sotonjoe Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 When Steve was signed he was hailed as a great prospect. The obligatory Youtube greatest hits video excited everybody and his debut against West Brom preseason excited everybody even more. So why has he failed to cement a place in the team? When he has come off the bench and played out wide I have been consistently impressed by his desire and ability to run at the defence (something many of our players seem afraid to do). I seem to remember talk earlier in the season that he was defensively naive and that it would take time to make him play the way we expect and that his first team options would be limited until the management felt this process was complete. Recently though Nige made some pretty explicit comments about Steve's failures against Blackpool (his decision making at the end of the game as he ran with the ball in particular), and Steve doesn't even get a run out against Pompey in a game in which having somebody with his pace may have been a great boost late on. Reading between the lines a little (as we inevitably must, seeing as were not privy to everything that goes on), I wonder how happy the powers that be are with Steve and his development. In my opinion the fact that Nige keeps improvising when it comes to deciding who to play on the right wing suggests he still lacks confidence in Steve. Over the past few games we saw Chaplow getting tried on the right, where he did alright and it's understandable this kept Steve out the side whilst it was going well. However, since Chaplow's injury we've seen Morgan tried on the right and having seen the games I don't think he's stood out as playing particularly well in this position which is unnatural to him. It looks to me as if Nigel is trying almost every other option (options which include playing players out of their positions) before giving Steve a start. So I wonder how other people read 'the Steve situation'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 It took Guly until about january of last season to properly settle in and hit form IIRC, so i'd wait a bit longer before getting worried. The fact that he has made an impact most of the time he's played is encouraging. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewell Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 NA see's Steve as a striker, it is as simple as that. I think a new RM is our number 1 priority. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 23 December, 2011 Author Share Posted 23 December, 2011 It took Guly until about january of last season to properly settle in and hit form IIRC, so i'd wait a bit longer before getting worried. The fact that he has made an impact most of the time he's played is encouraging. Guly did take a while, that's fair (I don't want to get into a discussion about Guly's recent form though ;-) ), and Steve is a lot younger I suppose. To be fair, I trust Nige enough to think that he would stick with a young talented player like Steve and help him develop, as opposed to chucking him off the bus after a couple of months just because he's not playing 'the right way'. Maybe it is still early days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 23 December, 2011 Author Share Posted 23 December, 2011 NA see's Steve as a striker, it is as simple as that. I think a new RM is our number 1 priority. A lot of his opportunities from the bench have seen him playing up top and we were told this was on his CV when he was signed. However, I'm not sure if the fact that he has played as a striker a fair bit is because that's how Nige sees him, or simply because he was been the only attacking option on the bench in the games when this has happened. I don't have the stamina to go back and check the records but do remember seeing many games recently when Connolly and Barnard have been injured and Steve is the only 'striker' on the bench. It would be very significant if we saw Nige shopping for a right wing player in January. Personally, I'd want a striker at the top of the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eurosaint Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 It is a bit of a 'catch 22' situation ! He probably needs a run of games and a settled position to prove himself, but if he does not shine when on for a few minutes as a sub then it's unlikely that he'll get a start ! From what I've seen so far, he has the attributes of pace and skill which we need, but until he has had a proper chance to prove/disprove it, we will never know ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lighthouse Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 I think all the ingredients are there for Stief to become a top player. The good thing about this situation is he has the attitude and the tallent, it's just finding the consistency and fitting his game into our side. It's not like Jermaine Wright or Neil McCann when you thought, 'he is this good, he won't get any better'. I don't think we've really seen him start any games which weren't either reserve cup games or sh*t away games when the whole team was crap. Still, he's had some decent appearances off the bench, like Coventry and Reading. I vote we give him a run of about 5 to 10 starts in our strongest team before we cast judgement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzhugh Fella Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 I would not write him off at all, but nevertheless I raised my eyebrows when NA actively criticised him by mentioning his poor crossing after the Blackpool game and then not using him as a sub v the Skates. Unfortunately he stepped into Chamberlain's boots and that is no easy task. Suggest the jury remains out a tad longer or at least to the season's end - he certainly has more to his game than Forte. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derry Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 I like him but I think he needs decisive passing from midfield and behind to put him in behind the defence. 