The player who was standing out every week for Crewe hasn’t just disappeared. He’s barely had a chance under Jackson, and when he has it’s come out of position. And under Adkins, everyone was awful, even Dobson, Clare etc. who we’ve all been raving about for the past few months.
Not a coincidence he’s going to a team in the league above. We’ll regret this decision in the future if he’s goes for good.
If he goes permanently, you can bet your bottom dollar he'll be in the Prem by his 26th birthday and we'll all be over the moon with the £150k sell on fee
Just checked the article that confirmed his renewal, and cant see the mention of another option either.
Be very surprised if he doesn't decide to retire this year.
Watson will still be here next season, just not as a player.
Christ after last night’s disgraceful performance, I really hope not! Get him as far away from this club as possible.
He may not be good enough as a player anymore but SMT like what he can bring as a coach.
I find that very concerning. Never saw Jacko put in an abject performance like that as a player. Even Pearce always gives his all though sometimes that’s not good enough. Watson is not a suitable role model imo.
Jackson has seen what Kirk is capable of from the second he arrived, Adkins didn’t fancy him, Jackson doesn’t fancy him.
We move on, why worry from our point of view about the inflated fee we paid for him, this is common in football, hopefully the next one does better. (PS f*****g hate this season!!!!)
You have Clare and JFC to come back into that CM category next season but wing backs defo need improving.
Clare is a right back or right centre back .
No, he’s a central midfielder who has the athleticism and ability on the ball that Jackson wants from one of his outside centre backs to venture into midfield and join the attack. He has the ability to play there, and overall has done very, very well, because of playing at right back previously in his career. He understands the defensive side of the game better, but he is still a midfielder playing in defence.
I don’t think he has the passing quality or awareness to play there . Evidently I’m outnumbered on this feeling but he looks much better in defence to me . I think he wants to play in midfield, certainly.
More than entitled to that. I just don’t think he has been able to show his worth in midfield. To me, he’s as close to a Gilbey replacement that we have. He has the athleticism and the ability to carry the ball, not to the same standard, but he can do it. He’s just proved to be very useful as an outside centre back.
For me, I will be interested to see the style of play and principles of play that Jackson will try to implement in the summer. Especially as we will have a core of players and the season starting a little earlier, we need to do our business early and I would hope we would see what his style actually is. And with that, where Clare fits in and the position he plays.
I think the fact that he can't get in this midfield says a lot about his prospects of playing there next season, after hopefully a productive close season. Closest thing to Dobson, yes, and therein lies the issue- our midfield is woefully short on quality and mobility. I really like Dobson- I'm glad he's maintained his form in this slump and I think Gilbey is a good player, albeit with minimal end product. Beyond that, we've got an inconsistent Morgan (who I hope will be go on a run of good league games now), Lee, who has fallen away spectacularly and Watson.
Kirk has had a chance, he's even looked poor in the Pizza cup and against Havant in FA CUP. I can only judge him on what I've seen and he's been absolutely dreadful. Get rid
Harsh. Kirk has already proven he's good enough to excel in this division, which is why we bought him.
He's a young lad moving down south who just lost his dad. It's understandable if he hasn't settled, but given the talent he's already shown, it's up to us as well as Kirk to get the best out of him.
Probably make a case for and against all these payers (well most of em), but decisions need to be made sooner rather than later in order to move forward
You have Clare and JFC to come back into that CM category next season but wing backs defo need improving.
Clare is a right back or right centre back .
No, he’s a central midfielder who has the athleticism and ability on the ball that Jackson wants from one of his outside centre backs to venture into midfield and join the attack. He has the ability to play there, and overall has done very, very well, because of playing at right back previously in his career. He understands the defensive side of the game better, but he is still a midfielder playing in defence.
I don’t think he has the passing quality or awareness to play there . Evidently I’m outnumbered on this feeling but he looks much better in defence to me . I think he wants to play in midfield, certainly.
More than entitled to that. I just don’t think he has been able to show his worth in midfield. To me, he’s as close to a Gilbey replacement that we have. He has the athleticism and the ability to carry the ball, not to the same standard, but he can do it. He’s just proved to be very useful as an outside centre back.
For me, I will be interested to see the style of play and principles of play that Jackson will try to implement in the summer. Especially as we will have a core of players and the season starting a little earlier, we need to do our business early and I would hope we would see what his style actually is. And with that, where Clare fits in and the position he plays.
