MacDonald and Richards Signed

Post a reply

Smilies
:goodpost: :lol: :rofl: :goal: :scarf: :keepie: :clap: :bow: :engflag: :-P :) :-D :nod: ;-) :-/ :( :'( :Z :@ :| :oops: :yellow: :red: :O :whistle: (*) (8) (D)
BBCode is ON
[img] is ON
[flash] is OFF
[url] is ON
Smilies are ON
Topic review
   

Expand view Topic review: MacDonald and Richards Signed

MacDonald and Richards Signed

by Lloyder5 » 22 Jul 2014, 09:37

Indeed...well onwards and upwards, new signings and a couple of revitalised existing players; we could have some excitement for the first time in a couple of years

MacDonald and Richards Signed

by arcadia » 21 Jul 2014, 16:41

Lloyder5 wrote:I wouldn't want to overstate it because clearly there were many other factors but he was finding his form. When the injury occurred v York, we were well matched, when Harding went of we slid into a heavy home defeat; could reflect the point being made.
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :keepie:
only joking we will never know

MacDonald and Richards Signed

by arcadia » 21 Jul 2014, 16:39

Lloyder5 wrote:I wouldn't want to overstate it because clearly there were many other factors but he was finding his form. When the injury occurred v York, we were well matched, when Harding went of we slid into a heavy home defeat; could reflect the point being made.
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
I'm only joking but we will never know :keepie:

MacDonald and Richards Signed

by Lloyder5 » 21 Jul 2014, 13:28

I wouldn't want to overstate it because clearly there were many other factors but he was finding his form. When the injury occurred v York, we were well matched, when Harding went of we slid into a heavy home defeat; could reflect the point being made.

MacDonald and Richards Signed

by arcadia » 21 Jul 2014, 11:06

exilegull wrote:I think we're underestimating Harding. Last season he was brought into a poor team and was basically expected to be all midfielder roles in one - holding midfielder and playmaker. If he stays, this season we have a recognized playmaker in Young, while Harding can sit as holding midfielder. I know there is criticism that he is not tough in the tackle, but I don't think this is a pre-requisite. He is intelligent enough, good positionally and without having to look to be expansive with the ball should retain possession well.

Also last season, it was once Harding got injured that we went from poor bottom half side to dire relegation fodder.
I agree that things can change and Harding could bring balance to the side but do you really think that Harding's injury was our down fall.? :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

MacDonald and Richards Signed

by exilegull » 21 Jul 2014, 09:14

I think we're underestimating Harding. Last season he was brought into a poor team and was basically expected to be all midfielder roles in one - holding midfielder and playmaker. If he stays, this season we have a recognized playmaker in Young, while Harding can sit as holding midfielder. I know there is criticism that he is not tough in the tackle, but I don't think this is a pre-requisite. He is intelligent enough, good positionally and without having to look to be expansive with the ball should retain possession well.

Also last season, it was once Harding got injured that we went from poor bottom half side to dire relegation fodder.

MacDonald and Richards Signed

by Kit_robin » 21 Jul 2014, 08:40

To be honest tamar, a look at last years conference sees a lot of teams playing a straight 4-4-2, so some of those problems may not be as noticeable this year.

Richards likes a tackle but I'm not sure if he's a true defensive midfielder, more a box to box with more defensive tendencies! For what it's worth, Harding had a half decent game against Walsall, much more like the Harding I remember from Aldershot; strong, stopped their players moving forward, kept it simple and retained possession. If he can carry on getting back to form there is no reason (other than his wages) why he couldn't also force his way into the team.

MacDonald and Richards Signed

by CP Gull » 21 Jul 2014, 08:20

Tamargull wrote:Have not been able to get to any of the friendlies so far. Can someone please tell me if Richards is a holding midfielder? Secondly, do we have the personnel to play three across the middle? I am a little worried as the 442 formation of last season led to us being overrun in midfield as a result of our wingers not being able to play as midfielders when we did not have the ball.
Thanks
In answer to your question Tamar it is fair to say that Richards is a more defensively minded central midfielder alongside the more attack minded Young and indeed Chaney who he was paired with for the last 20 minutes or so against Walsall.

I understand your concerns from last season but we have almost a completely different set of players in the midfield 4 with only Harding, Chapell and Cameron (but for how much longer?) in contention. I think it's clear, based on the way we have lined up in the PSFs that we are looking to play a 442 and quite honestly with the quality we have on the wings why wouldn't we? One thing I must say about Ajala in particular was how impressed I was with his defensive work on Saturday. I lost count of the number of times he tracked back and won the ball back off the opposing winger. I guess we shouldn't be too surprised as I believe he did have a stint as a wingback whilst at AFC Wimbledon. To be fair, Jordan Chapell also did some good defensive work on the other wing too.

I guess we do have the personnel to play the three in midfield and if we did I imagine it would be Richards and Harding behind Young " in the hole" but to be honest there has been nothing I have seen yet in the three PSFs I have attended to suggest we are going to play anything other than a 442 .... although it was much more like a 424 in the first 45mins against Walsall !!!

MacDonald and Richards Signed

by Tamargull » 21 Jul 2014, 07:32

Have not been able to get to any of the friendlies so far. Can someone please tell me if Richards is a holding midfielder? Secondly, do we have the personnel to play three across the middle? I am a little worried as the 442 formation of last season led to us being overrun in midfield as a result of our wingers not being able to play as midfielders when we did not have the ball.
Thanks

MacDonald and Richards Signed

by arcadia » 19 Jul 2014, 11:03

Thought Harding not passing as well as the other midfield players against Yeovil and not as quick. He may fit in but we've got to try to forget what he was like last season when he was played but it's hard to.

MacDonald and Richards Signed

by Richinns » 19 Jul 2014, 10:47

Richards seems to be the player Hargreaves has known about and wanted before he was even released by Brighton. He obviously feels he and Young are a good pairing in a two man midfield. It will be very interesting to see how they develop as a combination but encouraging to see he has got his first choice pairing. I still think we are light a centre mid even with Harding. Perhaps Poku is still around and will be given a chance once the infection with his knee calms down?

MacDonald and Richards Signed

by arcadia » 19 Jul 2014, 10:46

Dutchgull wrote:"I'm spouting bollocks on the internet. ............ Matt

At last he's admitted it !!!
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Nice one! :keepie:

MacDonald and Richards Signed

by Dutchgull » 19 Jul 2014, 00:09

"I'm spouting bollocks on the internet. ............ Matt

At last he's admitted it !!!
:lol: :lol: :lol:

MacDonald and Richards Signed

by ferrarilover » 18 Jul 2014, 23:47

I'm not making the **** decision, you mong, I'm spouting bollocks on the internet.

O'Archie, it seems, had dinner this evening with Aiden O'Brien. O'Brien plays for Millwall and lives in London.
I think this probably both signals the death knell for his time with us, and explains how he got the gig in the first place.

Matt.

MacDonald and Richards Signed

by arcadia » 18 Jul 2014, 21:19

ferrarilover wrote:I've still not been told where we're getting the Richards/MacDonald deal.

Kit, it's a coin toss. He's either sh*t or he isn't, that much I think we all understand. What I'm cautioning against is making the decision as to which he is on all too little information.

Matt.
Matt let a professional make the decision as I think Chris is a good judge of a player and that is a sign of good manager.He's made some tough decisions, I thought we were going to get the centre forward that was on loan from Bournemouth but I think Chris has come to realize that he's not up to it. :keepie:

Top