Matty Done

[Woodwardfan]

We have cut out the ineffective tippy tappy style especially at the back

Tippy, tappy, tippy, tappy, ball ends up with Collins who quite rightly loses patience with it , plays a forward ball and we lose it. Crowd boo, Collins gets marked down by 2 points on our Ratings, normal service resumed.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

This is one of Done's weaknesses. Collins plays it out, Billy anticipates well, beats his man easily, lays it off first time...and Done is miles behind their defender heading away from the ball. A break breaks down. It was really basic movement required and he just headed in the wrong direction.

He brings a lot, but he also costs us.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

"As soon as your team is without the ball, you become the first defender. Sammy Lee has been asked who was the best defender Liverpool ever had, 'Hansen, Lawrenson who else?' No, he says, 'Ian Rush'. A lot of strikers have a shot at goal and then they switch off. The good ones get back into position and think now you have to go past me, I am going to be a defender. You have to learn to chase back. That's what I teach people at my school, once they start scoring goals and think it’s easy, I take them to the next level. Let’s see now if you can defend. They go, 'I don’t have to defend.' You have to realise that you’ve got to defend if you’re a striker. You’ve got to make it easier for your midfielders and they try to make it easier for the defenders and they make it easy for the goalkeeper. " Ian Rush.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

"As soon as your team is without the ball, you become the first defender. Sammy Lee has been asked who was the best defender Liverpool ever had, 'Hansen, Lawrenson who else?' No, he says, 'Ian Rush'. A lot of strikers have a shot at goal and then they switch off. The good ones get back into position and think now you have to go past me, I am going to be a defender. You have to learn to chase back. That's what I teach people at my school, once they start scoring goals and think it’s easy, I take them to the next level. Let’s see now if you can defend. They go, 'I don’t have to defend.' You have to realise that you’ve got to defend if you’re a striker. You’ve got to make it easier for your midfielders and they try to make it easier for the defenders and they make it easy for the goalkeeper. " Ian Rush.

Good quote. And a good insight at the time, but isn't this just standard practice now throughout professional football - except maybe at Real Madrid?

Giggs was always praised for his willingness to work back - and has shoeboxes full of medals to show for his groundbreaking endeavours - but now everyone does it.

This is one quality Sammon brings. With Done it's more obvious but bc he's more explosive he generally has less stamina, tires, and is much less effective defending and attacking late in the game.

But not on Tuesday. Progress?

Somebody should point this modern football stuff out to King Keith the Miserable sometime.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Good quote. And a good insight at the time, but isn't this just standard practice now throughout professional football - except maybe at Real Madrid?

Giggs was always praised for his willingness to work back - and has shoeboxes full of medals to show for his groundbreaking endeavours - but now everyone does it.

This is one quality Sammon brings. With Done it's more obvious but bc he's more explosive he generally has less stamina, tires, and is much less effective defending and attacking late in the game.

But not on Tuesday. Progress?

Somebody should point this modern football stuff out to King Keith the Miserable sometime.

WHF.

Were you one of the "gang" that has been a staunch defender of the Higdon ?

If so, do you now acknowledge that he isn't good enough for us / or at least that's what the gaffer thinks ?

Will you also accept that Sammon is at best 3rd ( and more likely 4th) choice striker at our Div 3 club ?

Care to hazard a guess as to why Adkins has consistently benched him when Sharp, Done and Adams are fit / available ?

Your "loyalty" to Connor is admirable. Which is more than can be said about the blokes overall footballing abilities !!

UTB

 

[sheffielder]

People have to remember this is Done's 2nd career season as a striker. For me the only thing which comes naturally to him is his finishing. He works very hard, however don't expect him to do the things Sharp has been doing all his career. It's not second nature yet.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

WHF.

Were you one of the "gang" that has been a staunch defender of the Higdon ?

If so, do you now acknowledge that he isn't good enough for us / or at least that's what the gaffer thinks ?

Will you also accept that Sammon is at best 3rd ( and more likely 4th) choice striker at our Div 3 club ?

Care to hazard a guess as to why Adkins has consistently benched him when Sharp, Done and Adams are fit / available ?

Your "loyalty" to Connor is admirable. Which is more than can be said about the blokes overall footballing abilities !!

UTB

Higdon (relatively) lacks mobility and stamina, hard to comment on his ability to link play as there's so little to go on. Davies was.better than Higdon and Sammon is much better than both.

Don't accept the premise of "loyalty". The actual evidence of his performances in games has repeatedly shown he can be very effective for us.

