Our midfield - do we have problems? (1 Viewer)

shepardo01 · Sep 2, 2023

Few thoughts here.... Thread to discuss

So, a midfield of:

Sheaf - Eccles

Palmer

Gap between Sheaf/Eccles and Palmer too big?
Sheaf/ Eccles both like minded.
As Robins alluded to - nothing at present to properly knit front to back (and we didn't sign anything either)
Today's change of Ayari for Eccles was pretty disasterous - Ayari not suited to play there and was all over the shop.
Ayari for Palmer would have been like for like. Ayari for Eccles opened us right up.
Only like for like change is Kelly. (Offers nothing)
Lose Sheaf and midfield is below average.Carried the middle today.

OHare coming back is a like for like for Palmer/Ayari...

For me, we are lacking.....

Let the thread commence......

Greggs · Sep 2, 2023

Yes, two of them should have been upgraded. Sheaf is getting dragged down, Hamer made him a better player.

SeaSeeEffCee · Sep 2, 2023

We have a massive Hamer shaped hole in our team that we didn’t fill. Absolutely criminal that we didn’t bring in a replacement and it’ll probably cost us this season.

clint van damme · Sep 2, 2023

Ayari, while clearly talented, is so far off competitve football at this level is unbelievable
How some Brighton fans thought he should be around their first team is beyond me.

TomRad85 · Sep 2, 2023

We've dropped a bollock failing to replace Hamer. End of thread really.

Looking forward to seeing O'Hare again though.

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shepardo01 · Sep 2, 2023

clint van damme said:
Ayari, while clearly talented, is so far off competitve football at this level is unbelievable
How some Brighton fans thought he should be around their first team is beyond me.

Some flashes of real quality on the ball (also some poor decisions ) horrendously out of shape without it.

Macca · Sep 2, 2023

Eccles isn’t Championship yet. Sheaf is solid but not creative. Palmer is the best of the bunch but fades and end product is lacking. To be fair Gus raised all of their games. Further up the pitch though I think Wright could end up the new Vik

SeaSeeEffCee · Sep 2, 2023

clint van damme said:
Ayari, while clearly talented, is so far off competitve football at this level is unbelievable
How some Brighton fans thought he should be around their first team is beyond me.

It’s only one game so won’t judge him as a player based purely on it, but he was shocking when he came on today. Constantly out of position and gave the ball away pretty much every time he had it. One nice pass through to Simms shows what he’s capable of but he’s going to need to learn fast if he’s going to play that role.

shepardo01 · Sep 2, 2023

TomRad85 said:
We've dropped a bollock failing to replace Hamer. End of thread really.

Looking forward to seeing O'Hare again though.

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That's the thing....
It's Sheaf Eccles..... And OHare.
Or Sheaf/Kelly..... And OHare

And god forbid

Eccles/Kelly..... And OHare

OHAre replaces Palmer (or Ayari) and it doesn't do anything to change the Eccles/Sheaf(Kelly) "dynamic"

TomRad85 · Sep 2, 2023

SeaSeeEffCee said:
It’s only one game so won’t judge him as a player based purely on it, but he was shocking when he came on today. Constantly out of position and gave the ball away pretty much every time he had it. One nice pass through to Simms shows what he’s capable of but he’s going to need to learn fast if he’s going to play that role.

He has to come good, Eccles with Sheaf is so bland.

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TomRad85 · Sep 2, 2023

shepardo01 said:
That's the thing....
It's Sheaf Eccles..... And OHare.
Or Sheaf/Kelly..... And OHare

And god forbid

Eccles/Kelly..... And OHare

OHAre replaces Palmer (or Ayari) and it doesn't do anything to change the Eccles/Sheaf(Kelly) "dynamic"

Eccles and Kelly... *shudders* don't do that to me mate.

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shepardo01 · Sep 2, 2023

TomRad85 said:
Eccles and Kelly... *shudders* don't do that to me mate.

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This highlights how good Hamer was.
Singled handedly handled a Championship midfield of him/Eccles and Howley on occasions last year....

clint van damme · Sep 2, 2023

TomRad85 said:
We've dropped a bollock failing to replace Hamer. End of thread really.

Looking forward to seeing O'Hare again though.

Sent from my SM-G973F using TaTapatalkthis time

This time last year we didn't have a hamer that was the same as the one that dragged us to the play offs.
Let's see what happens.

