Can Adams, Done or Woolford replace Murphy?

[Bergen Blade]

I see some are saying that we already have options in the squad to replace Murphy.

I think Murphy's been great for us and think it's sad to lose him.

However we should now look for an ideal player to play on our left hand side in Adkins' preferred 4-4-2 system. Murphy actually isn't ideal in such a system either and he may be far happier with more attacking freedom in Brighton's 4-2-3-1 formation.

Jonathan Wilson on this:

Few sides today play with wingers who stay wide. Part of the point of a 4-2-3-1, in fact, is to restore dribblers to the game without risking becoming over-manned in the centre. Even in a 4-4-2, the wide midfielders rarely play high up the field, which means that, (...), the full-backs are the only players on the field who regularly have space in front of them, and where there is space there is opportunity: if there is no direct opponent, there is the chance to overman.

So, as Adams and Done does possess some of Murphy's main qualities, pace, dribbling ability, they are also more suited to a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, and may find themselves with too much defensive responsibility, sitting too deep, possibly also too central, to make effective use of their best attributes.

Scougall, normally a central midfielder, is trying to adapt to such a wide midfielder role and did well at Morecambe. He won't fly down the wing to put in crosses, but look to find pockets of space and create with runs, movement and penetrating passes. As he's a hard worker and covers a lot of space he should be able to do the defensive side of the job.

I can't see Adams and Done being ideal doing the same. Unless Adkins is willing to change the formation I see both Adams and Done as better options in one of the central forward roles. Which leaves a hole on the left.

Martyn Woolford? Probably the right type of player, but he's shown very little so far. Flynn? Could probably offer some of what Scougall does, but then there's the issue of having too many small and light weight players. I think we need to look elsewhere.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

I see some are saying that we already have options in the squad to replace Murphy.

I think Murphy's been great for us and think it's sad to lose him.

However we should now look for an ideal player to play on our left hand side in Adkins' preferred 4-4-2 system. Murphy actually isn't ideal in such a system either and he may be far happier with more attacking freedom in Brighton's 4-2-3-1 formation.

Jonathan Wilson on this:




So, as Adams and Done does possess some of Murphy's main qualities, pace, dribbling ability, they are also more suited to a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, and may find themselves with too much defensive responsibility, sitting too deep, possibly also too central, to make effective use of their best attributes.

Scougall, normally a central midfielder, is trying to adapt to such a wide midfielder role and did well at Morecambe. He won't fly down the wing to put in crosses, but look to find pockets of space and create with runs, movement and penetrating passes. As he's a hard worker and covers a lot of space he should be able to do the defensive side of the job.

I can't see Adams and Done being ideal doing the same. Unless Adkins is willing to change the formation I see both Adams and Done as better options in one of the central forward roles. Which leaves a hole on the left.

Martyn Woolford? Probably the right type of player, but he's shown very little so far. Flynn? Could probably offer some of what Scougall does, but then there's the issue of having too many small and light weight players. I think we need to look elsewhere.

Adams and Done will replace Murphy and even Khan may step up.

Your right about looking elsewhere, Centre Halves R US?

 

[Wards]

I'm still not sure what Adkins preferred system is to be honest, but I won't be expecting a like for like replacement. I expect he'd like another wide man that can offer more defensive qualities than Murphy did. Maybe a younger Woolford-esque type (although I've seen nothing to suggest that he's the answer for us).

I think we'll miss Murphys spark and his ability to create from little. Not sure Adams knows his role well enough yet either, hence why he's been used further forward lately.

 

[alcoblade]

I'm still not sure what Adkins preferred system is to be honest, but I won't be expecting a like for like replacement. I expect he'd like another wide man that can offer more defensive qualities than Murphy did. Maybe a younger Woolford-esque type (although I've seen nothing to suggest that he's the answer for us).

I think we'll miss Murphys spark and his ability to create from little. Not sure Adams knows his role well enough yet either, hence why he's been used further forward lately.

Do you think we'll get another wide player? Ill be surprised and actually a little disappointed if we do. We have too many options there.

UTB

 

[Wards]

I think he'll have to as I'm sure he'd like a left footed one there (which we don't really have).

I don't think Done is good enough as a wide man and he'd be daft not to use him as a forward IMO.

 

[Bladesman]

Done would be the ideal replacement.

Adams is still developing his game.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Woolford has disappointed so far and tbf to him he knows it. Some good reports. Potential. Hope it's realised.

 

[itsinyerblood]

To put Done anywhere other than upfront as a target man, or off a target man, would be to dilute his value to the team. He's potent in this position, that's why we bought him, and I'll wager that we have a far more effective goalscorer in Done than we do in Sharp. Of course, it remains academic all the while we lack a good provider of crosses/passes. In fact having more than one outlet for this would be ideal, it'll add variety and would make us less predictable.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Among the range of options we've still got, wonder what JCR's goals to games ratio (& assists to games ratio) was last season compared to Jamie Murphy's. Got a feeling his figures would rack up favourably.

Not saying he's THE solution, more he's one of a range of options. A very useful one, especially in Nigel's seemingly preferred 442 set up.

 

[OllyBlade]

I see some are saying that we already have options in the squad to replace Murphy.

I think Murphy's been great for us and think it's sad to lose him.

However we should now look for an ideal player to play on our left hand side in Adkins' preferred 4-4-2 system. Murphy actually isn't ideal in such a system either and he may be far happier with more attacking freedom in Brighton's 4-2-3-1 formation.

Jonathan Wilson on this:




So, as Adams and Done does possess some of Murphy's main qualities, pace, dribbling ability, they are also more suited to a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, and may find themselves with too much defensive responsibility, sitting too deep, possibly also too central, to make effective use of their best attributes.

Scougall, normally a central midfielder, is trying to adapt to such a wide midfielder role and did well at Morecambe. He won't fly down the wing to put in crosses, but look to find pockets of space and create with runs, movement and penetrating passes. As he's a hard worker and covers a lot of space he should be able to do the defensive side of the job.

I can't see Adams and Done being ideal doing the same. Unless Adkins is willing to change the formation I see both Adams and Done as better options in one of the central forward roles. Which leaves a hole on the left.

Martyn Woolford? Probably the right type of player, but he's shown very little so far. Flynn? Could probably offer some of what Scougall does, but then there's the issue of having too many small and light weight players. I think we need to look elsewhere.

Good post. I think the dilemas reflect the ad hoc, haphazard way this squad has been put together. Our midfield options are clearly better suited to having one striker up front, but Adkins is obviously planning on typically having two strikers.

With how poorly starting Adams and Sharp worked out last week it just seems unlikely he will try that again. I can't see him dropping Sharp. I think Adams will get shunted out wide for Sammon. Woolford as the other wide man.

With who is fit at the moment I'd go for (in a 4-5-1):

Howard
Freeman Edgar McEveley K Wallace
Basham
J Wallace Scougall
Woolford Adams
Sammon

I'd want Adams to push up and get close to Sammon, Scougall to cover the left flank as Adams roams, Woolford to always provide the option out right with Freeman given licence to get forward on the overlap as much as possible, and K Wallace to have a more defensive mindset.

 

[super_pig]

some of our players get better while they are out of the team than when they are in it

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Bob Harris in front of McEveley would make us more solid defensively. He's a decent crosser of a ball with a good shot on him.

Could be used there in tricky away games with Adams or Done being more attacking options when we need to break teams down.

 

[stringjunior]

I'd say Che

 

[blade too long]

apparently


we can

 

[Dec]

Ches