Right Back

[old_eastender]

Surely this position has to be a priority come the Jan transfer window.

Matthews seems incapable of getting himself match fit.

Little, for all his honest endeavour, is not a championship quality RB.

Neither Moore or Brownhill are right backs.

The one player we have who I think could play right back well is Korey Smith, think he played in that position earlier in his career, but we all hoped he would come back from injury and resume his role as ball winner in midfield.

 

 

 

[formerly known as ivan]

If Matthews is still struggling to get back to full fitness come January then I have to agree, along with a striker.

However, if we can get the Matthews from last season when he reached full fitness then we one of the best right backs in the league.

[Monkeh]

rb is the first postion I think will be strengthered followed by centre back and centre forward, I can't see anyone leaving until the summer unless stupid money gets offered

[Olé]

Interesting point about Matthews - I felt guilty today for thinking to myself that he still wasn't fit, glad I'm not alone.

The odd thing is he plays with a poise and confidence that make you wonder if he is choosing to give players space or not attack the ball early when there is a 50-50 ball, but honestly at times I just thought he wasn't trying because he couldn't.

It wasn't a bad performance either, that's the thing with this guy, he looks casual as he does the basics well, he just doesn't seem to be going at the same speed as the game or able to give that extra 10%.

[And Its Smith]

We need a winger and a striker before we need a right back 

[Aaron-Bcfc]

Nothing to do with Matthews not being fully fit, he's simply not very good. He really wasn't good last season either but for some reason everyone was blind to his often poor performances.

[Charliesboots]

26 minutes ago, Aaron-Bcfc said:

Nothing to do with Matthews not being fully fit, he's simply not very good. He really wasn't good last season either but for some reason everyone was blind to his often poor performances.

Perhaps but I think his heads not in it at all, watch his body language....something's not right..

[SedRA]

14 minutes ago, Charliesboots said:

Perhaps but I think his heads not in it at all, watch his body language....something's not right..

LJ still seemed a bit miffed with him and his fitness in the post match interview on player. 

[JasonM88]

1 hour ago, Aaron-Bcfc said:

Nothing to do with Matthews not being fully fit, he's simply not very good. He really wasn't good last season either but for some reason everyone was blind to his often poor performances.

I disagree, for me he was class last season in most of the games he played, barring wolves. 

[exAtyeoMax]

How can he not be fit?  How much time does he need?

[spudski]

11 minutes ago, billywedlock said:

That is not the first time he has made comments about this, I cannot see us ever signing him perm. Therefore, I would think a RB is on our radar in January, along with a striker. If Ekstrom is unable to play, and again it seems that way, and if his deal was related to fitness, then an experienced CB if available maybe on the cards too. Defence has been very poor recently, with goals coming from set pieces and from crosses coming in too easily and frequently from the flanks. We cannot keep going behind first half. I am also struggling to work out where Brownhill, O'Dowda and Patterson fit in , even if all three have ability, what is their position.

Just posted this in another thread..

Haven't seen the interview, but I've said from day one, it's Matthews attitude that needs working on, as well as his fitness and application. I really get the impression he doesn't want to be here...or playing in the Championship. He's the only player in our squad, that seems to come over as a 'Billy big bollox'.... hopefully he'll prove me wrong, but something has seemed wrong since day one this season...regardless of his injury.

 

Elkstrom apparently has been very ill and lost lots of weight and building himself back up...unless you've heard differently BW?

Agreed we could have defended better at crosses...but I think our defence has been pretty good this season. 7th best in the division. 4th best offensively too.

As for 'positions'...I think the players we've brought in, are all flexible, and universal and can play in many 'positions'.

LJ is a very modern forward thinking manager. He adapts teams to play in different ways constantly. Looking around Europe at different managers and the way they play, and you will notice a lot of young modern managers molding their teams this way. Hoffenheim in Germany a prime example.

Football is quickly evolving...and it's moving quicker than fans can seemingly keep up.

We get stuck with 'old fashioned' formations and tactics...and when I say 'old fashioned'...only a couple seasons ago. Football is moving that quickly in the way it's being played.

The 'Neu Skool' is taking over by force it seems.

[formerly known as ivan]

Just saw the highlights. Seems as though Barnsley had identified him as the weak link as most their attacks came down his side. Looked as though he was struggling massively all afternoon.

