Willis - ball watching. (1 Viewer)

Otis

Well-Known Member
Yeah, true. Always looking for scapegoat and not allowed to not rate a player as highly as other players

Changed my mind, they are all 10 out of 10's, every player from the keeper to all the subs in the bench. All equal.
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
Think some of you need to share your expertise with Robins and convince him to drop Willis. After all WTF does he know about defending, he was a forward.
It's not expertise though is it. It's just a spectator view.

People are getting carried away here. Has anyone said he is shit? I just think he is okay. I do think though that he should be outstanding at this level, considering there was talk of Championship interest. I just feel McDonald is really shining and Willis is doing okay.

I find it quite amusing that people get stick for suggesting that Willis is just alright and yet lots of other posters give Stuart Beavon all kinds of shit and it gets pretty much glazed over.

There is no player in this squad that I really don't rate apart from Kyel Reid and that is purely because I think he only plays when he wants to. Previously I would have said Lee Burge, but at the moment he is proving me and many others wrong.

I just think Willis is okay. It's not slating him, it's not saying I know better than Robins. Does everyone calling for Beavon to be dumped and not be picked again know better than Robins?
 

Mucca Mad Boys

Well-Known Member
All about opinions isn't it.

I find McDonald calmer, more assured, more cultured on the ball and much better at distribution.

I find him a breath of fresh air. I think Willis is just okay. No particular dislike for him, but had we sold him I most certainly wouldn't have been crying into my milk.

For what it’s worth, I do rate McDonald higher than Willis. Rod has more experience, and specifically experience in what it takes to win this league (so to do many of our summer signings). However, some of the comments directed are harsh on Willis, attributing blame to him for goals that weren’t really his fault. The Cambridge goal was both Willis and Rod’s mistake - he got inbetween them won a free header.

I respect the lad, could’ve forced a move to clubs in higher divisions than us, but didn’t and I think he’ll crack on carry on the good form.

And you would be right. Everyone knows my thoughts on Willis but you can't argue about the defensive stats at the minute. More to do with who is playing alongside Willis than the actual player himself.

Co’mon, this a bit of a cynical statement. It takes 2 CBs to make a good partnership. I do believe the whole spine of the team is functioning really well at the moment. In front of Willis and Rod, you have Kelly and Doyle who will get stuck in.
 

Adge

Well-Known Member
For what it’s worth, I do rate McDonald higher than Willis. Rod has more experience, and specifically experience in what it takes to win this league (so to do many of our summer signings). However, some of the comments directed are harsh on Willis, attributing blame to him for goals that weren’t really his fault. The Cambridge goal was both Willis and Rod’s mistake - he got inbetween them won a free header.

I respect the lad, could’ve forced a move to clubs in higher divisions than us, but didn’t and I think he’ll crack on carry on the good form.



Co’mon, this a bit of a cynical statement. It takes 2 CBs to make a good partnership. I do believe the whole spine of the team is functioning really well at the moment. In front of Willis and Rod, you have Kelly and Doyle who will get stuck in.
And isn't that what I have just pointed out? You said "in front of Willis and Rod you have Doyle and Kelly who will get stuck in" and "the spine of the team is functioning well"
meaning that it is not down to the individual i.e. Willis.
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
And isn't that what I have just pointed out? You said "in front of Willis and Rod you have Doyle and Kelly who will get stuck in" and "the spine of the team is functioning well"
meaning that it is not down to the individual i.e. Willis.
As I say, I would be interested to see how McDonald and Davies fared together.

Willis for me is doing okay and McDonald is the real star. In Grimmer and Stokes you have fullbacks more than good enough for this league, and like Adge says, great protection from Kelly and Doyle.
 

Liquid Gold

Well-Known Member
Don't any of you dare say anything bad about Rod. He's like Christmas, Beckenbauer and a nice pair of boobies all at once.
 

steve82

Well-Known Member
As I say, I would be interested to see how McDonald and Davies fared together.

Willis for me is doing okay and McDonald is the real star. In Grimmer and Stokes you have fullbacks more than good enough for this league, and like Adge says, great protection from Kelly and Doyle.

I agree, I think we may well see Mcdonald and Davies paired together when we go into the winter months when some teams go more route one like the Cambridge's of the league do.

Willis is a good useful player, he's quick strong in the tackle but anything in the air against strong powerful players is where flaws start to appear in his game.
He's currently more than worth his place in the starting 11 given the goals conceded but we've only really faced Cambridge who have had a physical front two who play very direct.
Against these type of teams is when MR may make a change to cope with that direct threat. Davies has shown he's very comfortable and dominant in the air and we will need that quality come late November, December time.

It's a team game and we need all players attributes to counter the opposition at times.
 

Sky Blue Pete

Well-Known Member
I watched the highlights of the Swindon goal and bloomin eck what a finish. Willis didn't have time to watch the ball as it was volleyed into the corner.

As daft as blaming burge for not getting to i
I think the op is very harsh
 

Esoterica

Well-Known Member
I watched the highlights of the Swindon goal and bloomin eck what a finish. Willis didn't have time to watch the ball as it was volleyed into the corner.

As daft as blaming burge for not getting to i
I think the op is very harsh
Big Al would never have let it happen. :)
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member

Otis

Well-Known Member
And if he is worth that he should be outstanding at this level.

