Wizard
Member
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2021
- Messages
- 180
- Reaction score
- 427
I'll be honest I don't understand why Souza seems to be getting more flack than the rest.
I like a lot of what I see in him. He brings a physicality that we've not had in midfield for a long time, he's fiery and aggressive and has shown good technique when striking from distance. He's very limited/safe with his passing but he's often composed on the ball and at least finds a man and allows us to keep possession (something that we've been desperately bad at). He's not quick but if Norwood is the other option then that's hardly a problem. He's also still young and this is a big step up from where he was playing before, I don't think he's looked a million miles away from something workable. If he's tasked as being the anchor in our midfield and he's able to play safe passes to more mobile and creative players around him I think he gives us a good foothold in the midfield battle.
I'd really like to see him alongside Hamer in a midfield 2. I don't think Norwood has been atrocious but I don't think the balance of him + Souza works and I feel like Hamer could be better as our playmaker from deep and has the legs to cover for Souza if he gets turned. He's often been the one cutting out an opposition counter anyway.
It was out of fashion for a while but lots of teams are going back to a more traditional 4-4-2 shape especially when pressing/defending and I think if we could shape our squad into something workable such as:
Wes
Baldock - Anel - Robinson - Trusty
McAtee - Souza - Hamer - Archer
Osula - McBurnie
Ultimately our squad is lacking quality compared to other premier league sides but I don't think we're as bad as we've looked so far. To me the simplest way to close that gap is physicality and organisation. If we want to have any hope of being competitive we also have to improve our ball retention, so many times where there's a simple ball on and we try to force it instead and give it straight to them. It puts us under so much pressure and our shape ends up being pulled all over the place as we're constantly in transition
I like a lot of what I see in him. He brings a physicality that we've not had in midfield for a long time, he's fiery and aggressive and has shown good technique when striking from distance. He's very limited/safe with his passing but he's often composed on the ball and at least finds a man and allows us to keep possession (something that we've been desperately bad at). He's not quick but if Norwood is the other option then that's hardly a problem. He's also still young and this is a big step up from where he was playing before, I don't think he's looked a million miles away from something workable. If he's tasked as being the anchor in our midfield and he's able to play safe passes to more mobile and creative players around him I think he gives us a good foothold in the midfield battle.
I'd really like to see him alongside Hamer in a midfield 2. I don't think Norwood has been atrocious but I don't think the balance of him + Souza works and I feel like Hamer could be better as our playmaker from deep and has the legs to cover for Souza if he gets turned. He's often been the one cutting out an opposition counter anyway.
It was out of fashion for a while but lots of teams are going back to a more traditional 4-4-2 shape especially when pressing/defending and I think if we could shape our squad into something workable such as:
Wes
Baldock - Anel - Robinson - Trusty
McAtee - Souza - Hamer - Archer
Osula - McBurnie
- Baldock & Robinson have to play (solid, set standards, aggresive)
- Anel has been poor but I believe in his quality and think he can step up
- Would like to see Trusty as our verison of a Burn/Colwill/Kelly type. Thomas is ok but doesn't really excel at anything. I think we'd be bettter served moving to 4atb and fitting in another attacker.
- Hamer + Souza IMO would be our most balanced midfield 2. Gives us a chance to match other sides physicality in midfield.
- McAtee and Archer need to play. Two of our only players with real moments of quality/spark in attack. Would be interested in trying Archer as a wide-forward type that you see so much of in the premier league. Has the speed to cause problems and has shown he can finish but can struggle to find space/get on the ball when things are congested in the middle.
- Osula. Always brings energy and makes things happen. Hasn't shown an end product yet but makes his presence known and I think he'll look more composed if he can get a couple. Think he'd work well playing off McBurnie and leading our press.
- McBurnie one of the few who has been a consistent performer, our only proper outlet
Ultimately our squad is lacking quality compared to other premier league sides but I don't think we're as bad as we've looked so far. To me the simplest way to close that gap is physicality and organisation. If we want to have any hope of being competitive we also have to improve our ball retention, so many times where there's a simple ball on and we try to force it instead and give it straight to them. It puts us under so much pressure and our shape ends up being pulled all over the place as we're constantly in transition
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