Play the ball to him between chest and feet and much/most of the time it will stick, he'll lay it off, and an attack will start with midfield involved.

Afaict he's criticised for not doing things that are either useless, counterproductive, or not part of his job.

Hopefully/Hopelessly challenging for the ball in the air and a random flick on might excite Keith but 9 times out of 10 the opposition end up in possession and we are a man down.

Istm that one development in modern football is to *not* challenge for the first ball and then try to win the second ball as you have an overload, and everyone is in position.

Sammon was first choice at Old Trafford
Our only attempt on target (Bash's left foot screamer) came after he had won and kept possession - Billy had gone off and Sammon was up.front
Sharp and Done were better options at Wigan as the opposition played across the back and their pace could and did exploit and unsettle them

Like McEveley and Collins I hope he can overcome the haters but he has looked short of confidence sometimes recently. A very effective player is perhaps becoming an ineffective one.

I see this as some fans working against the interests of the club.

 

[Revolution]

Affect he's criticised for not doing things that are either useless, counterproductive, or not part of his job.

My main problem with him is his shocking finishing. I can't remember the last time a player missed so many straightforward chances in a season. Possibly Rob Hulse in his disastrous return in 2007-8.

And the idea that the ball sticks to Sammon much or most of the time is not what I see. He's got the first touch of a trampoline.

 

[DronnieBlade]

My main problem with him is his shocking finishing. I can't remember the last time a player missed so many straightforward chances in a season. Possibly Rob Hulse in his disastrous return in 2007-8.

And the idea that the ball sticks to Sammon much or most of the time is not what I see. He's got the first touch of a trampoline.

First touch of a trampoline

UTB

 

[DronnieBlade]

Higdon (relatively) lacks mobility and stamina, hard to comment on his ability to link play as there's so little to go on. Davies was.better than Higdon and Sammon is much better than both.

Don't accept the premise of "loyalty". The actual evidence of his performances in games has repeatedly shown he can be very effective for us.

Play the ball to him between chest and feet and much/most of the time it will stick, he'll lay it off, and an attack will start with midfield involved.

Afaict he's criticised for not doing things that are either useless, counterproductive, or not part of his job.

Hopefully/Hopelessly challenging for the ball in the air and a random flick on might excite Keith but 9 times out of 10 the opposition end up in possession and we are a man down.

Istm that one development in modern football is to *not* challenge for the first ball and then try to win the second ball as you have an overload, and everyone is in position.

Sammon was first choice at Old Trafford
Our only attempt on target (Bash's left foot screamer) came after he had won and kept possession - Billy had gone off and Sammon was up.front
Sharp and Done were better options at Wigan as the opposition played across the back and their pace could and did exploit and unsettle them

Like McEveley and Collins I hope he can overcome the haters but he has looked short of confidence sometimes recently. A very effective player is perhaps becoming an ineffective one.

I see this as some fans working against the interests of the club.

Interesting.

Do you think Adkins sees it something / anything like that ?

If you do, can we expect to see Done and Adams on the pitch for less of the run in than Sammon ?

From where I am sat, Adkins has (more or less) made his mind up with Sammon. Maybe I am wrong.

And your comment 1st choice at OT. Do you honestly think that there were not tactical / strategic reasons as to why Sharp was pulled. Toe injections / Wigan game etc. ??

I happened to go to the Rotherham vs Bolton game last season. Rotherham won 4-2. Matt Derbyshire on the night was on fire and I also went away from the game thinking how much work Sammon had got through that had been selfless and in support of his strike partner.

As a consequence I was initially excited about Sammons signing. So I can see what a striker of this type brings.

It's just at the moment, his performance level is WAY lower than I saw on that night at the NYS.

Now will his performance level improve ? I hope it does. But the similarities between what we hoped Higdon would be for us ( and ultimately wasn't !) and what Sammon has become for us are alarming to say the least.

UTB

 

[sheffielder]

Higdon (relatively) lacks mobility and stamina, hard to comment on his ability to link play as there's so little to go on. Davies was.better than Higdon and Sammon is much better than both.

Don't accept the premise of "loyalty". The actual evidence of his performances in games has repeatedly shown he can be very effective for us.

Play the ball to him between chest and feet and much/most of the time it will stick, he'll lay it off, and an attack will start with midfield involved.

Afaict he's criticised for not doing things that are either useless, counterproductive, or not part of his job.

Hopefully/Hopelessly challenging for the ball in the air and a random flick on might excite Keith but 9 times out of 10 the opposition end up in possession and we are a man down.

