WBA ratings (21 Viewers)

[The Philosopher]

Yes, I can see why you’d think that. It does look mad right now.

ATM we have 4 similar players in midfield who don’t seem to gel and 3 of whom have been starting together of late. Torp, Sheaf, Rudoni and Eccles are all “ok”, Sheaf on his day is the best passer and Rudoni the must creative.

But it doesn’t work.

We don’t have a decent ball winner in midfield and the only player that fits that bill, really, is Lati. He’s not as creative but it more robust / determined / aggressive.

Our best runs of performances have been in recent years where Hamer played as a running / driving 8 or O’Hare as a running 8. Rudoni, I thought, could play that role but just isn’t that player.

In my experience, how a manager played in his career has a direct impact on their management ethos.

Lampard was one of the finest pass / run / drive / shoot midfielders of this age. What can’t speak can’t lie, look at his goals scored and chances created record. Look at the midfields he played in. A ball winner / Holding like Essien or Makalele and a box-to-box like Ballack.

Chelsea midfields always had a ball winner and a driving into the box midfielder.

Obviously, we don’t have anything like the talent the Ruski money team had.

The closest thing we have to a ball winner is Lati.

I can’t see a driving midfielder in our squad and the closest thing we have is BTA.

I threw Torp in there, possibly frustrated at Rudoni and Sheaf (who a clearly technically far better) and theur current reluctance to actually have a drive and crack.

So yes, looks mad but let’s just see what Frank does next.

 

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[stupot07]

The closest thing we have to a ball winner is Lati.

I can’t see a driving midfielder in our squad and the closest thing we have is BTA.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

I'm not sure they would have in that position, we weren't stretched, both CBs are in good positions to stop him.

Come on ! Sheaf is getting off incredibly lightly tonight because it's too easy to crucify our defence . Yes Thomas and Lati should do better but if Sheaf does what any decent DM should do then the argument is irrelevant

 

[Adge]

Not sure many are blaming him. Certainly the first was unlucky and the second is more on the defence/midfield BUT it's another game where they've scored every shot on target with him in goal (arguably scored one more than shot on target depending on the deflection). You can't have a keeper that does that consistently. Even the last game he let every shot on target in...

I don't care if he's good at playing out with his feet or whatever, he can't save shots and that goes way higher on the list of priorities.

Yep-can’t even use the old excuse of “he’s a good shot stopper” which is code for crap keeper.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Yep-can’t even use the old excuse of “he’s a good shot stopper” which is code for crap keeper.

Schmeichel was a good shot stopper

 

[The Philosopher]

Yep, totally mad to put a player who scored 12 in the Champ last year from a deep striker / running 8 role in that position and the only midfield that we have with any bottle in.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Yep, totally mad to put a player who scored 12 in the Champ last year from a deep striker / running 8 role in that position and the only midfield that we have with any bottle in.

Someone file BTA as an 8 alongside Dabo in CDM

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Someone file BTA as an 8 alongside Dabo in CDM

Dabo at CB worked well too

 

[The Philosopher]

Dabo at CB worked well too

Never suggested anything that mad.

 

[torchomatic]

Not long back. Bit rubbish really, wasn't it? Not sure who comes out with any credit from that. Shame Torp headed the ball when Rudoni was right behind him but obviously from our end we couldn't tell is Rudoni had shouted or not. Could you see that on the tele?

Nice of our defence to do its Red Sea impression again.

Fucking useless, duh, duh duh, duh.

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Never suggested anything that mad.

No it wasn't a dig at you .
Was more when he was selected there some thought a 5'4" wing back could play in that position

 

[Perennial Lurker]

Not long back. Bit rubbish really, wasn't it? Not sure who comes out with any credit from that. Shame Torp headed the ball when Rudoni was right behind him but obviously from our end we couldn't tell is Rudoni had shouted or not. Could you see that on the tele?

Nice of our defence to do its Red Sea impression again.

Fucking useless, duh, duh duh, duh.

Rudoni didn't call , Torp should've scored though

 

[stupot07]

Not long back. Bit rubbish really, wasn't it? Not sure who comes out with any credit from that. Shame Torp headed the ball when Rudoni was right behind him but obviously from our end we couldn't tell is Rudoni had shouted or not. Could you see that on the tele?

Nice of our defence to do its Red Sea impression again.

Fucking useless, duh, duh duh, duh.

Yeah from the replay's Rudoni didn't call for it. And it's his call, he's the one who can see both Torp and the flight of the ball.

