Winter Improvement Thread (aka Winter Squad Weakening Thread and TWF Suicide Watch)

[MARKakaJIM]

Not sure why you've quoted me there as your post doesn't seem to relate to anything I've said.

 

[Papper]

Not sure why you've quoted me there as your post doesn't seem to relate to anything I've said.

Thought, maybe incorrectly (if so my deepest apologies) that you were replying to noodle regarding Mac pushing further forward into the position Dave has been playing. Didn't really notice who made the reply just focused on what was being discussed.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Better perhaps, but not good enough. Price would be infinitely better.

I spent a good 10 to 15 minutes trying to watch only Dave in the first half on Saturday. He did a lot of running and trying to close down players, but he never actually got close enough to do that.

Neither did he show for a pass from defence, break forward with the ball or pass on the wings.

He genuinely did nothing useful. It's not a slate on him, yes he runs around, but outside of that in CM he does very little useful.

Indeed, his defensive work is as risible as his work with the ball. He does work hard, but this basically extends to chasing people around. He's just doing it 30 yards further back then when he plays as a number ten. Does he tackle well? No. Does he intercept a lot of passes? No. Does he cover other players when they're out of position? No. Does he have any particular positional discipline of his own? No. Does he help us keep the ball when we win it back to relieve pressure? No. I'm not sure what exactly he's doing that could be considered to be useful or important defensive work. It must all be in that prism that Kenny Jackett and a few select fans can see but remains invisible to me.

Full marks for effort, zero marks for effectiveness. As you can apply to every aspect of his game when you strip his goals away, and as discussed ad infinitum he isn't even very good at that. When that is his major selling point and he's gone virtually a third of the season without scoring...what are you actually left with?

I don't wish injury on players I despise like Barton let alone our own players, less still ones who have an obvious affinity to the club and can never be faulted for effort, but I don't make any apologies for being pleased that I haven't got to watch him for pretty much the rest of the season. Like Lycan said yesterday, eight years and I'm sick of it.

 

[Norman Deeley]

Agbonlahor? Perhaps we could play in a slim line strike force with Grant Holt...

 

[MARKakaJIM]

Thought, maybe incorrectly (if so my deepest apologies) that you were replying to noodle regarding Mac pushing further forward into the position Dave has been playing. Didn't really notice who made the reply just focused on what was being discussed.

Just a general response to people's desires, both past and present, to see McDonald play further forward. I just don't think he's got the legs for it, whether that be an inability to find space as a genuine attacking player as I outlined previously or the even more spectacular failure if you asked him to get through the running that's expected of Edwards if you went back to that super defensive gameplan.

 

[Revenga]

I guess looking at it on reflection after points people have raised I can see why McDonald would probably struggle, he is a much better player than Edwards in terms of his technical ability to pick out a killer pass, and I'm sure he certainly would retain the ball better in tighter passing movements. I just thought with Coady and price sweeping up protecting the defence, Price would certainly add a better outlet for Batth and EEL for a shorter option (not just height) as he is always open for a pass, then he could distribute it to Kmac freeing him up to be a bit more creative further forward. However he certainly isn't going to be blistering around the pitch or beating his man for pace. Also he very rarely takes a shot despite scoring a few scorchers, he probably wouldn't set the world alight with his goals tally.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Mirror linking us with both Tom Bradshaw and Rico Henry from Walsall. It's a yes to both from me, though Walsall would be nuts to sell them at this stage of the season given their league position.

 

[darlowolf64]

That Lee Evans lad could play that more attacking "10" role...Shame we've dumped him out on loan

 

[Revenga]

That Lee Evans lad could play that more attacking "10" role...Shame we've dumped him out on loan

Seemed to be quite happy where he was from his comments, fair play to him if he comes back an even better player, always liked Evans.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Don't think Evans is really suitable for playing at number 10 (not that we are playing a system that uses one at the moment anyway). He is however miles better than Conor Coady.

 

[Nando]

Odd how VLP's in such high demand now. Wouldn't surprise me if he wanted out and if it wasn't for the complete and utter shambles our squad is currently in I'd probably have let him go. We just can't lose anybody else from the first team at the moment.

 

[The Bear]

I remember Edwards intercepting a pass out wide in the first half on Saturday, checking back, playing it forwards inside to McDonald who then over hit a through ball to Henry.

People seem to be majorly blind to anything he does well.

As far as McDonald playing the No. 10 role, I thought that was where he played regularly for Sheff Utd and that his performances there was why we bought him.

 

[Sniffer]

I remember Edwards intercepting a pass out wide in the first half on Saturday, checking back, playing it forwards inside to McDonald who then over hit a through ball to Henry.

People seem to be majorly blind to anything he does well.

As far as McDonald playing the No. 10 role, I thought that was where he played regularly for Sheff Utd and that his performances there was why we bought him.

I'm sure I recall a thread from their fans stating that such a role was created and the team was being built around him before his head was turned.

 

[Quirkafleeg]

Mirror linking us with both Tom Bradshaw and Rico Henry from Walsall. It's a yes to both from me, though Walsall would be nuts to sell them at this stage of the season given their league position.

Offer enough money Bonser will accept. He cant help buying a new yacht for the Essington and Wyrley.

 

[lemonjelly]

Mirror linking us with both Tom Bradshaw and Rico Henry from Walsall. It's a yes to both from me, though Walsall would be nuts to sell them at this stage of the season given their league position.

We should definitely be in for Henry imo. Can't understand why no-one else has snapped him up already.

 

[Lycan]

Henry plays right back doesn't he?

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Left back.

 

[Penk Wolf]

I'm pretty sure he played left wing when I saw him play against Burton.

 

[Lycan]

Seems like a natural fit for us then. Although looking at wiki he's 5ft 9in, if we sign him I doubt you'll see him in the first team straight away.

 

[Penk Wolf]

Sawyers looked by far the best player on the pitch. From what I saw, technically a far better player than Bradshaw.