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Flynn. To be honest, we are playing 4-4-1-1. Even if we are playng 4-4-2, Flynn's role is not 'wide midfielder'. He has a specific rectangle where his role is most important, from, our 18 yard box right up to the opposition goal line, in from the touchline to the 18 yard boxes. That is how the 4-4-x system works. If he is a 'wide midfielder' then he is playing in the wrong team, using the wrong system. Unless we play 4--1-2-1-2 with a 'diamond' in the centre, his patch is narrowed into the 'wide midfielder' role, in which case, we have to forget attacking from the wings and start playing much closer, ball-to-feet wrok, stuff that I don't believe we have the capability to produce.
It's difficult to pin down exactly what our attacking style is. It's still frustratingly direct, and I believe this is because we lack the trust in Doyle to carry the ball forward and (from what I saw yesterday at times) lack of players' understanding to drop into space and receive. Flynn also has a tendency to bury himself behind opposition players instead of moving into space, he lacks basic ability to make effective runs and either receive or draw players with him to open up gaps. He's small, agile and not without skill but I feel his 'connective play' - the stuff where he understands we are on the attack so he needs to move quickly or even when he has the ball and needs to be more creative, is a real weak point in our attacking philosophy. Too many times he allowed their defender time to get the better of him - the one time in the second half where he tried to beat his man he made such a poor decision not benefitting from an early touch past him and telegraphed his intent so it was easy to block his run past. For us to capitalise on having one of the best penalty area poachers and headers of the ball in this division in Kitson, our style does have to lean toward wingplay and getting the ball round the back of the defence and into the area. The development of Flynn, McDonald and Murphy as our top goal providers must be given more priority in my opinion. McDonald has such ability and vision but lacks the output; Flynn, undoubtedly not without some talent needs to consolidate his role and we will just have to see what Wilson eventually does with Murphy.
Brownie - I KNEW it was you! Joe - my lad - said 'I recognised him straight away and knew he recognised us' (we were sat in the smokers area at the back of the Percy Thrower pub). Think it was Reading 2004 pissing up in the station the we all jumped into the taxi to the Madjeski where we all me last time (he was 14!)
Thanks for the responses - accept we differ in opinion regarding one particular player (and it is no different from Monty in seasons past). I want Flynn to do well and want him to be Gareth Bale. Nowt wrong with that, is there?
pommpey
You should have said something mate. I still remember the Reading trip as well.