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Post by robstokie on Jan 22, 2023 10:02:18 GMT
Did well yesterday - if that's a poor game like some on here have said, then he can have a poor game every week! Think he is quality, but he is someone who does need to be playing every week to keep sharp as he's not a naturally fit boy, plus he's a confidence player too, so he can hopefully push on again with a run in the side!
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Post by robstokie on Jan 18, 2023 17:19:01 GMT
Linked with Derby now Fuck me, you gotta feel sorry for Derby fans - first administration and then having Chester AND Flint on their books AT THE SAME TIME? I look forward to seeing them play together at the heart of a back 3/4/5
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Post by robstokie on Jan 18, 2023 17:00:56 GMT
He'd be top scorer if we kept him. To be fair that's not a high bar to beat. Would have been better value for money than Dwight Gayle was anyway
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Post by robstokie on Jan 18, 2023 16:58:53 GMT
Just get the feeling we will spend the rest of January chasing this, at the detriment of looking at others in his position and others, only for him to be denied a work permit. Plus, doesn't look like a massive upgrade, without any experience of the physicality of English football. Would love to be proved wrong on this one, but I'm not holding my breath on it.
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Post by robstokie on Jan 18, 2023 16:54:33 GMT
I wouldn't be against getting rid of Alex Neil - he's dour, passionless and hasn't improved us in any way - in some ways we look even worse than under MON - especially since the world cup break we have looked disjointed, unfit, disorganised behind the ball and lacking any threat coming forward.
The problem is this - firstly, we are an absolute shambles both on and off the pitch - our recruitment for example sways between depressing, predictable boring old plodders looking for one last pay day, and skillful, enigmatic mercenaries who down tools at the first sign of adversity. I get we are restricted by FFP, but why can't we for once be a club that promotes hungry young players, both from within and from the lower leagues with potential to develop them, instead of only turning to the kids as a last resort. Any manager who can come into this club with the unrest and the shambolic running behind the scenes and achieve even modest success (such as finishing top half) will have done a great job in my opinion.
The second problem is that the board will continue to dither and ignore the issues on the pitch until it's too late, when they will then act in a futile attempt to bring the ashes of a mournful season back to life - they dithered with Sparky until the Rot had well and truly set in, leaving no time for Lambert to thoroughly assess the squad and bring in what he thought we needed, they got rid of Rowett in the middle of the season as he dared to question the status quo behind the scenes -, the same status quo that led to this downward spiral gaining momentum in the first place, letting Mad Nathan kill the season to implement his 'process', they waited until we were 6 points off safety to get rid of Mad Nathan, meaning MON had to pull off a miracle to keep us up, and they gave MON, who had lost the fanbase last season the entire summer to rebuild the team in his image, then sack him a few days before the window shut leaving AN with no time to assess and fix our shortcomings. Furthermore, we all know that the board will invariably plump for another yesterday's man, another British manager with a middling record in the lower leagues as they are too myopic to think outside the box and embrace anything modern, all meaning that we will be back in this position time and again under the Coates family as lessons clearly have not been learnt.
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Post by robstokie on Jan 7, 2023 14:33:07 GMT
Question is will he get the tambourine out and lead an impromptu version of Kumbayah all the way back to St. Mary's?
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Post by robstokie on Jan 4, 2023 23:42:46 GMT
Where do I start? All the loan signings save for maybe Sterling and Kilkenny, who have both looked ok in the limited time they have played (due to injuries) then
Clucas - the definition of passenger, when fit of course. Flint - a taller ganglier version of Chester. Laurent - nothing player, doesn't do the donkey work or offer anything on the ball. Gayle - a busted flush, along with Clucas another high earner. Bursik or Bonham - neither better than a back up, so why keep both?
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Post by robstokie on Jan 2, 2023 18:45:12 GMT
Has to be a 0 - same ineffective 3 at the back, same impotent performance and still he persists with Smallbone who is absolutely garbage, Fox who is not a centre half and Clarke who although decent enough coming forward is garbage defensively. Switched off yet again at the end to chuck away yet another game at home.
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Post by robstokie on Dec 31, 2022 18:21:52 GMT
It's symptomatic for a team low on confidence and in a rut, play well for an hour, miss a few chances that we should be taking and having the one we did stick away ruled out for a dubious reason - then concede a comedy goal that should have been dealt with with a foot in before we allowed the situation to unfold - then react to that adversity by completely losing any semblance of organisation or shape, allowing Burnley to see out the game without too much fuss.