 

[The Philosopher]

Someone file BTA as an 8 alongside Dabo in CDM

Dabo, before his hips were f’d was a great player.

At a time when we had a midfield with the combined strength of Shipley, Allen (Westbrooke?) and a 21 year old skinny Sheaf and were being over-run / Sheaf used to dither and get dispossessed then Fanky might have done a job there.

But I wouldn’t have put him at centre back. That’d be insane.

Or on penalties.

 

[GaryMabbuttsLeftKnee]

Never suggested anything that mad.

You’ve suggested Lati is a CM playing CB, which is definitely as mad

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

You’ve suggested Lati is a CM playing CB, which is definitely as mad

He should play at RB just to take MVE out of the firing line. Get Kitching back in at LCB.

 

[The Philosopher]

Come on ! Sheaf is getting off incredibly lightly tonight because it's too easy to crucify our defence . Yes Thomas and Lati should do better but if Sheaf does what any decent DM should do then the argument is irrelevant

I like Sheaf but agree that he doesn’t protect the back 4. He’s not a tough tackling midfielder.

 

[stupot07]

Yep, totally mad to put a player who scored 12 in the Champ last year from a deep striker / running 8 role in that position and the only midfield that we have with any bottle in.

I'm pretty sure he played as a number 9 for WBA for most his games, with Swift behind him in the ten.

I'm fact I've just checked back at the Cov Tel article about him from the WBA reporter and he confirmed he played as a number 9 leading the line.

 

[The Philosopher]

You’ve suggested Lati is a CM playing CB, which is definitely as mad

He’s played there before quite often (CDM) in his career.

Obviously it’s not ideal but we are currently hovering above the relegation zone and have just conceded 2 goals where a decent CDM should have closed down.

Given that we’ve got zero players who can play CDM really then who else?

Genuinely, who else do we have for that role?

 

[The watchmaker]

I'm pretty sure he played as a number 9 for WBA for most his games, with Swift behind him in the ten.

I'm fact I've just checked back at the Cov Tel article about him from the WBA reporter and he confirmed he played as a number 9 leading the line.

Not fact checked this but WBA neighbour indicates he only played that role coz of injuries. That said he saw him more on the left of attack (so competition to Wright/EMC). Not v complementary about him tbh... but that is the bogies for you.

 

[The Philosopher]

I'm pretty sure he played as a number 9 for WBA for most his games, with Swift behind him in the ten.

I'm fact I've just checked back at the Cov Tel article about him from the WBA reporter and he confirmed he played as a number 9 leading the line.

You may well be right, I just remember watching him and he seemed to play running at the defence from deep rather than on the shoulder / as a target man “Regis” (who comes to mind when playing WBA) type number 9.

IE Regis was a lead the line 9, BTA a gets the ball and run at. I’ve seen him play wide and switch and through the middle from deep - he’s not a back to goal and receive and pass type player. That’s my impression is all.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

He’s played there before quite often (CDM) in his career.

Obviously it’s not ideal but we are currently hovering above the relegation zone and have just conceded 2 goals where a decent CDM should have closed down.

Given that we’ve got zero players who can play CDM really then who else?

Genuinely, who else do we have for that role?

The problem with the CDMs is not their defensive work, it’s how long they take to advance the ball. Eccles and Sheaf are two quite similar players neither of whom are especially dynamic

 

[The watchmaker]

Torp looks at the level for me. Given that we should give either Sheaf or Eccles the break they look like they need. Bassette - he will come good but at the moment he is ineffective and hasn't really won us any games. It is a tough one as to whether you stick with him or you give Simms the chance to find form. I do think Simms and EMC have the potential to work well together.

 

[GaryMabbuttsLeftKnee]

He’s played there before quite often (CDM) in his career.

Obviously it’s not ideal but we are currently hovering above the relegation zone and have just conceded 2 goals where a decent CDM should have closed down.

Given that we’ve got zero players who can play CDM really then who else?

Genuinely, who else do we have for that role?

He has played there five times in his club career, all with us. He is never in a million years good enough on the ball to be a CM. If that’s what we’re relying on it’s more desperate than I thought

 

[The Philosopher]

The problem with the CDMs is not their defensive work, it’s how long they take to advance the ball. Eccles and Sheaf are two quite similar players neither of whom are especially dynamic

I agree on this.

With 2 CB and attacking full backs you need your CDM to drop back and cover CD or RB or LB or whatever. Sheaf and Eccles can’t cover as defenders so well.

