| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say 09:44 - Aug 23 with 2012 views | homer_123 |
Leif yesterday was absolutely fantastic.
Chap next to me yesterday was yelling to take Brobbey out when through but Davis didn't and managed to get a brilliant block in. In fact, that wasn't the last - I thought his defending and positioning looked a level up and yet he was still bombing forward.
He wasn't the only one, thought Greaves played well, looked assured and a couple of tackles, especially one in the second half were class.
I confess, as well, that Nunez also looked good - I had my reservations (and probably still do, which might be harsh) that he would be effective at this level but I thought he and Lukic did really well. Nunez defensive work surprised me to be honest. - something GON is instilling I wonder?
Dara did well and, to be fair on him, RB is not his favourite position. First half we looked especially vulnerable there. Long term that worries me, I take GON's point that the Prem does need big athletic players and Dara does allow us to move easily to a back three, when Davis goes but his pace there is a concern, not his fault. Second half, we looked a bit better there, so I'll reserve judgement. [Post edited 23 Aug 9:49]
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| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say on 09:51 - Aug 23 with 1930 views | RIPbobby |
100% agree with this on all points. I came into the match thinking that Nunez would be our weak link, but once Sunderland removed their #10 they were very ineffective. This bought Nunez and Fatawu into the game much more and whilst it look destined for a draw we were trying to push on. |  | | |
| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say on 10:09 - Aug 23 with 1796 views | SitfcB |
Absolutely, I was going to do a thread on Davis as well, he was pretty solid defensively, quiet going forward but doesn’t matter with the other attacking options we had. Superb block early on and set the tone.
Nunez gets some stick sometimes but thought he was very neat and tidy, didn’t over play it - just simple passes at the right time. Also got a big block in. |  |
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| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say on 10:12 - Aug 23 with 1769 views | Gary_Knows |
Thought Dara was excellent personally. Think it was quite obvious he got more protection from Fatawu in the second half - was quite noticeable that there was more communication from O’Shea to Fatawu than there was in the first half.
Terrific player who will only be helped with the experience of Diop alongside him. |  |
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| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say on 10:19 - Aug 23 with 1687 views | SheffordBlue |
| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say on 10:09 - Aug 23 by SitfcB |
Absolutely, I was going to do a thread on Davis as well, he was pretty solid defensively, quiet going forward but doesn’t matter with the other attacking options we had. Superb block early on and set the tone.
Nunez gets some stick sometimes but thought he was very neat and tidy, didn’t over play it - just simple passes at the right time. Also got a big block in. |
I think some (not all) of his defensive weaknesses in the past have come from the fact that he's had to make defensive actions and decisions having often sprinted up the pitch in an attack and then back down the pitch to get back to position.
Getting the balance right is probably key at this level. |  |
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| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say on 10:38 - Aug 23 with 1567 views | Guthrum |
Davis couldn't have taken Brobbey out, that would have resulted in a red card and we'd have very likely lost the match. He just had the pace to get right around from the wrong side of the Sunderland striker (no slowcoach himself) and put in a perfectly timed block. Astounding speed (of both foot and thought) and agility.
O'Shea might not like playing RB, but he has the attributes for it, presence of mind, positioning, reasonable speed, aggression when needed, can shoot, can defend. It's no coincidence that's where he plays for Ireland.
I was surprised by how well Nunez played. Think he's calmed down a bit, both in passing and challenges. Less unexpected was Greaves' understated competence. |  |
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| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say on 11:12 - Aug 23 with 1351 views | homer_123 |
| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say on 10:38 - Aug 23 by Guthrum |
Davis couldn't have taken Brobbey out, that would have resulted in a red card and we'd have very likely lost the match. He just had the pace to get right around from the wrong side of the Sunderland striker (no slowcoach himself) and put in a perfectly timed block. Astounding speed (of both foot and thought) and agility.
O'Shea might not like playing RB, but he has the attributes for it, presence of mind, positioning, reasonable speed, aggression when needed, can shoot, can defend. It's no coincidence that's where he plays for Ireland.