We need to be looking at individuals in there to be taking leadership and accountability by dealing with situations behind the ball at root, and looking to be more positive and proactive when in possession or pressing high up the pitch - there were chances to be had by pressing that keeper and the centre Half's even after their goal, but we just folded and gave up, heads went down, no one talked and we became a shapeless mess. Hopefully we will bring in players who, as well as providing what we lack in key areas (Keeper, ball winning midfielder, winger, Striker and another Centre half), can also bring leadership and communication to the group, which we lack.
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Alex neil
Dec 31, 2022 18:10:52 GMT
via mobile
Post by robstokie on Dec 31, 2022 18:10:52 GMT
It's a tough one ain't it? It doesn't help that we switch between a 3 and a 4 at the back, we still don't look like a coherent side bar the odd 15 minute spell here and there and his insistence on sticking with Smallbone, who is a passenger for large parts of games doesn't help either. That, the same reactive subs that MON made regardless of how a game was unfolding, and selecting fox as a left sided centre half in a 3 over Taylor and Jagielka. However he has kept us just about out of the real slog of a relegation battle so far without ever looking totally convincing, so that has to qualify as some sort of success considering the unbalanced disorganised and blunt mess that he inherited with little scope to shape with his own players. Think judgement has to be passed after January and after any new signings settle into the side, and we can start to see what his blueprint is.
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Post by robstokie on Dec 31, 2022 18:01:59 GMT
They look so much like us circa 2019 it's scary - a lot of the football is actually quite pretty, albeit rather ineffective but there's no semblance of any defensive organisation there. By all accounts, he changed between a 3 and a 4 at the back a few times today, which he did here as well - which might work occasionally if implemented appropriately to negate the opposition's threats, but to change it constantly leads to miscommunication and confusion, which in turn leads to losing trust and belief in a manager - it's a slippery slope. Any chance the Bible bashing dwarf might see Smallbone as the saviour?
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Post by robstokie on Dec 31, 2022 17:55:46 GMT
Every week, his name appears among the starters, and yet I've only seen him play well twice (at most). The bloke's a complete fairy- lightweight, timid in the tackle- and completely unsuited to the battleground that is a Championship midfield. It's not even like he's particularly good on the ball. His passing I'd say is no better than average, and he doesn't seem the type to go past people either. I don't know what he's supposed to offer- he's a complete nothing player, yet the manager seems to have an inexplicable hard-on for him. His constant inclusion is a massive reason why we are where we are. He's effectively a young, white, bald Sawyer's ain't he? So lightweight it's laughable, kills momentum in possession with silly flicks that turn the ball over or unimaginative backwards passes. Doesn't offer anything behind the ball or any threat, even when in good positions. Powell starts from hereon in, maybe that Pritchard lad if we are bringing him in as a Powell replacement! Hopefully will be fucked off back to Southampton where the nutty dwarf sees him as the answer at the top of the diamond!
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Post by robstokie on Dec 6, 2022 23:09:39 GMT
All the best to him - think that the set up there, with the underdog mentality and zero expectations of success will suit him.
As for his time here, he did a great job keeping us up after the Bible bashing dwarf wrecked havoc, and promoting the youngsters - the writing was on the wall when he continued to persist with that disasterous back 3 and undid a lot of the great work he did getting rid of the deadwood by replacing them with cheaper deadwood - the likes of Flint, Laurent, Smallbone and Gayle
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Post by robstokie on Oct 25, 2022 10:59:43 GMT
This is only the start of the Alex Neil era and I’m already seeing plenty of positives. The performances are much better but we just need to find goals and confidence. It’ll come. And for those booing, don’t ever sing ‘We’ll be with you every step along the way’, because you aren’t. Not just goals - we need to get some decent defenders also - and a keeper. So in summary not much wrong that buying some defenders, strikers and a goalkeeper would not solve I am actually with you, I think we have a manager that is half-decent. The players look fitter and more up for it and the performances are not far off, we also look a bit more organised. I think we finally have a manager that will bring in the players needed in the window. For the time being, he has to start getting a tune out of Campbell, see if we can get Powell up and running and we also have Brown - so there are goals in this team - Lewis has a decent eye for goal also. Up to our new manager to get the best form out of his players and I think he will get there. Defensively we desperately need Souttar back and another quality central defender at the right age - a 40-year-old having to play 2 games a week beggars belief for a club that claims to be ambitious and supposedly wanting promotion. Think that an experienced, dependable keeper is an absolute must - Bursik doesn't inspire confidence and gives away preventable goals on a regular basis, Bonham just seems to be somewhat short of the standard we need and Fielding has played something like 4 games in as many years, so would be very ring-rusty at best. Also a holding mid - Laurent seems to be a nothing player who doesn't seem to contribute anything to the spine or even coming forward, Thompson can do a job there, but we look exposed without him in there. Finally, I think we need a goalscorer, someone who can lead the line effectively and pop up regularly with goals - Gayle lacks confidence, and that killer instinct, at the moment he doesn't look like scoring as long as I've got a hole in my arse! Delap has been, shall we say, underwhelming, but maybe it was too much for us all to pin our hopes on a kid who has played half a dozen games for Man City off the bench, Campbell is hit and miss at the moment, I think he does need an extended run in one position (namely the right of a front 3) to find his form on a consistent basis, plus needs to play regularly as I suspect he's not a naturally fit lad, and Brown, as much as we love him for his work rate, he's not the answer if we ever want to seriously look to push on, hes great to have as an option though. Looking further forward in the future, we need another centre half as Jags ain't going to go on forever, Flint is awful, and Neil doesn't seem to rate Conor Taylor, leaving Wilmot and Souttar (when fit) as the only options at the moment. An upgrade on Fox to cover Tymon, and a left sided wide option although I would be tempted to push Tymon further forward. Would, on the evidence so far, look to bring Sterling in permanently when his deal at Chelsea expires. Also, a number 10 as Powell could well be gone in the summer and Smallbone is far too lightweight and lacking in end product.
