What Sammon Brings

[William Henry Foulkes]

I didn't go but it sounds like we missed Sammon today. Saw these two in another thread.

Kept losing the ball, defending too deep

For long periods of the second half we did nothing but kick it back to Colchester so they could keep coming at us.

This has happened to us in other games, the most obvious was Bradford away - I think. On that day we brought on Sammon and he changed the game by occupying their defenders. He'd done it before and he's done it since and not always as a sub.

This is one of the things he brings to the game.

Today Adkins said in his interview he put on Baxter to try to get on the ball and play Sharp in, worth a try but again it sounds like it didn't work. Sammon has done this job numerous times this season: holding up the ball releasing pressure and bringing things together.

We're missing him. I'm guessing he's low on confidence in part bc he's the latest scapegoat.

I hope he gets his confidence back because we need him.

 

[sheffielder]

We need better. Playing the 4 midfielders we do, the 2 strikers need to score goals.

 

[spongebobblade]

We are missing Sammon? Really?
Wow
Just how far has this club fallen

 

[Billyblade]

Sammon holding up the ball?

Sammon's second touch is a tackle

 

[Tyler Durden]

In next weeks episode:

Neill Collins- Shit Defender Or A Misunderstood Beckenbauer?

 

[anglian blade]

if we had played the ball on the deck, as we did more after Baxter came on, instead on lumping up to a 6 4 centre half Sharp and Done might have caused more problems.

 

[Ricky]

What Sammon brings... nothing we couldn't get from someone for a fraction of the 8k per week we're reportedly wasting on him.

He doesn't hold the ball up. He either fails to contest the header, doesn't bother to get to the ball, plays a shit pass or gets tackled.

 

[JonnyRed(WCFC)]

You'd be better off with Kevin Nolan in there, he's still a free agent as far as i'm aware, he may be 33 now but can do what Sammon does and better, especially heading for starters.

 

[Chezzy Blades]

I'm not sure it's Sammon that we were missing WHF.. the main problem today, particularly in the second half appeared to me to be that all 4 of our midfielders weren't willing to get forward and support Done and Sharp, leaving them isolated and chasing long balls over the top they didn't realistically have a prayer of getting onto.

I didn't agree with it at the time, but in hindsight Adkins' decision to bring Baxter on for Done did start to provide a link between the deep midfield and Sharp up front, as I believe he alluded to in his interview.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

What we lack is a decent target man (not Sammon) and a dominant centre half. Both would mean we don't have to double bank it with 2 lots of 4 and could play our more creative midfield and wide players without the fear of shipping sloppy goals.

 

[Chezzy Blades]

What we lack is a decent target man (not Sammon) and a dominant centre half. Both would mean we don't have to double bank it with 2 lots of 4 and could play our more creative midfield and wide players without the fear of shipping sloppy goals.

I said something similar at the game earlier. Until we improve the centre of defence, Adkins can't risk starting players who like getting into advanced positions (JCR, Baxter, Adams etc) without going back to conceding 2 and 3 goals week in week out. He tried it at Wigan with Baxter and Flynn on Tuesday and for 70 minutes we had the same problems we had in the 8 or 9 game run up to the Shrewsbury game.

 

[spongebobblade]

I'm not sure it's Sammon that we were missing WHF.. the main problem today, particularly in the second half appeared to me to be that all 4 of our midfielders weren't willing to get forward and support Done and Sharp, leaving them isolated and chasing long balls over the top they didn't realistically have a prayer of getting onto.

I didn't agree with it at the time, but in hindsight Adkins' decision to bring Baxter on for Done did start to provide a link between the deep midfield and Sharp up front, as I believe he alluded to in his interview.

We often sit far too deep almost inviting teams to attack us. Without the ball our midfielders sit 5 yards in front of the defence and when we do get it we are either reluctant to run with it or play a hopeful long ball. We need an attacking centre midfielder who is comfortable on the ball and willing to run with it as well as wingers who do the same. Our tempo (unless we are chasing a game) can be snail pace at times

 

[Chezzy Blades]

We often sit far too deep almost inviting teams to attack us. Without the ball our midfielders sit 5 yards in front of the defence and when we do get it we are either reluctant to run with it or play a hopeful long ball. We need an attacking centre midfielder who is comfortable on the ball and willing to run with it as well as wingers who do the same. Our tempo (unless we are chasing a game) can be snail pace at times

I don't think we can afford to play higher up the pitch without first improving (speeding up) the centre of defence.

Collins and Edgar are good when the play is in front of them, such as at Man United for example, however as soon as a team get in behind and get them turning (Wigan) we start to look very porous as a unit and teams come through us at will. Hammond and Basham both sit deep to fill the gaps that appear, and with little outlet we end up giving the ball back to the opposition and can't get out of our own half for long periods.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I didn't go but it sounds like we missed Sammon today. Saw these two in another thread.





This has happened to us in other games, the most obvious was Bradford away - I think. On that day we brought on Sammon and he changed the game by occupying their defenders. He'd done it before and he's done it since and not always as a sub.

This is one of the things he brings to the game.

