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Jason Pearce admits Naby Sarr doesn’t deserve to come out of the side
Comments
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Personally I'd have Sarr as first choice and bring Pearce in when the style of the opposition suits his game better. So pretty much how Bowyer has been doing it.7
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That line about Pearce somehow putting his body on the line for three points irritates me somewhat. Firstly, Sarr also throws himself fully into tackles, blocks and headers. No difference there except in perception. Secondly, that kind of military all-hands-on-deck language makes it out like football is a battle to be won against great odds in tough physical circumstances. But we have better players and a better team than, I'd wager, anyone else in this league, when we play to our potential. It shouldn't be a matter of digging in the trenches and seeing it out. It should be a matter of domination and skill.3
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Personally I leave Sarr, Pearce and Bauer out, get Lennon back and play him alongside Pratley.13
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@Leuth I get where you're coming from, and Naby's footballing ability is excellent and certainly better than Jason Pearce's, but I think the defensive structure is better with the latter on the pitch.
Naby is still prone, too, to give the ball away in a compromising position or misjudge a through ball - but he's been covered every single time, and not always through our competence, but opposition incompetence/sheer luck.
It depends on the game. They're rather different defenders, and if we knew to expect a proper battle in defence, then I'd play Pearce. If the oppo were likely to set up more cautiously, then Sarr every day of the week.
But we're getting to the crunch end of the season now, and if I had to pick one or the other, and ONLY one or the other, it would be Pearce - just.
This is a wonderful problem to have, though.8 -
Pearce is just back from injury so would have him on the bench Saturday.
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Need to keep up the intensity, no taking our foot off the gas and coasting., i'm sure they will get both get rotated over easter.0
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i'd play with all three CB's - but not with the present FB's - a fit Page and A.N. Other ...0
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Can't agree with that, we should get Rhys Williams back as he was a great success in the two games ha played.ricky_otto said:Personally I leave Sarr, Pearce and Bauer out, get Lennon back and play him alongside Pratley.1 -
Does Naby have the discipline to play in a holding midfield role I wonder? Could be a good Bielik replacement when the Pole inevitably leaves us in the summer.1
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So basically we can’t play 3 at the back because we have no wing backs.Broadstairs_Red said:i'd play with all three CB's - but not with the present FB's - a fit Page and A.N. Other ...
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It's more than just that I think Leuth. Ultimately in any game you know what you're going to get with Pearce. He will have some games better than others but you will get 90+ minutes of total commitment and concentration. With Naby that's not 100% assured as he is prone to the odd lapse or botch close to his own goal. He's had fairly few instances of big slip ups recently and it's never in the forefront of our minds anymore, but when it comes to it Bowyer's choice I would say it would be between Naby's ability to pass the ball brilliantly versus the knowledge that you'll get exactly what you expect from Pearce with no surprises. It's a good headache to have. I would say Naby would be my choice for the games when we expect to be dominant, and Pearce for the games when it's going to be a fight to the death. I think we're just not used to having this kind of situation where we have more than one player in the conversation for first choice in a position.2
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Think that’s disrespectful to Sarr. He can still give the ball away and/or misjudge something, but Pearce is no Van Dijk, we are in League one and all centre backs at this level are capable of that.PaddyP17 said:@Leuth I get where you're coming from, and Naby's footballing ability is excellent and certainly better than Jason Pearce's, but I think the defensive structure is better with the latter on the pitch.
Naby is still prone, too, to give the ball away in a compromising position or misjudge a through ball - but he's been covered every single time, and not always through our competence, but opposition incompetence/sheer luck.
It depends on the game. They're rather different defenders, and if we knew to expect a proper battle in defence, then I'd play Pearce. If the oppo were likely to set up more cautiously, then Sarr every day of the week.
But we're getting to the crunch end of the season now, and if I had to pick one or the other, and ONLY one or the other, it would be Pearce - just.
This is a wonderful problem to have, though.
Sarrs recent form has been fantastic and that includes his defending alongside his passing.2 -
Sarr has scored more than Igor this season so play him up front with Taylor.