[Fiale]

28 minutes ago, spudski said:

Just posted this in another thread..

Haven't seen the interview, but I've said from day one, it's Matthews attitude that needs working on, as well as his fitness and application. I really get the impression he doesn't want to be here...or playing in the Championship. He's the only player in our squad, that seems to come over as a 'Billy big bollox'.... hopefully he'll prove me wrong, but something has seemed wrong since day one this season...regardless of his injury.

 

Elkstrom apparently has been very ill and lost lots of weight and building himself back up...unless you've heard differently BW?

Agreed we could have defended better at crosses...but I think our defence has been pretty good this season. 7th best in the division. 4th best offensively too.

As for 'positions'...I think the players we've brought in, are all flexible, and universal and can play in many 'positions'.

LJ is a very modern forward thinking manager. He adapts teams to play in different ways constantly. Looking around Europe at different managers and the way they play, and you will notice a lot of young modern managers molding their teams this way. Hoffenheim in Germany a prime example.

Football is quickly evolving...and it's moving quicker than fans can seemingly keep up.

We get stuck with 'old fashioned' formations and tactics...and when I say 'old fashioned'...only a couple seasons ago. Football is moving that quickly in the way it's being played.

The 'Neu Skool' is taking over by force it seems.

 

When he came to us on loan last season and did really well I imagine he thought it would be enough to put him back in contention at Sunderland.

They bought him and I think he played only a few games before becoming injured, since then hes been struggling. He is still a really young player 24 (?) and could be a great asset here if he gets fit. I believe however he sees himself as a Premier league player, and struggling to come to terms that he's here with us. Maybe he is worried he has no role to play when he returns to Sunderland at the end of the season. Personally I would love for him to shake himself down and restart his career with us, because he is class, and he is young - a 3 year deal with a player who would be one of the best RB's in this league would be great business.... but it would need for him to want to reset/restart his career aspirations a little.

[spudski]

3 minutes ago, Fiale said:

 

When he came to us on loan last season and did really well I imagine he thought it would be enough to put him back in contention at Sunderland.

They bought him and I think he played only a few games before becoming injured, since then hes been struggling. He is still a really young player 24 (?) and could be a great asset here if he gets fit. I believe however he sees himself as a Premier league player, and struggling to come to terms that he's here with us. Maybe he is worried he has no role to play when he returns to Sunderland at the end of the season. Personally I would love for him to shake himself down and restart his career with us, because he is class, and he is young - a 3 year deal with a player who would be one of the best RB's in this league would be great business.... but it would need for him to want to reset/restart his career aspirations a little.

Well Sunderland look bloody awful defensively...if he can't get in that defence, then he needs, like you say, to reassess his aspirations maybe.

No good sulking and not putting 100% in. Players like that sulk around and can de detrimental to the squad.

Can understand LJ being unhappy, as it seems from what he has said, that they have done everything they can with diet and fitness regimes to get him fit. Is he the player addicted to fizzy drinks?

Would rather have Moore playing.

[1960maaan]

Mathews took a time to get up to match speed last year, when he did he was good. This year , when he eventually came he was back to lacking a preseason or at least match fitness. When he gets close , he picks up an injury and we start again. He seems the sort that takes a little longer getting up to match fitness, altough his attitude has be mentioned enough times on here to make you wonder.

I would say a right back and a striker would be on the radar, as for wingers , only if he's looking for a naturally right footed player to play on that side. We already have Freeman,Patterson and Odowda . 

[Fiale]

14 minutes ago, spudski said:

Well Sunderland look bloody awful defensively...if he can't get in that defence, then he needs, like you say, to reassess his aspirations maybe.

No good sulking and not putting 100% in. Players like that sulk around and can de detrimental to the squad.

Can understand LJ being unhappy, as it seems from what he has said, that they have done everything they can with diet and fitness regimes to get him fit. Is he the player addicted to fizzy drinks?

Would rather have Moore playing.

 

I agree, but what I wouldn't give to have last seasons Matthews on the pitch. If we were also able to sign last seasons Matthews for three years, I would be happy as RB is a weak spot for us, and I do feel he can do the business for us, we just need whatever to be resolved as it does us / him / the clubs no good.

