Marcus Maddison - 20 months jail for GBH (p77)

LonelyNorthernAddick said:

First start in a League game on Saturday - thoughts? Wanted to see him do well and he rattled the bar and threatened a couple of times but still not keen on his decision making in a team-move, hesitating and keeping the ball a couple of times cost us a strong attacking position. Can see his potential but not sure if i'm fully on board, its a team sport at the end of the day even if individually he's clearly a threat.

He'd had two starts in cup games though, so it's not as if he was thrown in with no match practice though

I was a bit disappointed in him in open play, he didn't combine well with Bogle and Washington

LonelyNorthernAddick said:

First start in a League game on Saturday - thoughts? Wanted to see him do well and he rattled the bar and threatened a couple of times but still not keen on his decision making in a team-move, hesitating and keeping the ball a couple of times cost us a strong attacking position. Can see his potential but not sure if i'm fully on board, its a team sport at the end of the day even if individually he's clearly a threat.

A lot more to come from him, he needs time to get fully fit and used to our team. We don’t usually expect any other players to make a big immediate impact, Maddison is no different despite his excellent goals and assists record at this level. I can see his decision making improving in time and then more end product will come.

killerandflash said:

shine166 said:

killerandflash said:

LonelyNorthernAddick said:

First start in a League game on Saturday - thoughts? Wanted to see him do well and he rattled the bar and threatened a couple of times but still not keen on his decision making in a team-move, hesitating and keeping the ball a couple of times cost us a strong attacking position. Can see his potential but not sure if i'm fully on board, its a team sport at the end of the day even if individually he's clearly a threat.

He'd had two starts in cup games though, so it's not as if he was thrown in with no match practice though

I was a bit disappointed in him in open play, he didn't combine well with Bogle and Washington

2 cup games were with the kids, I wonder if people would be so picky with a play let thats been out for 9 months, after 2 pre season friendlies. 

If hes not in form by mid December, il probably be criticising him too. 

The FA Cup game wasn't with the kids, he started alongside Aneke, Williams, Morgan and JFC in the more attacking roles

Good point, once he's had a run with a semi consistent line up im sure he'll come good 

LonelyNorthernAddick said:

First start in a League game on Saturday - thoughts? Wanted to see him do well and he rattled the bar and threatened a couple of times but still not keen on his decision making in a team-move, hesitating and keeping the ball a couple of times cost us a strong attacking position. Can see his potential but not sure if i'm fully on board, its a team sport at the end of the day even if individually he's clearly a threat.

I'm with you up to the seeing his potential bit - with his experience (250+ starts) his decision making needs to be better - the fact he didn't blend any better with his teammates as the game wore on, suggests lack of brain power or excess of ego.  His first manager at Gateshead 6 years ago described him as selfish.  I'm yet to see or hear much to excite.  Adequate 3rd division midfielder, when fit.  A decent left foot does not a whole player make.

StigThundercock said:

LonelyNorthernAddick said:

First start in a League game on Saturday - thoughts? Wanted to see him do well and he rattled the bar and threatened a couple of times but still not keen on his decision making in a team-move, hesitating and keeping the ball a couple of times cost us a strong attacking position. Can see his potential but not sure if i'm fully on board, its a team sport at the end of the day even if individually he's clearly a threat.

I'm with you up to the seeing his potential bit - with his experience his decision making needs to be better - the fact he didn't blend any better with his teammates suggests lack of brain power or excess of ego.  I'm yet to see or hear much to excite.  A decent left foot does not a whole player make

Slightly harsh I feel. He’s also learning about how 9 other outfield players behave on the pitch, that’s going to take a few games for him to adjust and understand where the right pass is considering players pitch locations at the time. 

thenewbie said:

stoneroses19 said:

StigThundercock said:

LonelyNorthernAddick said:

First start in a League game on Saturday - thoughts? Wanted to see him do well and he rattled the bar and threatened a couple of times but still not keen on his decision making in a team-move, hesitating and keeping the ball a couple of times cost us a strong attacking position. Can see his potential but not sure if i'm fully on board, its a team sport at the end of the day even if individually he's clearly a threat.

I'm with you up to the seeing his potential bit - with his experience his decision making needs to be better - the fact he didn't blend any better with his teammates suggests lack of brain power or excess of ego.  I'm yet to see or hear much to excite.  A decent left foot does not a whole player make

Slightly harsh I feel. He’s also learning about how 9 other outfield players behave on the pitch, that’s going to take a few games for him to adjust and understand where the right pass is considering players pitch locations at the time. 

A fair point but Shinnie picked that up very quickly so it can be done. Maddison does need more time but that's not an infinite luxury. 

Bowyer gave him 3 or 4 weeks to be upto speed... last week 

Needs to lay off some simple balls and run into space rather than keep trying to dribble his way through the opposition.

Got the feeling he thought he'd tear some of the Burton defenders a new one last night, but he's still obviously not quite up to speed.

Two glaring issues with Maddison in my book. Not both necessarily his fault , but issues all the same.