4 goals in few games especially playing in weakened teams. He needs less overlapping and more support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Marco Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 I think it is a bit unfair to write the lad off just yet but i have to be honest and say i think he has been one of Adkins poor buy's so far. The thing i like about SDR is his enthusiasm/determination to be involved. He will run after the ball and try and get a tackle in. For effort he is 10/10 and the other players should take note of that. However in terms of skill/footballing knowledge he really is lacking. He can't shoot. He can't pass/cross and sometimes he makes really bad choices. Like say in the Blackpool game when it was at the end and it was 4 on 2. He could of played the ball in and we would of won. He decided to try and go on his own, messed up and we drew. The main issue i have with him is his ball control skills. I have watched him most of the season and noticed he does the same thing a lot. By this i mean he will try and run with the ball but will somehow knock it against his shin which makes the ball either go off to the side and he will lose possesion or he will over-hit it and the ball runs ahead of him and out for a goal kick. He doesn't have the ability to work in tight spaces like someone such as Lallana can. Unlike the comment above about Adkins seeing him as a striker i don't see it that way at all. I don't think Adkins has any faith in him and that is why he only get's 10mins here or there. In the Pompey game it showed clearly that he doesn't see him as a striker as he moved Morgan up there towards the end and put Guly on the right. Either position could of been used by SDR but he chose to not use him. Which is where i actually think the problem is. The guy is young and needs playing time. You only learn by playing. If he can get more control of the ball and run more straight with the ball then he could do well. Having 10mins at the end of the game when we are playing more defensive to protect a win/draw is not going to help him. He should be starting games on the wing ahead of players like Guly/Morgan. It is no coincidence that since Morgan has been on the right we have not played as'well. That isn't because he is crap it is because it isn't his natural position. He doesn't have the speed and endurance to play on the wing. In the next couple of games i would give Steve starts on the right. If he doesn't improve then we need a winger badly in January. But Adkins needs to give him his chance imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 23 December, 2011 Author Share Posted 23 December, 2011 I would not write him off at all, but nevertheless I raised my eyebrows when NA actively criticised him by mentioning his poor crossing after the Blackpool game and then not using him as a sub v the Skates. Unfortunately he stepped into Chamberlain's boots and that is no easy task. Suggest the jury remains out a tad longer or at least to the season's end - he certainly has more to his game than Forte. Yeh, I was tempted to join the dots on that one too. Interestingly, I can't really remember Nige openly criticising players in that way before so I saw it as quite a significant moment. It's interesting that Derry mentions Steve's passing as well because I swear that in the Blackpool post-match interview Nige actually said Steve's crossing isn't very good, so that's obviously one aspect of his game that they're not happy with. With Morgan being a good passer you can see how Nige might be thinking when playing Morgan instead of Steve. However, I don't think I agree with that decision as I can't see Morgan being good enough on the ball to beat his man and get himself into a good crossing position. Of course, an interesting thing to think about is the role of the full backs in all this. Nige always has them overlapping and I'd say they get called on to do as much, if not more, of the crossing than the 'wingers'. I'd be tempted to play Steve even knowing his crossing isn't 100%, safe in the knowledge he could beat his man / create things and then make use of the overlapping Richardson if need be. I guess ultimately it's Steve's decision making which they're not sure of as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976_Child Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 Might help if people stopped the ghey 'Steeeeeevvvvvvvvvveeeee' chants when he comes on. Would put me right off my game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scummer Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 Like say in the Blackpool game when it was at the end and it was 4 on 2. He could of played the ball in and we would of won. He decided to try and go on his own, messed up and we drew. Although to be fair, no other player in our team would even have got into the position to mess it up. Also several other players had good chances in that game and should have scored, his was just more noticeable. Similarly last weekend, Morgan should have scored yet it's hardly been mentioned. Our fans seem to scapegoat certain players while others get cut some slack. Lallana misses loads of good chances, yet no-one ever gives him any stick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derry Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 Yeh, I was tempted to join the dots on that one too. Interestingly, I can't really remember Nige openly criticising players in that way before so I saw it as quite a significant moment. It's interesting that Derry mentions Steve's passing as well because I swear that in the Blackpool post-match interview Nige actually said Steve's crossing isn't very good, so that's obviously one aspect of his game that they're not happy with. With Morgan being a good passer you can see how Nige might be thinking when playing Morgan instead of Steve. However, I don't think I agree with that decision as I can't see Morgan being good enough on the ball to beat his man and get himself into a good crossing position. Of course, an interesting thing to think about is the role of the full backs in all this. Nige always has them overlapping and I'd say they get called on to do as much, if not more, of the crossing than the 'wingers'. I'd be tempted to play Steve even knowing his crossing isn't 100%, safe in the knowledge he could beat his man / create things and then make use of the overlapping Richardson if need be. I guess ultimately it's Steve's decision making which they're not sure of as well. You have misinterpreted what I said, I feel that Richardson has to play differently if De Ridder is wide right. He needs to be about 15 yds narrower to be able to play the ball to the corner and support on the inside. Too often De