To me it looks like they can’t play together.
what do we do going forward now
what do we do going forward now
I don't think they can. I don't think Sheaf can play further forward in the same role as Torp and Rudoni.
He struggles making that yard of space on the corner of the box before getting a cross in.
Clearly Sheaf is going to have to play a slightly different role from what we’re used to seeing him in (i.e. not on the treatment table lolol) but it’s a bit early to be writing them off.
Was surprised Allen didn't replace Torp. And hopefully Eccles isn't out for the season as he is more athletic too
Sheaf was better than Grimes tonight, perhaps it's Grimes that has to miss out.
To be fair on tonights performance it's a pretty low bar , I thought Kitchings progressive passing was better than both of them tonight
Personally thought Sheaf was excellent today, like grimes but twice as fast
Like a modern day Gerrard and... oh god! His name escapes me!
I actually thought Grimes went into his shell & Sheaf was more involved... small sample size though.
They can play together.
Just pick the games where we need most stability in midfield. Those two infront of the back four will give us a solid base against the better teams.
Just pick the games where we need most stability in midfield. Those two infront of the back four will give us a solid base against the better teams.
There's not many teams or managers , Southgate aside , that play two number 6s
Grimes drops too deep for me when he plays the ball, effectively losing a man in midfield
Sheaf was better tonight for me
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Sheaf was better tonight for me
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Thought one looked like they had a future at the top end of the league and beyond and the other didn’t
If we ignore the defence splitting passes Grimes made yes he didn't have a good game.
Sheaf did well tonight, he has recovered his mojo, he did misplace a couple of passes but nothing that put the side in danger. He definitely wants that starting place back.
Judging anything on 70m of game time is not a good idea. I’m sure the management will figure out a formula to get the best out of them together. Allen covers more distance but Sheaf is a better defender so it’s almost a 6 and two 3s situation imo.
Sheaf needs to get that sharpness back which he’s struggled with this season because he’s had multiple injury setbacks.
Sheaf needs to get that sharpness back which he’s struggled with this season because he’s had multiple injury setbacks.
Grimes seems to drop in to the 3rd CB position to allow the rb and lb to get further up the pitch at times. He’s a very neat and tidy footballer. It’s great to have them both in the side. Shows how far we’ve come when things like this become an issue.
I think they can play together. Sheaf was good tonight. Also we looked pretty good away at Oxford when they were both on the pitch for 45 mins
I think they both need to grow into each others game and develop an understanding. We know sheaf can get forward so he does offer something different.
Put this in the match thread - and this was pre Torp injury;
Got worse once Sheaf was on.
If we can find a way to make them play together it’s a very good footballing two, it’s early days of them playing together but Lampard doesn’t have long to find a way to make it work.
It might mean we don’t have to play everything through Grimes, which just slows us down constantly.
Got worse once Sheaf was on.
If we can find a way to make them play together it’s a very good footballing two, it’s early days of them playing together but Lampard doesn’t have long to find a way to make it work.
It might mean we don’t have to play everything through Grimes, which just slows us down constantly.
It was noticeable that when they were both on Portsmouth’s threat went to 0.
Thought it worked well enough yesterday as a starting point
Game by game I would assume sheaf will adapt more to his box to box role and it will only get better
Hopefully torp isn't out for long but I have no worries about ahead and grimes starting together personally.
Game by game I would assume sheaf will adapt more to his box to box role and it will only get better
Hopefully torp isn't out for long but I have no worries about ahead and grimes starting together personally.
I think they can.
I said in the match thread that usually Sheaf is the sitting midfielder but with Grimes he has to at a different role and I think he's more than capable.
I think we'll see Grimes/Sheaf/Rudoni more than we'll see Grimes/Allen/Rudoni for the rest of the season.
I said in the match thread that usually Sheaf is the sitting midfielder but with Grimes he has to at a different role and I think he's more than capable.
I think we'll see Grimes/Sheaf/Rudoni more than we'll see Grimes/Allen/Rudoni for the rest of the season.
It's also to alleviate pressure on the CBs to have to pass the ball out. One of the biggest issues earlier in the team was us giving the ball away in our own half which obviously made us vulnerable, our back line were the biggest culprits.
What he did well was put a bit more control back in the midfield by picking up second balls. Up until that point we were getting bullied and losing the physical battle.
Grimes is playing 5/10 yards too deep. Hes literally alongside the CBs. Trying to dictate play too deep. The gap from Sheaf to Rudi is then too big. I get that Grimes is a DM but it’s easy to see. Dictate 10 yards higher up. Otherwise we are effectively a man down in the middle.
Sakamoto needs to play forward and aggressively. We need to stop tippy tappying it sideways. Get Wright back on the left.
MVE played very well
Sakamoto needs to play forward and aggressively. We need to stop tippy tappying it sideways. Get Wright back on the left.
MVE played very well
At times there was a massive gap between the back line and forwards - midfield after Torp went off had difficulty creating anything - Da Silva did pretty well and luckily for us Rudoni popped that cross onto Patos right boot - with Grimes and Sheaf quality players Frank needs to find a solution - Torps ankle is buggered - could take no weight in that 8 minutes we didn’t get back
I thought sheaf was generally quite good. Punch in his passes, looked to move the ball on quickly, got into some dangerous areas and helped us gain territory.
Our midfield baffles me tho as it's often actually a one player unit as Grimes is sat between the CBs and Rudoni is so advanced. I said this in the match thread and again I think it caused us issues, we struggled to advance it through the lines as there was a big gaping maw in the middle of the park.
Also, the red was shit, pass it on.