Today Adkins said in his interview he put on Baxter to try to get on the ball and play Sharp in, worth a try but again it sounds like it didn't work. Sammon has done this job numerous times this season: holding up the ball releasing pressure and bringing things together.

We're missing him. I'm guessing he's low on confidence in part bc he's the latest scapegoat.

I hope he gets his confidence back because we need him.

Missed him so much he got 2 mins at the end of the game !!

Read in to that what you will. Cos that's about what you can realistically expect going forwards.

Starting to wonder if someone is a a bit disconnected from the reality of the situation and trying like hell to understand why !!

In my opinion.

UTB

 

[Toledo Blade]

I didn't go but it sounds like we missed Sammon today. Saw these two in another thread.

Sammon did come off the bench, he did a few runs up and down the touch line, the fans actually clapped him and he returned the gesture. But I think most were clapping because he was on the bench. I must also point out that that there are other culprits on the team that bring absolutely nothing to the team and that was the complete midfield, I want to swear, they were garbage in fact worst than garbage. bought nothing to the game and just gave the ball away constantly.



This has happened to us in other games, the most obvious was Bradford away - I think. On that day we brought on Sammon and he changed the game by occupying their defenders. He'd done it before and he's done it since and not always as a sub.

This is one of the things he brings to the game.

Today Adkins said in his interview he put on Baxter to try to get on the ball and play Sharp in, worth a try but again it sounds like it didn't work. Sammon has done this job numerous times this season: holding up the ball releasing pressure and bringing things together.

We're missing him. I'm guessing he's low on confidence in part bc he's the latest scapegoat.

I hope he gets his confidence back because we need him.

 

[Slug]

Sammon through on goal

 

[spongebobblade]

I don't think we can afford to play higher up the pitch without first improving (speeding up) the centre of defence.

Collins and Edgar are good when the play is in front of them, such as at Man United for example, however as soon as a team get in behind and get them turning (Wigan) we start to look very porous as a unit and teams come through us at will. Hammond and Basham both sit deep to fill the gaps that appear, and with little outlet we end up giving the ball back to the opposition and can't get out of our own half for long periods.

Totally agree. When we have the ball they do what's needed at the moment but it seems that when we gain the ball there is a reluctance to move forward with it. While we have the ball the opposition can't hurt us. If we lump it up to the two current strikers it's going to come straight back and off we go again. It's a vicious cycle and needs addressing. Sadly it's going to take more than just a centre half (though that will do for starters)

 

[Chezzy Blades]

Totally agree. When we have the ball they do what's needed at the moment but it seems that when we gain the ball there is a reluctance to move forward with it. While we have the ball the opposition can't hurt us. If we lump it up to the two current strikers it's going to come straight back and off we go again. It's a vicious cycle and needs addressing. Sadly it's going to take more than just a centre half (though that will do for starters)

Agree it's certainly not a quick fix. Without anyone willing to drive from midfield it puts a lot of pressure on Billy and the other strikers to score goals. Those three and Baxter aside, the only other chance we have of scoring is set pieces. I haven't got any stats but I'd imagine Bradley Dack for example has probably scored more than our starting back 4 and midfield 4 this season put together.

 

[spongebobblade]

Agree it's certainly not a quick fix. Without anyone willing to drive from midfield it puts a lot of pressure on Billy and the other strikers to score goals. Those three and Baxter aside, the only other chance we have of scoring is set pieces. I haven't got any stats but I'd imagine Bradley Dack for example has probably scored more than our starting back 4 and midfield 4 this season put together.

Not saying he's the answer but if he's looking at players such as Moncur then at least he can see where we are lacking other than centre half. Think we will see far more in the summer rather than now though

 

[Fiery Blade]

You'd be better off with Kevin Nolan in there, he's still a free agent as far as i'm aware, he may be 33 now but can do what Sammon does and better, especially heading for starters.

We'd be better off with any of the Nolan Sisters rather than Sammon !!

 

[alcoblade]

We're missing him. I'm guessing he's low on confidence in part bc he's the latest scapegoat.
.

I agree we are missing something - I don't agree it's Sammon.

We need someone who can hold the ball, and someone with aerial prowess. He can do the former a little, he's truly woeful at the latter.

As for the scapegoat bit - every team has one - but you might think of it as every team having a worst performer. It's a matter of fact and the fans can spot it. Sammon fits that mould, for me.

If we're guilty of anything as fans, it's seeing more in players than they really have more often than less. It's no surprise that our scapegoats end up at places like Shrewsbury.

UTB

 

[Jan Age]

Questionable attitude for me.

Against Peterborough he didn't attempt to win balls back he lost and trudged off the pitch slowly when losing wasting precious time.

In the 'big game' against Man U did a lot of of tracking back but was gutted when Sharp was subbed instead then went down injured to come off.

Questinable attitude + limited skill = get rid.

If a target man is only Adkins back up plan surely there's a chief type out there who's happy to come off the bench and available for next to nowt.

 

[Chezzy Blades]

I agree we are missing something - I don't agree it's Sammon.

