18-12-2016, 13:49
One of the few live town games I've seen in recent years featured Sam Hird in midfield and he was VERY POOR, but that was because he was trying to run and turn like a midfielder (and I don't think he can run worth a damn). I've often said I used to play in a team anchored by a defensive midfielder, who was basically a centre back in front of the back four. He couldn't run, but he could read the game, tackle, head and pass. It worked brilliantly for us. Marcel Desailly didn't run much for AC Milan and they won everything, so it works even at the top of the pro' game too. Hird and Evatt are both decent footballers technically who in terms of skill don't have to be defenders and could both do that job. So I'm delighted Sam made it work for us. The problem is adapting it when the opposition isn't good enough to press you. You tend to push forward, lose shape and get caught out. AND it also seemed to me that at least one very fast wide man was a necessity together with a centre forward who made himself a handful in every way and could take the chances when they came. Evans and Ariyibi seem to fit that bill, can we keep them?
I'm delighted for you and Allinson himself that you got your wish. I can't see the point developing a keeper for Liverpool unless he's clearly better than our own. An understudy keeper from Liverpool is not the same sort of desirable creature as a boy who can't get near the first team because of Lallana and Coutinho is he?
My worries would be first that all our decent performances seem to coincide with O'Shea being on his game. On a going day he is at least a Championship player, but all too often we play with ten men. AND I'm fairly convinced he can't do anything about it. And how you deal with that is a problem. Second it troubles me that despite a decent bench Danny didn't have the confidence to make a substitution. Maybe he couldn't improve upon perfection ....... but maybe he was frozen in the headlights of a good performance. Still I'll take the points I predicted - blimey - and hope for 30 more.
I'm delighted for you and Allinson himself that you got your wish. I can't see the point developing a keeper for Liverpool unless he's clearly better than our own. An understudy keeper from Liverpool is not the same sort of desirable creature as a boy who can't get near the first team because of Lallana and Coutinho is he?
My worries would be first that all our decent performances seem to coincide with O'Shea being on his game. On a going day he is at least a Championship player, but all too often we play with ten men. AND I'm fairly convinced he can't do anything about it. And how you deal with that is a problem. Second it troubles me that despite a decent bench Danny didn't have the confidence to make a substitution. Maybe he couldn't improve upon perfection ....... but maybe he was frozen in the headlights of a good performance. Still I'll take the points I predicted - blimey - and hope for 30 more.