Ridder has to take the ball facing his own goal he needs the midfielders to put him behind the defence with angled through balls to use his pace. Then Richardson supports in the inside channel or the outside if De Ridder moves inside. At the moment he takes up a touchline position that makes De Ridder face him and have to play into our midfield or back to Richardson. There is no point in a quick wide player if he isn't given the right service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Marco Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 Although to be fair, no other player in our team would even have got into the position to mess it up. Also several other players had good chances in that game and should have scored, his was just more noticeable. Similarly last weekend, Morgan should have scored yet it's hardly been mentioned. Our fans seem to scapegoat certain players while others get cut some slack. Lallana misses loads of good chances, yet no-one ever gives him any stick. I don't think he did anything special to get into that position? He was played a ball on the right which was ahead of him from a corner if i remember right? They had most of their players forward trying to get a goal. They had two defenders and we had Steve/Lambert/Lallana and i can't remember the other guy in there. All he had to do was play a simple pass left field and it would of been 3 on 1. I agree totally about people making scapegoats but in this case he deffinatly fecked up. He tried to run around the defender and be 1 on 1 but lost control of the ball and it went out. There are other times where he messed up too. Like when he did that shot from the 16 yard line right in front of goal and it went nearly out the stadium. If it was someone like Lambert/Lallana they would of got the ball under control then tried a shot. It is that knowledge that makes them the players they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Kint Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 regarding him not being brought on at pompey, surely this was purely because Adkins wanted to keep the taller players on the pitch considering the only threat they offered was from lumping it forward to their big centre forwards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickG Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 Might help if people stopped the ghey 'Steeeeeevvvvvvvvvveeeee' chants when he comes on. Would put me right off my game. agree, seems to make him anxious on the ball when the Steeeve is heard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colbury Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 I really want him to do well. He was class when he came on against Reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976_Child Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 I really want him to do well. He was class when he came on against Reading. And conventry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 He is sometimes a really good impact player, and other times we just do not seem to get him on the ball enough.... saying that I really did think when he was through against Blackpool that he was going to square the ball for the winner........ whoops!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colbury Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 It wasn't bad decision making vs Blackpool he just took an unlucky heavy touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ottery st mary Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 Still think he will be a star for us... Start him on the right of four against Palace....Give him a chance and he will repay us in full.. WIFM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farawaysaint Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 Still think he will be a star for us... Start him on the right of four against Palace....Give him a chance and he will repay us in full.. WIFM Chaplow supposedly back, if anyone but him starts and he's fully fit then it's criminal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miltonroadboy Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 I know he has always been an injury waiting to happen, but he impressed me in a previous Carling cup game against admittedly inferior opposition, and a couple of recent appearances as sub showed he has skill and ability, and scored a good goal. A former england u21, he has pedigree and surely worth a run out on the right. Imo he has more to offer than SDR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ottery st mary Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 Chaplow supposedly back, if anyone but him starts and he's fully fit then it's criminal. I am also a Chappers fan ..but would think last 20/25 mins to bring up to speed ie match fitness Therefore I would start De Ridder and abandon the Morgan experiment ie Cork and Hammond in the middle and Morgan last 20 mins..depending.. I am always wary of putting a player straight back in after injury..but then NA is a better judge than me.... WIFM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch01 Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 And conventry And Derby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilippineSaint Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 And conventry Is that where we get the Nuns from Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 23 December, 2011 Author Share Posted 23 December, 2011 Good to see Holmes being mentioned. If Nige is intent on trying almost anything but De Ridder on the right, then I'd like to see Holmes on the left and Lallana on the right. To be fair, if we put Lallana on the right, we'd have all sorts of options at left midfield ... i.e. Fox and even Dickson as well as Holmes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 do we actually play with wingers..