Bergen Blade
Well-Known Member
I think David Weir made a few mistakes when assessing the squad he inherited. He may also have been given bad advice by the staff that remained. Our new manager, whoever you are, may need some more help! These are my views on the current players, and some advice on what to do with them:
Goalkeepers
George Long – Should be your first choice. Very promising and will hopefully be top class.
Mark Howard – OK as back up at this level. Would probably been a better goalie if he’d played more first team football in his career.
George Willis – Promising goalkeeper. Lacks height, but is a technically sound goalie. Your goalkeepers are probably the least of your worries.
Right back
Tony McMahon – Usually pretty steady defensively. Seems to always want to pick a fight with his winger, and is lucky to avoid more bookings and sending offs. Still better at holding his own than covering for centre halves. Has lacked the ability/stamina/willingness to get up and down the pitch, which is disappointing because his right foot is not bad. Out of contract in the summer and you should be looking for a better, quicker, more modern type of full back.
Daryl Westlake – The attacking full back option, he’s fairly composed on the ball and can look good when he goes forward. If used he should be encouraged to bomb forward. Formerly a winger, and needs to improve his one on one defending. Sometimes naïve when it comes to positioning and reacting to danger, and we’ve conceded goals when he’s been reluctant to getting stuck in. Is youngish, but needs to improve if you are to take up the option of extending his contract.
Centre halves
Harry Maguire – Big and strong and composed on the ball, but slow. He’s worked well with Collins the past two seasons. First season it helped that our team was a lot better than most, and so they weren’t put under as much pressure. Last season they were helped by a very defensively set up team. Collins seems to be losing his pace too now, and with us struggling in general they’ve looked poor together. As Harry has age on his side, he’s the one to keep. You should look for a quick, athletic partner to him, and do everything you can to make him work on his pace, which will always limit him.
Neill Collins – As mentioned he’s losing his pace, and no longer seems an ideal partner to Maguire. At his best, when he’s not being pulled out of position, he’s steady, and at this level is more than averagely composed on the ball. He’s contracted till June 2015, but you should look to replace him soon. He should be ok as back up, and he (too) may benefit from a quicker partner.
Sean McGinty – Arrived from Man Utd and has possibly been played in his second best position as left back. He didn’t look good enough there. He’s a big lad and a bit more mobile than Maguire and Collins. Let him play centre half for the U21 and decide if he’s worth a chance (and later, a contract extension).
Terry Kennedy – Highly praised when he partnered Maguire in our youth team, but has struggled with injuries. Small for a centre half, could he be retrained to a midfield ball winner? Aggressive, brave, reads the game well and is a great tackler.
Left back
Matt Hill – A usually solid defender, physically strong and good in the air for his size. Can also fill in at centre half. Is past his best though and very limited on the ball. Weir never found a good solution at left back (they should have been attacking in his formation). You should search for a new one, and let Hill be a squad player. Don’t renew his contract which expires next summer.
Marcus Williams – Weir thought he had a poor man’s Ahsley Cole, and started off with Williams as first choice. Most Blades fans could have told him that he was wrong to do that. He’s only become worse since he joined us. Has a bit of energy and gets forward in advanced positions, but when he gets the ball he’s unable to get past a man, nor pass or cross the ball with much quality. Transfer list.
Simon Lappin – Brought in on loan with Weir hoping he’d be the attacking left back we needed. Dreadful on his debut, not much better in his second game and then dropped. Don’t extend his loan.
Central midfield
Stephen McGinn – Started well, but then fell out of favour with Weir. A midfield playmaker who is neat and tidy on the ball. Looks a bit short of pace and may not be the toughest. Came on in our last game and did well enough to warrant a new chance from the start. You shouldn’t be afraid to try him in Doyle’s role. Try it and see if his playmaking will give us more than what Doyle currently offers.
Michael Doyle – Club captain who both Weir and Wilson couldn’t praise enough. With him everpresent we’ve only become worse as a team, and I think most Blades will want you to try something else. He hasn’t been our worst performer, he does get stuck in, and when he’s got time on the ball will usually find a teammate. Unable to do much on the ball if he’s well closed down. He’s slow and I don’t think he covers as much ground as he used to. If you get the resources, defensive midfield could be the right position to inject some height and strength. Under Weir we’ve looked a weak and small side. Contracted till 2015, but can’t see him offering much beyond this season.
Florent Cuvelier – Coming from the Premiership and having done well for Walsall last season, there is reason to expect good things from him. So far he’s looked technically good, there’s been a good pass here and there, but he’s not really helped us dictate games. He’s looked a bit weak and an injury hasn’t helped him settle. A decent player, but you’ll have to find the right role for him, and the right kind of players around him.
