His crossing was decent, the quality of that right footed cross really surprised me, and I suspect the MKD players too
The strikers do need to anticipate better, I don't know whether it's because they're not on his wavelength yet, or whether they're just not good enough
His defensive workrate isn't good though, from the East stand you could see him jogging back slowly when we lost the ball giving no cover to the right of the defence, something you need to do in a 4-2-3-1 which we played for the last 30 minutes
Trouble is, players like that aren’t going to defend - if Bowyer expected him to defend them he’s signed the wrong bloke. Even when he does track back his tackling leaves a lot to be desired, and probably better if he doesn’t - he gives away really cheap free kicks.
Personally I don’t have a problem with having a luxury player that isn’t going to work as hard as the others, particularly if he is going to provide a game changing moment or carve out a few chances. However he needs to do that every game, if he doesn’t then we really are carrying a passenger.
In terms of the strikers not being on his wavelength or not being good enough - it’s a bit of both. But they really do need to gamble and anticipate better than they do.
One of the things I noticed last night when actually having to sit and watch the warm ups, was how much talent this guy actually has.
I think the above handful of comments sum up the whole thing - he can create a chance or even finish a chance at the drop of a hat and make a real difference to how deadly our attack is... alas, we have to put up with his work rate (or lack of).
As a few others have stated you don't sign Marcus for his defensive work, you sign him so you've got an easy outlet who can make things happen. It's the reason he got so many assists and goals at Peterborough.
He's a luxury player and if Bows isn't gonna treat him as such then I really don't understand why we signed him.
we've got enough defensive minded 'cloggers' in that team to do his chasing back - he needs to just be given a free role to roam wherever he wants, he'd be a nightmare for opponents to pick up
Posting without reading. I said to my son before the game we need to offload him, bad egg. Take that back now. This guy is a proper footballer. We need him fit and playing. Boots are a bit odd, but he has more ability than most of the rest combined.
we've got enough defensive minded 'cloggers' in that team to do his chasing back - he needs to just be given a free role to roam wherever he wants, he'd be a nightmare for opponents to pick up
We didn't in the last 25 minutes though as we had a 4-2-3-1 with Aneke, Williams, Maddison and Washington as the front 4, none of them very good defensively
An unbelievably creative footballer (for this level) who excites and frustrates a lot: I'd have said in equal measure, but at the moment it's more of the latter.
He reinvigorated our midfield when he came on last night, which makes a huge change from Burton, where he went off and the midfield looked a breath of fresh air. He doesn't work hard, but he's never been a muck and bullets type player. The trade off is theoretically creativity, and he definitely provided a spark last night, but nothing quite came off.
I'm still in the "give him time" camp. Once everyone is on the same wavelength we could have a far more creative attack.
Oh, and we're massively missing Doughty, aren't we?
As a few others have stated you don't sign Marcus for his defensive work, you sign him so you've got an easy outlet who can make things happen. It's the reason he got so many assists and goals at Peterborough.
He's a luxury player and if Bows isn't gonna treat him as such then I really don't understand why we signed him.
Presumably for the same reason he signed Williams and Oztumer too. Because he thought he could change them and make them the all round modern footballer. The same reason he originally kept leaving Morgan out of the side. He expects them to work harder and if they don't he will either let them go or leave them on the bench until such time as the need arises to use them.
The difference is that the ways of Maddison, Williams and Oztumer are somewhat ingrained by their age and experience. As evidenced though, Morgan is young and has been willing to change.
LB is very "black and white" and it will be interesting to see if he is going to adapt the set up of the team to suit Maddison. In both the case of LB and Maddison "if you do what you've always done you'll get what you've always got!"
One of a few players we have that can create a chance. The balls he put in last night were on a different wave length to our forwards who were slow in getting into dangerous positions.
He was signed to attack not to defend.
Did Andy Reid get stick for not defending? Did Claus jenson? I think the stick aimed at Maddison’s defensive frailties stems from his appearance, tattoos and social media comments. People don’t like him off the pitch so are quick to criticise on it
I definitely wouldn’t want to go for a beer with him but get interested every time he shapes to cross as I know it’s going to be dangerous.
One of a few players we have that can create a chance. The balls he put in last night were on a different wave length to our forwards who were slow in getting into dangerous positions.
He was signed to attack not to defend.
Did Andy Reid get stick for not defending? Did Claus jenson? I think the stick aimed at Maddison’s defensive frailties stems from his appearance, tattoos and social media comments. People don’t like him off the pitch so are quick to criticise on it
I definitely wouldn’t want to go for a beer with him but get interested every time he shapes to cross as I know it’s going to be dangerous.
One of a few players we have that can create a chance. The balls he put in last night were on a different wave length to our forwards who were slow in getting into dangerous positions.
He was signed to attack not to defend.
Did Andy Reid get stick for not defending? Did Claus jenson? I think the stick aimed at Maddison’s defensive frailties stems from his appearance, tattoos and social media comments. People don’t like him off the pitch so are quick to criticise on it
I definitely wouldn’t want to go for a beer with him but get interested every time he shapes to cross as I know it’s going to be dangerous.
