Seen some posters on here and elsewhere talking about the balance in midfield, some saying they want Vaulks and Potter in so it would be either Frecks or Towell with them.
It seems pretty clear to me that what is working well is having Potter as a holding player, and Frecks and Towell are taking it in turns to either sit with him or bomb on in support of Moore. It is working well, and I think Towell's arrival has given Frecks a new lease of life because he isn't having to do all that running himself.
I would see Vaulks as someone to play in place of Potter if Potter is unavailable for any reason, or to put in there with Potter to shut up shop. In a nutshell I just don't think Vaulks is a better player than any of the three who are in there at the moment, nor Newell for that matter if he is an option to play in there.
Vaulks is a decent player and good guy to have around, but for me he wouldn't be first choice in any position. Great to have on the bench or as back up.
Without sounding like we have a mutual appreciation thing going Smiler, I agree with you entirely. You can guarantee that PW will pick Potter for every game, if he is fit - he considers him the most skillful player at the club. Frecks is back to full fitness and some of his running into the box on Saturday took me back three years. Towell is a real bundle of energy who seems to have time on the ball, is capable of some good trickery (which his team-mates sometimes fail to read!) and has an eye for goal. The rest of the midfield fit around these three with Taylor adding pace, Williams creativity and Newell being a good replacement when the opposition begin to tire. For all Vaulk's qualities - workrate, energy, long throw, good shot - he doesn't possess the skill or creativity of the other midfielders so would always be a replacement for me - as a utility player.
It's great to have options, particularly when they're good ones!
We don't always agree Glenn - your glass is usually a bit fuller than mine.
Potter has probably become the first name on the teamsheet.
I have never really been sold on Forde as an attacking threat but I think he is steady enough. He is also decent cover. David Ball is for my money someone who might be best behind a front man, and he is a class player so yet another great option.
I have to say I haven't always been an admirer of Taylor but I thought we missed him a bit on Saturday. He is the one player we have with real pace (although Williams and Towell are not slouches). He can get us from our back third to theirs in a hurry (even if there isn't always
an end product) and other teams are scared to hold a high line with players of that pace around.
As you say, lots of good options. So many games are won and lost in midfield, and with those players around we will surely win our share.
Cu mmings seems to have had a fairly lukewarm reception Glenn. What do you say about him? Can we agree on him too? My view is that I like my defenders to be able to defend first and foremost. If they can get forward in the style of Gerry Forrest it is a bonus. To me he looks very, very solid and composed defensively and sound if unspectacular going forwards. Plus he will only get better with more minutes of playing time. That will do for me thanks. In fact I wish we could clone a left footed version of him to play at left back.
I'm never particularly excited when Forde takes to the field. I think he's lacking the pace and strength needed to make him effective. Like Newell, he's fine to bring on late when the opposition is spent, but I would never start with him.
As for Cu mmings, I'm a big fan. Like you say, he's a defender first and if that's all he did I would be very happy - particularly when you recall what has happened in that position over the past couple of seasons. However, he has some neat tricks and has the ability to beat players so I'm not sure why some might not be impressed with him. The competition for that place, Emmanuel and Vaulks, don't come anywhere near Cu mmings' quality.
Perhaps it's time to top that glass up slightly Smiler!
I would always find a starting place for Newell, Glenn. In my opinion he is the most talented footballer at the club. Other than that we seem to be on pretty much the same page. In fact on Mad they would probably be calling us a multi!
My glass is already a bit fuller than it was in August. I was one of those who feared a slide towards another relegation battle. We are very obviously better than that. I now think Tony will have his way - mid-table and looking up - albeit in the wrong division. Joking apart, Warne is doing well. Moore has probably surpassed everyone's expectations (including his own) which has been crucial particularly given the Proctor injury, and the signing of Towell is looking like a masterstroke. Things to work on but all moving in the right direction. Credit where it is due.
I'm still not convinced that Newell doesn't go missing in action when the going gets tough. Although he did some good work helping out the defence on Saturday. He seems to have bulked up since last season which will be in his favour and I was pleased to see him last 90 minutes. Who to leave out is the question!?
As for multis, there was a tongue in cheek suggestion on this site that I might have been one. But I think it was more to do with my Avatar photo!
as the season progresses warne has to and probably realises that the attacking and midfield will have to adapt faster in a game and come out guns blazing especially away from home. Blackburn swamped us and we didn't have any response
the holding midfield role potter has made it his own but who do we ahve as cover. sending ball out on loan to aberdeen perplexed me as there was an opportunity for him to grow into the role learning from potter
vaulks has to become the new frecks
time for bray to have a go
our attacking option at the moment is working better than we hoped with the injury to proctor and ball. with the alternative of jch and yates not exactly pulling up trees when they have come on
the only alternative to moore up front would
4 3 3
potter taylor newell midfield
with moore frecks/ vaulks ball attacking
4 4 2
taylor frecks/ vaulks potter newell
moore ball/ yates
i am sorry but even with game time i just cannot see JCH ever becoming the player his potential has shown
-- Edited by hillsborough miller on Friday 6th of October 2017 08:27:50 AM
Towell is a key man given the way we play. Frecks doesn't have the legs any more to be the only man getting forwards from midfield to support a lone striker. When Frecks can take turns with Towell it helps him. Vaulks (sorry) just doesn't have the same quality. Towell does the job really well.
