Xavier Simons

[Stig]

19 minutes ago, meanderson93 said:

Thomason would look absolutley dreadful in that role. His close control and intelligence for working in the spaces that a 10 needs to would have him looking foolish, to be frank he's absolutely nowhere near the ability of Randall or even McAtee. He ran about a lot and never shyed away, those are his qualities, as a footballer he was always lacking. 

In whitesince's defence if you put Thomason there he wouldn't be a 10. It would be a change of formation to a 433 with Thomason the more attacking of the 3 midfielders he listed. 

Now Thomason is obviously a moot point but Dempsey or (to a lesser extent) Sheehan could play that attacking midfielder role in more of a 433 imo. The onus now is on Randall or McAtee to hold down that 10 role or I can see SS changing tactics slightly to 3 midfielders or 2 more out and out strikers if they don't.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

2 hours ago, Stig said:

In whitesince's defence if you put Thomason there he wouldn't be a 10. It would be a change of formation to a 433 with Thomason the more attacking of the 3 midfielders he listed. 

Now Thomason is obviously a moot point but Dempsey or (to a lesser extent) Sheehan could play that attacking midfielder role in more of a 433 imo. The onus now is on Randall or McAtee to hold down that 10 role or I can see SS changing tactics slightly to 3 midfielders or 2 more out and out strikers if they don't.

Absolutely. 

Thomason liked to move the ball quickly- which we seem to want to do.

He liked to press, and win the ball higher up. Could also score a goal.

He isn't going to show great control, dribbling skills etc.

Anyway, he's gone now, but we need someone to fit in the role not being fulfilled adequately by the million pound men.

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

A 4-3-3 is typically played with two box-to-box midfielders rather than one

fwiw

[auckland_bwfc]

.... will be players player of the year.

If not, second to TSL only.

IMO. Obviously.

 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

1 hour ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

A 4-3-3 is typically played with two box-to-box midfielders rather than one

fwiw

A bold statement. 

With two wingers as inside forwards, it would be risky piling too many forward from midfield.

Especially if full backs were also joining in.

[Cheese]

27 minutes ago, auckland_bwfc said:

.... will be players player of the year.

If not, second to TSL only.

IMO. Obviously.

 

Nah. ACD already nailed on.

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

2 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

A bold statement. 

With two wingers as inside forwards, it would be risky piling too many forward from midfield.

Especially if full backs were also joining in.

Box-to-box might be stretching it but I didn't want to type two No. 6's and have people pissing their pants over it

The point really is the three in the middle are usually a defensive midfielder with two midfielders further ahead and not one further ahead and two sitting behind

[Stig]

2 hours ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Box-to-box might be stretching it but I didn't want to type two No. 6's and have people pissing their pants over it

The point really is the three in the middle are usually a defensive midfielder with two midfielders further ahead and not one further ahead and two sitting behind

Not always. Look at Man City playing Kovacic and Rodri together at times. Or Liverpool who tend to play 3 who can all do a bit of everything in midfield.

Point is, formations can be adaptable depending on where you have strong players. For me, our big strength over the rest of the league is probably having some of the best midfielders, so it would be great to see 3 of them on the pitch at once, and sacrifice the 10 role where we are weak

[Casino]

Whatevet we do this year will mainly have Erahon and Simons involved

You can all play your little games but thats a fact

[Stig]

6 minutes ago, Casino said:

Whatevet we do this year will mainly have Erahon and Simons involved

You can all play your little games but thats a fact

Don't think anyone's arguing with you

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

10 minutes ago, Stig said:

Not always. Look at Man City playing Kovacic and Rodri together at times. Or Liverpool who tend to play 3 who can all do a bit of everything in midfield.

Point is, formations can be adaptable depending on where you have strong players. For me, our big strength over the rest of the league is probably having some of the best midfielders, so it would be great to see 3 of them on the pitch at once, and sacrifice the 10 role where we are weak

Kovacic is the type to press forward though

He's not a defensive midfielder like Rodri is

[ianofcleveleys]

It was the first time Simons and Erhahon had played together, I'd imagine as they evolve and more is done with them on the training pitch, one will be encouraged to step forward a bit more, unless maybe we're away to a good side, where they might sit in front of the defence and screen it. 

