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Current players are media trained/programmed to the hilt, so I don't usually enjoy their interviews. Ex-players tend to let the shackles off more, but I'd say Parkin takes this to another level here.
From a football perspective, there is a great lesson on the importance of recruitment in this interview. Identifying the type of player you are signing and ensuring that they actually fit your system.
Away from the pitch, the Magilton and 'This Country' anecdotes made me chuckle. Great interview Benjamin Bloom.
CH certainly has an eye for a pass. Before a signing was made I felt we needed a creator. Somebody who can beat a man and unsettle the organization of a low block. Somebody with that eye of a needle pass. A 'magician', with a bit of an X factor, coming in from the left. We'd have to make room for them now. I'm not saying it has to be Shoretire but somebody cut from the same cloth as him. These highlights are all from the same game, against a side we struggled to break down.
We seem to spend most of our time breaking down stubborn low blocks/parked buses. So I think Burns and Davis will continue to stretch the play out wide, putting in crosses and cut backs. Hirst/Ladapo will be the main target man in the middle. Then Broadhead and Chaplin will be given license to roam in the half spaces, linking up with midfield and the striker. Going by his goals, our new signing looks to have predatory instincts in the box. Plus he seems to be able to shoot from range, which adds another weapon to our armoury.
So yes, it looks like he will occupy a similar role to Harness, who will still have a role to play. Marcus has a great track record for assists and goals at this level, plus he's combined well with Davis at times. But he can be sloppy in possession, which will frustrate McKenna as it breaks down the patterns of play that he has been coaching. Broadhead could be more reliable in this respect, possibly.
When teams play with more adventure and leave some space in behind, I could see Broadhead playing off the last man, with Chaplin slightly deeper. Nathan (it's a good name) looks to have pace and will hopefully offer a more clinical alternative to Jackson in this respect. He linked up well with Ross Stewart at Sunderland, so he could form a partnership with a more physically imposing striker here when required.
That should read that he starts today not tomorrow! :)
It's interesting to see the split opinions on here.
I left PR last Saturday feeling strongly that Leigh and TJJ should start the next game. Their athleticism and willingness to fearlessly attack Bolton seemed like a huge improvement on Davis and Harness.
How much of this can be attributed to tiring Bolton legs is open to debate. Maybe if Davis and Harness had come on as finishers, as the game opened up, then they would have put in stronger performances? We will never know.
Maybe McKenna sees Davis and Harness as having the most potential longer term, throughout the season, so will persevere with them? Maybe he will throw in Aluko or another 'surprise'?
IMHO we should start whoever is in the best form right now and helps us get 3 vital points in Nailsworth. We need to kick start our season. I hope the fact we have outlaid big money for Harness and Davis doesn't come into it.
There is possibly a fear that if we drop Davis and Harness then it could affect their confidence and momentum, akin to Joe Pigott last season. However, I would argue that Piggott's problems were unique to him. He suffered a bereavement, which could affect anybody's performance at work.
Plus our manic recruitment of last summer had failed to truly grasp what we were getting. We were hoping to sign an out and out striker to play in Cook's beloved 4-2-3-1 formation. I remember AFC Wimbledon fans sarcastically questioning whether we (or Cook) had worked out how to play Joe properly! He worked best roaming around a target man like Ollie Palmer, not as a lone striker. So the transfer was flawed right from the off.
I love watching Aluko. His magnetic touch, footballing intelligence etc. It's not impossible that he starts tomorrow but I think McKenna sees him as more of an impact sub and will be thinking of Harness and TJJ as starters. This is probably because our team lacks everything but a consistent final product, much like Aluko himself. 3 goals and 1 assist in 36 appearances last season is proof of this.
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