The Matt Grimes problem?

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Grimes probably has the brain for the PL but I think we all knew his legs wouldn't be up to the standard unfortunately.

He is the midfield version of Dwight Gayle or Adam Armstrong. Seems a top class championship player but not at the level for the prem

I think he's very aware of how likely you are to get punished in the Prem and is playing safe and within himself.

He has always naturally dropped deep to receive the ball and the less intense pressing and cutting off space in the Championship helped him. He doesn't have that now and him dropping deep just results in us having one less player in the midfield. He's scared of receiving the ball in an actual DM position because he's worried he'll be closed down so quick and can't play on the half turn.

As has been said, fits into the very good Championship but not a Premier League player category.

 

[Sick Boy]

He doesn’t have the pace, power or athleticism for the PL but would have been fine as back up for the season - it’s a bit late now though…

 

[Nonamesonshirts]

The squad should have a choice of 3 starting level powerful midfielders, ideally one suited to the DM role, leaving us the option to select 2 from these 3 to play alongside 1 from Rudoni, Hamer, Grimes depending on system. It might not have worked v Arsenal but could see the case for Grimes in more of a flat 3 system being a good option Torp strictly a substitute, emergency, cup player.

We are a midfielder light. Which goes to debate about budget allocation

 

[CovveeBreak]

Hard not to agree with much in here.

A glutton for punishment, watched highlights from both Arsenal and Hull earlier, and he genuinely looks way out of his depth.

The player in that role should be all action, physical, quick, decisive. Just isn't him at all.

Let's not dwell on his set pieces either.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

He’s not good enough for this level unfortunately. Class act in Championship.

If we don’t replace him with an experienced top flight operator we are buggered.

Making this type of judgement after one game v Hull is a bit much.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

In the championship we could impose our game on other teams as we were one of the big fish in the small pond.

Now we are a small fish, we have to adapt like you say to what other teams will do to us. Big moment for Lampard as a manager

How was that any different yesterday? We did impose ourselves and dominated the game albeit, not a lot of chance creation.

Hull had 0.01 xG in the first half and had only had one shot on target before the 74th minute. If anything, we should’ve settled for a draw because Hull got all of their chances in the final 20 minutes when we were getting desperate.

Of course, had we drew 0-0 the blowhards would be out in force saying much the same things as they are now.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

How was that any different yesterday? We did impose ourselves and dominated the game albeit, not a lot of chance creation.

Hull had 0.01 xG in the first half and had only had one shot on target before the 74th minute. If anything, we should’ve settled for a draw because Hull got all of their chances in the final 20 minutes when we were getting desperate.

Of course, had we drew 0-0 the blowhards would be out in force saying much the same things as they are now.

I can agree we had a lot of control of the game on Saturday obviously with the caveat as you say we didn’t create much and imo played into their hands.

If I’m honest I don’t mean Hull per se, it’s more my thoughts on the upcoming season.

Also being honest, my head went I think with the result and I was pissing the bed

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I can agree we had a lot of control of the game on Saturday obviously with the caveat as you say we didn’t create much and imo played into their hands.

If I’m honest I don’t mean Hull per se, it’s more my thoughts on the upcoming season.

Also being honest, my head went I think with the result and I was pissing the bed

Hull is our only meaningful data point and on most occasions, we win that game. It’s a repeat of the conversations had after disappointing losses/draws last season. It went exactly like our last 2 fixtures v Hull where it ended 0-0 and if anything, Lampard probably forced the issue too much - which is 100% said with hindsight.

Obviously I’m disappointed but it’s one game. We will probably lose to Man City and I still won’t be panicking because it’s another game with 0 expectation of a result.

Everyone plays everyone twice so there will be periods where we can catch up with 17th. If our home form is poor by Xmas, I’ll probably join the bedwetters union.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Hull is our only meaningful data point and on most occasions, we win that game. It’s a repeat of the conversations had after disappointing losses/draws last season. It went exactly like our last 2 fixtures v Hull where it ended 0-0 and if anything, Lampard probably forced the issue too much - which is 100% said with hindsight.

Obviously I’m disappointed but it’s one game. We will probably lose to Man City and I still won’t be panicking because it’s another game with 0 expectation of a result.

Everyone plays everyone twice so there will be periods where we can catch up with 17th. If our home form is poor by Xmas, I’ll probably join the bedwetters union.

To be fair, Man City is absolutely a free hit just hope to be more threatening than we were against Arsenal.

I think we will change our shape especially for games like Saturday but I thought that in June and said so on here.

Either way, a lot of the season to go and hopefully like you say, we can pick up some points and catch up.

 

[shmmeee]

Hull is our only meaningful data point and on most occasions, we win that game.

