Marc Albrighton

[Brend'Watkins]

If he can play with both feet then we have a real prospect on our hands.  Anyway, he didn't need to be two footed against his defender on Saturday.  Let's judge his performances in greater depth when he's up against better defenders than West Ham's.

[JJ-AV]

No variety to his play? He's made one Premier League start and he didn't need to vary things up, because what he was doing was murdering them. That seems incredibly over critical.

I'm not criticising him, I'm just saying we shouldn't get carried away with him until we've seen him over a good chunk of the season.

He was an unknown quantity to West Ham on Saturday, after that performance I'm sure Newcastle will be paying him closer attention.

[paul_e]

I agree we need to keep the expectations down but a big part of what he did against west ham was very reminiscent of what Beckham was doing when he broke into the Man U team, namely making half a yard of space and whipping quality across the box.  That's his pace and technique are also good enough for him to go past people adds an extra feather to his cap, but it's the quality crossing that will see him good.  The good thing there is that it's something that's very difficult to defend against for 90minutes, so he should still create against the top sides as well, so there's definitely reason to be optimistic about him.

[hipkiss92]

The best thing with how we played yesterday is that Ashley Young being give a free role behind JC, meaning that if the opposition do double up on him, it often means one or even two players can get quite easily dragged out of position, therefore creating more space for Albrighton and Downing as it was often the full-backs trying to mark him, which is part of the reason why those two were so good yesterday.

If Albrighton continues to develop like he has since Moscow we have an unbelievable prospect on our hands, which is part of the reason I hope KMac gets the job as he will understand that with Albrighton and some of the other youngsters on the fringes of the first XI, over playing them could ruin their prospects at an early age, so it's about being careful, if albrighton plays about 20-30 of our total games depending on cup runs it will have been an ideal season for him.

[Ads]

Indeed. You cannot stick two men on Young if he's using the entire width of the pitch to roam about on.

[Concrete John]

The best thing with how we played yesterday is that Ashley Young being give a free role behind JC, meaning that if the opposition do double up on him, it often means one or even two players can get quite easily dragged out of position, therefore creating more space for Albrighton and Downing as it was often the full-backs trying to mark him, which is part of the reason why those two were so good yesterday.

It also helps Ashley himself as it's much harder to double up on him when he's playing that free role.  They can hardly have 2 players following him everywhere he goes, can they?

[paul_e]

A big thing it highlights is that even playing from the left Young would be effective (and therefore a 442 would be effective) if he wasn't tied to the touchline.  As soon as you move inside you give the full back a choice to stick or twist, by being rigid to wings, as we often were last year, whilst providing width, you're also providing an easy target for their defence.

In all honesty that would be my biggest criticism on MoN, he was steadfast in the belief that wingers should be out wide waiting for the ball.

[Hookeysmith]

The best thing with how we played yesterday is that Ashley Young being give a free role behind JC, meaning that if the opposition do double up on him, it often means one or even two players can get quite easily dragged out of position, therefore creating more space for Albrighton and Downing as it was often the full-backs trying to mark him, which is part of the reason why those two were so good yesterday.

It also helps Ashley himself as it's much harder to double up on him when he's playing that free role.  They can hardly have 2 players following him everywhere he goes, can they?

Imagine the same players but now playing in an exciting and very dangerous formation - who would have thought it a few months ago

[Chipsticks]

I wonder if he could ever play the free role that young's currently filling.

If he could, him and young could maybe keep swapping, which could piss all over any opposition man-marking.

[pablopicasso_10]

he has played up front for reserve and youth games, so there is no reason why he couldnt float behind a main striker...

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Imagine the same players but now playing in an exciting and very dangerous formation - who would have thought it a few months ago

*cough*

[Concrete John]

In all honesty that would be my biggest criticism on MoN, he was steadfast in the belief that wingers should be out wide waiting for the ball.

We played what was almost universally agreed to be a better style of football on Saturday, yet that was still with two widemen.  I think the difference was that they seemed more willing to take their man on, which was something previously only Ash would do.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Luke Young linked up very well indeed with Marc and was a big factor in our success.
Neither of those two would have been playing if O'Wankstain was still in charge.

[DrGonzo]

A number of times in the Wet Spam match he cut in off the right wing and crossed right footed, so I don't believe defenders will be comfortable to just show him the line.  With his pace alone they could just channel him to the corner flag but as we saw when he cuts inside he can leave defenders standing, was it Ilunga who swiped his legs just outside the box in the 2nd half?  They will have to double mark him in case he does that.  Although of course I would prefer it if he developed his left peg 'n' all.

The future's bright, the future's claret and blue.

[SteveN]

In all honesty that would be my biggest criticism on MoN, he was steadfast in the belief that wingers should be out wide waiting for the ball.

We played what was almost universally agreed to be a better style of football on Saturday, yet that was still with two widemen.  I think the difference was that they seemed more willing to take their man on, which was something previously only Ash would do.

The Times report pointed out that both wingers looked to have been instructed to play far higher up the pitch reducing the counter attacking game but putting far more pressure on the opposition defence.