If Matthews is leaving at the end of the season, and Little let go (I really do not see him as a top championship RB)  then we need 2 good RB's, one possibly in January to bolster the squad for the rest of this season, certainly one for next season. 

[Fiale]

3 minutes ago, 1960maaan said:

Mathews took a time to get up to match speed last year, when he did he was good. This year , when he eventually came he was back to lacking a preseason or at least match fitness. When he gets close , he picks up an injury and we start again. He seems the sort that takes a little longer getting up to match fitness, altough his attitude has be mentioned enough times on here to make you wonder.

I would say a right back and a striker would be on the radar, as for wingers , only if he's looking for a naturally right footed player to play on that side. We already have Freeman,Patterson and Odowda . 

 

I also don't think LJ want's to play with wingers as such, but 1 or 2 CM's with 3 or 4 fluid midfielders constantly changing positions - we do however need to drum into them that going wide is a option if there is space, as they do play to centrally at times.

[Ivorguy]

Why has everyone forgotten one of our own ....Zak?

[Fiale]

11 minutes ago, Ivorguy said:

Why has everyone forgotten one of our own ....Zak?

 

Has he even been on the bench for any game (cup ?).

 

Interesting we have players listed in our full first team squad that we have not seen at all or seen very little of so far... will be interesting when everyone is up and running to see what LJ can do..

 

 

[Ivorguy]

2 minutes ago, Fiale said:

 

Has he even been on the bench for any game (cup ?).

 

Interesting we have players listed in our full first team squad that we have not seen at all or seen very little of so far... will be interesting when everyone is up and running to see what LJ can do..

 

 

He's on loan at Accrington

[exAtyeoMax]

51 minutes ago, Fiale said:

 

When he came to us on loan last season and did really well I imagine he thought it would be enough to put him back in contention at Sunderland.

They bought him and I think he played only a few games before becoming injured, since then hes been struggling. He is still a really young player 24 (?) and could be a great asset here if he gets fit. I believe however he sees himself as a Premier league player, and struggling to come to terms that he's here with us. Maybe he is worried he has no role to play when he returns to Sunderland at the end of the season. Personally I would love for him to shake himself down and restart his career with us, because he is class, and he is young - a 3 year deal with a player who would be one of the best RB's in this league would be great business.... but it would need for him to want to reset/restart his career aspirations a little.

Plus there was the added incentive of getting in the Welsh squad for the Euros. I get the impression that he's not that interested in us anymore, but what I saw of him at QPR (?) he looked good.

[JasonM88]

42 minutes ago, Londoner said:

Because he was crap at MK but got away with it....and dire against Brighton and was at fault for 3 goals

One of the most stupid statements I've ever read. 

[JasonM88]

11 minutes ago, Londoner said:

Did you see the games???

Both of them. 1 good, 1 bad. But if you're going to write off a player for not only 2 games, but also his first 2 games in professional football, you're a joke.

[spudski]

2 minutes ago, Londoner said:

Oh I'm not it writing him off....I'm just stating fact. He wasn't good at MK, he was fortunate that the they didn't make the most of his poor positioning despite getting the chances.

And he wasn't Bad against Brighton, he was atrocious...

Might as well tell him to piss off then, and the rest of the academy lads, with that attitude fella...Christ did someone shag yer missus last night...you seem on a right offensive towards our players this morning.

[spudski]

2 minutes ago, Londoner said:

Absolutely not, but everyone knows that his performance against Brighton last season was one of the worst individual performances in recent years.

Not his fault, why he was picked and LJ branded the match "a free game" is beyond me.

To give the kid experience and we had injuries.

[spudski]

5 minutes ago, billywedlock said:

I understand about evolving tactics and positions, but , that I would assume is possible if players are coached from a very early age multiple positions. They do that in Germany but England ? Not yet from what I have seen. In the last group of games we have struggled to get any rhythm into our game (LJ says) and that comes from confidence, the ability to be brave (something else he said)  . If you change too much, and the players cannot keep up, you risk making that task harder. We have gone from total tactical intransigence to the other extreme. The ability to transform the team during games is clearly becoming more evident, the ability to switch rapidly from defence to attack, and how to pick a way through the oft used 2 blocks of 4 by away teams essential. But whilst I can see how Smith, O'neil, Reid, Freeman and Pack work in an evolving midfield, I am yet to understand the other three. But then none of them has managed to string together a number of 90 min appearances so that will not help, and they are young and learning. LJ has tried with those players signed a 4-2-3-1 with the obvious choices for the holding midfielders, and a very mobile three , linking to Tammy. That is where I saw O'dowda and Patterson for example fitting in well with Tomlin. I know he has used it on occasions, but maybe he cannot get his starting 11 where he needs it to be yet or the players to use it well enough. Hence he has tried other approaches, certainly the midfield 3 are not linking to Tammy, so he tried 2 up front on Saturday. It will not help if the full backs are not on their game, as they have (in the modern game) in my view, the toughest multi tasking role of any outfield player. If they are not performing, then it messes with the rest of the team performance. Be interesting to see how we line up against Brighton and a very "old fashioned" 4-4-2 , 7 clean sheets in 9 unbeaten matches. (Newcastle also playing 4-4-2 (1-1) most games too. With Mathews out of sorts, LJ may defer to 4-4-1-1 himself.

Never mind about formations , LJ will have been pulling his hair out about our throw in leading the Barnsley equaliser, and the defending on the byline that allowed Hammil to cut inside. Both pretty basic errors he would be hoping we would not be making 2-1 up away from home with 3 min left. 

 

I agree with a lot of that mate...and I think we as fans will be frustrated as much as LJ.

But i'm sure most fans will see, that we are trying to develop a young squad, and it will take time and there will be errors. It's the nature of the beast. We are far from the finished article.

It's nice we have the options and the flexibility.

I for one am enjoying the ride and the development...and am over the moon at our progress in the past year.

4 minutes ago, Londoner said:

Against promotion candidates and one of the best sides in the division? Mark Little was fit and benched.

Sorry but he was no where near ready, didn't start again, and is now a top Accrington. That is one that LJ did get very wrong

I think LJ got it spot on...he blooded the kid and gave him the experience. He found out where his weaknesses were...gave the kid a level to which he now knows he has to work towards. How else are these kids going to find out?

You can't keep playing them in the Academy and them doing well and never giving them a chance in the first team. Hence McCoulsky being given a start recently.

It's one of the draws for young kids to sign for us...knowing they will get a chance if they keep improving.

No point having an Academy otherwise.

[LondonBristolian]

10 minutes ago, Londoner said:

Well that's fact that's SL came out an questioned LJ directly about the "free game" comment contradicts your views.

I am all for the playing of youngsters.....but against one of the best sides in the division when in a relegation battle....bizarre decision.

He was directly at fault for 3 goals....he had a shocker

The fact you think Mark Little was fully fit contradicts your views somewhat.  He'd missed the previous game and had a late fitness test then decided he wasn't ready to start.  Pretty sure when Little came on in that game he showed he wasn't really fit to start...  Maybe he would have done better than Vyner or maybe he wouldn't have done but the idea that that LJ didn't pick a fully fit player to give a youngster a game is just making stuff up...

[LondonBristolian]

3 minutes ago, Londoner said:

Proof in the outcome....and the fact he didn't a start again. Yet.

Of course proof isn't in the outcome 'cos we don't know what the outcome of starting Little would've been. Perhaps Little would've done better, perhaps he'd have been exposed or perhaps he'd have aggravated his injury and been out for longer 'cos he wasn't fit to play 90 minutes.  Fact is we don't know.

Nonetheless that's actually besides my point.  What my point is not whether Vyner or Little should have started.  It's that you're being massively disingenuous in ignoring the fact that LJ had perfectly valid reasons not to start Little and in pretending he was fully fit. 

[devoncider]

Matthews was a class act against QPR, and has done okay from what I've seen of him at the Gate, this year and last.

He may well have had a shocker yesterday, but I'd still have him as our best RB - only Ayling was close and of course he is now at Leeds.

Vyner may be the answer LT, but in the here and now I'd play Matthews there.

[LondonBristolian]

Am I the only one who feels Matthews' performance against QPR to be a tad overstated?  He was decent enough but I thought us not having the option of bringing Little on to give us width (as LJ did against Fulham in the League Cup in another game where we were being thwarted going through the middle) was a major in the fact we weren't able to make the changes needed to get us back into the game...