Istm that one development in modern football is to *not* challenge for the first ball and then try to win the second ball as you have an overload, and everyone is in position.

Sammon was first choice at Old Trafford
Our only attempt on target (Bash's left foot screamer) came after he had won and kept possession - Billy had gone off and Sammon was up.front
Sharp and Done were better options at Wigan as the opposition played across the back and their pace could and did exploit and unsettle them

Like McEveley and Collins I hope he can overcome the haters but he has looked short of confidence sometimes recently. A very effective player is perhaps becoming an ineffective one.

I see this as some fans working against the interests of the club.

You make it sound like it's the fans who are missing something with Sammon. Go check out what Wigan, Derby, Ipswich fans think about him and you will find that there isn't a high ceiling on this guy, even with some confidence.

 

[sitwell]

He doesn't seem to have an affinity with the ball ,his control ,heading finishing all seem to be out of control. I struggle to see how he made it through junior football into senior football without this basic instinct to want the ball. then again he does bring something with his willingness character and is a good foil for Sharp ,who plays better with him at home.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Interesting.

Do you think Adkins sees it something / anything like that ?

If you do, can we expect to see Done and Adams on the pitch for less of the run in than Sammon ?

From where I am sat, Adkins has (more or less) made his mind up with Sammon. Maybe I am wrong.

And your comment 1st choice at OT. Do you honestly think that there were not tactical / strategic reasons as to why Sharp was pulled. Toe injections / Wigan game etc. ??

I happened to go to the Rotherham vs Bolton game last season. Rotherham won 4-2. Matt Derbyshire on the night was on fire and I also went away from the game thinking how much work Sammon had got through that had been selfless and in support of his strike partner.

As a consequence I was initially excited about Sammons signing. So I can see what a striker of this type brings.

It's just at the moment, his performance level is WAY lower than I saw on that night at the NYS.

Now will his performance level improve ? I hope it does. But the similarities between what we hoped Higdon would be for us ( and ultimately wasn't !) and what Sammon has become for us are alarming to say the least.

UTB

With Sammon atm it's confidence I think.

He was first choice at OT. I don't see how that can reasonably be interpreted as him being down the pecking order.

This is a separate question from why Billy was pulled.

I think we saw the benefits of Billy being subbed when he played against Wigan.

It's a squad game. Ideally Sammon will be sharing the workload with Done (and to a lesser extent Adams) depending on the match situation and the opponents.

At his best he is a real benefit for the team. If he is publicly abused and derided then it's likely his confidence and form will suffer (further) and this will be against the interests of the club.

Atm he's Scapegoat of the Month.

If I was to hazard a guess Done and Billy will start today bc of Tuesday. They will be ineffective and Sammon will come on after 60-65'.

Of course football is wildly unpredictable and who knows what will really happen but I wouldn't be surprised by this scenario.

 

[DronnieBlade]

With Sammon atm it's confidence I think.

He was first choice at OT. I don't see how that can reasonably be interpreted as him being down the pecking order.

This is a separate question from why Billy was pulled.

I think we saw the benefits of Billy being subbed when he played against Wigan.

It's a squad game. Ideally Sammon will be sharing the workload with Done (and to a lesser extent Adams) depending on the match situation and the opponents.

At his best he is a real benefit for the team. If he is publicly abused and derided then it's likely his confidence and form will suffer (further) and this will be against the interests of the club.

Atm he's Scapegoat of the Month.

If I was to hazard a guess Done and Billy will start today bc of Tuesday. They will be ineffective and Sammon will come on after 60-65'.

Of course football is wildly unpredictable and who knows what will really happen but I wouldn't be surprised by this scenario.

As I say, interesting how you see this. Which, on the face of it, is quite different to how a lot of fans see it. Which by itself doesn't mean you are wrong btw !

While I do accept that fans of SUFC, generally do love a scapegoat, the catalyst for said scapegoating is often poor individual performances.

I hope I am wrong about Sammon, and in the final analysis my opinion counts for nowt. It's ultimately what the manager thinks. If he was 1st choice at OT, maybe he will get more pitch time for the remainder of the season than I would realistically expect at the moment.

UTB

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

If I was to hazard a guess Done and Billy will start today bc of Tuesday. They will be ineffective and Sammon will come on after 60-65'.

Sharp (who did generally well) and Done have bugger all understanding of a partnership, look like two individuals when paired together

Ok. My crystal ball is a bit misty and it's hard to tell the difference between Conor Sammon and Jose Baxter but Done went off at 64'.

 

[super_pig]

heh.. monty had a better first touch that Sammon
i can't believe i posted that