Sorted.1 -
Citing Sarr's errors as a reason to pick Pearce is simply ignoring the evidence. Yeah not all his touches or passes come off but Pearce makes mistakes too - fouls especially, but also dodgy passes and such. His usual mode of distribution is the punt downfield though so it's easy to say he makes fewer mistakes. Saying you know what you'll get from Pearce is unfair on Sarr because Sarr's 'unknown' element is usually positive, whether a through-ball or a jinking run. And besides, you now know what you'll get from Sarr - Championship (at least)-level excellence
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What you get from Pearce is someone with excellent commitment and defensive nous (i.e. like Sarr) but who'll pop up with set-piece goals in crunch games. That is his selling-point1
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So @leuth the big question is Sarr hung like a truncheon? Who makes breakfast in the morning?
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Ha! I've already won the 'right about Sarr all along' argument. My next project is Reeves. That one might be harder though3
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AFKABartram said:I love Naby as a character and think he has come on leaps and bounds, and I have much lesser doubts on his weaknesses than I did even six months ago.
but ultimately if it come down to a crunch straight choice for a game that really mattered I’d choose Pearce. And I suspect Bowyer will as well.
Depends whether you are prepared to reduce the quality of the build up play (by having Pearce). Suspect Sarr will play at home when there is loads of possession and Pearce will play away when we are up against it.3 -
That's a little forthright but okay. I'd rather have a Pearce mistake, as you put it, than Sarr's. Sarr will give the ball away in a more compromising position because of his better attempted range of passes, while Pearce's mistakes tend to be "known quantities". We know how best to set up to defend a free kick from X yards out, while Sarr misjudging a header that leaves us two-on-two with a man in behind is a far more exploitable situation.Leuth said:Citing Sarr's errors as a reason to pick Pearce is simply ignoring the evidence. Yeah not all his touches or passes come off but Pearce makes mistakes too - fouls especially, but also dodgy passes and such. His usual mode of distribution is the punt downfield though so it's easy to say he makes fewer mistakes. Saying you know what you'll get from Pearce is unfair on Sarr because Sarr's 'unknown' element is usually positive, whether a through-ball or a jinking run. And besides, you now know what you'll get from Sarr - Championship (at least)-level excellence
And what you've said about commitment and nous - personally, I still think Pearce shades it, though Naby has come on leaps and bounds this season for putting in a good challenge.
@cafcfan1990 - you're right that Pearce isn't Van Dijk and I'd never for one minute claim he was. But, he will go for a minimal-risk approach (i.e. hoofing it away) when in doubt, which in certain situations is a highly desirable quality and better for the team than trying to incisively pass one's way out of trouble.
Sarr has a higher ceiling than Pearce though, obviously, and if he continues to improve then sorry Skip, but you'll have to make way.2 - Sponsored links:
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Fair point and one I agree with. But I don't agree with this comment - "Naby is still prone, too, to give the ball away in a compromising position or misjudge a through ball - but he's been covered every single time, and not always through our competence, but opposition incompetence/sheer luck".PaddyP17 said:
That's a little forthright but okay. I'd rather have a Pearce mistake, as you put it, than Sarr's. Sarr will give the ball away in a more compromising position because of his better attempted range of passes, while Pearce's mistakes tend to be "known quantities". We know how best to set up to defend a free kick from X yards out, while Sarr misjudging a header that leaves us two-on-two with a man in behind is a far more exploitable situation.Leuth said:Citing Sarr's errors as a reason to pick Pearce is simply ignoring the evidence. Yeah not all his touches or passes come off but Pearce makes mistakes too - fouls especially, but also dodgy passes and such. His usual mode of distribution is the punt downfield though so it's easy to say he makes fewer mistakes. Saying you know what you'll get from Pearce is unfair on Sarr because Sarr's 'unknown' element is usually positive, whether a through-ball or a jinking run. And besides, you now know what you'll get from Sarr - Championship (at least)-level excellence
And what you've said about commitment and nous - personally, I still think Pearce shades it, though Naby has come on leaps and bounds this season for putting in a good challenge.
@cafcfan1990 - you're right that Pearce isn't Van Dijk and I'd never for one minute claim he was. But, he will go for a minimal-risk approach (i.e. hoofing it away) when in doubt, which in certain situations is a highly desirable quality and better for the team than trying to incisively pass one's way out of trouble.
Sarr has a higher ceiling than Pearce though, obviously, and if he continues to improve then sorry Skip, but you'll have to make way.
For me that suggests the defenders have covered Sarr when for me, he has been a huge reason as to why our defensive record has been so good recently. A defensive record that has improved when Sarr has come into the side regularly at CB. I also accept Purrington and Phillips have contributed.
Bauer has had a good season, but for me he has looked better alongside Sarr than Pearce.0 -
You play against a team that's going to play football (Portsmouth) - you play Sarr.
