Cullen

[Newcastleclaret93]

I have to say that you only tend to be prolific on here around transfer window time or early in the season giving your insights and opinions on the team, players and all things football (which of course you are entitled to do). Then you kind of disappear bit by bit when, as the season goes on, a lot of your foresightedness proves to be far off the mark.

Give over Bpg I’ve been a regular poster on here since 2016.

[bpgburn]

Give over Bpg I’ve been a regular poster on here since 2016.

Think it pretty clear I was referring to your peaks and troughs of posts throughout the season and the probable reasons behind it and not how long you have been a poster ...

[Hedontplayforyou]

Opinions guys, that’s all.

Let the new guys learn the system and see how Cullen et al get on. Cullen needs help first and foremost

[AfloatinClaret]

Weghorst's been good since he came on. Nice finish.

Careful what you say; complementing WW will have some folks calling for you to be banned

[IanMcL]

Cullen needs someone like Cork for protection.

[boatshed bill]

Cullen needs someone like Cork for protection.

I think he's old enough to look after himself.

[IanMcL]

I think he's old enough to look after himself.

Not that kind of protection!

Just to help with the space - bit like stopping others getting to the QB.

[jojomk1]

Don't we have inverted wing backs to help there

Or should we adapt the system again to play line backers

Can J J Watt play in midfield

[Spijed]

People are saying he isn't big enough to play that role but neither was Paul Scholes.

Seems size can be used as an excuse when players don't have the ability.

[Clive 1960]

People are saying he isn't big enough to play that role but neither was Paul Scholes.

Seems size can be used as an excuse when players don't have the ability.

Big Difference between Cullen who's neat and tidy and Scholes who was a up and down midfielder who could score plenty of goals and loved a tackle .

[CrosspoolClarets]

The dilemma with Scholes as he got older was how to cover that defensive midfield in Ferguson’s final games, often it was Carrick alongside him.

Cullen is a similar thing I agree, not so much in Scholes’ attacking senses but how to ensure he isn’t a liability.

Against the top teams where we get overrun (or teams that play attacking front foot football) we are likely to need Messengo in there too along with Berge and Cullen. That will give Cullen the available triangles to play his neat and tidy progressive passing.

Against teams that sit back Cullen can cope in that lone quarterback role like last season, with the inverted fullback helping in possession while Berge links with the four forwards. I suspect our attack is so vibrant that some teams will indeed sit back to avoid one on on situations. Covering those flank counter attacks and the pullback into the box has been our weakness so far and we do need to tactically sort it, but that isn’t really a Cullen issue.

So I think he will be fine but Kompany has to adapt for each game and as yet he hasn’t learned how to do it.

[boatshed bill]

There is virtually no similarity between Scholes and Cullen, or their respective roles.
As for size, little Brian O'Neil did OK.

[Spijed]

There is virtually no similarity between Scholes and Cullen, or their respective roles.
As for size, little Brian O'Neil did OK.

Point I was making is that some are saying you need to be big and strong to be a success in the Prem, which clearly isn't the case if you have the ability.

[jojomk1]

Point I was making is that some are saying you need to be big and strong to be a success in the Prem, which clearly isn't the case if you have the ability.

I don't think anyone has pointed the finger at Cullen personally as lacking height, strength and pace to succeed but you certainly need others of that ilk in your starting eleven to have any success in the Premier League - and we failed to find any this summer

Modric would be the classic example of a smaller guy capable running the show but even he cannot do it on his own

[Sleeping Cat]

N'golo Kante is 5'6
Thiago Alcantara is 5'6

Size nothing to do with it. Cullen has been let down by the system and tactics, left overexposed and overrun.