Conor Coady – On loan from Liverpool, he’s had a mixed stay so far. At times he’s looked keen to impress and busy, in other games very quiet. I think he’s showed promise and would like to see him take, and be given, more responsibility. He’s best used as a box to box man, as he’s got a good engine and should be able to chip in with goals. The formation used so far this season (with central midfielders holding back more) has restrained him.
Elliott Whitehouse – Young midfielder on loan from York. Looked very promising when having the box to box role behind a holding playmaker for our youth team. He looked competetive and liked to bomb forward and get shots in. An injury last summer set him back, and he’s not played much in the first team. Has gone straight into York’s first eleven, and from reports seem to be doing well. It may be best for his development to stay there for now, as we have quite a few midfielders.
Wide players
Ryan Flynn – Flynn has decent technical ability and works hard for the team. He’s good at doing the defensive side of his job, helping out the full back behind him. Sadly it’s not enough to weigh up for his weaknesses offensively. He’s just too slow to get past full backs and lacks strength. Transfer list.
Callum McFadzean – Left footed player with good energy and enthusiasm. Has done reaasonably well, but may lack flair and real pace to make a top class winger. He has played left back as a youth, and it’s worth trying him there again if you’re looking for attacking full backs.
Jamie Murphy – Right footed nippy player who hasn’t managed to impress so far. I think he’s shown glimpses of good ability, and won’t write him off yet. He seems to always get the ball when he’s standing still and got his back to goal, and this sees him struggle, as he’s weak easily gets pushed off the ball. If you can develop a style that lets him regularly run onto balls and attack full backs with his pace I think you’ll see the best of him. He also looks a miserable sod. Try to work on his confidence and get him to play with a smile on his face.
Febian Brandy – Quick and tricky winger. Can look a superb player on his day, but has struggled to make use his talent effectively. Our build up under Weir was so slow that teams always got men behind the ball, i.e. like with Murphy he rarely received the ball whilst running forward. This has forced him to come deeper to get the ball, but this means it takes Maradona type to get him into dangerous areas. Making effective use of him shouldn’t be too difficult (the ability is there), but tactical tweaks are necessary.
Ryan Hall – On loan winger from Leeds. Has some technical ability and a good left foot, capable of swinging in good crosses. Lacks real pace and I’d be careful of assembling too many players who are not great athletes. He may be worth keeping until January though.
Jasper Johns - Left footed winger with decent pace. Signed from Everton in the summer. Looked too raw when he was thrown on earlier in the season. He's just 18 and has time on his side though.
Attacking midfield
Jose Baxter – Brought in to replace McDonald in the number 10 role in Weir’s 4-2-3-1 system. He also has good ability, decent vision, and can beat a man, as well as getting into shooting positions. He hasn’t looked fit enough (a tad overweight?), and is also one who’s suffered from our slow build up, as he’s always got a marker or two to beat when he gets on the ball. I like that he tries to look for through balls, but he’s lacked accuracy and his touch has often been off. He’s not fast, and it can be a problem if the main striker isn’t quick either. If you’re not planning on playing an attacking midfielder it could become a problem finding a role for him in a regular 4-4-2. A free, creative role on the left may be worth trying though.
Diego De Girolamo - Young attacking midfielder with great skill. On his way back from a serious knee injury. Was beginning to make an impact on the side when he got injured. Favours a role just behind the main striker.
Striker
Marlon King – Experienced striker, recently signed on a one year deal. A good finisher, but not as quick or mobile as he was. He used to be able to make chances for himself, but now requires better service. Mind you, if he gets that, I think he will score plenty. Quite strong, but will not win headers. You need to make sure he gets fitter.
Chris Porter – Target man, currently on loan. Recall him if you want a striker who regularly wins flick ons, he’s excellent at that. He formed a good partnership with Miller (a classic big and small combo) for a short spell last season. Not a good finisher and his touch can be poor at times.
Shaun Miller – Poacher who’s getting back to fitness now following his long term knee injury. Looked very dangerous when he played last season. Nippy, read situations well and showed that he can be a great finisher. Looked really good alongside Porter, and may be best used in a 4-4-2.
Joe Ironside – Tallish and young striker who has been mostly used as a substitute. A back to goal striker who can put himself about, but he’s yet to score. Needs to bulk up more to become an effective target man, and this is probably his only chance of making it at this level, as he’s got no other outstanding attributes. A loan move may do him good, but tell him to lift more weights.
Lyle Taylor – Striker who finally got his first two goals at Coventry. Has been eager to impress, but unable to take his (very few) chances so far. Despite having some height, his hold up play and ability to win flick ons is poor. Not very pacey, but a willing runner and always looking to get in behind the opposition. The jury’s out on him, but those two goals will hopefully do him good, and he needs more chances. Just don’t expect him to impress with his back to goal.
