With another International break looming I thought I'd seek opinions on the left back (wing-back) position as it appears to be a toss-up whether Roberts or Fozzie plays. Maybe Roberts is favoured for league games with Fozzie getting the nod for cup games but I don't think that has always been the case. Maybe Liam is adopting a "horses for courses" approach?
Personally I don't think there is much between them. Maybe Fozzie is the better defender, his experience making up for a gradual loss of pace over the years and he often puts in some dangerous crosses. Maybe Roberts is more athletic and better able to play a more wing-back type of role. He certainly did well in the first half agin WW, I thought. For saying he came billed as a central defender he has adapted very well to playing as a LB or LWB.
We could of course extend the narrative to the RB position and the question is whether Knight should always play in midfield with Onuroh in a back four or Chester in a back three.
Thoughts?
Roberts or Fozzie?
posted on 19/9/22
comment by lastapostleofvidal (U1491)
posted 52 minutes ago
I like Roberts, I think he has more ability on the ball than Forsyth, but Forsyth is a better defender for me and I also think his delivery from wide is better, though inconsistently so. If Wildsmith pings it left then Forsyth is more likely to head it on than Roberts, for what it's worth.
I think on the whole Roberts is first choice with Forsyth maybe being used sparinglt depending on the opposition. We often focus on players' weaknesses but I think both are very good options at League 1 level. Right back is far more of an issue. Knight is wasted there and Oduroh is not considered ready to be chucked in. Chester was OK on Saturday but looks a bit of a square peg. There was talk that Smith has played there so maybe that could be an option. Personally I would at least give Oduroh a go and see if he surprises us (in a good way).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It is not us focusing on a player's weakness it's the opposition players focusing that bothers me. So far it appears that the side that makes the least errors wins in L1. We are making a disproportionate number of errors in attack and probably an average number for league 1 in defence. Only 5% conversion rate of chances in to goals is very poor.
posted on 20/9/22
Hi Chicago. Yes, we're at that point in the season when it all goes quiet due to international breaks. I always find it really irritating and all impetus on the league just seems to drop....so I was wondering whether you would come up with an article !
Fozzie for me always during a game seems to give the ball away. Yes, I know all players do - but I always seem to notice it more when he does it. That said I prefer him to Roberts. Dont get me wrong I like Roberts and he has attributes that Fozzie doesnt have but I think clearly Fozzie has more experience as he's been around a lot longer and is physically bigger. Also when the goalie lumps the ball forward to the left wing, Fozzie will usually get his head on it to nod it forward.
So for me it's Fozzie, but of course due to his age Roberts is more likely to last the rigors of a full season. Cheers. Terry. UTR
posted on 20/9/22
I've not seen much of Roberts so can't answer your question.
I did find that Forsyth was possibly managed best when he came in for one or two games and was rotated with Buchanan last season. Forsyth, in my opinion, offered a more consistent performance over the season compared with when he's in for the bulk of the season and known to be error prone from time to time.
posted on 20/9/22
Cheers Terry. Got to keep the old brain ticking over during an IB - hence the article!
There does seem to be a consensus so far among posters on the thread which I guess is pretty rare. I think I just about prefer Fozzie but I'm never disappointed if Roberts is picked ahead of him.
The Knight position is much less clear and it will be interesting to see how that scenario ultimately plays out. LR has said Smith can play there but that would be much the same as playing Knight there - a waste. Why not give Onuroh a run? Playing games is the only way he will develop and so far he has not really let us down (bar one sloppy pass which I think led to a goal.)
posted on 20/9/22
Putting it in here instead of creating a new thread.
RD moan in, one of the guests has said that Max Bird and Connor Hourihane are very similar players and that is the problem.
I didn't think that they were, Max Bird strikes me as a DM and Hourihane as a CM / AM option.
posted on 20/9/22
comment by Desicafu (U8481)
posted 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
Putting it in here instead of creating a new thread.
RD moan in, one of the guests has said that Max Bird and Connor Hourihane are very similar players and that is the problem.
I didn't think that they were, Max Bird strikes me as a DM and Hourihane as a CM / AM option.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I noticed some similarities. They both have two arms, two legs, a body and a head. They both seem to wear similar clothes on the pitch. They might have thought they were similar because on Saturday they both had black arm bands whereas recently only Bird has worn one.
posted on 21/9/22
I think the similarity with Bird and Hourihane is that they both seem to occupy the same space... ie a DM role in MF. It seemed how we finished the game on Saturday allowed Hourihane to push forward more - which clearly won us the game. Equally JKs energy in MF also gave us something extra.
Both Chester and Curtis have had lay offs so will be a little ring rusty but hopefully they will be able to steer clear of injuries and get back to full match fitness soon giving us more options in defence.
posted on 21/9/22
ERM.....WTF IS GOING ON?????
posted on 21/9/22
For context Rosenior no longer interim manager and Paul Warne favourite to join.
I'm calling boll ox based on earlier post sent but our favourite John Percy reporting something similar too.
posted on 21/9/22
https://twitter.com/jpercytelegraph?lang=en