MotM: 01-02-25. Sutton Utd (H) Thompson

[TrialistA]

Very good performance until Sutton scored - then all belief went. We never threatened an equaliser at all.

Amazed that Seb Thompson was subbed. He was outstanding. I hope PB starts him in the team from now on.

Think that’s probably a given if Joe’s going to be out for several weeks. Really pleased he took his opportunity yesterday. Seb and Reece putting in great balls into the box but no-one to finish.

Anyone else a bit disappointed with Maz’s form recently. I’m not sure we’re playing him in his best position, I think he’d do better in a no10 role playing off the main striker.

I’d go for a 3-5-2 formation. Bring in Davis to strengthen midfield and allow Zak and Riley to break forward more. Sign a no. 9 (yeah I know, easier said than done) and play Maz off him. Morgs and Hemmo in reserve. Bosh, we get promoted.

I think that the fitness and form of Reece Devine have created a problem. Devine is one of our better players and room has to be found for him in the starting line-up.

PB has resolved this by putting Caleb as the left of a back three and Maz has had to go . . . ? I'm not quite sure where he's playing as he doesn't appear to be left-wing and he's not playing the inside left-position successfully. Before Devine emerged, Maz had so much more space in which to work and was taking on the fullback and getting crosses over.

Now it just feels very cramped along our left#hand side and we're not really getting the best out of Caleb, Reece or Maz.

I'd like to see us revert to a back three of McNally, Downing and Kam but then we're left with an embarrassment of riches down our left.

[TomLong78]

Very good performance until Sutton scored - then all belief went. We never threatened an equaliser at all.

Amazed that Seb Thompson was subbed. He was outstanding. I hope PB starts him in the team from now on.

Think that’s probably a given if Joe’s going to be out for several weeks. Really pleased he took his opportunity yesterday. Seb and Reece putting in great balls into the box but no-one to finish.

Anyone else a bit disappointed with Maz’s form recently. I’m not sure we’re playing him in his best position, I think he’d do better in a no10 role playing off the main striker.

I’d go for a 3-5-2 formation. Bring in Davis to strengthen midfield and allow Zak and Riley to break forward more. Sign a no. 9 (yeah I know, easier said than done) and play Maz off him. Morgs and Hemmo in reserve. Bosh, we get promoted.

I think that the fitness and form of Reece Devine have created a problem. Devine is one of our better players and room has to be found for him in the starting line-up.

PB has resolved this by putting Caleb as the left of a back three and Maz has had to go . . . ? I'm not quite sure where he's playing as he doesn't appear to be left-wing and he's not playing the inside left-position successfully. Before Devine emerged, Maz had so much more space in which to work and was taking on the fullback and getting crosses over.

Now it just feels very cramped along our left#hand side and we're not really getting the best out of Caleb, Reece or Maz.

I'd like to see us revert to a back three of McNally, Downing and Kam but then we're left with an embarrassment of riches down our left.

We were talking yesterday about Maz’s effectiveness or otherwise as a winger at present.

I too wonder whether you could use the same 11 players we had yesterday but in a more effective formation (if we have to accept we’re not signing a new first choice striker).

Yesterday we played, effectively, 3-4-3. As Trialist A says, the downside of this is that you have Devine and Kouhyar out wide on the left and Hemmings and Thompson wide right. Frankly it’s no wonder that there is never anyone in the box when we ping crosses in, as we’re relying on AMS alone to get on the end of everything, because all of our other forward players are playing in wide roles.

When we went on our amazing run a couple of years ago, we played 3-4-1-2, with Brown playing ahead of Byrne and Leesley in the middle of the park and behind a front two of AMS and Hemmo. I think we’d be more effective if we used the same system now.

Move Kouhyar inside to be the “number 10” behind a central two of AMS and Hemmo, and you give both Devine and Thompson (Foulkes when fit again) more room on the wings. You also give AMS support and we saw against Slough just a few weeks ago how good Hemmo can be down the middle on his day. Pick any two of our four central midfielders to play between Devine and Thompson, in front of the back three.