I think the fact that he can't get in this midfield says a lot about his prospects of playing there next season, after hopefully a productive close season. Closest thing to Dobson, yes, and therein lies the issue- our midfield is woefully short on quality and mobility. I really like Dobson- I'm glad he's maintained his form in this slump and I think Gilbey is a good player, albeit with minimal end product. Beyond that, we've got an inconsistent Morgan (who I hope will be go on a run of good league games now), Lee, who has fallen away spectacularly and Watson.
Yes, our midfield is nowhere near good enough and for me, that’s been the biggest problem this season. Not enough goals, not enough protection for the defence, not enough creativity.
I personally think Gilbey is our best midfielder, with what he brings to us, if he had a bit more about him defensively, he wouldn’t be in this league.
I think him and maybe Dobson, if he improved his ability on the ball, are the only ones who could be a squad player for a Championship club, not starters but would play a part. I think that’s the problem.
I know we wouldn’t have a midfield like that again at this level, but compare our midfield now to what we had when we won promotion and it’s scary the massive difference in quality.
You have Clare and JFC to come back into that CM category next season but wing backs defo need improving.
Clare won't add any value in midfield. Similar player to Dobson who is much better there.
Dont think we've seen enough of him to make that judgement yet. Im going on the basis that he was signed as a CM and thats what he rates himself as his strongest position.
But we have seen him play this season and he is defensive minded. If we want to challenge next season we need energy and creativity in the middle, we have the defensive player in Dobson. Clare ain't the answer in midfield.
So we only have one player for each role?
Don’t forget, we don’t get injuries and players all keep their form. 11 players for 50 odd games is more than enough.
Well, nearly. Remarkably, in 1973/4 Leeds Utd won the League (Div 1) using 17 outfield players and two keepers. But behind that stat is the story that 10 of the team played 33 or more games and Jones played 31; Bremner and Hunter were ever-present.
Surprised to see so many people complaining that Charlie Kirk going is awful business, just because there’s a player in there somewhere, what makes him that much different from someone like Marcus Maddison or Ronnie Schwartz?
Jackson has seen what Kirk is capable of from the second he arrived, Adkins didn’t fancy him, Jackson doesn’t fancy him.
We move on, why worry from our point of view about the inflated fee we paid for him, this is common in football, hopefully the next one does better. (PS f*****g hate this season!!!!)
These things happen, couldn't they just remain friends...
Kirk was never awful, he was just never very effective either. He kept the ball, he was tidy, created a few chances, missed a few. Clearly he is a good footballer (the stats don't lie) but not at all suited to this system and not very suited to this club.
To be fair to the scouting team, they've signed a player who has not done well here and yet is still getting a move to the division above. Imagine if he had done well.
Jackson has seen what Kirk is capable of from the second he arrived, Adkins didn’t fancy him, Jackson doesn’t fancy him.
We move on, why worry from our point of view about the inflated fee we paid for him, this is common in football, hopefully the next one does better. (PS f*****g hate this season!!!!)
Kirk wasn't a last minute summer move though, we were after him in January as well, something which presumably Bowyer and Jacko would have had some say about...
Kirk was never awful, he was just never very effective either. He kept the ball, he was tidy, created a few chances, missed a few. Clearly he is a good footballer (the stats don't lie) but not at all suited to this system and not very suited to this club.
To be fair to the scouting team, they've signed a player who has not done well here and yet is still getting a move to the division above. Imagine if he had done well.
He doesn’t appear to have one attribute that you need to be a decent winger - he’s slow, weak, has no tricks to beat a man, has no left foot which makes him incredibly easy to defend against and looks to have shit work rate. Dreadful signing.
Kirk was never awful, he was just never very effective either. He kept the ball, he was tidy, created a few chances, missed a few. Clearly he is a good footballer (the stats don't lie) but not at all suited to this system and not very suited to this club.
To be fair to the scouting team, they've signed a player who has not done well here and yet is still getting a move to the division above. Imagine if he had done well.
He doesn’t appear to have one attribute that you need to be a decent winger - he’s slow, weak, has no tricks to beat a man, has no left foot which makes him incredibly easy to defend against and looks to have shit work rate. Dreadful signing.
To be honest mate, how can anyone have seen enough of him here to pass judgement like that. He's only played about as much as Dobson did under Adkins, and we all thought he was shit as well.
(Anyone about to post 'not all of us', save yourself the trouble).
Kirk had crazy stats at Crewe, something like the top chance creator in the league for 2-3 seasons running and is now signing for a Championship club. I think that says more than what he has or hasn't done in a few starts and 10 minutes here or there.