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Post by robstokie on Oct 25, 2022 10:36:22 GMT
Not seen a thread on him yet but far from impressed with him so far. Seems to take the easy way all the time and doesn’t really cover the defence either. I think Thompson is better and we generally seem to play better with Thompson in the side. Feel free to abuse me😉 Think Thompson is underrated personally. His best role is undoubtedly as the holding player in a midfield 3, and we look a lot more stable with him in the side - he does a lot of the donkey work sitting in, winning balls through the middle of the park and starting attacks from deep as he can pick a pass as well. Unfortunately his versatility has gone against him with regards to him holding a regular place in the side, with him being redeployed to wing back and in every central midfield role (think he's played as a 10 once or twice too). As for Laurent, he just seems to be a nothing player - don't see what he offers as he's not a ball winner, not a great passer, doesn't run at people and certainly doesn't contribute in any way coming forward - and symptomatic of MON era signings ie. A cast off to join a long list of cast offs and past it plodders.
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Post by robstokie on Oct 3, 2022 22:58:19 GMT
Who did we come from behind to beat? Must have been quite a day! Huddersfield? Even then it was a comedy own goal, albeit from a killer ball from Mario Vrancic that turned out to be the winner We are beyond gutless, the way they just gave up yesterday was frightening - theres a good 4 or 5 I don't want to see in a Stoke shirt again, and what makes it worse is that some of these mercenaries are keeping our kids out of the side - eg. Fox over Taylor, Fosu over DWP.
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Post by robstokie on Oct 3, 2022 22:53:24 GMT
Bursik
Clarke Taylor Flint Sterling
Baker Thompson Laurent
Campbell Delap DWP
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Post by robstokie on Oct 3, 2022 22:51:41 GMT
Smallbone is a lightweight S.Ireland I would have said a young, white and bald Romaine Sawyers - just as lightweight and equally wasteful with possession, either giving it away or killing momentum.
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Post by robstokie on Aug 25, 2022 16:38:06 GMT
I'm going to say 6.5 - pulled off an absolute miracle with the mess that Rowett and Jones had left behind to keep us up playing some decent football along the way, plus deserves credit for promoting our youngsters and cutting the wage bill. However, reverting towards dour risk averse tactics after securing survival has cost him, he was found wanting when it came to pushing us on and we were never going to push beyond lower mid table with his negativity, insistence on a back 3 and stubbornness to change it up during games, even when Stevie Wonder could see things needed shaking up.
He goes with my thanks for the survival miracle and my best wishes, and am pleased that the board haven't dithered until it's too late yet again.
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Post by robstokie on Aug 23, 2022 23:48:42 GMT
4-3-3 for me
Bonham
Jagielka Taylor Wilmot Fox
Thompson Kilkenny Baker
Fosu Delap Brown
Subs
Bursik Flint Smallbone Sparrow Campbell Gayle DWP
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Post by robstokie on Aug 16, 2022 18:56:18 GMT
This is one where we have to go with the back 4, just go hell for leather and hope it comes off. Play percentages and for territory instead of this aimless passing around the back which kills momentum and allows the opposition to turn over possession deep inside our own half - we go 4-2-3-1
Bonham - think he's more reliable, Bursik is a liability
Taylor Jagielka - old but more reliable than flint and can coach Taylor through Wilmot - need Fosu further forward, Duhaney is gash and Sparrow isn't ready Tymon - Fox is just about functional as a left back in a 4 so him if Tymons injured
Baker Thompson
Campbell - think his best position is on the right of a 3 behind striker cutting in Smallbone Fosu
Brown - need a target man, Brown gets the nod here for his pressing from front and running.