You’re welcome PB :-)

[marcus garvey]

It not just a new striker we need ; its deeper than that,
we need players who can contribute goals from whatever position.
take out AMS/Khouyar/Hemmo and the goalscoring contribution from midfield and the centre backs this season is frankly abysmal.
Hereford excepting, no one seems confident enough to shoot from outside the box, and no centre back positively attacks a free kick or corner thrown into the box.

Agree with this apart from Maz, sorry just another Lambert for me and don't understand his popularity given his lack of goals and assists. If AMS and Hemmo don't produce then they get it in the neck and the rest given a free pass.
To me we are a still a Morrison, Byrne and 2 proven attackers short (to add to AMS and Hemmo and then take over) from being in a position to win this league.
I agree we need 3 in the middle and 2 up top but no place for Maz except impact sub at best. Zac far too lightweight in a '2', he needs a bit of steel alongside him and quite how Reynolds was pulled off before him defies my belief.
I can't see us doing anything other now than trying to desperately hang on to a playoff place if truth be known.

[Jasper]

It not just a new striker we need ; its deeper than that,
we need players who can contribute goals from whatever position.
take out AMS/Khouyar/Hemmo and the goalscoring contribution from midfield and the centre backs this season is frankly abysmal.
Hereford excepting, no one seems confident enough to shoot from outside the box, and no centre back positively attacks a free kick or corner thrown into the box.

Agree with this apart from Maz, sorry just another Lambert for me and don't understand his popularity given his lack of goals and assists. If AMS and Hemmo don't produce then they get it in the neck and the rest given a free pass.
To me we are a still a Morrison, Byrne and 2 proven attackers short (to add to AMS and Hemmo and then take over) from being in a position to win this league.
I agree we need 3 in the middle and 2 up top but no place for Maz except impact sub at best. Zac far too lightweight in a '2', he needs a bit of steel alongside him and quite how Reynolds was pulled off before him defies my belief.
I can't see us doing anything other now than trying to desperately hang on to a playoff place if truth be known.

'Maz just another Lambert'. Obviously not checked the facts.
Second in the assists department with 6.
Third with shots on target at 26.
Third in the goals list with 7.

Lambert certainly not at that performance level.

I would have him in my starting line up any time played in the right position.

Just to add to this Seb Thompson had an inspirational performance yesterday. He proved he is worth a place in the starting line up. What a prospect for the rest of the season.

[marcus garvey]

It not just a new striker we need ; its deeper than that,
we need players who can contribute goals from whatever position.
take out AMS/Khouyar/Hemmo and the goalscoring contribution from midfield and the centre backs this season is frankly abysmal.
Hereford excepting, no one seems confident enough to shoot from outside the box, and no centre back positively attacks a free kick or corner thrown into the box.

Agree with this apart from Maz, sorry just another Lambert for me and don't understand his popularity given his lack of goals and assists. If AMS and Hemmo don't produce then they get it in the neck and the rest given a free pass.
To me we are a still a Morrison, Byrne and 2 proven attackers short (to add to AMS and Hemmo and then take over) from being in a position to win this league.
I agree we need 3 in the middle and 2 up top but no place for Maz except impact sub at best. Zac far too lightweight in a '2', he needs a bit of steel alongside him and quite how Reynolds was pulled off before him defies my belief.
I can't see us doing anything other now than trying to desperately hang on to a playoff place if truth be known.

'Maz just another Lambert'. Obviously not checked the facts.
Second in the assists department with 6.
Third with shots on target at 26.
Third in the goals list with 7.

Lambert certainly not at that performance level.

I would have him in my starting line up any time played in the right position.

Just to add to this Seb Thompson had an inspirational performance yesterday. He proved he is worth a place in the starting line up. What a prospect for the rest of the season.

