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Post by tommym9 on Aug 15, 2018 8:46:14 GMT
...willl we have to watch the opposition score after easily beating Craig in the air before DC realises that Lockyer-Craig isn’t an effective partnership? For me, they’re far too similar to play together. Both fairly short (for CBs), both slow, both have poor distribution, and both would be far better playing alongside a big, aggressive, dominant CB. Apologies for having a moan after a win, but we conceded a tonne of headers last season because of this CB partnership and we’ve already conceded three in the first three games this season. IMO this is going to hurt us time, and time, and time again until we drop one of them (Craig, for me) and start playing Broadbent/Rollin (when fit)/loan CB next to Lockyer as our first choice CB partnership. Am I being too harsh? Agree with this. Even getting in a tall loanee who can win headers would be better at this point. Lack of height at CB has already hurt us so far. Lets get that sorted.
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Post by warehamgas on Aug 15, 2018 8:52:35 GMT
Whoever we play in central defence the crosses seem to come in regularly. I’m sure Wycombe with their big beast at No. 9 will know exactly what they will be doing on Saturday. Don’t think Akinfenwa will be looking to get sent off after a few minutes this time, probably licking his lips at the prospect on Saturday. We have a defensive coach and last nights goal has happened too often this season. I hope he is coaching this out of them for the rest of the week but I’m not too confident. UTG!
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Post by Gassy on Aug 15, 2018 9:02:12 GMT
Whoever we play in central defence the crosses seem to come in regularly. I’m sure Wycombe with their big beast at No. 9 will know exactly what they will be doing on Saturday. Don’t think Akinfenwa will be looking to get sent off after a few minutes this time, probably licking his lips at the prospect on Saturday. We have a defensive coach and last nights goal has happened too often this season. I hope he is coaching this out of them for the rest of the week but I’m not too confident. UTG! Whilst I generally agree, I have to say - Lockyer kept Akinfenwa in his pocket in the past I believe.
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Post by Baxtinho on Aug 15, 2018 9:03:02 GMT
Craig is an excellent player, barks orders and his block before our second goal was brave and timed to perfection. Both him and Lockyer read the game better than any other lump of a centre back. They both try and anticipate the ball in but as posted by many sadly we are getting done by crosses and lack of height. Defending is a whole team issue not just the centre half’s. Again, sadly league 1 gks are playing league 1 because they just struggle to deal with crosses. Must stop the supply, but unless DC thinks Rollin is ready I really think we need a big lump on loan to mix things up. Make your mind up
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Post by warehamgas on Aug 15, 2018 9:05:43 GMT
Yes, you are right gassy, Akinfenwa was only on the pitch for a few minutes two years ago and I’m not really worried about him tbh but we will need to defend crosses better, stop the crosses coming in or hope our keeper can play well. It could be a carbon copy of last season when we lost the first two league games and came good at Bury after a good League Cup win. Here’s hoping. UTG!
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irene
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Post by irene on Aug 15, 2018 9:11:05 GMT
What I don’t understand is that Tony Craigs arrival last season coincided with a big improvement in the goals against column.We now have a new and no doubt expensive defensive coach and things appear to have gone to pot
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2018 9:14:01 GMT
Craig is an absolute donkey I’m afraid. He plays football like he’s wearing skinny jeans and sandbags around his neck.
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Post by Gassy on Aug 15, 2018 9:21:53 GMT
Yes, you are right gassy, Akinfenwa was only on the pitch for a few minutes two years ago and I’m not really worried about him tbh but we will need to defend crosses better, stop the crosses coming in or hope our keeper can play well. It could be a carbon copy of last season when we lost the first two league games and came good at Bury after a good League Cup win. Here’s hoping. UTG! Well it definitely wasn't that game, must have been before I'm not too worried about Akinfenwa as he isn't that tall for a striker, he's just massive. He's actually a decent player with his feet and tries to turn players with quick movement & his strength. Agree on the Bury comment, thankfully they were abysmal which allowed us to gain some confidence. I hope Wycombe will be the same, but let's see
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Post by warehamgas on Aug 15, 2018 11:01:36 GMT
Yes, you are right gassy, Akinfenwa was only on the pitch for a few minutes two years ago and I’m not really worried about him tbh but we will need to defend crosses better, stop the crosses coming in or hope our keeper can play well. It could be a carbon copy of last season when we lost the first two league games and came good at Bury after a good League Cup win. Here’s hoping. UTG! Well it definitely wasn't that game, must have been before I'm not too worried about Akinfenwa as he isn't that tall for a striker, he's just massive. He's actually a decent player with his feet and tries to turn players with quick movement & his strength. Agree on the Bury comment, thankfully they were abysmal which allowed us to gain some confidence. I hope Wycombe will be the same, but let's see Feb 16 when we beat AFCW 3-1 at home and Akinfenwa got sent off after coming on as sub. Have we played him since? We’ve only played Wycombe in checkatrade I think. UTG!