StrettoBoy · Sep 2, 2023

SeaSeeEffCee said:
We have a massive Hamer shaped hole in our team that we didn’t fill. Absolutely criminal that we didn’t bring in a replacement and it’ll probably cost us this season.

True but it's not that easy. A ready-made Hamer replacement would be unaffordable and wouldn't want to play in the Champioship.

The only option would be to get in an unpolished diamond - as Hamer himself was when he arrived - and turn him into the finished article. Such a player won't be easy to find and it will probably take at least a whole season to bring him on.

We may have to accept that we will never truly replace him unless and until we get promoted to the Premiership. I do think that, with another player or two, we could have a very decent squad.

covcity4life · Sep 2, 2023

clint van damme said:
Ayari, while clearly talented, is so far off competitve football at this level is unbelievable
How some Brighton fans thought he should be around their first team is beyond me.

Too early to say that I think.

Was it you or shmee that said sakamoto was a definite championship wing back after came on Vs Boro? Today said different

It's just too early to tell(for both)

CCFCSteve · Sep 2, 2023

clint van damme said:
This time last year we didn't have a hamer that was the same as the one that dragged us to the play offs.
Let's see what happens.

Yeah, early days. Sheaf and Eccles were very good last week but unfortunately struggled as a pair today, a lot due to Watford’s press and our apparent unwillingness to change our style. Our wing backs showed we’ll have threats/creativity from different areas this season.

bradwellskyblues · Sep 2, 2023

Some of our fans seem to think replacing Gus is a simple task , the reality of finding a like for like player that is affordable will keep the recruitment department up at night . I am sure we had targets but suspect we wont properly replace him till next summer.

clint van damme · Sep 2, 2023

covcity4life said:
Too early to say that I think.

Was it you or shmee that said sakamoto was a definite championship wing back after came on Vs Boro? Today said different

It's just too early to tell(for both)

Me, and he is! And today didn't say different, in my humble opinion

clint van damme · Sep 2, 2023

CCFCSteve said:
Yeah, early days. Sheaf and Eccles were very good last week but unfortunately struggled as a pair today, a lot due to Watford’s press and our apparent unwillingness to change our style. Our wing backs showed we’ll have threats/creativity from different areas this season.

I think Eccles was the issue today. Really went off the boil after his booking which I thought was unfair but am prepared to be corrected on.

Evo1883 · Sep 2, 2023

We just miss a busy box to box midfielder

djr8369 · Sep 2, 2023

CCFCSteve said:
Yeah, early days. Sheaf and Eccles were very good last week but unfortunately struggled as a pair today, a lot due to Watford’s press and our apparent unwillingness to change our style. Our wing backs showed we’ll have threats/creativity from different areas this season.

This is it. Both have been good for us and both are decent players. Although I think they are a bit too like minded and neither are very creative any midfield pairing would have struggled today because Watford used their two banks of three to overload the midfield. Out of possession they pressed hard and once they won the ball always had an extra player or two.

Palmer did some good work helping out at times but wants to be in the final third. We probably needed to go one up front and have an extra midfielder today IMO.

djr8369 · Sep 2, 2023

Evo1883 said:
We just miss a busy box to box midfielder

I do agree but then at times last week both looked to be playing more of a box to box role. This week as mentioned above I think Watford pinned them then worked the ball around them. They had a thankless task.

Evo1883 · Sep 2, 2023

djr8369 said:
I do agree but then at times last week both looked to be playing more of a box to box role. This week as mentioned above I think Watford pinned them then worked the ball around them. They had a thankless task.

It's amazing really these issues only really manifest because we're not doing what we could and should be really ...

You can't score 3 at home and not win

Jarvo87 · Sep 2, 2023

I do agree. Today highlighted why investment in a CM was needed (not necessarily a direct Hamer type replacement) and we have little options to change personnel on like for like basis. We’ve invested heavily in defensive options and 2 strikers so it seems unlikely we will change formations therefore squad looks a bit unbalanced/lightweight and we become highly reliant on Eccles performing week in, week out - I’m not convinced sadly but looking forward to being proven wrong. I believe we have improved the overall squad from last year but we are short in a key area.