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 Good to see Holmes being mentioned. If Nige is intent on trying almost anything but De Ridder on the right, then I'd like to see Holmes on the left and Lallana on the right. To be fair, if we put Lallana on the right, we'd have all sorts of options at left midfield ... i.e. Fox and even Dickson as well as Holmes. Holmes has the potential to be one of our best players but he spends to much time in the treatment room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 do we actually play with wingers..? no we do not,anyway it takes a lot more than a nifty turn of foot and a bit of twitter to impress NA. The classic example is Dickson, about 70-80% of posters on this very forum would tell you he is a good player....he isn't,that's why he doesn't get a game.SDR is the same,a speed merchant with nothing to back it up as of yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicestersaint Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 I think the jury is still out - he has been good in parts but sometimes pretty awful- eg Doncaster when the term 'headless chickcen' was used. I think he had difficulty adjusting to the English game. he runs well but we need an end product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 The fact that Schneiderlin plays on the right or up front ahead of SDR speaks volumes about how highly Adkins rates him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976_Child Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 Is that where we get the Nuns from ROFL! Yup! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 It wasn't bad decision making vs Blackpool he just took an unlucky heavy touch. It was a bad decision to take that heavy touch, he need to think, and then decide not to take the touch forward, and pass. I could not see from the other end what happened, but all I know is it did not go right at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Who? Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 And Derby I can see a case for him to play more of a part in away games? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 He's unfit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
up and away Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 The fact that Schneiderlin plays on the right or up front ahead of SDR speaks volumes about how highly Adkins rates him. Adkins and comments from De Ridder himself have made the position very clear, he must be able to perform his defensive duties to get a start. There is little doubt they rate him as an attacker, but not at the cost of weakening the midfield in the first half. Schneiderlin is the safety play, adds little to the attack but shores up the midfield well. Chaplow does both well, so is always going to get the nod over both players, unless off form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 It is a bit of a 'catch 22' situation ! He probably needs a run of games and a settled position to prove himself, but if he does not shine when on for a few minutes as a sub then it's unlikely that he'll get a start ! From what I've seen so far, he has the attributes of pace and skill which we need, but until he has had a proper chance to prove/disprove it, we will never know ! mind you ...as a goal-scoring sub. (4 goals - 3 as oncoming sub.) he rates about the same as Tony Funnell If you're too young - or already are stricken by Alsheimers...Tony Funnell was signed at age 19 (by Lawrie Mac. in 1977). In the promotion season 77-78. He first came to fame in March 1978 when he came on and scored both goals to beat Crystal Palace (H). L.Mc gave him the no.11 shirt for the rest of the season, and he finished with 8 goals from 14 starts and 4 sub.apps. Nearly all his goals helped win valuable promotion points. Sadly. he wasn't really up to Div.1 standard and he drifted off on various loan deals until a back injury finished his career. Few people who saw him play will forget his direvt style of play and vital goals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybeal Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 It wasn't ALL Steve's Fault! I'm sorry - I've sat back and watched this but the 3 players who broke away with Steve (Schneiderlin was 1 for sure) need to take some responsibility for the last second Brighton fiasco. Not at any point did they provide Steve with a decent angle to pass for them - it was either brilliant defending or crap forward play but a pass just wasn't on and Steve was pushed into a corner. All 4 of them were to blame! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 Adkins and comments from De Ridder himself have made the position very clear, he must be able to perform his defensive duties to get a start. There is little doubt they rate him as an attacker, but not at the cost of weakening the midfield in the first half. Schneiderlin is the safety play, adds little to the attack but shores up the midfield well. Chaplow does both well, so is always going to get the nod over both players, unless off form. Yes, I understand all that, but even up front, SDR doesn't appear to even be first back-up choice. I don't think he's an out and out bad player or anything like that and I really want him to do well. Just think maybe his style of play is very difficult to get to fit with the rest of the side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry the Badger Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 It wasn't ALL Steve's Fault! I'm sorry - I've sat back and watched this but the 3 players who broke away with Steve (Schneiderlin was 1 for sure) need to take some responsibility for the last second Brighton fiasco. Not at any point did they provide Steve with a decent angle to pass for them - it was either brilliant defending or crap forward play but a pass just wasn't on and Steve was pushed into a corner. All 4 of them were to blame! I did think this upon watching it back. There's a couple of defenders in the way and they're all in a line, he would've had to dink one over the top or something. Certainly wasn't as easy as many made out at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrunkenSaint Posted 23 December, 2011 Share Posted 23 December, 2011 I am also a Chappers fan ..but would think last 20/25 mins to bring up to speed ie match fitness Therefore I would start De Ridder and abandon the Morgan experiment ie Cork and Hammond in the middle and Morgan last 20 mins..depending.. I am always wary of putting a player straight back in after injury..but then NA is a better judge than me.... WIFM Morgan has been one of out best players and one which wants the ball and tries his heart out to get a win and by all means he isn't a right sided midfielder but he has done a good job there. Yes he can not shoot but he's a defensive player, no-one has a go at cork for not scoring or his shooting attempts. I would drop Hammond, he is no captain at