Hence my mad suggestion of Lati in front of 2 CB as either an advanced CD in a 5 man defence or CDM in front of a 4.

 

[The Philosopher]

He has played there five times in his club career, all with us. He is never in a million years good enough on the ball to be a CM. If that’s what we’re relying on it’s more desperate than I thought

I genuinely believed he played defensive midfield for Swansea.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I agree on this.

With 2 CB and attacking full backs you need your CDM to drop back and cover CD or RB or LB or whatever. Sheaf and Eccles can’t cover as defenders so well.

Hence my mad suggestion of Lati in front of 2 CB as either an advanced CD in a 5 man defence or CDM in front of a 4.

Currently we’re expecting MVE to play all of every game. I said in the summer we needed better competition at right back because he struggled with the intensity of playing every week last season.

We didn’t address it and Lati is the best option we have instead. Stick him there to give MVE some leeway.

 

[The Philosopher]

Currently we’re expecting MVE to play all of every game. I said in the summer we needed better competition at right back because he struggled with the intensity of playing every week last season.

We didn’t address it and Lati is the best option we have instead. Stick him there to give MVE some leeway.

Again, agree MVE is being run into the ground. Eccles can cover this as well as Lati. I’m not sure if Lati would link as well with Tats, though.

Doesn’t Lati play internationally as a CDM or have I made that up?

 

[The Philosopher]

No it wasn't a dig at you .
Was more when he was selected there some thought a 5'4" wing back could play in that position

Fair enough.

The last short a*** midfielder that I can recall that started off as a wing back / full back was Gus Hamer.

Sometimes these things work.

 

[skyblue025]

Didn’t concede 3.

You know he would have if they had put 3 on target.

 

[Otis]

And should have done ! Can you imagine him running through like that against Rodri or Roy Keane ?

Definitely against Keane, yes. He's 53.

 

[clint van damme]

Rudoni looked shattered after 60 minutes yet stayed on the full game. It’s so odd with torp

But the squads as fit it's ever been according to King!

 

[stevefloyd]

It's not that he's being blamed, it's just another game where he's provided absolutely nothing.

Their goalie generally dominated the box and his decisiveness stopped any possibility of a goal on two occasions (Bassette early on then Eccles). There's no chance you get anything like that from Collins.

One thing I definitely liked about their goalie he come and collected balls, that in itself is a massive pressure release from the defence, all of our goalies are fucking vampires, they don't like crosses, I even said in the match thread 'who'd have thought a goalkeeper could come and catch the ball'

 

[stevefloyd]

Yes he does but he wasn't "really " poor he was quiet yet still should have had an assist .
Last season for Posh he had a free role ,almost like Wright has for us but he doesn't seem to know where the coaching staff want him to play and I'm including MR in that too

He has a mouth he should fucking ask! If you spend 4.5/5 million on a player we should be getting more than this out of them!

 

[stevefloyd]

Yes, I can see why you’d think that. It does look mad right now.

ATM we have 4 similar players in midfield who don’t seem to gel and 3 of whom have been starting together of late. Torp, Sheaf, Rudoni and Eccles are all “ok”, Sheaf on his day is the best passer and Rudoni the must creative.

But it doesn’t work.

We don’t have a decent ball winner in midfield and the only player that fits that bill, really, is Lati. He’s not as creative but it more robust / determined / aggressive.

Our best runs of performances have been in recent years where Hamer played as a running / driving 8 or O’Hare as a running 8. Rudoni, I thought, could play that role but just isn’t that player.

In my experience, how a manager played in his career has a direct impact on their management ethos.

Lampard was one of the finest pass / run / drive / shoot midfielders of this age. What can’t speak can’t lie, look at his goals scored and chances created record. Look at the midfields he played in. A ball winner / Holding like Essien or Makalele and a box-to-box like Ballack.

Chelsea midfields always had a ball winner and a driving into the box midfielder.

Obviously, we don’t have anything like the talent the Ruski money team had.

The closest thing we have to a ball winner is Lati.

I can’t see a driving midfielder in our squad and the closest thing we have is BTA.

I threw Torp in there, possibly frustrated at Rudoni and Sheaf (who a clearly technically far better) and theur current reluctance to actually have a drive and crack.

So yes, looks mad but let’s just see what Frank does next.

The last thing I want to see on a regular basis is Sheaf shooting he is absolutely fucking shite