Josh eccles (6 Viewers)

[Skybluekyle]

No chance. We create nothing for the firepower we have upfront. Teams play through us with embarrassing ease.

Defence and midfield is holding us back, 100%.

I'm starting to think Rudoni playing the free no 10 role is causing teams to overload us in the centre.

Revert to a flat three, with rotation, hopefully should go some way to negate that.

 

---

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I'm starting to think Rudoni playing the free no 10 role is causing teams to overload us in the centre.

Revert to a flat three, with rotation, hopefully should go some way to negate that.

I don’t think it’s Rudoni’s fault. Of the players taking ‘the easy options’ today, I think Sheaf and Eccles were guilty of this. They make some lovely switches, but they’re both guilty or either a) taking 2-3 passes to achieve the switch or b) just not putting the ball behind defences when forwards make runs. In my view, they are good as individuals (Sheaf better than Eccles imo), just together they are too similar. The best teams shown how one dimensional we are on the ball in the opposition half.

The same could be said of Bidwell and MVE, I don’t think they took on anyone out wide and several times they passed it backwards to a CM or CB rather than getting the ball in the box.

Something I’d consider is a midfield 3 of Torp-Rudoni-Sheaf but the issue here is a) we’ve tried Rudoni-Eccles-Torp and b) Torp has shown nothing to deserve a starting berth over Eccles. Perhaps Rudoni and Sheaf/Eccles behind 2 strikers? I don’t know.

If we want to do anything this season, we need to have a season changing signing at CM come in January. Be it a loan, free agent or big money signing, I don’t care - they just need to have a different profile to Sheaf and Eccles.

 

[Skybluekyle]

I don’t think it’s Rudoni’s fault. Of the players taking ‘the easy options’ today, I think Sheaf and Eccles were guilty of this. They make some lovely switches, but they’re both guilty or either a) taking 2-3 passes to achieve the switch or b) just not putting the ball behind defences when forwards make runs. In my view, they are good as individuals (Sheaf better than Eccles imo), just together they are too similar. The best teams shown how one dimensional we are on the ball in the opposition half.

The same could be said of Bidwell and MVE, I don’t think they took on anyone out wide and several times they passed it backwards to a CM or CB rather than getting the ball in the box.

Something I’d consider is a midfield 3 of Torp-Rudoni-Sheaf but the issue here is a) we’ve tried Rudoni-Eccles-Torp and b) Torp has shown nothing to deserve a starting berth over Eccles. Perhaps Rudoni and Sheaf/Eccles behind 2 strikers? I don’t know.

If we want to do anything this season, we need to have a season changing signing at CM come in January. Be it a loan, free agent or big money signing, I don’t care - they just need to have a different profile to Sheaf and Eccles.

Yeah, apologies, I do not mean to say Rudoni is at fault himself, only his role as a free roaming midfielder.

 

[Nuskyblue]

Yeah, apologies, I do not mean to say Rudoni is at fault himself, only his role as a free roaming midfielder.

I see what you're saying, sometimes he seems to be almost as far forward as the CF when we're in a defensive shape. We could definitely benefit with him dropping in when we don't have the ball.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Yeah, apologies, I do not mean to say Rudoni is at fault himself, only his role as a free roaming midfielder.

The issue is players not performing in a way the coaching staff want them to. On one hand, I understand why MR will be frustrated with that. On the other hand, he needs to consider if the players can execute his tactical instructions. Both Sheaf and Eccles are good at keeping play alive and recycling possession, splitting defences open and getting assists hasn’t been their strengths. That was evident in our performances last season against top half teams.

I see what you're saying, sometimes he seems to be almost as far forward as the CF when we're in a defensive shape. We could definitely benefit with him dropping in when we don't have the ball.

He does this quite a lot to be fair and there have been games this season where he’s ended up playing CM with Eccles. Right now he’s our top goal scorer in the league so we need him in shooting positions.

 

[Nuskyblue]

The issue is players not performing in a way the coaching staff want them to. On one hand, I understand why MR will be frustrated with that. On the other hand, he needs to consider if the players can execute his tactical instructions. Both Sheaf and Eccles are good at keeping play alive and recycling possession, splitting defences open and getting assists hasn’t been their strengths. That was evident in our performances last season against top half teams.


He does this quite a lot to be fair and there have been games this season where he’s ended up playing CM with Eccles. Right now he’s our top goal scorer in the league so we need him in shooting positions.

Dropping in off the ball shouldn't stop him getting in shooting positions, it could actually help in a way. He has the ability to start/finish moves off.

That late arrival in the box a hard thing to defend against.