Josh Cullen...

[Mattster]

Yes but Cork is a much better player and a good leader on the pitch. He pushes the team up when required he gives Cullen more freedom to make his passes and Brownhill more time to find spaces in between the lines of the opposition.

It's a moot point because we don't have him but also worth noting that Cork barely started any games in the second half of the promotion season (when we were arguably at our best) under VK, with Gudmundsson preferred in the 10 and Brownhill alongside Cullen.

[CoolClaret]

It's a moot point because we don't have him but also worth noting that Cork barely started any games in the second half of the promotion season (when we were arguably at our best) under VK, with Gudmundsson preferred in the 10 and Brownhill alongside Cullen.

Yes - worth noting though, when the setup/formation tweaked, we had Maatsen coming into midfield spraying passes, rather than his role earlier in the season, which was being more high/wide in possession.

[CoolClaret]

To add to the above (couldn't edit)

....and unfortunately, we do not have a player as gifted as Maatsen.

In fact, we have lost a lot of talent who could make quick, accurate medium-long range passes: Muric, Zaroury, Guddy (injuries to Ekdal/Beyer). It's another reason why reshuffling huge amounts of the team every season is daft—there are no guarantees that the replacements will be just as good, let alone better!

[Mattster]

To add to the above (couldn't edit)

....and unfortunately, we do not have a player as gifted as Maatsen.

In fact, we have lost a lot of talent who could make quick, accurate medium-long range passes: Muric, Zaroury, Guddy (injuries to Ekdal/Beyer). It's another reason why reshuffling huge amounts of the team every season is daft—there are no guarantees that the replacements will be just as good, let alone better!

But you're in this thread advocating dropping Cullen for Laurent.

Completed Long Passes per 90 (accuracy)
Cullen: 5.25 (74%)
Lauren: 1.9 (44%)

Completed Medium Passes per 90 (accuracy)
Cullen: 25.1 (92%)
Laurent: 15.2 (84%)

[CoolClaret]

But you're in this thread advocating dropping Cullen for Laurent.

Completed Long Passes per 90 (accuracy)
Cullen: 5.25 (74%)
Lauren: 1.9 (44%)

Completed Medium Passes per 90 (accuracy)
Cullen: 25.1 (92%)
Laurent: 15.2 (84%)

I know that you're really enjoying trying to play 'gotcha' recently (I find it a bit weird btw) but I didn't actually suggest that Josh Laurent is a better passer than Josh Cullen in my OP....

I suggested that he drives with the ball better and in turn the team seems to move the ball more effectively through the lines as we have more movement in the middle of the park.

I also wasn't necessarily stating that I want Josh Cullen to be dropped for Josh Laurent.

[Mattster]

How is responding directly to points you've made a "trying to play gotcha"? I was just responding to your post as you did to mine, there was no malicious intent to it as I assume there wasn't in yours.

But if you want a 'gotcha'...

I also wasn't necessarily stating that I want Josh Cullen to be dropped for Josh Laurent.

I'd be experimenting with Laurent and Brownhill next game, or maybe even with Hannibal and have Josh further forward (or just to play two midfielders).

[CoolClaret]

How is responding directly to points you've made a "trying to play gotcha"? I was just responding to your post as you did to mine, there was no malicious intent to it as I assume there wasn't in yours.

But if you want a 'gotcha'...

Key word, 'experiment' and it's more me brainstorming, more than likely intended to write 'I'd be tempted to experiment with'.

It's the midfield conundrum that everyone has their own opinion about; I've just concluded from the limited evidence that we seem to play better with Laurent in the side and tried to provide an explanation as to why.

[claretonthecoast1882]

If I ever found myself talking about .1% of a pass I would apologise for being a dull bore and stop watching football

[Mattster]

If I ever found myself talking about .1% of a pass I would apologise for being a dull bore and stop watching football

Go on then.

[Rileybobs]

When we were last at this level we also had Harwood-Bellis, and whilst I didn’t think he was the complete defender, he certainly knew how to play between the lines and hit long diagonals. It was a bit concerning that Worral was tasked as with being the distributor from the back as whilst his passing is fairly accurate, it’s a little ponderous and unadventurous. The question is, do our defenders, and to a lesser extent our midfielders, have this in their locker, or is Parker too safe to encourage this.