…

It went exactly like our last 2 fixtures v Hull where it ended 0-0 and if anything,

Ummm

 

[higgs]

I think unfortunately Matt needed to get to the premier league maybe 3 years ago he looks to have slowed down even from last season. We need pace and power in the middle he doesn't have either we need an upgrade in there he is slowing down the game too much but does frank have the funds to upgrade his captain at this stage I dont think so and if we wait until January it will more than likely be too late. Class footballer grimsey but time waits for no man and it looks like he has lost a yard of pace which he couldnt afford to lose in the first place especially in the prem

Sent from my SM-S731B using Tapatalk

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

…


Ummm

Yes?

We should’ve beat them at home last year and they probably should’ve beaten us away…

 

[petch86]

Yes?

We should’ve beat them at home last year and they probably should’ve beaten us away…

Only one stat matters though. And that's goals. I'd rather have 30% possession and win

 

[shmmeee]

Yes?

We should’ve beat them at home last year and they probably should’ve beaten us away…

You said we win most times but in three times we haven’t won.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

You said we win most times but in three times we haven’t won.

Really? You’re better than this. I wasn’t on about Cov v Hull fixtures specifically and you know that.

To spell it out: any team will win most games where we have a large % of possession, more shots, corners, touches in the box and a higher xG.

 

[shmmeee]

Really? You’re better than this. I wasn’t on about Cov v Hull fixtures specifically and you know that.

To spell it out: any team will win most games where we have a large % of possession, more shots, corners, touches in the box and a higher xG.

I mean fair enough if that’s what you meant but you literally said “most times we win that game” and then “it went exactly like the other two hull games” which sounds very much like you’re saying all the hull games are similar and most times we’d win them.

 

[Warwickhunt]

Hull is our only meaningful data point and on most occasions, we win that game. It’s a repeat of the conversations had after disappointing losses/draws last season. It went exactly like our last 2 fixtures v Hull where it ended 0-0 and if anything, Lampard probably forced the issue too much - which is 100% said with hindsight.

Obviously I’m disappointed but it’s one game. We will probably lose to Man City and I still won’t be panicking because it’s another game with 0 expectation of a result.

Everyone plays everyone twice so there will be periods where we can catch up with 17th. If our home form is poor by Xmas, I’ll probably join the bedwetters union.

We caught up with 17th already

 

[petch86]

Really? You’re better than this. I wasn’t on about Cov v Hull fixtures specifically and you know that.

To spell it out: any team will win most games where we have a large % of possession, more shots, corners, touches in the box and a higher xG.

Chelsea had 25% scored 4 goals. It's what you do with the ball that counts. No point having 70% possession against hull if you don't do anything with it was too slow and predictable.

 

[chiefdave]

We caught up with 17th already

I'll take finishing in 17th and Villa going down!

 

[Cally Fedora]

I think Grimes is capable of playing in this league but he can’t play the same role he did last season. I think in time Yirenkyi becomes the defensive energy man and plays with Onyeka. Grimes needs to plug the gap while Yirenkyi gets up to speed.

 

[Nonamesonshirts]

I think Grimes is capable of playing in this league but he can’t play the same role he did last season. I think in time Yirenkyi becomes the defensive energy man and plays with Onyeka. Grimes needs to plug the gap while Yirenkyi gets up to speed.

With the rest of the team as it is, I think Grimes definitely needs to play alongside 2 high energy, physical midfielders, ideally one of them a specialist DM. I could see how this might work, and he is still one of our best technical players.

If we want to start Rudoni or Hamer (or Torp) I think we will be overrun in most games if Grimes also starts. Exception to this might be if we got more a direct threat from the flanks, but we’re not really set up for that.

Obviously there might be a problem with ball retention with that more direct way of playing and say Onyeka, Yerinkyi and Rudoni. We would need to find a way to set up in a different way at the back.

No easy answers, the main problem is the relative quality in our team compared to most of the league. Which is entirely to be expected and understandable. Let’s hope there’s a couple of positive surprises today with last minute acquisitions.

 

[Diehard Si]

Grimes and Yirenkyi were in the same space all the time Saturday, trying to do the same job. Yirenkyi often just paid a side pass to his captain 4 metres away. Very frustrating to watch.

 

[AFCCOVENTRY]

 

[shmmeee]

Probably plays further back than any other CM TBF

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Its not really hard when he drops between the centre backs to collect the ball

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Playing it forward for the edge of our own box to 20 yards from our goal isn't exactly creating forward momentum. Lies, damn lies and statistics. Still, maybe someone will see that and put in a huge bid.

 

[shmmeee]

Playing it forward for the edge of our own box to 20 yards from our goal isn't exactly creating forward momentum. Lies, damn lies and statistics. Still, maybe someone will see that and put in a huge bid.