Kirk going to Blackpool shows how poorly we've managed him. Not given much game time and been often forced into a wingback role when he has played. A championship club feel like he is suitable at that level yet we refuse to play a system or formation that accommodates a player of his quality. Instead we play a formation where half the team is out of position. It's not just him either. It's the same for Leko and DJ. Especially annoying since we've spent relatively big on Kirk and DJ just to not play them in positions where they can showcase their ability
I would be raiding derby for some players like Malcolm Ebiowei who is from south London and is highly thought of and doing very well for them in youth levels.
There is a reason why footballers playing in league one. They ain't that good.
I think the further up the football pyramid you go the more you can experiment with different formations. Top players can adapt to playing a different style because they are just that.top players.
Unfortunately we have a squad of bang average league one players and I think we should go back to basics 442 anyone because so many of our players look totally confused at times and don't look like they know what's expected of them. When we rebuild our squad in the summer I hope we do so with bringing in players who can play a 442 system. Let's face it they have been playing that formation since they were schoolkids. Don't try and confuse them with too many different formations because they are not good enough to adapt. That's why they are in league one.
There is a reason why footballers playing in league one. They ain't that good.
I think the further up the football pyramid you go the more you can experiment with different formations. Top players can adapt to playing a different style because they are just that.top players.
Unfortunately we have a squad of bang average league one players and I think we should go back to basics 442 anyone because so many of our players look totally confused at times and don't look like they know what's expected of them. When we rebuild our squad in the summer I hope we do so with bringing in players who can play a 442 system. Let's face it they have been playing that formation since they were schoolkids. Don't try and confuse them with too many different formations because they are not good enough to adapt. That's why they are in league one.
disagree with that - they are professional footballers and while they may not have as much experience in playing other formations, they should be able to adapt easily enough. It's not hard for the management staff to say "ok you are playing LWB your job is too do this, this and this" It's either an issue with quality of players, something that changing the formation isn't gonna do, or the instructions they are getting.
Based on last night my first job this morning would be to sending Leko & Lee packing. Neither are good enough and worse neither looked bothered.
Leko like Kirk has no role in this team so no point persevering. Use the slots to get in wing backs etc. So we can let JJ mail his formation.
I agree they are bang out of form but Leko isn’t a wingback and never will be so I think he is getting harsh treatment at the moment. When he played for us in the championship, he was either upfront or wide. Moving him to wing back is never going to work and we need to stop forcing it.
I understand Jackson’s got a formation in mind but if we simply do not have the players for it, play a u23 there for sign a RWB and LWB (Castillo) then implement it. Leko, BT, DJ will never consistently work there because they aren’t wingbacks and I don’t think they ever will be.
I don’t agree about the lack of effort, I think both are trying but like I say, bang out of form.
Comments
The role for an attacker in this formation is an ACM. Not a touch player on either wing, who stuggles to do much else.
Leko like Kirk has no role in this team so no point persevering. Use the slots to get in wing backs etc. So we can let JJ mail his formation.
He's a young lad moving down south who just lost his dad. It's understandable if he hasn't settled, but given the talent he's already shown, it's up to us as well as Kirk to get the best out of him.
I personally think Gilbey is our best midfielder, with what he brings to us, if he had a bit more about him defensively, he wouldn’t be in this league.
I think him and maybe Dobson, if he improved his ability on the ball, are the only ones who could be a squad player for a Championship club, not starters but would play a part. I think that’s the problem.
I know we wouldn’t have a midfield like that again at this level, but compare our midfield now to what we had when we won promotion and it’s scary the massive difference in quality.
These things happen, couldn't they just remain friends...
To be fair to the scouting team, they've signed a player who has not done well here and yet is still getting a move to the division above. Imagine if he had done well.
(Anyone about to post 'not all of us', save yourself the trouble).
Kirk had crazy stats at Crewe, something like the top chance creator in the league for 2-3 seasons running and is now signing for a Championship club. I think that says more than what he has or hasn't done in a few starts and 10 minutes here or there.
Money well spent imo.
They ain't that good.
I think the further up the football pyramid you go the more you can experiment with different formations.
Top players can adapt to playing a different style because they are just that.top players.
Unfortunately we have a squad of bang average league one players and I think we should go back to basics
442 anyone because so many of our players look totally confused at times and don't look like they know what's expected of them.
When we rebuild our squad in the summer I hope we do so with bringing in players who can play a 442 system.
Let's face it they have been playing that formation since they were schoolkids.
Don't try and confuse them with too many different formations because they are not good enough to adapt.
That's why they are in league one.
When he played for us in the championship, he was either upfront or wide. Moving him to wing back is never going to work and we need to stop forcing it.