Quote from: ROBBO on July 18, 2022, 04:26:00 AMAgree with this, the amount of pressure the backline came under by not having a decent defensive midfielder it's no wonder the backline struggled.Agreed but it’s also that Gerrard’s style requires the fullbacks to constantly get forward meaning the centre backs can get pulled out of position by quick counter attacks. So for me it’s partly down to personnel in midfield but also being a bit smarter about when to commit going forward. Both of these things can be improved by not giving away possession easily.
Agree with this, the amount of pressure the backline came under by not having a decent defensive midfielder it's no wonder the backline struggled.
Quote from: Chris Smith on July 18, 2022, 07:06:04 AMQuote from: ROBBO on July 18, 2022, 04:26:00 AMAgree with this, the amount of pressure the backline came under by not having a decent defensive midfielder it's no wonder the backline struggled.Agreed but it’s also that Gerrard’s style requires the fullbacks to constantly get forward meaning the centre backs can get pulled out of position by quick counter attacks. So for me it’s partly down to personnel in midfield but also being a bit smarter about when to commit going forward. Both of these things can be improved by not giving away possession easily.This is why Watkins is a problem.
Quote from: Sexual Ealing on July 21, 2022, 10:39:20 PMQuote from: Chris Smith on July 18, 2022, 07:06:04 AMQuote from: ROBBO on July 18, 2022, 04:26:00 AMAgree with this, the amount of pressure the backline came under by not having a decent defensive midfielder it's no wonder the backline struggled.Agreed but it’s also that Gerrard’s style requires the fullbacks to constantly get forward meaning the centre backs can get pulled out of position by quick counter attacks. So for me it’s partly down to personnel in midfield but also being a bit smarter about when to commit going forward. Both of these things can be improved by not giving away possession easily.This is why Watkins is a problem.I see the point but I disagree, Watkins does have some ropey touches (but nothing like as many as people claim, it was about 2.5 per game last season which is similar to players like Kane, Salah and Mane) but he also runs into the channels and presses defenders as well anyone in the league which often slows the ball down. Our problem was that if you beat his high press it was very easy to move through our midfield in 1-2 passes and expose our central defenders pretty high up the pitch.
Quote from: paul_e on July 21, 2022, 11:54:51 PMQuote from: Sexual Ealing on July 21, 2022, 10:39:20 PMQuote from: Chris Smith on July 18, 2022, 07:06:04 AMQuote from: ROBBO on July 18, 2022, 04:26:00 AMAgree with this, the amount of pressure the backline came under by not having a decent defensive midfielder it's no wonder the backline struggled.Agreed but it’s also that Gerrard’s style requires the fullbacks to constantly get forward meaning the centre backs can get pulled out of position by quick counter attacks. So for me it’s partly down to personnel in midfield but also being a bit smarter about when to commit going forward. Both of these things can be improved by not giving away possession easily.This is why Watkins is a problem.I see the point but I disagree, Watkins does have some ropey touches (but nothing like as many as people claim, it was about 2.5 per game last season which is similar to players like Kane, Salah and Mane) but he also runs into the channels and presses defenders as well anyone in the league which often slows the ball down. Our problem was that if you beat his high press it was very easy to move through our midfield in 1-2 passes and expose our central defenders pretty high up the pitch.I'll take your word for it as regard the stats, but I don't remember seeing Kane, Salah or Mane trapping the ball with their shin and sending it right back into the opposition's midfield quite as regularly as Watkins did.
It's a very, very noticeable weakness in his play though. As SE says, you just don't see the players you mention shonking it 10 yards off their shin like Watkins does.
Gets the start ahead of Chambers to partner Mings today Go on Ezri get on the end of a set piece . Hoping he will silence the palace attack and Zaha.
Maybe he started to believe his own hype and never worked hard enough at improving his game. And as made mistakes and opposing teams exposed his flaws his confidence has been destroyed.