Subs
The bench doesn't even bear thinking about
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Post by robstokie on Aug 2, 2022 9:50:57 GMT
I may be in the minority here, but I would give him one more chance. Yes, his attitude has left a lot to be desired at times, but he's still reasonably young, you could see that there is a good, if raw, young player In there when he actually got an extended run in the team (think that was actually under Nutty Nath), he's a Stoke lad of course which I personally think we always need in the side as it's someone that should actually care and drag people along with him and of course tighten bonds between the club and the fanbase, plus we don't actually have an actual right back/wing back - Clarke is a centre half, as is Wilmot, Sparrow is still a kid who has been converted from a centre mid and Duhaney is barely conference standard.
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Post by robstokie on Aug 2, 2022 9:44:42 GMT
There are plenty of managers and we are guilty of labelling too often. You have your punts, lower league or untested chaps: John Terry Michael Carrick Manning at MK Dons Joy Barton? Rory Delap?? Ryan Shawcross??? Plenty of others... Then you have your bang average chaps who have been there and done that but have they moved on in the same way football has? Sean Dyche Chris Hughton Mick McCarthy Roy Hodgson Claudio Ranieri Martin O'Neill Then you have your chaps that failed recently, could they still do a job? Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Slaven Bilic Sabri Lamouchi Phillip Cocu Then you have the (probably) unreachables: Frank De Boer Andre Villas-Boas Rafa Benitez Marcelo Bielsa No matter which list you look at, or what would interest us fans or the board, they are all a risk. There is no guarantee in football, so for me they are ALL a punt. What is the problem is the general direction of the club, something behind the scenes doesn't currently function. 2 of the worst managers we have had in the last 50 years shouldn't be succeeding and outperforming us in the same league. Whoever (if ever) replaces Michael O'Neill will be hamstrung immediately and on course for failure until we resolve this. Edit: Just for the record, it's not working with MoN so I do think we need to change the manager at the moment. I think we are looking at Dean Holden (stinks of Chic Bates, but exactly the cheap and uninspiring appointment that our board seems to make) or delving into the yesterday's men - Chris Coleman, Gary Megson, Steve McClaren or if we are very lucky, Alan Pardew! I would have suggested Joey Barton given his track record at Fleetwood and Bristol Rovers, but have learnt he's up for beating his wife, and if the club even entertain hiring such a loathsome individual, then I, amongst many others I suspect, will have to reconsider whether we want to put our hand into our pocket to support the club. Think MON's time here is up - yes, we started well last season (do think we did get the rub of the green in a lot of those games) and how he kept us up after the Nutty Nath debacle was nothing short of miraculous, but the last 18 months or so generally have been uninspiring to say the least, negative shape, tactics, substitutions, stubbornness to change despite it not working and shoehorning players into a system that doesn't suit them for the most part. 41 points in 36 games (near relegation form) shows this is not a blip yet the 'lessons have been learnt' clearly hasn't. We are tailspinning back to where we were 3 years ago, without any glimmer of improvement on the horizon. Unfortunately, until we are cut well adrift with little to no chance of getting out of it, the board will dither, delay making the call and accept mediocrity at best.
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Post by robstokie on Jul 5, 2022 16:10:55 GMT
Please let this be true! Thought he was lazy, killed momentum in possession, lightweight and gave the ball away far too easily. Hopefully we will go in for another no 10 who can drive at people and create. As for Maja, would be worth a punt providing we can bring in someone else to play as a focal point - think there is a player in Maja but can we afford to chuck our eggs in one basket and hope that it clicks for him?
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Post by robstokie on Jun 21, 2022 17:35:32 GMT
It's funny ain't it as ever since he had that massive dip before he got dropped and left, none of our keepers have been that great, or even consistently solid, with the exception of Adam Davies.
Think we do need a new keeper, but not him. If we could get Darlow, or Even Brice Samba from Forest If they decide to upgrade now theyve gone up I would be happy. Doesn't seem to be a priority for MON as we've resigned Frank Fielding as third choice, and can't see us getting rid of another keeper either.