[CoolClaret]

Still a big question mark for me this season. Doesn't probe enough or ask questions of the opposing team enough, but he is absolutely everywhere and battles hard every week..

[Devils_Advocate]

Wasted with the way Parkers got us playing. Cullen's at his best in a team that zips the ball around with plenty of movement like how we were set up two years ago. We are so safe and ponderous in ourplay that Cullen's little give and go's dont go anywhere cos there arent enough players on the same wavelength.

The comparison Id make is like having a midfielder who's brilliant at pressing the opposition but if his teammates dont join in the press then he's gonna look very ineffective

[Stonehouse]

Wasted with the way Parkers got us playing. Cullen's at his best in a team that zips the ball around with plenty of movement like how we were set up two years ago. We are so safe and ponderous in ourplay that Cullen's little give and go's dont go anywhere cos there arent enough players on the same wavelength.

The comparison Id make is like having a midfielder who's brilliant at pressing the opposition but if his teammates dont join in the press then he's gonna look very ineffective

What’s happened to the one two’s we were zipping around in the penalty area with Cullen ,Brownhill and Robert’s and we were all raving about?

[Goliath]

When a team sets up well against us and presses our midfield properly then Cullen becomes completely isolated and his options are cut off. Luckily not many teams press us that well in this league.

We need a second receiver centrally, Laurent is incredibly bad at it so it'd be Bauress or Shelvey for me.

[CoolClaret]

When a team sets up well against us and presses our midfield properly then Cullen becomes completely isolated and his options are cut off. Luckily not many teams press us that well in this league.

We need a second receiver centrally, Laurent is incredibly bad at it so it'd be Bauress or Shelvey for me.

Agreed with this.

My point was about his limitations in probing balls forward. Rarely splits the lines nor even attempts to. Great for the role that DA alluded to above but I think we need more creativity from our deep-lying midfielders.

[Devils_Advocate]

What’s happened to the one two’s we were zipping around in the penalty area with Cullen ,Brownhill and Robert’s and we were all raving about?

Same players but completely different set up and way of playing. Roberts and Matsen used to jump between full back, centre mid and winger pulling opposition players about and creating space for us to use to open teams up with our quick passing

[CoolClaret]

Same players but completely different set up and way of playing. Roberts and Matsen used to jump between full back, centre mid and winger pulling opposition players about and creating space for us to use to open teams up with our quick passing

Roberts has inverted on occaisions this season.

Worth mentioning that Maatsen went on to play in CL final the following season, we don't have that same calibre of player at left back.

[Stonehouse]

Same players but completely different set up and way of playing. Roberts and Matsen used to jump between full back, centre mid and winger pulling opposition players about and creating space for us to use to open teams up with our quick passing

I’m only talking about 4 or 5 weeks ago.

[Devils_Advocate]

Roberts has inverted on occaisions this season.

Worth mentioning that Maatsen went on to play in CL final the following season, we don't have that same calibre of player at left back.

Agree and we still have spells in games where we get some good movement and Cullen orchestrates things and looks a class above.

I think Parker likes to get control of the ball at the back and probe at teams with the objective to get it out to one of the wide players in the final third. We do seem quite good at this but I don't think we've worked out how to open team up from this position and create good chances

When things click we play some great football but at the moment its just too infrequent for what we should be capable of (IMO)

[Goliath]

Agreed with this.

My point was about his limitations in probing balls forward. Rarely splits the lines nor even attempts to. Great for the role that DA alluded to above but I think we need more creativity from our deep-lying midfielders.

It's not really his game, he's more about quantity of passes and transitioning us out of defence. I think he's basically an inferior Jack Cork, I think Kompany missed a massive trick not playing Berge and Cork together last season but that's another story.

Shelvey is definitely more ambitious with his passing but even at his peak he was basically pathetic in terms of stamina and athleticism, so if he plays then Brownhill will have to get through a lot of work up and down. It could work if we play with our talented wingers high but if we have Jadon Anthony playing as an auxiliary wing back then forget it

[Devils_Advocate]

I’m only talking about 4 or 5 weeks ago.