We need someone who can hold the ball, and someone with aerial prowess. He can do the former a little, he's truly woeful at the latter.

As for the scapegoat bit - every team has one - but you might think of it as every team having a worst performer. It's a matter of fact and the fans can spot it. Sammon fits that mould, for me.

If we're guilty of anything as fans, it's seeing more in players than they really have more often than less. It's no surprise that our scapegoats end up at places like Shrewsbury.

UTB

Agree. On the rare occasion we get a good performance from Sammon, Peterborough away being a good example, we look a good side for this division and spend more time pushing the opposition back than vice versa.

One of the things we are missing is a player who does the role Sammon is suppose to do, but on a far more consistent basis.

 

[Bergen Blade]

I don't think we can afford to play higher up the pitch without first improving (speeding up) the centre of defence.

Collins and Edgar are good when the play is in front of them, such as at Man United for example, however as soon as a team get in behind and get them turning (Wigan) we start to look very porous as a unit and teams come through us at will. Hammond and Basham both sit deep to fill the gaps that appear, and with little outlet we end up giving the ball back to the opposition and can't get out of our own half for long periods.

Balls in behind was a problem at Wigan, and I think we struggled to close them down, which allowed them to make those through passes. As we were losing we may have tried to push higher up and attack more, but this meant we lost our defensive solidity. Only when Wigan surrendered to protect their lead did we create AND deal better with their attacks.

Maybe this meant Adkins wanted us to defend deeper again at Colchester?

 

[Chezzy Blades]

Balls in behind was a problem at Wigan, and I think we struggled to close them down, which allowed them to make those through passes. As we were losing we may have tried to push higher up and attack more, but this meant we lost our defensive solidity. Only when Wigan surrendered to protect their lead did we create AND deal better with their attacks.

Maybe this meant Adkins wanted us to defend deeper again at Colchester?

I think so. The overcompensation of our defensive weaknesses by having both Basham and Hammond (and at times Coutts and Woolford) means Done/Sharp/Sammon are so isolated the Colchester defenders could simply take the ball off them and the cycle starts again.

I think we're missing the energy that Coady and at his best Scougall used to bring which made us such a good counter attacking side. Even though Clough had us sitting deep, those 2, Flynn and Murphy could all get up the pitch so fast and with the ball at feet that it prevented Baxter from being isolated. Baxter at this best also held the ball up just as well, or even better than some of the current strikers.

 

[spongebobblade]

Balls in behind was a problem at Wigan, and I think we struggled to close them down, which allowed them to make those through passes. As we were losing we may have tried to push higher up and attack more, but this meant we lost our defensive solidity. Only when Wigan surrendered to protect their lead did we create AND deal better with their attacks.

Maybe this meant Adkins wanted us to defend deeper again at Colchester?

The problem is, for us to have any sort of "defensive solidity" it takes half the bloody team to stop the opposition from scoring therefore leaving us toothless going forward. We are woeful at the back. Even JB is struggling. The rest of the team and Adkins must have very little confidence in our defence at present. Certainly the fans don't

 

[Booker4]

I didn't go but it sounds like we missed Sammon today. Saw these two in another thread.





This has happened to us in other games, the most obvious was Bradford away - I think. On that day we brought on Sammon and he changed the game by occupying their defenders. He'd done it before and he's done it since and not always as a sub.

This is one of the things he brings to the game.

Today Adkins said in his interview he put on Baxter to try to get on the ball and play Sharp in, worth a try but again it sounds like it didn't work. Sammon has done this job numerous times this season: holding up the ball releasing pressure and bringing things together.

We're missing him. I'm guessing he's low on confidence in part bc he's the latest scapegoat.

I hope he gets his confidence back because we need him.

I'm sorry but Sammon has to do more than just hold it up, although that's important. He has no one but himself to blame if he is a scapegoat, because he's crap and lazy, but that said, he has played well when he first arrived and from speaking to Millers fans they said the same that he started well and then fades, so when he gets in the side he relaxes and then his performances drop. For me he's not played well, other than occasional cameo's, where just by his size and type, he's caused different problems from the likes of Done, Adams and Sharp. If that's the case we may as well have just kept Porter.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

United could do alot worse than get Leon Clarke from Bury. Always a handful against us, good in the air, good on the ground, scores goals at this level and could be the perfect foil for Sharp. Bury have slipped into the bottom half, so the move for the lad should be tempting. They might not want to sell but let's do what many other clubs do to us, get an offer in to unsettle the Bury player until he signs for us. We have plenty in our squad we could offer for part-ex (Higdon, Freeman, Harris, McGahey, even Cuvelier on loan) to ease the deal through.

 

[PeteBlade]

Other than fish based puns, I don't think we missed much.

 

[wizadry]

Is someone taking the piss here? Sammon is shite, we need to send him back and get someone better in. We don't need a loan player on his wages playing off the bench, fucking ludicrous.

Our recruitment in recent seasons, in general, has been nothing short of shocking, we seem to ponder over the shit players and take even longer over the good ones, ending up not getting them. Our club needs to be more proactive and not reactive because we normally react too late and it really does need addressing.