[devoncider]

6 minutes ago, LondonBristolian said:

Am I the only one who feels Matthews' performance against QPR to be a tad overstated?  He was decent enough but I thought us not having the option of bringing Little on to give us width (as LJ did against Fulham in the League Cup in another game where we were being thwarted going through the middle) was a major in the fact we weren't able to make the changes needed to get us back into the game...

goes back to it being a game of opinions I suppose..

I was at Loftus Road with a Spurs supporting mate, and we both thought he was the best player in a red shirt (admittedly he didn't have too much competition in that regard).

He may not go on the bulldozing runs forward like Little, but his control, touch and final ball is better than ML.

Matthew's pace is also underrated too, a couple of times he has shown good speed to chase down a winger and diffuse a counter attack

[Chairman Mao]

Matthews is an excellent player. Was very good vs QPR and Blackburn. 

[Olé]

2 hours ago, Londoner said:

He wasn't good at MK, he was fortunate that the they didn't make the most of his poor positioning despite getting the chances.

Couldn't believe it the first time you wrote it, so reading this second description, I went back to check what I wrote at the time to make sure I'm not going mad "Thought Vyner was exceptional for a teenage debutant, thinking back to Aaron Brown, Dominic Barclay type debuts, our academy players are obviously now quality technique wise and ready to be pitched in, was very assured bar a couple of loose touches second half."

I can remember vaguely the loose touches and don't remember them taking much away from how technically comfortable he otherwise looked, something historically our young players have never done. Brighton wasn't good granted but how you can write him off across both games is beyond harsh. For what its worth I watched that game from a sideline view in the main stand and don't recall any comment on his positioning.

[LondonBristolian]

1 hour ago, devoncider said:

goes back to it being a game of opinions I suppose..

I was at Loftus Road with a Spurs supporting mate, and we both thought he was the best player in a red shirt (admittedly he didn't have too much competition in that regard).

He may not go on the bulldozing runs forward like Little, but his control, touch and final ball is better than ML.

Matthew's pace is also underrated too, a couple of times he has shown good speed to chase down a winger and diffuse a counter attack

It's a tricky one.  I'd actually agree he did what he did as well as anyone on the night.  I just felt that what he didn't do was the specific thing we needed against QPR - especially once their left-back went off and was replaced by a terrified looking substitute.  If we'd had a right-back who could push forward to support Tomlin, I really think it might have made the difference.  

[Juan Domingo Roldan]

Ayling doing brilliantly at LUFC.

[Aaron-Bcfc]

14 hours ago, JasonM88 said:

I disagree, for me he was class last season in most of the games he played, barring wolves. 

Fulham away, poor. People said he was brilliant because he cleared one off the line. Should've been more goals down at half time and everything was going through his side.

Hull away, poor.

Brentford away, awful. Worse than yesterday, tore apart all game by Canos.

That's 3 games that stand out in my mind where he was noticeably bad last season, I wasn't at Wolves.

[JasonM88]

33 minutes ago, Aaron-Bcfc said:

Fulham away, poor. People said he was brilliant because he cleared one off the line. Should've been more goals down at half time and everything was going through his side.

Hull away, poor.

Brentford away, awful. Worse than yesterday, tore apart all game by Canos.

That's 3 games that stand out in my mind where he was noticeably bad last season, I wasn't at Wolves.

Fulham away class.

hull away, everyone was shit, most definitely can't pin it on him.

Brentford I wasn't there. 

[robin_unreliant]

Sorry but doesn't Zak Vyner normally play at CB but was given a debut at RB? Same with Moore who I thought looked much better in his preferred CB position against Hull.

RB is clearly a problem for us as we have played two youngsters out of position there. However I think the lack of width in midfield also leaves them a bit exposed.

Against Hull I was struck by how damgerous their crossing was. We have brought in O'Dowda and Patterson who both have shown ability at times. However neither seems like a proper wide player who can put in a decent cross. So I think we need a proper, specialist wide player on the right of midfield before a RB.

I find it really frustrating that we seem unable to play with any width and rely on LT to thread it through the middle way too often. I also think this may contribute to our full backs and defence generally getting put under pressure. Joe Bryan seems to be the only player who has the ability to put in a decent cross but playing LB restricts him getting forward too.