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Post by robstokie on Jun 7, 2022 11:42:26 GMT
Aden Flint 21/22 38 League appearances 6 Goals + 2 Assists Is not a bad return for a Centre-back Add Vrancic + Bakers dead ball skills into the mix... 33 next month. Might work out ,might not. Don't really want to become a dad's army,but we probably don't have much choice in the current climate. Would rather us focus on younger players further down the pyramid, plus I feel we have gaping holes that need to be filled elsewhere - namely a right back, a ball winner and a target man before we even look at centre halves, where we already have 5 (plus Okagbue and Fox can fill in on the left if we are really short). I live in South Wales, so know a fair few Baadiff supporters, and their opinion for what it's worth is not exactly positive - slow cumbersome and past it is the general gist of it. Plus I can't imagine him filling the mould of what MON seems to want as a ball playing centre-half.
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Post by robstokie on Jun 6, 2022 18:16:33 GMT
First thing - we need to ditch this Back 3 nonsense - it's so negative, particularly at home, invites teams onto us and costs us real width coming forward as the wing backs can be pinned in by a dynamic winger/full back pairing which then allows the opposition to play in our half and break us down without any outlet for us to relieve pressure through the middle. I would also look to play a more direct and effective game based on territory (percentages) rather than possession to suit what we already have and simplify what we are trying to do, also allowing us to take risks whilst coming forward with a much higher tempo, utilising width and movement off the ball to create spaces and being proactive rather than reactive when in possession.
With regards to recruitement - I think that defensively we have the personnel, if not the right system - as said above I would go back to basics with a flat back 4 with the primary job of defending without any responsibility to try and build from the back (with the addition of a right back and a dependable keeper) and we have players coming forward who certainly have the tools to hurt teams at this level (Tyrese, Jacob, Powell, Vrancic when managed well, Doughty and DWP offer width too - a target man and a right sided winger and I think we are covered) but the issue is midfield - we have finally got the box-to-box powerhouse in Lewis Baker, but we need an out and out ball winner in there, as well as cover in the box to box role (little Joe is not a ball winner for me, plus I think his days are done here - Thompson has been solid in a deeper lying role, but I think we need someone who offers more of a physical presence in there). To address the above, I obviously want us to bring in ready made options with a track record of success at this level who also have time on their side, but, with the implications of Financial Fair Play, I would rather us look towards youth, and look towards younger players who are developing a reputation in league's 1/2 rather than bringing in aging old plodders (Chester, Mikel, Fletcher types) and skimp on paying any fees (which, by the way, would have been more than negated with the signing on fees and higher wages we would have to pay 'names' over younger, hungrier players)
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Post by robstokie on May 10, 2022 18:01:19 GMT
Allen & Vrancic getting new deals stinks of us constantly handing deals to the likes of Cameron, Johnson etc. When it was clear it was time for them to go and we just wouldn't. Proves once again lessons still have not been learned. We probably had no choice with Vrancic once he played x games though - and looks 99% sure Allen will go. Can't say I'm too disappointed to keep Vrancic as cover next season - think that due to circumstance he was overplayed and played out of position on occasion too. As back up for (hopefully) a fully fit Powell, coming on for 20 minutes here and there to allow us to manage Powell or try something different, as well as maybe starting the occasional game, he will be fine - his form at the start of the season, particularly at home was tremendous and he made the difference in a number of tight games at our place too! As for Allen, hopefully he will go to Swansea - nothing against him, but we need to move on and bring in someone who can compete physically and is an actual ball winner, someone who we can also look to develop for the future too - we are crying out for a proper holding mid and as long as Allen is at the club, MON will see him as the answer, even though it's proven time and again it doesn't work!
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Post by robstokie on May 7, 2022 18:49:08 GMT
If Fox was on a Glacier Mint, he’d fuckin stumble and fall off 🤣 Remember chatting to a Wednesday fan a while back He still bemoaned us for taking Glenn Whelan off them all those years back, he loved him He rated Fletcher aswell and would rather they still had him I then brought Morgan Fox up to which he immediately apologised…… A very strange signing from MON To be fair, Fox has had a few decent games on the left of a back 3 - QPR away and Boro home, and is a passable, if not exactly great, left back in a 4, plus is on a heck of a lot less than Chester who is generally even more of a liability! Maybe he's one that we can keep about to sit on the bench running his contract down if we have another injury Crisis if we don't sign another centre half/left back option, behind Souttar, Jagielka, Wilmot, Forrester, Taylor and potentially Okagbue if he is as highly rated as MON suggested when he was training with the first team!
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Post by robstokie on May 6, 2022 20:40:01 GMT
Yes please, can play as an attacking midfielder or across the front line - he is absolute quality I reckon. Would much rather this than Vrancic (who did start the season well but has faded) or Sawyers (lightweight and a liability who kills momentum). Hopefully we can for once look to promote the kids and look to settle with a back 4 and play wingers or a front 3, instead of setting up negatively with a squad full of plodders.
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