Calista
Well-Known Member
I agree, yet you casually dropped in a reference to Palmer in response to Allen's scoring stats.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
oddly as he’s scoring record this season has been something of a revelation
fatso
Well-Known Member
Tbf he did well today, we needed a goal, and he provided it, so credit where its due.
But does that mean he's good enough to be starting every week? ... Not in my book,
.... but if he can impact games more regularly he'd be worth keeping as a squad filler.
But if we are ambitious, we need much better.
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Deleted member 5849
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It is tbf sometimes hard to avoid it, as the opposing view is often would you drop Palmer for Allen? Well, the answer from the manager is often yes! That doesn't btw mean that by definition Palmer is useless, or that there might not be times in the future when Allen is dropped for him in return!
Now, this ain't a Palmer thread and you're right, Palmer has very different strengths and weaknesses to Allen, but there does seem to be a serious blind spot wrt Allen just recently. We could list all our players' weaknesses, and there is merit in that from time to time(!) but at least be fair about it when doing it.
Calista
Well-Known Member
I couldn't agree more, and in recent weeks the efforts to win on the internet have become more and more ludicrous, with both Palmer and Allen the subject of some pretty far-fetched nonsense. One of them can't run, and the other can only run.
I think most people will give Allen credit for being a hard working team player that works his socks off to make up for his technical inabilities. He does that very well but Allen’s a lower league player that’s come along with a club that’s progressing slowly since league 2.
However I’m not going to be swung by a goal today. I’m genuinely chuffed for him but the same posts and opinions will still reappear next week or the week after. I personally don’t think he will be part of the future next season.
Anyone flip flopping is a hypocrite of the highest order.
However I’m not going to be swung by a goal today. I’m genuinely chuffed for him but the same posts and opinions will still reappear next week or the week after. I personally don’t think he will be part of the future next season.
Anyone flip flopping is a hypocrite of the highest order.
olderskyblue
Well-Known Member
Correct, to progress, we do need better. That’s been stated from the start, but it’s all the Allen is shit, take him off etc that’s nonsense.
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Deleted member 5849
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Bar Gyokeres, and maybe Hamer (but he misplaces too many passes) we'd need a whole new team to compete in the top flight!
He's had a couple of poor matches I think we'd be calling for most players to be rotated out at that point but I take your point.
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Deleted member 5849
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It's slightly nonsensical to say we need better to progress anyway, as that applies to just about every player we'll have until we're intergalactic champions.
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Deleted member 5849
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On for double figures in goals this season. Even if he doesn't score again, it's a perfectly respectable total for a midfielder.
stupot07
Well-Known Member
He's already on 2 more than any midfielder has achieved in a season since we were promoted.
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Deleted member 9744
Guest
Did really well to get into the position to score today and took the chance well. Looked a different player after too and even got some tackles in.
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Deleted member 5849
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I'll refer you to my opening post about what his role appears to be. However, if Norton-Cuffy is... suspect (to put it mildly!) defensively, then the need for Allen to tackle rather than hold up because of where he finds himself on the pitch relative to his wing back can change somewhat.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
Nah Cuffey is great and Gyokeres isn’t good enough for the premier league
No doubt arsenal Man City next season we will see Cuffey and JWE starting against each other and Gyokeres still not good enough for the premier league
SkyBlueMatt
Well-Known Member
Another game, another goal. Credit to him, the hard work is paying off with some rewards. Happy for him and VERY happy with another win. He's not a star player but he's providing real tangible contributions along with his hard work.
Every time he scores it must taste so bitter to those that have done nothing but slag him off.
At least "they'll be happy to be proved wrong" after spouting nothing but negativity for months.
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Every time he scores it must taste so bitter to those that have done nothing but slag him off.
At least "they'll be happy to be proved wrong" after spouting nothing but negativity for months.
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I've been a big critic but his improvement over the last 18 months is remarkable really. Fair play to JA. A real success story for MR/AV. Seemed to gain confidence after his goal today. He's actually got pretty good feet when he believes in himself
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Brylowes
Well-Known Member
Definitely respectable, if he stays fit there’s no reason why he shouldn’t make double figures, he’s a midfielder who loves to get forward and into the box and when the ball comes to him he knows how to finish.
Like all players he has weaknesses in his game but regular goal scoring midfielders are a rarity and that’s exactly what he is at the moment.
Long May it continue.
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Deleted member 5849
Guest
I see as ever he's being singled out. He's he had a poor first half yesterday, yes if changing the system taking him off was right, but most of the team had a poor first half, and he also isn't long back from injury.
Overall, a key part in getting us to the playoffs, so well done Jamie. Hope you stamped all over the sign asking for your shirt and rubbed shit over it however.
