Wasn't Kewell a winger? If anyone can get our wide men playing better, it'd be him. Though having said that, Barker was a striker, and when he was in charge, we had forwards who couldn't shoot, let alone score.
Sorry Thad, that came across as a bit too strident and we seem to agree about our central midfielders.
When you play with the lone frontman it's imperative for the midfielders to get into the box when the ball is out wide. Something we showed very little willingness to do last season.
For all the qualities our midfielders have getting up to support the lone striker wasn't one of them. Check the scoring records for proof.
Sorry Thad, that came across as a bit too strident and we seem to agree about our central midfielders.
No apology required Jim, you are always reasonableness personified - yes we do agree on the problem, possibly not on which personnel to address it, but that is part of the fun of us boys having opinions.
Like a lot of fans, I get frustrated at seeing us break quickly out wide and instead of hitting the ball early - before the opposition have got themselves organised - we check the run and play it backwards... It is very easy to blame the winger, but too often the option for playing a decent ball into the danger zone just isn't available.
When Cox was released into a more central role, as at the end of last season when Roberts was fitter, he played better in my view, and had more effect on the games. With a few 'spare' wingers we could keep Cox in a more central/forward role.
My concern is that we are very vertically challenged in the midfield - even Bully is no giant - so high balls there would be an issue.
I suppose the alternative is to play two wingers on each wing............
Sorry Thad, that came across as a bit too strident and we seem to agree about our central midfielders.
No apology required Jim, you are always reasonableness personified - yes we do agree on the problem, possibly not on which personnel to address it, but that is part of the fun of us boys having opinions.
Like a lot of fans, I get frustrated at seeing us break quickly out wide and instead of hitting the ball early - before the opposition have got themselves organised - we check the run and play it backwards... It is very easy to blame the winger, but too often the option for playing a decent ball into the danger zone just isn't available.
Only problem with wingers hitting it early was DD seemed to be obsessed with shape and two lines of four and midfield players were never forward in enough numbers to receive balls into the box, early or not? Similarly our shots on/off target stats over the last few years have been worst in the league, with midfield players who in pre season (and pre match kickabout) looked to smash them in from everywhere, never wanting to have a shot and certainly not from outside the box?
Well we tried a few wide players last season (including Cox, Boldewijn and Roberts) and none looked particularly threatening.
In fact I thought Blackman looked the most dangerous going forward, shame that he is hopeless as a left back.
Personally thought Blackman improved alot, although as you say he probably always looked more threatening going forward. As for Roberts when he wasnt injured I always thought he looked a class act and a great left foot, throuble is DD tried to stifle him and had things strange idea of playing him at left back!
As for Roberts when he wasn't injured I always thought he looked a class act and a great left foot, trouble is DD tried to stifle him and had things strange idea of playing him at left back!
What a bloomin' waste, on his day Roberts could be a game-changer, but - as you point out - he was never encouraged enough to follow his natural instincts... as for Blackman, it might depend on your definition of "dangerous"
As for Roberts when he wasn't injured I always thought he looked a class act and a great left foot, trouble is DD tried to stifle him and had things strange idea of playing him at left back!
What a bloomin' waste, on his day Roberts could be a game-changer, but - as you point out - he was never encouraged enough to follow his natural instincts... as for Blackman, it might depend on your definition of "dangerous"
As the season progressed Blackman became less of a danger to us and more of a danger to the opposition. Unfortunately several others went in the other direction!?
What a bloomin' waste, on his day Roberts could be a game-changer, but - as you point out - he was never encouraged enough to follow his natural instincts... as for Blackman, it might depend on your definition of "dangerous"
As the season progressed Blackman became less of a danger to us and more of a danger to the opposition. Unfortunately several others went in the other direction!?
Well we tried a few wide players last season (including Cox, Boldewijn and Roberts) and none looked particularly threatening.
In fact I thought Blackman looked the most dangerous going forward, shame that he is hopeless as a left back.
Personally thought Blackman improved alot, although as you say he probably always looked more threatening going forward. As for Roberts when he wasnt injured I always thought he looked a class act and a great left foot, throuble is DD tried to stifle him and had things strange idea of playing him at left back!
Blackman has the capability of becoming a very good midfield player. Never a left back IMHO.