Also doubt any other team plays through the same player so much.

 

[shmmeee]

Also doubt any other team plays through the same player so much.

View attachment 54825

Rank  Player               Club                 Player passes   Club passes   % of club passes
1     Matt Grimes          Coventry City              164           931          17.62%
2     Elliot Anderson      Manchester City            159         1,446          11.00%
3     Bruno Fernandes      Manchester United          153         1,230          12.44%
4     Declan Rice          Arsenal                    152         1,146          13.26%
5     Youri Tielemans      Manchester United          145         1,230          11.79%
6     Pascal Groß          Brighton                   140         1,294          10.82%
7     Dominik Szoboszlai   Liverpool                  138         1,076          12.83%
8     Granit Xhaka         Sunderland                 133           947          14.04%
9     Sander Berge         Fulham                     117         1,199           9.76%
10    Mats Wieffer         Brighton                   109         1,294           8.42%

 

[mark82]

Rank  Player               Club                 Player passes   Club passes   % of club passes
1     Matt Grimes          Coventry City              164           931          17.62%
2     Elliot Anderson      Manchester City            159         1,446          11.00%
3     Bruno Fernandes      Manchester United          153         1,230          12.44%
4     Declan Rice          Arsenal                    152         1,146          13.26%
5     Youri Tielemans      Manchester United          145         1,230          11.79%
6     Pascal Groß          Brighton                   140         1,294          10.82%
7     Dominik Szoboszlai   Liverpool                  138         1,076          12.83%
8     Granit Xhaka         Sunderland                 133           947          14.04%
9     Sander Berge         Fulham                     117         1,199           9.76%
10    Mats Wieffer         Brighton                   109         1,294           8.42%

How does it look when you extend out to all players?

 

[shmmeee]

How does it look when you extend out to all players?

As in not just midfielders?

 

[shmmeee]

As in not just midfielders?

Player                 Club               Passes / Club   % of club passes
Matt Grimes             Coventry City      164 /   931       17.62%
Lewis Dunk              Brighton           213 / 1,294       16.46%
Rúben Dias              Man City           236 / 1,446       16.32%
Virgil van Dijk         Liverpool          172 / 1,076       15.99%
Jaydee Canvot           Crystal Palace     137 /   872       15.71%
Luka Vušković           Brighton           198 / 1,294       15.30%
Nathan Collins          Brentford          117 /   785       14.90%
James Hill              Bournemouth        113 /   797       14.18%
Granit Xhaka            Sunderland         133 /   947       14.04%
Calvin Bassey           Fulham             167 / 1,199       13.93%
Jan Paul van Hecke      Tottenham          143 / 1,047       13.66%
Declan Rice             Arsenal            152 / 1,146       13.26%
Dominik Szoboszlai      Liverpool          138 / 1,076       12.83%
Alex Iwobi              Fulham             152 / 1,199       12.68%
Jérémy Jacquet          Liverpool          136 / 1,076       12.64%
Bruno Fernandes         Man Utd            153 / 1,230       12.44%
Marc Guéhi              Man City           174 / 1,446       12.03%
Abdukodir Khusanov      Man City           173 / 1,446       11.96%
Youri Tielemans         Man Utd            145 / 1,230       11.79%
Olivier Boscagli        Brighton           148 / 1,294       11.44%
Myles Lewis-Skelly      Arsenal            131 / 1,146       11.43%
Gabriel Magalhães       Arsenal            131 / 1,146       11.43%
Elliot Anderson         Man City           159 / 1,446       11.00%
Pascal Groß             Brighton           140 / 1,294       10.82%
Cristhian Mosquera      Arsenal            120 / 1,146       10.47%
Harry Maguire           Man Utd            125 / 1,230       10.16%
Ben White               Arsenal            114 / 1,146        9.95%
Sander Berge            Fulham             117 / 1,199        9.76%
Joško Gvardiol          Man City           126 / 1,446        8.71%
Mats Wieffer            Brighton           109 / 1,294        8.42%

 

[Hincha]

I’d drop Grimes against Man City and play a 3-4-2-1 of

Amenda-Thomas-Pinnock
MvE-Yirenkyi-Onyeka-Dasilva
Rudoni-EMC
Awoniyi

Think that would give us solidity/legs moving forwards

One player off… but it’s the player this thread is about and most have said should be dropped

 

[wingy]

…


Ummm

Needs a giff.

 

[Evo1883]

Worked hard today , cant complain

 

[petch86]

Most I've seen him run. But for us to stay up I don't think he has the legs. Frank the tank was covering too much space and wouldn't be able to last 90mins covering for grimes