But you've got to have a shape and other players to cover if you have a player who doesn't defend much
Claus Jensen was a brilliant player, but we had players to do the donkey around him. Looking at the team for the 4-2 Highbury win, our other midfielders were Konch, Parker and Kinsella all great workers
Last night was his best showing for us so far, but that isn't saying much. He did swing a few decent balls into the box, although he wastes a lot too trying Hollywood balls that are not really on. He is going to make things happen in the final third if he gets the ball enough, but his defensive work is straight out of the Darren Ambrose text book of run around trying to look like you're defending, but never get closer than 3 paces from an opposition player. Maybe he was just social distancing.
Do the ups sufficiently offset the downs with him? I'm far from convinced yet but he deserves more time. I've already said it on the post match thread, but it was a generally tired and leggy looking performance - we're going to get a few of those with the relentless fixture schedule this season, plus we've been having to over play players to cover injuries.
we've got enough defensive minded 'cloggers' in that team to do his chasing back - he needs to just be given a free role to roam wherever he wants, he'd be a nightmare for opponents to pick up
We didn't in the last 25 minutes though as we had a 4-2-3-1 with Aneke, Williams, Maddison and Washington as the front 4, none of them very good defensively
Considering the position he plays I think Washington does his fair share defending from the front
There are plenty complaining that tactically we have become too negative and then we complain that one of our main attacking outlets doesnt track back and defend!
There are plenty complaining that tactically we have become too negative and then we complain that one of our main attacking outlets doesnt track back and defend!
We could win 5-0, Maddison could score 3 but it will be the fact that he didn’t track back and we conceded a throw in that is picked up on.
Totally agree with the last ten posts or so. Bowyer needs to address quite a few of his own issues first and let us enjoy the luxury of a player who will create or score a goal which no one sees coming.Maddison,to me,seems to have only one thing on his mind and that is the scoring of goals. I think it also highlights,at the moment,Bowyer's general inflexibility. Even the rigid Curbs formations saw room for a creative player or two and what a difference they made to player and supporter morale.I hope Bowyer can learn and include freedom of thought into those players who will make such a difference. Come on,this division is full of average players and the right attitude and tactics for the players we have should get us promoted.
One of a few players we have that can create a chance. The balls he put in last night were on a different wave length to our forwards who were slow in getting into dangerous positions.
He was signed to attack not to defend.
Did Andy Reid get stick for not defending? Did Claus jenson? I think the stick aimed at Maddison’s defensive frailties stems from his appearance, tattoos and social media comments. People don’t like him off the pitch so are quick to criticise on it
I definitely wouldn’t want to go for a beer with him but get interested every time he shapes to cross as I know it’s going to be dangerous.
The comment at the time was that he was the only player that finished the game with white shorts as clean as when the game started...........but what a brilliant player
we've got enough defensive minded 'cloggers' in that team to do his chasing back - he needs to just be given a free role to roam wherever he wants, he'd be a nightmare for opponents to pick up
We didn't in the last 25 minutes though as we had a 4-2-3-1 with Aneke, Williams, Maddison and Washington as the front 4, none of them very good defensively
I agree on 3 of those, but Washington has looked decent on a number of occasions dropping into midfield or defence to win the ball back.
I do recall people around me complaining that Claus Jensen never got stuck in!!
Claus Jensen was better defensively than people remember. He never flew into tackles, but he did get back and defend - he got between the ball and our goal, tracked runners, closed down space etc. He was also an asset because when we got the ball back he would help us keep it and launch attacks on the break. Curbs often left him on when we defending a lead.
So far (and I do emphasize the "so far") Maddison has done none of those things. Yes he's not in the team to be a ball winner - fair enough - but neither are Williams, Morgan, Shinnie or any of the forwards, but they don't jog around like defending is simply not in their job description. If the bloke was so head and shoulders above anything else in the division he guarantees you goals every week it'd be defensible, but we aren't good enough to carry players through games in the hope they do something special.
Our best players have always worked hard for the team, no matter how individually talented they are, and I don't expect any less of Maddison. Morgan's learnt it, he needs to too.
Comments
I think the above handful of comments sum up the whole thing - he can create a chance or even finish a chance at the drop of a hat and make a real difference to how deadly our attack is... alas, we have to put up with his work rate (or lack of).
He's a luxury player and if Bows isn't gonna treat him as such then I really don't understand why we signed him.
He reinvigorated our midfield when he came on last night, which makes a huge change from Burton, where he went off and the midfield looked a breath of fresh air. He doesn't work hard, but he's never been a muck and bullets type player. The trade off is theoretically creativity, and he definitely provided a spark last night, but nothing quite came off.
I'm still in the "give him time" camp. Once everyone is on the same wavelength we could have a far more creative attack.
Oh, and we're massively missing Doughty, aren't we?
The difference is that the ways of Maddison, Williams and Oztumer are somewhat ingrained by their age and experience. As evidenced though, Morgan is young and has been willing to change.
LB is very "black and white" and it will be interesting to see if he is going to adapt the set up of the team to suit Maddison. In both the case of LB and Maddison "if you do what you've always done you'll get what you've always got!"
Did Andy Reid get stick for not defending? Did Claus jenson? I think the stick aimed at Maddison’s defensive frailties stems from his appearance, tattoos and social media comments. People don’t like him off the pitch so are quick to criticise on it
I definitely wouldn’t want to go for a beer with him but get interested every time he shapes to cross as I know it’s going to be dangerous.
Claus Jensen was a brilliant player, but we had players to do the donkey around him. Looking at the team for the 4-2 Highbury win, our other midfielders were Konch, Parker and Kinsella all great workers
He has ability and showed it last night.