When everybody is fit, it’s 3 from:
Shipley - Decent squad player and has done ok to date this season, but not good enough to start for a promotion chasing side. Spots a decent pass but too often doesn’t pull it off.
Westbrook - Same as above, has done well coming out of the cold to starting all the league games so far. Not done anything wrong.
Kelly - Rock, simple
O’Hara - Has to start in my opinion, drives forward, eye for a goal, creative. Class
Allen - Not seen yet but deemed a marque signing
Walsh - Struggled first 20 minutes yesterday but after that his class shone through. Similar to Kelly but I thought a little more forward thinking.
So, discuss....who plays and who doesn’t........?
Walsh looks very good.That pass on about 1 min 40 secs....
Mcfadz tries these passes every gameWalsh looks very good.
Incidentally I note that the long diagonal to the point of the 6 yard box for Godden to score was no untargeted lump forward, they tried it again on this clip. It may have been to pinpoint a known Blackpool weakness or a regular ploy to utilize what a handful Godden is. Why the hell did we buy a 5 ft 6 inch attacking midfielder last season? We always needed someone like Godden
Pure footballing porn!That pass on about 1 min 40 secs....
Why are we having this discussion? I was of the impression by some that we're still desperately in need of a CM because we lack strength in depth and have a small squad?
That with a fully fit squad Westbrooke and maybe Shipley might even miss out on being in the 16 is beside the point. That's with O'Hare being used further forward.
So we've got something like O'Hare-Kelly-Allen with Westbrooke-Walsh-Shipley, any of which could come in to replace the other. Then the likes of Eccles looking for game time to develop along with a host of other U23's.
My only concerns at the moment would be a Godden injury and whether we've got adequate cover for Dabo when he gets suspended.
I'd add Mason to that (when fit obviously).Kelly plays whenever he's fit, build the rest around him.
Think he Godden & Marosi are the only 3 that have a cemented place in the team, let competition for places drive the rest on.
I just worry about dropping contracted players for loanees. Sends the wrong message I feel to players like Shipley who have battled their way into the first team. Yes it's clear O'Hare has talent in spades and we have to use it of course but O'Hare won't be here next season and Shipley probably will. As long as the teams perform
I'd add Mason to that (when fit obviously).
That's all well and good looking after our contracted players but there's a reason players like Ohare and Walsh have contracts at Prem/Champ clubs and why Shipley and Westbroke have contracts with a league 1 club. We have to play the best team we have available no matter what their contractual situation, if we got promoted this year, which is clearly the aim, would you be happy with Shipley and Westbroke starting against Championship teams next year?I just worry about dropping contracted players for loanees. Sends the wrong message I feel to players like Shipley who have battled their way into the first team. Yes it's clear O'Hare has talent in spades and we have to use it of course but O'Hare won't be here next season and Shipley probably will. As long as the teams perform
I'd add Mason to that (when fit obviously).
When everybody is fit, it’s 3 from:
Shipley - Decent squad player and has done ok to date this season, but not good enough to start for a promotion chasing side. Spots a decent pass but too often doesn’t pull it off.
Westbrook - Same as above, has done well coming out of the cold to starting all the league games so far. Not done anything wrong.
Kelly - Rock, simple
O’Hara - Has to start in my opinion, drives forward, eye for a goal, creative. Class
Allen - Not seen yet but deemed a marque signing
Walsh - Struggled first 20 minutes yesterday but after that his class shone through. Similar to Kelly but I thought a little more forward thinking.
So, discuss....who plays and who doesn’t........?
Don't forget Walsh can be re-called in January.
Not sure because unusually we have an embarssment
Shipley would be my first choice in midfield - he has been one of the difference's this season- seems to go get better evry game and can score goals from free-kicks which is always to good to have in any team
The cliche "build the team around..." is such tripe. It's an eleven man game, the star could be Messi, but if the rest are crap what use is it? Secondly it makes life so easy for the opposition, just mark or clobber the key man and that is the job done. Thirdly, at this level no player holds his form for every single game. And when the key man gets injured.... . I could go on.Kelly plays whenever he's fit, build the rest around him.
Think he Godden & Marosi are the only 3 that have a cemented place in the team, let competition for places drive the rest on.
The cliche "build the team around..." is such tripe. It's an eleven man game, the star could be Messi, but if the rest are crap what use is it? Secondly it makes life so easy for the opposition, just mark or clobber the key man and that is the job done. Thirdly, at this level no player holds his form for every single game. And when the key man gets injured.... . I could go on.
The holding midfielder is a key position. The Club recognized that by the speed with which Walsh was recruited (big hat tip for having the information about him and acting so quickly incidentally). Kelly is good. But the combination of skills across all eleven is what you build the team around.
This myth "build your team around (fill in name)" has been most frequently used regarding England - Beckham, Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard and lately Kane. Southgate has just completely debunked it with success by having a shared team ethic.
Don't forget Walsh can be re-called in January.
I think it gets very tricky now that we've seen what Walsh is about, albeit one game. He was really decent yesterday once he got going.
You have to think Allen is a starter because his qualities are outstanding and O'Hare will be around the starting lineup alot more because he's the obvious link to Godden up front.
As good as Kelly is, at the minute he must be slightly worried if Walsh controls games like he did in the second half on a regular basis.
Shipley would be my first choice in midfield - he has been one of the difference's this season- seems to go get better evry game and can score goals from free-kicks which is always to good to have in any team
Walsh vs Kelly is a really interesting one. Walsh looks susceptible defensively, which is where Kelly is best imo, but Walsh moves the ball a lot quicker than Kelly and makes passes I don't think Kelly can.
He’s only scored one free kick I think at Luton in League 2?
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