Rice and Phillips played a similar sort of role for England, Rice being the one with licence to move forward and join in with the attacks a bit more. 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

11 hours ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Box-to-box might be stretching it but I didn't want to type two No. 6's and have people pissing their pants over it

The point really is the three in the middle are usually a defensive midfielder with two midfielders further ahead and not one further ahead and two sitting behind

Our current midfield would appear to have the flexibility to achieve just that.

Only once have Simons and Erhahon played together, and the former has shown a willingness to get forward and have a crack as necessary. 

I also don't think that SS is keen to have his centre halves left a touch exposed, should full backs be further forward.

[desperado]

10 hours ago, Casino said:

You can all play your little games but thats a fact

Made me laugh that 😂

I was about to post I’d like to see a Erhahon as a six and Simons and Morley ahead as two eights with my formation tree, I’ll not bother now sourpuss 🤣

[gonzo]

10 hours ago, Casino said:

Whatevet we do this year will mainly have Erahon and Simons involved

You can all play your little games but thats a fact

For this to happen the No 10 has to be dynamite. 

The midfield needs a spark from somewhere. 

 

[Ani]

31 minutes ago, gonzo said:

For this to happen the No 10 has to be dynamite. 

The midfield needs a spark from somewhere. 

 

Simons and EE have 9 goals in their combined careers , both good at what they do but dynamic number 10  would make a massive difference.

We had about 347 number 10s last year but all very much socks down round the ankles types.

[Casino]

36 minutes ago, gonzo said:

For this to happen the No 10 has to be dynamite. 

The midfield needs a spark from somewhere. 

 

Getting too close to a tactical discussion for my liking, but IMO for the front free and the full backs to do what SS wants, those 2 are going to be in 9 out of 10

[Tonge moor green jacket]

1 minute ago, Ani said:

Simons and EE have 9 goals in their combined careers , both good at what they do but dynamic number 10  would make a massive difference.

We had about 347 number 10s last year but all very much socks down round the ankles types.

Aye.

At the moment, it's a case of looking at who is going to offer most in that role.

I think that at times we can become a bit fixated about the specifics of a position. 

Purely on a goal record, McAtee obviously has the edge, but he doesn't look any better, and isn't impressing.

Randall still isn't showing much.

Who else is available?

The youngster from non-league, given a decent run maybe.

Sheehan

Morley. 

The latter two have both scored a goal or two, and on occasions can give it a crack.

They can also play a pass, and ought to be able to find a bit of space between lines.

For me, I'd have either of the last two.

[gonzo]

1 minute ago, Casino said:

Getting too close to a tactical discussion for my liking, but IMO for the front free and the full backs to do what SS wants, those 2 are going to be in 9 out of 10

Oh aye I agreed theyve been signed to be first names on the team sheet and everything we have been missing.

We just need better from our no10 to make it all work imo.

[Stig]

11 hours ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Kovacic is the type to press forward though

He's not a defensive midfielder like Rodri is

Surely one of Erhahon or Simons could press forward as needed.

I just think a midfield 3 of Simons, Erhahon and one of Morley, Sheehan or Dempsey would be an excellent balance for this league. 

[RUREADY2ROLL]

We need a song for him - Undies what’s it going to be

[Dr. Feelgood]

8 minutes ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

We need a song for him - Undies what’s it going to be

'Simon sez' ... surely.  

[gonzo]

2 hours ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

We need a song for him - Undies what’s it going to be

Simons has a massive cock and wears rolled socks ole ole 

[Deanu]

When we got him I ignorantly assumed he was just going to be another Morley/Sheehan carbon copy samey sort that we didn’t really need who wants to just get the ball from the defenders and try to dictate. In reality he’s a brilliant passer, who can read the game, box to box, decent shot, loves the physical side & has that burst of pace to glide past people to open the game up. 

[Dr. Feelgood]

Am I alone in being bored to fck with all the No.10 stuff ?