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Post by Gassy on Aug 15, 2018 11:04:24 GMT
Well it definitely wasn't that game, must have been before I'm not too worried about Akinfenwa as he isn't that tall for a striker, he's just massive. He's actually a decent player with his feet and tries to turn players with quick movement & his strength. Agree on the Bury comment, thankfully they were abysmal which allowed us to gain some confidence. I hope Wycombe will be the same, but let's see Feb 16 when we beat AFCW 3-1 at home and Akinfenwa got sent off after coming on as sub. Have we played him since? We’ve only played Wycombe in checkatrade I think. UTG! Tbh, it may have been before mate, I've been abroad since August 2015 - I get the feeling it may have even been Northampton?
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Post by Topper Gas on Aug 15, 2018 12:16:19 GMT
What I don’t understand is that Tony Craigs arrival last season coincided with a big improvement in the goals against column.We now have a new and no doubt expensive defensive coach and things appear to have gone to pot Check last season's results and you will see the improvement started in December when Locks finally found some form. As far as the coach he can't make Craig 6" taller and 5 years younger!
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pirate
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Post by pirate on Aug 15, 2018 12:31:53 GMT
Need a new centre back asap. I'd also like a couple of new full backs, but doubt the budget would stretch that far.
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pirate
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Post by pirate on Aug 15, 2018 12:34:14 GMT
I said before I would have cashed in on Lockyer while his stock was high as I dont think he will play much for the international side again, and then build a new reliable defence with the money. In the meantime Jimmy Dunne looks a good CB prospect, currently at Burnley (ex Man Utd academy) and available on loan. Dunne not a bad shout. 6ft 3in and did well at Accrington last season.
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Post by axegas on Aug 15, 2018 12:39:49 GMT
Need a new centre back asap. I'd also like a couple of new full backs, but doubt the budget would stretch that far. Maybe a left back on loan but we should on the most part be fine for fullbacks considering we have Holmes-Dennis and Partington to come back shortly, having Clarke and Leadbitter playing there isn’t too bad in the meanwhile. Completely agree about a new centre back. If we aren’t going to play Menayese, we find ourselves short on numbers and the centre backs we do have are seemingly unable to defend crosses.
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pirate
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Post by pirate on Aug 15, 2018 12:46:24 GMT
Need a new centre back asap. I'd also like a couple of new full backs, but doubt the budget would stretch that far. Maybe a left back on loan but we should on the most part be fine for fullbacks considering we have Holmes-Dennis and Partington to come back shortly, having Clarke and Leadbitter playing there isn’t too bad in the meanwhile. Completely agree about a new centre back. If we aren’t going to play Menayese, we find ourselves short on numbers and the centre backs we do have are seemingly unable to defend crosses. I don't particularly rate Partington, Clarke or Leadbitter, but considering we have those three I don't expect a new one. We should be looking to bring in competition for THD and DC told us he wanted to sign 2 left backs. A new CB would be a priority for me and I'm surprised we didn't strengthen this area earlier in the summer.
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Aug 15, 2018 12:48:33 GMT
What I don’t understand is that Tony Craigs arrival last season coincided with a big improvement in the goals against column.We now have a new and no doubt expensive defensive coach and things appear to have gone to pot No it didn't. Craig has been average at best for us and has made no improvement whatever to our shaking defence. One of DCs poorer signings.
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Post by baggins on Aug 15, 2018 12:53:21 GMT
What I don’t understand is that Tony Craigs arrival last season coincided with a big improvement in the goals against column.We now have a new and no doubt expensive defensive coach and things appear to have gone to pot No it didn't. Craig has been average at best for us and has made no improvement whatever to our shaking defence. One of DCs poorer signings. Yep, done nothing to suggest he's improved our back 4 lineup whatsoever.
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Post by GasAttacK on Aug 15, 2018 13:11:48 GMT
Craig reminds me of McChrystal in a lot of ways. A committed, experienced centre back but his distribution is poor and he's too slow and doesn't win enough headers.
McChrystal wasn't good enough for L1 and at 33 neither is Craig in my opinion. Should be backup at best.
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Post by eglantinorovers on Aug 15, 2018 14:07:09 GMT
Could it be that our keepers are also making it difficult for the centre backs, as Smith and Slocombe appear not take any responsibility for crosses into the area.
Would it be a good thing to bring the talented youngster Liam Armstrong into the squad as Smith or Slocombe need competition as they flounder on match days?
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Post by WeAreTheGas on Aug 15, 2018 14:38:22 GMT
Need a new centre back asap. I'd also like a couple of new full backs, but doubt the budget would stretch that far. Maybe a left back on loan but we should on the most part be fine for fullbacks considering we have Holmes-Dennis and Partington to come back shortly, having Clarke and Leadbitter playing there isn’t too bad in the meanwhile. Main issue there is that Holmes-Dennis is coming back from a long-term injury and Leadbitter & Partington can’t walk their dogs without pulling a muscle.
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