davidusa,
My criticism of Shade is purely from an attacking aspect, he’s a winger with pace but seems reluctant to attack defenders.
I wonder if this is anything to do with him being very right-footed and usually playing on the left wing? Clarke and Dutton did the same thing with Wes Mac and Holden or Wright last season. Wilkinson also cuts in but, to be fair, manages to be more dangerous when he does. It’s rare for our players to go on the outside - the full backs try (and White did it magnificently on Saturday) but our forward wide players rarely do. Basically, Shade struggles to cross with his left foot.
I’m sure it has something to do with the point you raised. Wilkinson cuts in well from the right, that seems to be his preferred position, Kiernan manages to quite well when he’s on the left wing, why can’t Shade do the same when he’s on the right flank? I realize MT plays Shade out of position on the left, but it’s obviously not working. My question is why? If Wilko is playing on the right, it doesn’t make sense to play Shade on the left when we have a decent left winger in Kiernan. When Shade has played on the right he hasn’t done his job, when on the odd occasion he does beat his man his final ball is dreadful.
Just watched those highlights, and, although Colchester (particularly the goalie) were crud, if we get anything out of Saturdays match then we WILL have turned a corner.
Agreed wingers are looked at more like inside forwards nowadays many managers play them on the opposite side to their preferred foot so they can cut inside and have the option to shoot rather than go outside a full back and whip one in especially in a 4-2-3-1 formation,all formations and options have pro’s and con’s always have always will.
Yes, at the top level, the crosses seem to come in from the full-backs. Liverpool are a prime example.
John Barnes and David Beckham were hardly cling-to-the-line wingers but they really could cross a ball.
It is often forgotten but when England won the World Cup in 1966, with a team in the final without wingers, they started the tournament with 2 wingers in Peter Thompson and Terry Paine.
A heads up for those that are driving - Sutton (and some bits that you pass through from the M25 if you come down the A3) are in the TfL Low Emission Zone (LEZ). If your motor doesn’t meet the criteria then there is a charge.
If you go any closer into the centre of London then you may also ramp up a charge for the Ultra-LEZ or Congestion Charge - so be aware and keep an eye out for the signs saying you are about to go through into a zone.
My own car (a Vauxhall Insignia) is OK for the LEZ max levels but not the ULEZ or CC.
I hope we’re the Victor on Saturday. I also hope that not too many of ours have managed to get tickets in the home stands, would hate to see anyone get an Escort out of the ground.
