound the mistakes. [Post edited 12 Feb 2024 8:52]
|
I think the point re the last mistake was that he had got in a position to win the ball but seemed to switch off believing he already had. I think it's that aspect of his game that led to previous managers not trusting him. I don't disagree with most of your post though. |  | | |
| At around this stage last season on 09:24 - Feb 12 with 985 views | PhilTWTD |
| At around this stage last season on 07:58 - Feb 12 by BlueBoots |
For me, Burgess is straight back in the team as soon as he is available. I don't think he gets enough credit for just how dominant he is in the air as he makes it look so effortless, and his use of the ball in possession (particularly from having the balance of a natural left footer on that side) is pretty sound.
Who partners him is a difficult one, but I suppose that could be based on the opposition (e.g. Low block - Woolf > Fridge for passing, Pace - Fridge > Woolf etc.) |
Yes, I was thinking as part of a rotation - at least initially - rather than as an established back two. | | | |
| At around this stage last season on 09:32 - Feb 12 with 944 views | NthQldITFC |
| At around this stage last season on 08:49 - Feb 12 by itfcjoe |
Woolf plays such a unique role for us, and plays it so well - he basically defends the whole width of the pitch at times and doesn't have the luxury that the RB and LCB have of being able to use the touchline or have any extra support.
I don't think Edmundson has the positional discipline to play that - Woolfie made a mistake at the weekend, but he's prob trying to win the ball back to keep possession and get us going opposed to taking the easy option and knocking it out as KMc always wants us to keep it in play and keep the waves of attack going. In hindsight that was an error then - but 9 times out of 10 he just turns round with the ball there and leaves Fellows in his wake.
I know people don't, but I'd urge them to watch back some games, and watch just how much responsibility he has defending for them, he's done an incredible job in an incredibly different role - but when a striker is running at him one on one like that there has been a team failure up the pitch for it to happen.
For the goal (and some of this has been pointed out to me in our excellent Blue Monday Telegram group so can't claim the credit for spotting it all), they get out too easily from the full back position....when Asante drops in to win the header a CB (Fridge) needs to go with him, as it is Morsy does and then the ball lands in the exact spot SM has vacated, whilst Luongo tries to cover that space Wallace runs off the back of him to get the ball and then pulls Woolfie slightly over, Clarke misses this initially but when he spots Woolfie has gone left he has to then try and get back to recover but it's too late. Lots of minor mistakes, but it compounds by putting Woolfenden in a tough position which we wouldn't want to happen and then he makes the mistake of not clearing out man and ball and then the ball is in the back of the net.
It's always easiest to point at the last mistake, but goals like that are team failures and compound the mistakes. [Post edited 12 Feb 2024 8:52]
|
'...but 9 times out of 10 he just turns round with the ball there and leaves Fellows in his wake.'
I genuinely couldn't work out why you had capitalised 'Fellows' there for a second until I realised you were talking about a specific player/situation, and not just using some lovely, archaic, flowery language about Woolfie's ability in general! 
On the Luongo front, he's looked leggy recently, half a second slower to the ball and consequently not in control quickly enough to be able to use his physical strength to lever himself past tight markers (a la Morsy). I haven't seen that Travis can play the same way, but starting Travis to take the heat out the opposition with Morsy doing more of the creative stuff, then bringing Luongo in on 60 minutes or so would probably get the best out of everybody. |  |
| |
| At around this stage last season on 09:38 - Feb 12 with 936 views | tractorboy1978 |
Personally, in an attacking sense, I can see the 'starters and finishers' remaining virtually the same now. Hutchinson, Al-Hamadi, Sarmiento look like 3 excellent weapons to have in the last 20-25 minutes of games. Seen a bit of talk of rotation and them starting games but I don't see it happening all too often.
Burns, Chaplin and Broadhead don't offer that same explosive impact off the bench for me and are just so well schooled/telepathic in the system that they are the 'solid' 60 minute options. I'd imagine they will start most games. Moore picks himself and I can see him playing almost every minute he can as he's such a threat at all times. |  | | |
| At around this stage last season on 12:16 - Feb 12 with 863 views | AVJones |
| At around this stage last season on 21:54 - Feb 11 by PhilTWTD |
I've been surprised that Tuanzebe hasn't established himself, to be honest. Given his pedigree, I had expected him to make himself one of the first names on the teamsheet by this stage. But the team has done so well, it's been difficult for anyone to break in regularly, other in circumstances such as those which have seen Edmundson come in for Burgess. |
I presumed so too. Woolf is clearly a top half Championship level player, but expected Tuanzebe to be the upgrade.
He clearly hasn’t got up to the level we hoped he’d get back to. Currently he looks a disappointment / gamble that hasn’t worked.
Signings wise, it feels like we have not got the one or two upgrades we’d have hoped for in the last two windows, bar arguably Hirst/Moore.
The cost of upgrading and/or luck required with those who are kids or cheaper or injury prone hasn’t seen any of last seasons regulars replaced.
Much stronger bench though | | | |
| At around this stage last season on 13:30 - Feb 12 with 832 views | NthQldITFC |
| At around this stage last season on 12:16 - Feb 12 by AVJones |
I presumed so too. Woolf is clearly a top half Championship level player, but expected Tuanzebe to be the upgrade.
He clearly hasn’t got up to the level we hoped he’d get back to. Currently he looks a disappointment / gamble that hasn’t worked.
Signings wise, it feels like we have not got the one or two upgrades we’d have hoped for in the last two windows, bar arguably Hirst/Moore.
The cost of upgrading and/or luck required with those who are kids or cheaper or injury prone hasn’t seen any of last seasons regulars replaced.
Much stronger bench though |
Tuanzebe clearly has all the tools to be a PL centre back, but I'm not sure he's shaken off his rustiness fully yet, and doesn't quite play to our patterns when I've seen him, which is very important to us. | |
| |
| At around this stage last season on 14:07 - Feb 12 with 797 views | BlueBoots |
| At around this stage last season on 09:32 - Feb 12 by NthQldITFC |
'...but 9 times out of 10 he just turns round with the ball there and leaves Fellows in his wake.'
I genuinely couldn't work out why you had capitalised 'Fellows' there for a second until I realised you were talking about a specific player/situation, and not just using some lovely, archaic, flowery language about Woolfie's ability in general!
On the Luongo front, he's looked leggy recently, half a second slower to the ball and consequently not in control quickly enough to be able to use his physical strength to lever himself past tight markers (a la Morsy). I haven't seen that Travis can play the same way, but starting Travis to take the heat out the opposition with Morsy doing more of the creative stuff, then bringing Luongo in on 60 minutes or so would probably get the best out of everybody. |
Wasn't there a match recently (can't remember which one) where there was a rumour that Luongo was going to miss out due to injury, and then was surprisingly named in the starting line-up? Wondering whether he might be managing an ongoing issue the way Clarke has had to; you'd think if it was something of concern Travis or Ball would have been asked to step in though. |  |
| |
| At around this stage last season on 14:16 - Feb 12 with 773 views | CBMTOBWMMBG |
| At around this stage last season on 13:30 - Feb 12 by NthQldITFC |
Tuanzebe clearly has all the tools to be a PL centre back, but I'm not sure he's shaken off his rustiness fully yet, and doesn't quite play to our patterns when I've seen him, which is very important to us. |
Good points and yep, he clearly used to have all the tools.
I quess the question is: will they ever fully come back? e.g. pace, confidence, strength, awareness.
I presume the coaching team don't believe they have so far, and it is now 5 months since he joined. That's a lot of rustiness!
Injuries can be so brutal | | | |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