Hobo · Sep 2, 2023

shepardo01 said:
Few thoughts here.... Thread to discuss

So, a midfield of:

Sheaf - Eccles

Palmer

Gap between Sheaf/Eccles and Palmer too big?
Sheaf/ Eccles both like minded.
As Robins alluded to - nothing at present to properly knit front to back (and we didn't sign anything either)
Today's change of Ayari for Eccles was pretty disasterous - Ayari not suited to play there and was all over the shop.
Ayari for Palmer would have been like for like. Ayari for Eccles opened us right up.
Only like for like change is Kelly. (Offers nothing)
Lose Sheaf and midfield is below average.Carried the middle today.

OHare coming back is a like for like for Palmer/Ayari...

For me, we are lacking.....

Let the thread commence......

Watford were excellent with their high press, they practically suffocated Sheaf and Eccles. This is when we need McFadz and Wilson to engage their in game brain and occasionally go a bit longer. Because there is a gap behind the press. We actually started to do it last season to effect.

We don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water and abandon playing out from the back, but we do need to be flexible and have variation.

Watford have a few players that can really hurt you. But the main problem is we let them fluster us and never really got a grip of the game. But there was also plenty of positives.

I don't think Ayari was played out of position at all. I don't think he was all over the shop either. I do think he was trying to influence the game and put us on the front foot when he came on. He is still settling in and will be a good player for us this season.

SkyblueDad · Sep 2, 2023

We need Jamie Allen back, there I’ve said it. Works his nuts off & covers the space between the penalty boxes.
Very underrated player.

robbiethemole · Sep 2, 2023

Evo1883 said:
We just miss a busy box to box midfielder

Any decent ones out there on a free????

Sick Boy · Sep 2, 2023

slowpoke said:
We need Jamie Allen back, there I’ve said it. Works his nuts off & covers the space between the penalty boxes.
Very underrated player.

There's a reason Robins has always picked him.

baldy · Sep 2, 2023

Evo1883 said:
It's amazing really these issues only really manifest because we're not doing what we could and should be really ...

You can't score 3 at home and not win

But we were never 3 goals ahead

Hobo · Sep 2, 2023

The main problem wasn't players individual ability or skill base, it was our failure to cope with the opposition's tactics and react to them. Our decision making on the pitch was poor. We aren't far off it is just little things

For me there were signs Wright and Gooden are starting to understand each others runs and where each other are on the pitch

Keep the faith.

Sick Boy · Sep 2, 2023

Hobo said:
The main problem wasn't players individual ability or skill base, it was our failure to cope with the opposition's tactics and react to them. Our decision making on the pitch was poor. We aren't far off it is just little things

For me there were signs Wright and Gooden are starting to understand each others runs and where each other are on the pitch

Keep the faith.

We looked like an upper mid-table side to me, not a lot more.

Evo1883 · Sep 2, 2023

baldy said:
But we were never 3 goals ahead

We weren't no , but the point is if you score 3 at home you should really win

SkyblueDad · Sep 2, 2023

Sick Boy said:
We looked like an upper mid-table side to me, not a lot more.

Don’t agree. At the moment we look like a team getting used to each other, we will get better I’m confident about that.
Todays game you couldn’t have written it behind three times, penalty miss, joke goals, both teams, Obviously wanted a win but happy we grabbed a draw in the end.
Been a funny weekend all round this week all sorts of surprise results.

Skybluecol · Sep 2, 2023

Not saying it's the answer but we really did miss Allen today imo

Saddlebrains · Sep 2, 2023

For me theres 3 things as to why Sheaf Eccles doesnt work from what I've see

Firstly there doesnt seem to be an understanding or much cohesion. They are either treading on each others toes, or so far apart there is a huge gap allowing runners to go at the CB's

Secondly, Eccles first thought is to always go sideways or back. Doesnt have defence splitting passes in his locker.

Lastly, its always Sheaf who gets the ball, turns and tries to build an attack. Eccles 9 times out of 10 knocks it back to a centre half.

Sheaf is class, and Eccles is a good player, but they don't work. Too much of a muchness, and i really think not bringing someone in who can drive us forward from deep or play a 50 yard crossfield ball to switch the play, is already costing us and to be honest, will cost us a chance of top 6 this season. Caveat that of course with Ayari, if he comes good maybe he will be the one

Our midfield - do we have problems? (1 Viewer)

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