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Article also to be found at: http://scandinavianblades.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/34037729-advice-for-our-new-manager
Goalkeepers
George Long – Should be your first choice. Very promising and will hopefully be top class.
Mark Howard – OK as back up at this level. Would probably been a better goalie if he’d played more first team football in his career.
George Willis – Promising goalkeeper. Lacks height, but is a technically sound goalie. Your goalkeepers are probably the least of your worries.
Right back
Tony McMahon – Usually pretty steady defensively. Seems to always want to pick a fight with his winger, and is lucky to avoid more bookings and sending offs. Still better at holding his own than covering for centre halves. Has lacked the ability/stamina/willingness to get up and down the pitch, which is disappointing because his right foot is not bad. Out of contract in the summer and you should be looking for a better, quicker, more modern type of full back.
Daryl Westlake – The attacking full back option, he’s fairly composed on the ball and can look good when he goes forward. If used he should be encouraged to bomb forward. Formerly a winger, and needs to improve his one on one defending. Sometimes naïve when it comes to positioning and reacting to danger, and we’ve conceded goals when he’s been reluctant to getting stuck in. Is youngish, but needs to improve if you are to take up the option of extending his contract.
Centre halves
Harry Maguire – Big and strong and composed on the ball, but slow. He’s worked well with Collins the past two seasons. First season it helped that our team was a lot better than most, and so they weren’t put under as much pressure. Last season they were helped by a very defensively set up team. Collins seems to be losing his pace too now, and with us struggling in general they’ve looked poor together. As Harry has age on his side, he’s the one to keep. You should look for a quick, athletic partner to him, and do everything you can to make him work on his pace, which will always limit him.
Neill Collins – As mentioned he’s losing his pace, and no longer seems an ideal partner to Maguire. At his best, when he’s not being pulled out of position, he’s steady, and at this level is more than averagely composed on the ball. He’s contracted till June 2015, but you should look to replace him soon. He should be ok as back up, and he (too) may benefit from a quicker partner.
Sean McGinty – Arrived from Man Utd and has possibly been played in his second best position as left back. He didn’t look good enough there. He’s a big lad and a bit more mobile than Maguire and Collins. Let him play centre half for the U21 and decide if he’s worth a chance (and later, a contract extension).
Terry Kennedy – Highly praised when he partnered Maguire in our youth team, but has struggled with injuries. Small for a centre half, could he be retrained to a midfield ball winner? Aggressive, brave, reads the game well and is a great tackler.
Left back
Matt Hill – A usually solid defender, physically strong and good in the air for his size. Can also fill in at centre half. Is past his best though and very limited on the ball. Weir never found a good solution at left back (they should have been attacking in his formation). You should search for a new one, and let Hill be a squad player. Don’t renew his contract which expires next summer.
Marcus Williams – Weir thought he had a poor man’s Ahsley Cole, and started off with Williams as first choice. Most Blades fans could have told him that he was wrong to do that. He’s only become worse since he joined us. Has a bit of energy and gets forward in advanced positions, but when he gets the ball he’s unable to get past a man, nor pass or cross the ball with much quality. Transfer list.
Simon Lappin – Brought in on loan with Weir hoping he’d be the attacking left back we needed. Dreadful on his debut, not much better in his second game and then dropped. Don’t extend his loan.
Central midfield
Stephen McGinn – Started well, but then fell out of favour with Weir. A midfield playmaker who is neat and tidy on the ball. Looks a bit short of pace and may not be the toughest. Came on in our last game and did well enough to warrant a new chance from the start. You shouldn’t be afraid to try him in Doyle’s role. Try it and see if his playmaking will give us more than what Doyle currently offers.
Michael Doyle – Club captain who both Weir and Wilson couldn’t praise enough. With him everpresent we’ve only become worse as a team, and I think most Blades will want you to try something else. He hasn’t been our worst performer, he does get stuck in, and when he’s got time on the ball will usually find a teammate. Unable to do much on the ball if he’s well closed down. He’s slow and I don’t think he covers as much ground as he used to. If you get the resources, defensive midfield could be the right position to inject some height and strength. Under Weir we’ve looked a weak and small side. Contracted till 2015, but can’t see him offering much beyond this season.
Florent Cuvelier – Coming from the Premiership and having done well for Walsall last season, there is reason to expect good things from him. So far he’s looked technically good, there’s been a good pass here and there, but he’s not really helped us dictate games. He’s looked a bit weak and an injury hasn’t helped him settle. A decent player, but you’ll have to find the right role for him, and the right kind of players around him.
Conor Coady – On loan from Liverpool, he’s had a mixed stay so far. At times he’s looked keen to impress and busy, in other games very quiet. I think he’s showed promise and would like to see him take, and be given, more responsibility. He’s best used as a box to box man, as he’s got a good engine and should be able to chip in with goals. The formation used so far this season (with central midfielders holding back more) has restrained him.
