McNair in midfield

gravy173 said:
You can put howson in that too, game passed both of them by tonight, qpr absolutely bossed the pair of them.

The signs were there against Bristol City too allowing the opposition free runs at our defence.
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Yes I saw those signs in Saturday too, but the win overrode them
At least Howson had the legs to start and finish a move for a goal tonight - unfortunately it was into our net
McNair just let his man go constantly - on Saturday and tonight
 
I am a fan of howson but it maybe getting to a stage where 2 games a week is too much. As for mcnair he's a luxury midfielder and a poor one at that like ozil without the skill or end product . He doesnt do the dirty work needed and hasn't the awareness or discipline to protect the defence from runners.
 
Craggsy2 said:
The warning signs about the porous midfield pair were there on Sunday. I suppose there weren’t too many options open to us tonight which needs sorting.
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Agree with this, on Saturday Bristol City's centre back was able to pick the ball up on the edge of his own box and drive through the middle of our team into our final third without challenge. The same thing happened again last night on a few occasions too.

There is simply no one in the middle setting the tone by closing down space and getting into their faces. Over the years people like Mustoe and Boatang would set that example for the rest of the team early doors, let them know it's not going to be an easy game and get everyone at it. At the moment, talk about a soft centre. So I agree with the calls for Morsy to be brought back in.

As for McNair, over his career so far he has a reputation as a utility player who fills in various different positions and has never really nailed down a permanent one that he performs best in. That probably about sums him up, decent and versatile enough as a squad player to cover a number of positions as a stop gap in the short term, but not quite good enough to master one position and make it his own permanently.
 
I think we can assume that McNair has a stack of Brownie points with NW earned last season when playing CB. In fairness, Warnock said he always saw McNair as a CB whilst the cry from many of us was to get him into midfield. Well unfortunately we've got our wish. If McNair is to continue in midfield it will have to be with Morsy. And unless Howson is going to up his current level it will be at his expense.
 
We looked better with Crooks playing deeper with Howson on Saturday. Although they were poorer opposition. McNair was hardly in the game against Bristol City and a non-entity last night. People calling for Morsy will not get someone much better. Tav playing where Crooks was and Crooks deeper might be our go to option.
 
RavsDad said:
Spence is still yards away a few frames later. His man is completely free.
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Spence is telling McNair that now he has ambled from right back position to the D, he's left a guy totally free at the backpost.
You are correct that having spotted the danger Spence jogs after the guy & is still the wrongside of him when the ball hits the back of the net.

There is no shape & no urgency to get back in position & do the basics.
 
newusername said:
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Spence is telling McNair that now he has ambled from right back position to the D, he's left a guy totally free at the backpost.
You are correct that having spotted the danger Spence jogs after the guy & is still the wrongside of him when the ball hits the back of the net.

There is no shape & no urgency to get back in position & do the basics.
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That's not McNair's player. He's roughly in the correct position. Hall should be closer to his player and Bola closer to the one out right or it could be argued that Spence should have him and that Bola picks up the player closer to Hall
 
tonymcandrewshattrick said:
That's not McNair's player. He's roughly in the correct position. Hall should be closer to his player and Bola closer to the one out right or it could be argued that Spence should have him and that Bola picks up the player closer to Hall
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I don't disagree, however this is a second or so earlier from the highlights & McNair was in position to mark him but here he is already ambling inside towards the guy free on the edge of the D, the QPR player he had been marking then has a free run to the backpost.
Just out of shot Bola is marking the CF, Hall & Fry are free at this point. Howson has the scorer & Jones is effectively LB.
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Rolling forward, Howson has to step out to the man on the ball (preferably with a bit more urgency next time), Jones should just pick up the scorer & then the pass probably won't be made.
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As I said before, I don't want to be overly critical of Jones, he's been a breath of fresh air on the ball, his tenacity saw him win the ball back for the second, he can pick out a pass, he was back in the LB position as (not shown in the highlights on sky) he'd tracked back & was covering for Dijksteel but he switched off at a crucial moment and it cost us a point, possibly more.
 
newusername said:
I don't disagree, however this is a second or so earlier from the highlights & McNair was in position to mark him but here he is already ambling inside towards the guy free on the edge of the D, the QPR player he had been marking then has a free run to the backpost.
Just out of shot Bola is marking the CF, Hall & Fry are free at this point. Howson has the scorer & Jones is effectively LB.
View attachment 22992

Rolling forward, Howson has to step out to the man on the ball (preferably with a bit more urgency next time), Jones should just pick up the scorer & then the pass probably won't be made.
View attachment 22993

As I said before, I don't want to be overly critical of Jones, he's been a breath of fresh air on the ball, his tenacity saw him win the ball back for the second, he can pick out a pass, he was back in the LB position as (not shown in the highlights on sky) he'd tracked back & was covering for Dijksteel but he switched off at a crucial moment and it cost us a point, possibly more.
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Surely Djksteel should have picked up the player closest to him and Fry. Jones has the man out wide. McNair should be closer to the player ahead of him with Fry spare . If I had a Sky board i'd move the players around. :)
 
Dare i say we missed saville,? Who according to maddo got through alot of unseen/unaopreciated defensive work last season.
 
newusername said:
Dj could press the ball, Fry keeps an eye on the guy on the edge & McNair keeps an eye on the backpost runner.
It does mean Dj has two but it is better to have two 40 yards from goal than it was for Fry to end up with two on the edge of the 18 yard box.
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This is now me ...
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Dj could press the ball, - if he does that he leaves the player close to him free

McNair should have a position closer to where the ball is

Fry keeps an eye on the guy on the edge & McNair keeps an eye on the backpost runner. - There's two players covering two players there already. Spencer could be slightly closer.

My way is the way that I got coached by the FA with regards when to close players down and when to close space down
 
tonymcandrewshattrick said:
Dj could press the ball, - if he does that he leaves the player close to him free

McNair should have a position closer to where the ball is

Fry keeps an eye on the guy on the edge & McNair keeps an eye on the backpost runner. - There's two players covering two players there already. Spencer could be slightly closer.

My way is the way that I got coached by the FA with regards when to close players down and when to close space down
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Where's your diagram?
 
One element I was surprised and ultimately disappointed with second half was the full backs pushing high.

Firstly, neither Bola or Djiksteel are particularly effective attackers and secondly it left us massively exposed in the channels.

Probably improves when we get a couple of wingers in who can do much more "on their own" and don't require a 2 on 1 (thus pulling the full back up the pitch) but I'd have been tempted to tell the full backs to stay back, sit back and hit the channels for Jones/Spence on the break.
 
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