He did have a good game today though. McDonald too.
 

covcity4life

Well-Known Member
He was watching the ball too much. Rod won us the clean sheet single handidly

Everyone looks at negatives. No one ever praises fsct when balls ovee top he out paces fat fuck league 2 strikers easily
 

steve82

Well-Known Member
Willis did well today for sure, handled Chris Porter well but Crewe created little to trouble him with crosses in to test. Did everything asked of him so for that credit is due.
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
Willis and Mcdonald are the best pairing and compliment each other perfectly. Rod can come out and win the ball safe in the knowledge he has the pacey Willis covering who is the better one on one, last man defender of the two. We've got a great pairing going on. Credit to both of them.
Have Davies and McDonald played together though? Don't think they have. Willis and McDonald are playing well together, but I can't see that we can say if they are the best partnership yet if we have yet to see Davies and McDonald.

Correct me if I'm wrong and they have been paired.
 

Skybluefaz

Well-Known Member
Have Davies and McDonald played together though? Don't think they have. Willis and McDonald are playing well together, but I can't see that we can say if they are the best partnership yet if we have yet to see Davies and McDonald.

Correct me if I'm wrong and they have been paired.
But I see Davies as a centre half that will come out and win the ball like Mcdonald. Therefore it would be less balanced. Willis' pace on the cover is vital.
 

Esoterica

Well-Known Member
He was watching the ball too much. Rod won us the clean sheet single handidly

Everyone looks at negatives. No one ever praises fsct when balls ovee top he out paces fat fuck league 2 strikers easily
I like Willis, he always comes across as an intelligent person in interviews and he's home grown. His athletic attributes compliment McDonald's well too.
Looking at negatives is how you improve though and is the difference between winners and the rest. It's not like I made a thread just slagging him off or even suggesting he's a bad player. I put together what I thought was some constructive evidence of an area I feel he can improve. It's not a big thing but could make the difference in some games. There was another that came to mind at Peterborough last season which I thought was very similar to the Swindon one. Is the goal his fault? No. But could he have prevented it? I think so yes. Like the Swindon one he double checks where the only striker in the box is but doesn't attempt to get near him and the header is virtually unchallenged. Just a yard or 2 to his left when the cross is made and he probably wins it.
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Anyway, not trying to take the edge of today's win in which Willis played well. Our defensive record is fantastic this year.
 

mechaishida

Well-Known Member
FFS get off his back and listen to yourselves, experts at defending now are we. The lad is as good as we have got and we should be glad to have him.
He is quick, strong and the best athlete on our books. So just be grateful he is still here. :yawn:

Hear, hear.

If his mistakes mount up and cost us goals and points, fair enough. I don't see it myself, and his partnership at CB with Rod is as good as I've seen for a long time.

Can't see the necessity of creating a thread to criticise a player for a couple of lapses in concentration, when his overall game has been pretty good thus far.

Personally, I'm praying he doesn't get injured, since he and Rod have really clicked at the back.
 

Esoterica

Well-Known Member
Hear, hear.

If his mistakes mount up and cost us goals and points, fair enough. I don't see it myself, and his partnership at CB with Rod is as good as I've seen for a long time.

Can't see the necessity of creating a thread to criticise a player for a couple of lapses in concentration, when his overall game has been pretty good thus far.

Personally, I'm praying he doesn't get injured, since he and Rod have really clicked at the back.
It wasn't a necessity, nor was the thread created for the purpose of criticism (although Beavon, Vincenti and Biamou have all come in for plenty on here and I have defended each of them). I do not think I'm an expert or know better that Robins nor am I slagging off Willis' overall game, who is having a good season. It was merely meant as a constructive observation I'd made of his game, over a longer period of time, that I genuinely think is an area he can improve on. As there seems to be a bit more focus on the footy side this year and as there's not much technical analysis/debate on here I thought there might be an appetite for some, for which I was clearly wrong.
 

Somerset Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
It wasn't a necessity, nor was the thread created for the purpose of criticism (although Beavon, Vincenti and Biamou have all come in for plenty on here and I have defended each of them). I do not think I'm an expert or know better that Robins nor am I slagging off Willis' overall game, who is having a good season. It was merely meant as a constructive observation I'd made of his game, over a longer period of time, that I genuinely think is an area he can improve on. As there seems to be a bit more focus on the footy side this year and as there's not much technical analysis/debate on here I thought there might be an appetite for some, for which I was clearly wrong.
It is a good thread, which many have taken the right way.
I support all our players, know they can all improve (otherwise they would be playing for Barca for millions... Although even top players can and still aim to improve).

Please keep starting a thread (once a fortnight?), on your take of a player / formation - as ever, it'll split opinions and get us all believing we should be manager, and discussing football, which is what sky blues talk should be!
 

Adge

Well-Known Member
It is a good thread, which many have taken the right way.
I support all our players, know they can all improve (otherwise they would be playing for Barca for millions... Although even top players can and still aim to improve).

Please keep starting a thread (once a fortnight?), on your take of a player / formation - as ever, it'll split opinions and get us all believing we should be manager, and discussing football, which is what sky blues talk should be!
Indeed it should! As we know, all the best managers/coaches/referees etc are always in the stands anyway!:emoji_grin:
 

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