Prob less than 50% of Hemmo who largely gets all the grief for not contributing enough...go figure.

[Jasper]

Agree with this apart from Maz, sorry just another Lambert for me and don't understand his popularity given his lack of goals and assists. If AMS and Hemmo don't produce then they get it in the neck and the rest given a free pass.
To me we are a still a Morrison, Byrne and 2 proven attackers short (to add to AMS and Hemmo and then take over) from being in a position to win this league.
I agree we need 3 in the middle and 2 up top but no place for Maz except impact sub at best. Zac far too lightweight in a '2', he needs a bit of steel alongside him and quite how Reynolds was pulled off before him defies my belief.
I can't see us doing anything other now than trying to desperately hang on to a playoff place if truth be known.

'Maz just another Lambert'. Obviously not checked the facts.
Second in the assists department with 6.
Third with shots on target at 26.
Third in the goals list with 7.

Lambert certainly not at that performance level.

I would have him in my starting line up any time played in the right position.

Just to add to this Seb Thompson had an inspirational performance yesterday. He proved he is worth a place in the starting line up. What a prospect for the rest of the season.

Prob less than 50% of Hemmo who largely gets all the grief for not contributing enough...go figure.

As they say in Grimsby. 'What's that got to do with the price of fish', ie comparing Lambert with Maz.

[marcus garvey]

'Maz just another Lambert'. Obviously not checked the facts.
Second in the assists department with 6.
Third with shots on target at 26.
Third in the goals list with 7.

Lambert certainly not at that performance level.

I would have him in my starting line up any time played in the right position.

Just to add to this Seb Thompson had an inspirational performance yesterday. He proved he is worth a place in the starting line up. What a prospect for the rest of the season.

Prob less than 50% of Hemmo who largely gets all the grief for not contributing enough...go figure.

As they say in Grimsby. 'What's that got to do with the price of fish', ie comparing Lambert with Maz.

Maz is being suggested by some as a possible solution to our attacking issues. My personal opinion, right or wrong is that he falls more into the 'Lambert' side of the solution and is another player brought in who escapes criticism and yet disappoints more often than he delivers. I would have Devine down the left everyday of the week in preference with a proper 2 up top.

[harry211]

For me, I think the comparison with Lambert makes sense on the surface level, but falls apart under any scrutiny. His assists and goals far outweigh Lambert, who I rated!

I think the interesting thing is Maz is right footed, so is looking to come inside which should free up space on the outside to play in Devine. The problem comes, however, when both are caught in possession up field - which is what led to the goal on Saturday.

I think Maz' big issue is his lack of pace. That's why I think, as mentioned by Tom, he could be very good as a number 10. Technically brilliant (have we all forgotted his dinked goal against Radcliffe?). He would be one of the first names to try to sign over the summer permanently.

[Harrier1994]

From the highlights its an obvious free kick. The pull happens outside the area yes he might go down easy but it's a clear pull.

I hate the going down easy but if Morgs had gone down when that Sutton player launched his head towards him it might have been a red card for them. But he stood there and he got away with it completely.

Dark arts, everyone does them.

Was that the touchline incident where Amari got booked but the perpetrator didn't?

Yep. I think AMS threw him to the ground the Sutton player stood up and launched his head into Morgs'. He just stood there and took it. If he goes down holding his head he gives the ref a decision to make

[harry211]

From the highlights its an obvious free kick. The pull happens outside the area yes he might go down easy but it's a clear pull.

I hate the going down easy but if Morgs had gone down when that Sutton player launched his head towards him it might have been a red card for them. But he stood there and he got away with it completely.

Dark arts, everyone does them.

Was that the touchline incident where Amari got booked but the perpetrator didn't?

Yep. I think AMS threw him to the ground the Sutton player stood up and launched his head into Morgs'. He just stood there and took it. If he goes down holding his head he gives the ref a decision to make

If it's the same incident we're on about, Morgs threw an arm/elbow out at one point. Thought he could have been on his way.