I was surprised by how well Nunez played. Think he's calmed down a bit, both in passing and challenges. Less unexpected was Greaves' understated competence. |
Which was why said chap heard me roar with appreciation for Davis's block tackle and I may have loudly stated well done for not taking him out!
I did give him a bit of a stare as well.
Really annoying thing....he's not even a Town fan! [Post edited 23 Aug 11:55]
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| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say on 11:58 - Aug 23 with 1199 views | HighgateBlue |
Agree on all points.
Last time round in the Prem Leif showed that the defensive side of his game was not his strength. He's shown real improvement there since, and long may it continue.
When he does bomb forward, shifting to three at the back has been an established tactical morphing approach, and yes, using Dara at RB makes that seamless. I do worry about Dara at RB though, for the rest of the time, the majority of the time. I agree in relation to the first half yesterday, and although I love Dara, he's not a square peg in a square hole. I had thought maybe Outtara might be intended for that position longer term, but given how he was used yesterday, maybe not. So I think that RB spot is the question mark at present.
Nunez looked good yesterday. I was pretty sure that either he or Mehmeti would be on their way out, given the acquistions of Enciso and Maeda, the retention of Jaden, JClarke adn Akpom, and the shifting of Egeli to the centre. Maybe Mehmeti will be the one to make way, who knows. Maybe someone will come in for Jaden, I don't know. But with Nunez working well alongside Lukic, and Outtara being used as he was, it may be that we now have our central midfield, if Palacios comes to nothing. We won without Luis or Azor being fit. |  | | |
| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say on 12:35 - Aug 23 with 1090 views | MillsTash |
That last ditch tackle on Brobbey was superb and saved a goal. Set him up for the match with confidence.
Future Town captain. |  | | |
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| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say on 06:39 - Aug 24 with 591 views | LegendofthePhoenix |
Agree with all the points except the last one - Dara has incredible pace. 9th fastest PL player of all time.
https://www.premierleague.com/ |  |
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| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say on 06:55 - Aug 24 with 539 views | jayessess |
Nunez has played quite a lot of football as a defensive midfielder and regular tops various stats for sprints and distance covered. I wasn't surprised he was very good out of possession.
The concern was that he likes to make risky passes and might lose his 50-50 battles but he was excellent on both those fronts too, never gave the ball away, won as many duels as he lost. |  |
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| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say on 09:35 - Aug 24 with 257 views | NthQldITFC |
| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say on 06:39 - Aug 24 by LegendofthePhoenix |
Agree with all the points except the last one - Dara has incredible pace. 9th fastest PL player of all time.
https://www.premierleague.com/ |
That's what I was going to say. There's (just a little bit of) noise about lack of pace with Dara at RB, which is absolutely wrong, he's fundamentally very quick.
I think he's sometimes caught between sitting off as a sort of CB/RB hybrid role and then getting done a little bit when his man has space to turn unhindered and go straight at him with Dara still facing up the pitch - so maybe sometimes he needs to go a bit tighter at first so that if he gets turned, his man has to get around him, allowing Dara to turn, which is when Dara can then match/exceed pretty much any opponent for pace.
That's not very clear, but I know what I mean!  |  |
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| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say on 09:43 - Aug 24 with 226 views | LegendofthePhoenix |
| For all the talk of the new players, and rightly so, I have to say on 09:35 - Aug 24 by NthQldITFC |
That's what I was going to say. There's (just a little bit of) noise about lack of pace with Dara at RB, which is absolutely wrong, he's fundamentally very quick.
I think he's sometimes caught between sitting off as a sort of CB/RB hybrid role and then getting done a little bit when his man has space to turn unhindered and go straight at him with Dara still facing up the pitch - so maybe sometimes he needs to go a bit tighter at first so that if he gets turned, his man has to get around him, allowing Dara to turn, which is when Dara can then match/exceed pretty much any opponent for pace.
That's not very clear, but I know what I mean! |
Indeed - it's that RB is a very specialist position, needing to read the game and movement of quick wingers early. I think CBs often have a bit more time to see what's coming at them. As Dara isn't a natural RB, he perhaps doesn't always read the situation as early as a natural fullback. But it's not about his pace. | |
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