David Ball should have a big part to play when fit. He is a good player. But not a lone striker.
Dominic Ball is an average centre back at best, and worse as a midfielder.
For me Vaulks is cover at right back (Cu mmings best by a mile) and an option as cover for Potter as a holding midfielder, or a sub to bring on next to Potter to shore things up.
We will have a real problem if Moore is injured before January.
I'm not sure this level of concurrence is allowed Smiler - there's a distinct likelihood that we'll be censured before too long!
The best bit of business we could achieve in January is for Towell to be signed permanently (I see this as a decent possibility as Brighton will not want him for Premiership duties, so he is probably seen as superfluous to their requirements) and Moore to be guaranteed to remain with us until the end of the season. I don't think McCarthy will want him back in January but if Rotherham are doing OK, he'll probably see us as the best possible shop window for him). If we could sign Moore permanently I'd be overjoyed, but I'm not sure we'll stand a chance.
Agree on Dominic Ball. He failed to inspire me as either a CB or in midfield. He looked totally out of his depth which is unusual for someone of his pedigree. Maybe his loan spell might improve him but I'm not confident.
I think Da Ball will play a big part for us this season. He's a classy player and could fit in really well with Moore and Towell. His trickery, along with that of Williams and Towell will fit in really well with PW's shock and awe tactics.
As for tomorrow, if PW decides to treat the game like a home tie, I'm confident that we'll come away with 3 points. If that happens, we could find ourselves in the top six with a game next Saturday against another top six side. The next 8 days could well define our season and might determine the importance Tony Stewart attaches to securing the permanent services of Moore and Towell.
First part of the scenario successfully completed. Great away win against a side who've been very difficult to break down of late. S****horpe were well beaten by Wigan today so will be looking to make up ground next week at NYS. It should be a great battle and if we can come out on top there will be strong belief that promotion is a realistic proposition for us. This should concentrate Tony Stewart's mind on how he intends to strengthen the squad to ensure we give ourselves the best chance possible to climb back to the Championship!
We have as good a midfield, as we have had, for some time.The system allows them to be more involved and clearly they enjoy it.In my opinion Ryan Williams and Darren Potter are really outstanding and at this level Taylor will be a big player for us.Towell is a player I would like us to sign permanantly in January,he is a very clever operator in the role he plays for us.The chairman must realise that Warney does have an eye for a good player and he MUST back him in January.
The January transfer window will be the litmus test as far as I'm concerned. If we are holding our own in a similar position come January then the direction/ambition of the club will be determined by TS, by how much he is prepared to back Warne .
Its fair to say our last promotion 4yrs ago was something of a surprise for all; the club on just about every level was not prepared. So the question is, will we strengthen and march onwards, or will we go through the motions and do our damnedest to avoid a repeat of last time and respectably avoid promotion…….?
I'm not sure this level of concurrence is allowed Smiler - there's a distinct likelihood that we'll be censured before too long!
The best bit of business we could achieve in January is for Towell to be signed permanently (I see this as a decent possibility as Brighton will not want him for Premiership duties, so he is probably seen as superfluous to their requirements) and Moore to be guaranteed to remain with us until the end of the season. I don't think McCarthy will want him back in January but if Rotherham are doing OK, he'll probably see us as the best possible shop window for him). If we could sign Moore permanently I'd be overjoyed, but I'm not sure we'll stand a chance.
Agree on Dominic Ball. He failed to inspire me as either a CB or in midfield. He looked totally out of his depth which is unusual for someone of his pedigree. Maybe his loan spell might improve him but I'm not confident.
I think Da Ball will play a big part for us this season. He's a classy player and could fit in really well with Moore and Towell. His trickery, along with that of Williams and Towell will fit in really well with PW's shock and awe tactics.
As for tomorrow, if PW decides to treat the game like a home tie, I'm confident that we'll come away with 3 points. If that happens, we could find ourselves in the top six with a game next Saturday against another top six side. The next 8 days could well define our season and might determine the importance Tony Stewart attaches to securing the permanent services of Moore and Towell.
Onwards and upwards.
I'd love to know what is going on behind the scenes to try and secure Moore and Towell on permanent contracts. If we continue with our present form it's essential that these two are part of our long term planning because a promotion push is definitely on the cards.
Agreed about Moore and Towell to sign on permanently but, we also need to tie up Newell (Contract finishes Aug 2018), who, in my opinion , is the best footballer we have by a mile! On his day, he is unplayable. I agree, he may not tackle like Norman Hunter (which seems to annoy the same poster on MM) but, anyone that can beat 4 players inside a telephone box and strike a volley into the top corner from 35 yards, is exceptional!!
Sign these three up to long deals and we can only strengthen the team for the foreseeable future!