The first is the nature of his game. He seems to be most effective ( not for us yet I hasten to add) when he is allowed to roam free and find pockets of space in dangerous attacking areas and does his damage when he picks up the ball in those areas.
 That requires a fair bit of 'carrying' from other members in especially midfield and up top to chase back and cover whilst he is on the wander. I think that's one of the reasons Bogle was removed early. But as a whole, the side last night was unable to do much of the leg work. Remember the rest of the midfield were having to do extra work to try and protect a poor central defence pairing.

Whilst the first issue is not wholly Maddison's fault the second is. When he did manage to find one of those pockets his movement and distribution was woeful. He lost the ball on far too many occasions and when he tried to beat a man there was nothing in the tank. I know he's been injured, but when you see pictures of empty pizza boxes and mention of cheat days, you know this fella is going to have to make some monumental changes to his attitude to be an effective asset for this current side.
Is he up to that? The jury's out for me.

Swisdom said:

carly burn said:

Two glaring issues with Maddison in my book. Not both necessarily his fault , but issues all the same.

The first is the nature of his game. He seems to be most effective ( not for us yet I hasten to add) when he is allowed to roam free and find pockets of space in dangerous attacking areas and does his damage when he picks up the ball in those areas.
 That requires a fair bit of 'carrying' from other members in especially midfield and up top to chase back and cover whilst he is on the wander. I think that's one of the reasons Bogle was removed early. But as a whole, the side last night was unable to do much of the leg work. Remember the rest of the midfield were having to do extra work to try and protect a poor central defence pairing.

Whilst the first issue is not wholly Maddison's fault the second is. When he did manage to find one of those pockets his movement and distribution was woeful. He lost the ball on far too many occasions and when he tried to beat a man there was nothing in the tank. I know he's been injured, but when you see pictures of empty pizza boxes and mention of cheat days, you know this fella is going to have to make some monumental changes to his attitude to be an effective asset for this current side.
Is he up to that? The jury's out for me.

I'm a big fan of him however when he was subbed he went straight down the tunnel rather than stay and watch with his team mates - that's bad form in my opinion.  Win together, lose together.

Bowyer should rollock him for that.  I imagine Deliveroo had turned up.

I don’t think he’s good as an inverted winger . As soon as he gets the ball , his first instinct is to get it onto his left foot and come inside and defenders know that . I’d much rather see him on the left wing putting crosses in with his left foot , which he can’t do on the right wing as he has no right foot. 

Swisdom said:

carly burn said:

Two glaring issues with Maddison in my book. Not both necessarily his fault , but issues all the same.

The first is the nature of his game. He seems to be most effective ( not for us yet I hasten to add) when he is allowed to roam free and find pockets of space in dangerous attacking areas and does his damage when he picks up the ball in those areas.
 That requires a fair bit of 'carrying' from other members in especially midfield and up top to chase back and cover whilst he is on the wander. I think that's one of the reasons Bogle was removed early. But as a whole, the side last night was unable to do much of the leg work. Remember the rest of the midfield were having to do extra work to try and protect a poor central defence pairing.

Whilst the first issue is not wholly Maddison's fault the second is. When he did manage to find one of those pockets his movement and distribution was woeful. He lost the ball on far too many occasions and when he tried to beat a man there was nothing in the tank. I know he's been injured, but when you see pictures of empty pizza boxes and mention of cheat days, you know this fella is going to have to make some monumental changes to his attitude to be an effective asset for this current side.
Is he up to that? The jury's out for me.

I'm a big fan of him however when he was subbed he went straight down the tunnel rather than stay and watch with his team mates - that's bad form in my opinion.  Win together, lose together.

He might have needed a pony.....

LonelyNorthernAddick said:

 

Looked a different side when he was replaced by Morgan.

That's because Morgan is right footed and we didn't need a player cutting in last night. We needed crosses into the box. 

Personally would have moved Maddison to LM he could hardly have been any worse than Gilbey there and taken Gilbey off for Morgan. 

Dazzler21 said:

LonelyNorthernAddick said:

 

Looked a different side when he was replaced by Morgan.

That's because Morgan is right footed and we didn't need a player cutting in last night. We needed crosses into the box. 

Personally would have moved Maddison to LM he could hardly have been any worse than Gilbey there and taken Gilbey off for Morgan. 

Feel like Morgan provided better balls into the box, more direct threat and more team-work both defensively and offensively.

I was all for Maddison at first, hoping he'd be a real terror for defenses, but having watched all ~120 minutes of Maddison in the last 2 league games haven't been impressed. I know he's probably not fully sharp yet but in November he's had about 250 minutes, must be pretty close to full fitness? Feel like what's going wrong isn't a matter of being sharp, more his play style in general - holding the ball too long, not looking for or playing passes that could lead to a more effective attack, not doing his defensive work.

Hope i'm wrong and turns into what I think we all want him to be but at the moment personally wouldn't have him as any more than a sub for last 30 minutes.