Overall, a key part in getting us to the playoffs, so well done Jamie. Hope you stamped all over the sign asking for your shirt and rubbed shit over it however.
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Sky Blue Pete
Well-Known Member
I presume he wasn’t fit or was poorly as godden made such a difference and robins hardly ever changes things at 45
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Deleted member 5849
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Tbf two up front allowed us to move up the pitch a bit, and we had looked better last ten of first half too.
Happy to say just a poor game, no excuses. He wasn't alone though!
Sky_Blue_Dreamer
Well-Known Member
Maybe a case of short memories.
When we had Godden playing up top with Vik before we kept saying there was a huge gap between attack and midfield, we weren't picking up the second ball and basically we just kept turning the ball over. With the extra AM you should have that support there to pick up on the second ball. It seemed to work well at Boro second leg.
With the difference in the way ourselves and Luton play, you'd have thought having that extra midfielder would suit us, as we could play the progressive passing game better and have people contesting the second balls.
But somehow that didn't happen. Maybe Allen's size meant he was getting bullied. I was surprised at just how isolated Gyok looked against the three CB's as all the midfield looked to be deep and not surprised we kept conceding possession. There should have been space there as they were playing an aggressive press but we just didn't look like we could pass to each other.
Godden coming on did force them to have to mark someone other than Gyok and he had a bit more space. But again, at times Gyok had the ball and had his head down trying to muscle past his man when a pass would have probably been the better option. We had started to be getting more into the game in the last 10mins of the first half and the second half was a continuation of that, rather than the tide completely turning due to the sub. I think Luton just began to run out of steam to play that press.
The box with Allen yesterday didn't work, but we've had plenty of games where two up top hasn't been a great success either.
When we had Godden playing up top with Vik before we kept saying there was a huge gap between attack and midfield, we weren't picking up the second ball and basically we just kept turning the ball over. With the extra AM you should have that support there to pick up on the second ball. It seemed to work well at Boro second leg.
With the difference in the way ourselves and Luton play, you'd have thought having that extra midfielder would suit us, as we could play the progressive passing game better and have people contesting the second balls.
But somehow that didn't happen. Maybe Allen's size meant he was getting bullied. I was surprised at just how isolated Gyok looked against the three CB's as all the midfield looked to be deep and not surprised we kept conceding possession. There should have been space there as they were playing an aggressive press but we just didn't look like we could pass to each other.
Godden coming on did force them to have to mark someone other than Gyok and he had a bit more space. But again, at times Gyok had the ball and had his head down trying to muscle past his man when a pass would have probably been the better option. We had started to be getting more into the game in the last 10mins of the first half and the second half was a continuation of that, rather than the tide completely turning due to the sub. I think Luton just began to run out of steam to play that press.
The box with Allen yesterday didn't work, but we've had plenty of games where two up top hasn't been a great success either.
Sky Blue Pete
Well-Known Member
I think that too yesterday
SkyblueDad
Well-Known Member
I think we are all forgetting despite a very iffy first half we didn’t lose, we drew the third draw with Luton this season, as for Allen Mark Robins had to change tact at half-time & we were a lot better for it, that’s what the subs bench is for.
Calista
Well-Known Member
I'll go out on a limb and say that in a first half where Hamer was giving ball away for fun, Sheaf was hesitant, Vik was completely shackled and the back three were all over the place, Allen was one of our 'least worst' players. The change was tactical, and made a difference. Sadly I think the box was the wrong choice against that lot, and it cost us.
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Deleted member 9744
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He's done well this season and worked hard and has become an ok Championship player. But if we want to progress we need to upgrade. Fine to keep as a squad player.
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Deleted member 5849
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So, lovely incisive reverse pass when shaping to shoot, lovely driving run through the middle to inject some energy.
Sooner he's fit to start the better. I had worried it'd take him a while to get up to speed, but his substitute showings suggest otherwise.
Sooner he's fit to start the better. I had worried it'd take him a while to get up to speed, but his substitute showings suggest otherwise.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Said on the main thread but when there was loud booing he looked quite shocked.
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Deleted member 5849
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The one thing with falling down the leagues is we got a sense of how bad things could *really* be, so that gave some credit for sticky times. Hope last season doesn't make us forget that - there were times before in the Championship when we were overly Billy Big Bollocks for no real reason.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
I can understand the visceral frustration and ranting as I have done tonight on a forum. But at games I can count on one hand the times I’ve done it in the past 25 years, it’s the one guaranteed thing to stick in a player’s mind.
Wright looks a beaten man already.
Matt smith
Well-Known Member
Who? The gaffer?