this level i'm afraid, Cork would be a better choice captain. Now ppl are saying we need chappers back, yes he brings something else to our midfield but we only played well when he was in the side due to the fact teams couldn't work out our formation, now they have i really don't think chappers will improve it atm, we need a more standard right/left midfielder who has pace and can take on defenders to place in crosses that's what we lack. Then go back to our central midfield rotation system. Oh and tell our players to shoot more instead to passing the ball inside the 18 yard or just outside only to lose the ball. Now its warmed up a little, we might see Gully have a good game this sat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry the Badger Posted 24 December, 2011 Share Posted 24 December, 2011 I would drop Hammond, he is no captain at this level i'm afraid, Cork would be a better choice captain.. Totally disagree. Hammond was immense at Pompey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 24 December, 2011 Share Posted 24 December, 2011 Totally disagree. Hammond was immense at Pompey. I quite agree. We even said on the way back that it was a real captains performence, really drove the team on. He's been good all season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 24 December, 2011 Share Posted 24 December, 2011 A lot of our fans seem to confuse pace and effort with ability. The clamour to sign Antonio for example. A decent player for a midtable league one player, quick and strong so therefore he must be brilliant right? The fact that he cant get anywhere near Readings team suggests otherwise. SDR is the same, he's great coming on as a sub running at pace against a tiring defence but has been found out when he has started games. He is quick and exciting to watch because he runs at defenders but his end product is often found wanting. If they can do some work with him on the training ground to get this right we cold have a hell of a player on our hands, but what we have at the moment is nothing more than a good prospect and impact player off the bench. We shouldn't be surprised quick, exciting skillful players WITH an end product dont cost £1m and play in the championship. They cost £12m upwards and play in the top 6 clubs. On another note unless Lee Holmes is injured again i cant for the life of me understand why he hasn't been given a start during Chaplows injury, now this is a lad who has an end product, great on the ball, can pass and cross and a good player, he just cant stay fit sadly. If you could comine SDR's pace and effort and Lee Holmes intellegence and delivery then you have a fantastic footballer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint_stevo Posted 24 December, 2011 Share Posted 24 December, 2011 Headless chicken, trying too hard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Channon's Sideburns Posted 24 December, 2011 Share Posted 24 December, 2011 although to be fair, no other player in our team would even have got into the position to mess it up. Also several other players had good chances in that game and should have scored, his was just more noticeable. Similarly last weekend, morgan should have scored yet it's hardly been mentioned. Our fans seem to scapegoat certain players while others get cut some slack. Lallana misses loads of good chances, yet no-one ever gives him any stick. whs ^^^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpturner Posted 24 December, 2011 Share Posted 24 December, 2011 It wasn't bad decision making vs Blackpool he just took an unlucky heavy touch.Not according to his own tweet in the subject after the game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ottery st mary Posted 24 December, 2011 Share Posted 24 December, 2011 Morgan has been one of out best players and one which wants the ball and tries his heart out to get a win and by all means he isn't a right sided midfielder but he has done a good job there. Yes he can not shoot but he's a defensive player, no-one has a go at cork for not scoring or his shooting attempts. I would drop Hammond, he is no captain at this level i'm afraid, Cork would be a better choice captain. Now ppl are saying we need chappers back, yes he brings something else to our midfield but we only played well when he was in the side due to the fact teams couldn't work out our formation, now they have i really don't think chappers will improve it atm, we need a more standard right/left midfielder who has pace and can take on defenders to place in crosses that's what we lack. Then go back to our central midfield rotation system. Oh and tell our players to shoot more instead to passing the ball inside the 18 yard or just outside only to lose the ball. Now its warmed up a little, we might see Gully have a good game this sat. We will have to agree to disagree regarding some of our players. I see Morgan as a squad player only at this stage and have not seen any significant imput from him in helping us win games to date. Whereas the combination of Cork and Hammond is what I think makes the team more likely to win games with the interaction with the likes of Lambert , Lallana and Chappers. Peeps on here think it is a personal thing with MS, on my part.. but totally untrue.....Just do not see him as a defensive lynchpin or the so called cog/link up player that some advocate.... Yes he has potential and the manager has brought him into the side in this diamond formation recently.....but he has not shown an aptitude for right side midfielder or at the point, supporting Lambert. We need to win games again and Morgan is not the answer....De Ridder if given a chance will score and make goals and with the others get us back on the winning trail.....Chappers and Connolly in the same vain..but Morgan out the side would not be missed. Personal choice on how I see the side and normally I would accept Nigel getting it right most of the time....but Morgan in the side..not for me and the set up recently has cost us a lot of points. But whoever is in the side will get my support and encouragement......but please NA get it right against Palace and thereafter. All the above is personal opinion and not to be taken to seriously... Cause you all know, I am only second best coach in the world behind NA:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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