You play against a team that's going to lump it forward ASAP, and try to out muscle you (Wycombe) - you play Pearce.
Simple IMO4 -
For me, Sarr should play Vs Luton, Scunthorpe and Rochdale. And stick Pearce in for the scrappy battles at Oxford and Gillingham, the away games are the ones where your CB’s clear balls off the line with their teeth, a strong attribute of Pearce, Naby a better footballer when his footwork can come in to play to breakdown teams at home.3
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We've not won enough games this season by domination and skill aloneLeuth said:That line about Pearce somehow putting his body on the line for three points irritates me somewhat. Firstly, Sarr also throws himself fully into tackles, blocks and headers. No difference there except in perception. Secondly, that kind of military all-hands-on-deck language makes it out like football is a battle to be won against great odds in tough physical circumstances. But we have better players and a better team than, I'd wager, anyone else in this league, when we play to our potential. It shouldn't be a matter of digging in the trenches and seeing it out. It should be a matter of domination and skill.
We're always going to thrash someone, but we don't.
Our success has been based on our organised and structured defence, which Purrington has added to and so has Phillips, with his outstanding form.
Sarr and Pearce are both excellent and I'm happy for Bowyer to choose his preference.
However, Pearce undoubtedly edges Sarr with his experience, his promotion winning experience, his organisation skills and his captain qualities.2 -
good attitude from Pearce, but what you’d expect from him.
A tough choice between him and Sarr, but a nice one to have. Pearce is a better warhorse when we need to battle, Sarr the better footballer against less physical opposition
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Personally feel it also comes down to when leadership or experience is needed. As Bowyer likes to rotate Dijksteel and Solly too, it seems that if Solly plays then Sarr plays as Solly brings that experience, when Dijksteel plays Pearce is needed otherwise the defence lacks experience.2
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It’s horses for courses. Sarr at home vs a mid table side because his technical qualities help us in possession. Pearce away to a relegation struggler on a windy Tuesday night because he just loves the battle. That’s not to say Sarr is some delicate wallflower but Pearce lives for marking players like Akinfenwa.
Bowyer explained it pretty clearly in his post match comments after Wycombe and his approach makes perfect sense and results say he’s got those decisions right so far.
Who he goes with for a game like Saturday or in the playoffs I’m not sure. I’d be inclined to pick Pearce this weekend for his organization skills. But Nabbs has had very good games vs teams likes of Pompey and that ability to build from the back could make the difference in what should be a very tight game, one we need to win more than Luton do.
I think you could make a strong case that we have 3 of the best 5 centre backs in the division and that’s counting Bielik as a midfielder when he has also had some handy appearances at the back. Selection headaches like this are what Bowyer will want though, and I trust him to deal with them without prejudice.2 -
Pearce or Bauer.
Sarr plays unless we're playing for a draw ?
A back 4 of Solly, Bauer, Pearce, and Purrington, is fine in a back to the wall defensive line up BUT I thought we were going for the win ? Naby gives us the attacking option.
Look forward to seeing Jason's 50 yard passes to Taylor.
Pearce is the best Captain since JJ but he would be picked for the wrong reason if that goal and his performance at Wycombe got him ahead of Naby who's been excellent for 20 odd games in a row and has played a major part in the 8 goals conceded in 16 matches.
If Bowyer decide Pearce plays in front of Sarr I will back Bowyer 100%(once the game kicks off !)1 -
The only other option is 3-5-2
Phillips
Bauer Pearce Sarr
Solly Williams Cullen Aribo Purrington
Taylor Vetokele.
Reeves for Williams after 65 if still chasing the game.
Bielik who I'm not sure how fit he is, gets another game to get fitter, plus judging by the 8 crosses Dijksteel attempted in the last home game with only 2 coming off, let's see if Solly can emulate the lovely cross for Taylor's goal against Plymouth.
Purrington can just give it a go and deliver the crosses.
If Luton bring their A game it may be a case of 5-3-2 if under the cosh but that's the whole point of this formation, it's flexible and the backs adapt.
If we don't win we freewheel to the playoffs anyway.
Ps. Ben 6.5 Purrington to surprise with a 7 5 performance at wing back !
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There's no way I would change the shape of a team in a winning run and full of spirit. The formation works, if it's at the expense of one player so be it. Just be glad to have one of Pearcedini or BeckenSarr to bring on.2
