Some thoughts on the squad after the Charlton game

[goldstone]

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.

 

[saltash seagull]

how can anyone have any idea about how we will get on in league one after a freindly against a championship team

 

[fenech1elphick1]

[
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.[/QUOTE]

el abd in midfield are you having a laugh livermore is much better other than that i agree virgo should partner tommy

 

[Kneon Light]

Personally I was impressed with Hawkins and think he should be ahead of Lynch.

 

[Da Man Clay]

Personally I was impressed with Hawkins and think he should be ahead of Lynch.

and will be. Would be surprised if Hawkins doesn't partner Elphick/Virgo.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Hawkins is similar to Elphick in that they are both uncomplicated defenders. Head it. Win it. Boot it.

Nothing wrong with that, in League 1.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Interesting analysis. I'm sure it will be Hawkins/Elphick which suggests that Virgo will end up floating (a la Gary Stevens in the early 80's and Brighton, then at Spurs and even for England) a victim of his own flexibility. Can't see Lynch getting in the starting line-up with those guys ahead of him.

 

[SNOOBS]

Definitely would start with Livermore, he looked solid in CM, kept the ball well.

 

[Uncle Buck]

The problem on Saturday seemed to be the midfield. We are well stocked with centre backs. The first choice full backs look fine, although Richards was woefully short of match fitness.

The first choice pairing up front will score goals, although against Charlton they played too far apart. However they will not get enough goals if they do not get the service. Livermore and Thomson are decent midfielders, however both would prefer to sit deep. So if they play together one is not going to get to play their natural game, which is what seems to have happened to Thomson since he signed. The problem is finding a midfielder that will play further forward, support the attacks etc. We had one in Hammond, but he has not been replaced and players like that are not overly available.

Regarding the wide players, well the second half ones like more likely than the first half ones. McLeod obviously has some quality about him, but from what seems to have happened in his career, he needs to be carefully managed and he will be inconsistent. Cox, well he can cross a ball, however from last season he needs to kick on. Hart, not going to be a starter, but you know what you will get, just a shame that leg break robbed him of pace. Robinson, well on Saturday he was poor. He has developed a new trick of kicking the ball at the full back and hoping for a throw in, rather than trying to go past his man. Hopefully the fact that he is in the last year of his contract will mean he might put some effort in this season and show people on a regular basis that there is some talent there.

At present the squad looks solid, without some of the creative spark that might be needed and the midfield does not look overly balanced.

Still if all else fails, we have a bit of muscle in the squad now, so we can just kick the opposition off the field and grind out one nil wins.

 

[fenech1elphick1]

with the hawkins situation im not sure about him yet he played well at havent but didn't play to well at worthing. i can still see him starting with tommy though just because i think micky thinks that tommy can learn from the experience of hawkins .i think that hawkins can pose a threat in the opposition box as well which we could do with a few of the defenders chipping in with a few more goals more than last year. its hard to judge to much on pre season though we should get a good idea of the the preferd team tonight i hope

 

[hans kraay fan club]

with the hawkins situation im not sure about him yet he played well at havent but didn't play to well at worthing.:

Hawkins played at RIGHT BACK at Havant though, and I can't see he getting a game there unless Whing, Virgo and possibly El Abd are missing.

 

[Da Man Clay]

with the hawkins situation im not sure about him yet he played well at havent but didn't play to well at worthing.

Didn't see him at Havant but thought he did a decent job at Worthing - Scored a cracking header as well.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

UB may have it right - and it's been a theme on here for a while - it feels like we need a creative midfielder with genuine class and a spare striker to push/back-up the front two.

We don't look short of players, just short of creativity in the middle.

Should be a very interesting season.

 

[fenech1elphick1]

Hawkins played at RIGHT BACK at Havant though, and I can't see he getting a game there unless Whing, Virgo and possibly El Abd are missing.

yeah i no he played right back but he didn't play like whingy does there he played like a centre back playing there i just mean he looked solid at the back i think he will start though

 

[fenech1elphick1]

Didn't see him at Havant but thought he did a decent job at Worthing - Scored a cracking header as well.

oh sorry i forgot the game i saw him when he looked shaky was at lewes he got pulled all over the place by there big striker his header at worthing was a cracker and he played well in that game

 

[Da Man Clay]

oh sorry i forgot the game i saw him when he looked shaky was at lewes he got pulled all over the place by there big striker his header at worthing was a cracker and he played well in that game

Yeah I thought you may have been after the Lewes game. To be fair I dont think many of the squad did well there! Im not sure where we are going to fit Virgo in, im a bit worried that it will be a Hawkins/Virgo centre back partnership.

 

[sureyyathegodofthephonein]

i think personally we didnt really get going at all but we looked stronger in the second half but charlton looked very good and very fit
id be surprised if they get to the playoffs at least

 

[fenech1elphick1]

Yeah I thought you may have been after the Lewes game. To be fair I dont think many of the squad did well there! Im not sure where we are going to fit Virgo in, im a bit worried that it will be a Hawkins/Virgo centre back partnership.

no chance don't worry it will be elphick and virgo/hawkins he won't leave tommy out he is the best defender we have personally i would go for elphick and virgo as virgo has better ability with the ball than hawkins with the raw pssionate defending of tommy and virgo's ability with the ball and his experience i think there a match made in heaven

 

[hans kraay fan club]

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

 

[Uncle Buck]

no chance don't worry it will be elphick and virgo/hawkins he won't leave tommy out he is the best defender we have personally i would go for elphick and virgo as virgo has better ability with the ball than hawkins with the raw pssionate defending of tommy and virgo's ability with the ball and his experience i think there a match made in heaven

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.

Other than to show that we ripped Celtic off over Virgo, I am struggling to see why we have signed him, as I do not see where he is going to play.