Yep as per my last post we sometimes put some good moves together but its more the exception than the rule

[TsarBomba]

Roberts has inverted on occaisions this season.

Worth mentioning that Maatsen went on to play in CL final the following season, we don't have that same calibre of player at left back.

Roberts was on the goal line with Laurent for his second at Plymouth. Scored against Boro, too. Can’t have too many complaints with how he’s been playing this season.

Left back has proven to be a bit more of a conundrum. I’m guilty of longing for our left backs to be a bit more Maatsen-esque, but the reality is he’s a freak left back with extraordinary attributes for his position.

[CoolClaret]

Roberts was on the goal line with Laurent for his second at Plymouth. Scored against Boro, too. Can’t have too many complaints with how he’s been playing this season.

Left back has proven to be a bit more of a conundrum. I’m guilty of longing for our left backs to be a bit more Maatsen-esque, but the reality is he’s a freak left back with extraordinary attributes for his position.

Yeah I think Roberts has done tremendously well for most of the season.

The left back position is definitely harming us - Bash has done well and has a decent cross on him but is very laboured in possession.

Maatsen was a freak left back - agreed and we are missing his creativity, which is why I'm saying that has to be shouldered by someone else but the only player that frequently looks to play progressive passes is CJ... For me, we need our midfielders to shoulder some of this responsibility.

[JohnMac]

Best player we have by far...

[BigGaz]

Josh Cullen, along with Esteve and CJ is about as close to being the absolute least of our worries as it's possible to be.

[RalphCoatesComb]

One of our best players, and one of my current favourites. Our Brian O'Neil of the 21st Century! I believe that we missed Josh Brownhill on Saturday, I hope he's back soon.

As for Player of the Season this year... has to be a defender and, for me, it's Steve !

[equinox]

Would dropping Cullen be the answer to our lack of creativity and subsequent lack of goals?

People seem to think we play with the 'handbrake on', well how do you release it then?

[Quicknick]

One of our best players, and one of my current favourites. Our Brian O'Neil of the 21st Century! I believe that we missed Josh Brownhill on Saturday, I hope he's back soon.

As for Player of the Season this year... has to be a defender and, for me, it's Steve !

Much as I like Brownhill, a better way of putting it might be: poor-man's Brian O'Neil.

[summitclaret]

Would dropping Cullen be the answer to our lack of creativity and subsequent lack of goals?

People seem to think we play with the 'handbrake on', well how do you release it then?

No way.

As well as he is playing, the answer is to leave Laurent out of the starting 11 for now and start JJS. Also start Edwards.

[Goliath]

Wasn't Cullen one of our players of the season 2 years ago in the 2nd best Championship team in history. He's one of the best midfielders in the division and our whole system depends on him being there. The only way we could keep up our consistency without Cullen is if Shelvey came in and was able to perform near his best.

Even then we'd struggle to keep the ball like we can with Cullen there.

[CoolClaret]

Would dropping Cullen be the answer to our lack of creativity and subsequent lack of goals?

People seem to think we play with the 'handbrake on', well how do you release it then?

I don't think so and I started this thread back at the beginning of the season. He's been very good these past few games, and he was exceptional against Hull.

I just wish at times he'd get his head up a touch more and play some more progressive passes.

[ClaretLoup]

I just wish at times he'd get his head up a touch more and play some more progressive passes.

Maybe that is why it is worth considering leaving him out. He rarely puts the ball at risk, but then that’s because he will opt for the safe ball nearly every time.

I think it’s worth bringing him off on the half hour mark if it’s nil apiece like Saturday and see what happens.

[CharlieinNewMexico]

Maybe that is why it is worth considering leaving him out. He rarely puts the ball at risk, but then that’s because he will opt for the safe ball nearly every time.

I think it’s worth bringing him off on the half hour mark if it’s nil apiece like Saturday and see what happens.

After 30 minutes???

[Stonehouse]

I don’t think there’s much of a problem whoever SP plays it just how they set up.