Elliott Whitehouse – Young midfielder on loan from York. Looked very promising when having the box to box role behind a holding playmaker for our youth team. He looked competetive and liked to bomb forward and get shots in. An injury last summer set him back, and he’s not played much in the first team. Has gone straight into York’s first eleven, and from reports seem to be doing well. It may be best for his development to stay there for now, as we have quite a few midfielders.
Wide players
Ryan Flynn – Flynn has decent technical ability and works hard for the team. He’s good at doing the defensive side of his job, helping out the full back behind him. Sadly it’s not enough to weigh up for his weaknesses offensively. He’s just too slow to get past full backs and lacks strength. Transfer list.
Callum McFadzean – Left footed player with good energy and enthusiasm. Has done reaasonably well, but may lack flair and real pace to make a top class winger. He has played left back as a youth, and it’s worth trying him there again if you’re looking for attacking full backs.
Jamie Murphy – Right footed nippy player who hasn’t managed to impress so far. I think he’s shown glimpses of good ability, and won’t write him off yet. He seems to always get the ball when he’s standing still and got his back to goal, and this sees him struggle, as he’s weak easily gets pushed off the ball. If you can develop a style that lets him regularly run onto balls and attack full backs with his pace I think you’ll see the best of him. He also looks a miserable sod. Try to work on his confidence and get him to play with a smile on his face.
Febian Brandy – Quick and tricky winger. Can look a superb player on his day, but has struggled to make use his talent effectively. Our build up under Weir was so slow that teams always got men behind the ball, i.e. like with Murphy he rarely received the ball whilst running forward. This has forced him to come deeper to get the ball, but this means it takes Maradona type to get him into dangerous areas. Making effective use of him shouldn’t be too difficult (the ability is there), but tactical tweaks are necessary.
Ryan Hall – On loan winger from Leeds. Has some technical ability and a good left foot, capable of swinging in good crosses. Lacks real pace and I’d be careful of assembling too many players who are not great athletes. He may be worth keeping until January though.
Jasper Johns - Left footed winger with decent pace. Signed from Everton in the summer. Looked too raw when he was thrown on earlier in the season. He's just 18 and has time on his side though.
Attacking midfield
Jose Baxter – Brought in to replace McDonald in the number 10 role in Weir’s 4-2-3-1 system. He also has good ability, decent vision, and can beat a man, as well as getting into shooting positions. He hasn’t looked fit enough (a tad overweight?), and is also one who’s suffered from our slow build up, as he’s always got a marker or two to beat when he gets on the ball. I like that he tries to look for through balls, but he’s lacked accuracy and his touch has often been off. He’s not fast, and it can be a problem if the main striker isn’t quick either. If you’re not planning on playing an attacking midfielder it could become a problem finding a role for him in a regular 4-4-2. A free, creative role on the left may be worth trying though.
Diego De Girolamo - Young attacking midfielder with great skill. On his way back from a serious knee injury. Was beginning to make an impact on the side when he got injured. Favours a role just behind the main striker.
Striker
Marlon King – Experienced striker, recently signed on a one year deal. A good finisher, but not as quick or mobile as he was. He used to be able to make chances for himself, but now requires better service. Mind you, if he gets that, I think he will score plenty. Quite strong, but will not win headers. You need to make sure he gets fitter.
Chris Porter – Target man, currently on loan. Recall him if you want a striker who regularly wins flick ons, he’s excellent at that. He formed a good partnership with Miller (a classic big and small combo) for a short spell last season. Not a good finisher and his touch can be poor at times.
Shaun Miller – Poacher who’s getting back to fitness now following his long term knee injury. Looked very dangerous when he played last season. Nippy, read situations well and showed that he can be a great finisher. Looked really good alongside Porter, and may be best used in a 4-4-2.
Joe Ironside – Tallish and young striker who has been mostly used as a substitute. A back to goal striker who can put himself about, but he’s yet to score. Needs to bulk up more to become an effective target man, and this is probably his only chance of making it at this level, as he’s got no other outstanding attributes. A loan move may do him good, but tell him to lift more weights.
Lyle Taylor – Striker who finally got his first two goals at Coventry. Has been eager to impress, but unable to take his (very few) chances so far. Despite having some height, his hold up play and ability to win flick ons is poor. Not very pacey, but a willing runner and always looking to get in behind the opposition. The jury’s out on him, but those two goals will hopefully do him good, and he needs more chances. Just don’t expect him to impress with his back to goal.
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Article also to be found at: http://scandinavianblades.webs.com/apps/blog/entries/show/34037729-advice-for-our-new-manager
