Some thoughts on the squad after the Charlton game

[SJ's Love Monkey]

I was away over the weekend so i genuinely do not know the result. Anyone please?

 

[Silent Bob]

.................................Kuipers..............................
Whing......................................................Richards
.........Elphick, El Abd, Hawkins, Lynch, Virgo........
................................Livermore............................
..........................Forster.....Murray.........................

no Pearson?

 

[beorhthelm]

i think the cereative midfielder is a given, but then any team will say that. I think what was missing was aggression down the wings. with the solid defensive base and two midfielders sitting back, they should be taking a few more risks.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

But Virgo as a centre back in a 4-4-2 is always going to be problematic, as his positional play is not great. In a 3-5-2 he is fine as a centre back as there is some cover there, when he gets dragged out of position.

In any case I actually think the centre backs should be Lynch plus one. Lynch is our only centre back with natural pace and the fact he is left footed means we would have a left / right combination at the back and again it keeps the side balanced.

I promised not to get on my Lynch band wagon, but surely you must think there are more reliable centre halves in this squad full of CBs rather than Joel?

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I promised not to get on my Lynch band wagon, but surely you must think there are more reliable centre halves in this squad full of CBs rather than Joel?

More reliable less. More limited, also yes.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Elphick more limited than Lynch?

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Elphick more limited than Lynch?

Yes, absolutely.

Lynch is quicker, more comfortable on the ball, and has a better range of passing.

Elphick does the simple things very well though, and is for now at least the more reliable and stronger player.

 

[Silent Bob]

Elphick more limited than Lynch?

Of course he is!

I think people exaggerate how "unreliable" Lynch is. When he makes a mistake it is seemingly held against him forever, when Elphick makes a mistake no one even mentions it. I'm not really sure why, maybe it is part of the mentality of English football fans that seem to mistrust more technically adept players (especially defenders) in preference for blood and thunder.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Elphick more limited than Lynch?

Take Rio Ferdinand and John Terry a few years ago as an analogy [albeit at a higher level].

Terry was clearly the more reliable of the two, and did all the simple things well, but was ultimately limited. Ferdinand had all the touch and composure but was prone to lapses of concentration......

Who is the more complete player now?

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

I am WILLING Joel to come good this year. I think he's got potential and I want him to realise it this season and help us get promoted. But I'm still not convinced that he will.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Well I think Joel is ALREADY good, and am WILLING him to become slightly more consistent.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I promised not to get on my Lynch band wagon, but surely you must think there are more reliable centre halves in this squad full of CBs rather than Joel?

As well as his talent the fact he has pace and is left footed means he should be the first choice centre back and then pick one of the other 98 centre backs on the books to play alongside him.

 

[saltash seagull]

i'd go with joel and tommy as they know each others games inside out and looked superb togeather at the back end of last season but micky will go with tommy and hawkins im sure of that

 

[Silent Bob]

i'd go with joel and tommy as they know each others games inside out and looked superb togeather at the back end of last season but micky will go with tommy and hawkins im sure of that

What about Virgo? I can't see him being left out.

My choice would be Elphick and Lynch also, but I think that is probably the least likely one to be used sadly.

 

[B.W.]

Kuipers looks good again. Shame Micky didn't give Sullivan at least 20 mins.

Whing looks strong. Shame he missed the goal.

So pleased we have Richards back. He looked composed and used the ball well.

Elphick was the pick of the defenders. The only question is who plays in the centre with him.

Hawkins did OK in the first half, but was not as impressive as against Worthing or B. Hill. Better opposition maybe showed him up?

Lynch certainly looked a better bet based on his second half performance.

Jake appears to be going nowhere as far as his form is concerned. Certainly won't make the starting eleven.

OGH had a reasonable half, but would have liked to see more from him.

Thomson was quietly effective as usual.

Livermore did OK. First time I've seen him and not as impressed as I'd hoped to be.

Forster had a better game than in the two friendlies I've seen. Clearly still a class player.

Murray didn't do much to impress, but I'm confident he will score plenty of goals this season given decent service.

Mayo did OK. Yes, he was partly responsible for the goal, but apart had a decent game. Quite adequate back-up for Richards or for left midfield.

ElAbd was brilliant. Really imposed himself on the game and his distribution (not usually a strong point) was very good. On that form I'm not sure how he can be left out of the starting line-up.

Cox had a not-bad game, but why did he spend time on the left when McLeod (who has a left foot) was on the right. No sense in that at all.

McLeod was not given the ball often enough early on in the second half. When he did get more involved we saw flashes of what he can do, but not as impressive as in the earlier friendlies. However he will be a great addition to the team.

Fraser played OK, but as usual nothing to write home about.

Wills. Not seen him before. Did OK I thought.


I still think we could do with another creative midfielder, and a decent striker to provide cover and competition for Forster and Murray.

One or two players should be sent out on long loans immediately including Gatting and Dixon.

Based on what I've seen so far my starting line-up for Crewe would be:

Kuipers
Whing
Elphick
Lynch or Virgo
Richards
Cox
ElAbd
Thomson
McLeod
Forster
Murray

Subs:
Sullivan
Lynch or Virgo
Livermore
Hart
Robinson


Based on the Charlton game I would say we looked like mid-table finishers. Clearly we need more from the present squad, but Micky didn't play his preferred eleven together.

Livermore for El-Abd... other than that, I reckon that is the starting 11... I thought El-Abd was average (again)... admittedly, Livermore was no better, but he will come good; El-Abd is not capable of getting better...

 

[B.W.]

Tommy and Virgs methinks... maybe Hawkins?

 

[B.W.]

Sorry, Tommy and Hawkins is what I meant...

 

[ezzoud]

Biggest problem for me is the "sameyness" of the midfield. Lack of box to box player in the centre and/or wide men willing to regularly take players on suggests to me that strikers won't get great service.

Probably not a bad thing away from home, look to defend/keep possession and score on the counter attack but could be ugly at Withdean where hoots of derision tend to greet any pass played sideways