A 3-4-3 with two 10s sounds unusual, especially for a team with no out-and-out 10s. Najjarine and Ishige? Nagasawa? Maybe it's a 3 2 2 3, with two 6s, and the three up front includes two wingbacks. Bit of a stretch calling that a 3-4-3. In reality it's a back 5, but if so, maybe:
Sheridan James Hughes Rufer Nagasawa Ishige Najjarine Payne(!) Eze Armiento
Possibly not the clearest description from me, just means the last '3' is a 9 ahead of two 10s, so fairly narrow, as opposed to a 9 between two wide players, which tells you who Chief will be looking to start there (Brooke-Smith/Ishige/Nagaswa/Nagjarine), and that he will be looking to the LWBs (Armiento/Edwards/Kelly-Heald? [The Edwards signing suggests LKH is perhaps being more looked at as a LCB]) and the RWBs (Loke/Payne) for attacking width.
Despite all the 3-4-3 chat, Chief said they were going to do something different before Paulo Retre's warm-up injury that led to him being replaced by a CB (Mac Munro) against Wellington Olympic, presumably a 4-3-3. Was fairly adamant sightings of Retre as a RCB of late were down to CB injuries/availability, not a positional shift.
Does make me worry to hear him talk about Piper like that. Actually, it makes my blood run cold.
Piper last season could play all those positions, but not very well. He could surge forward, but not pass. He could smash home a header, but not control a five metre pass.
Really think your understating his contribution, he offered way more than what you have stated. That was all on the back of only just arriving in a professional environment. Admittedly injury has probably held his preparation for this season up but on last years efforts he deserves the opportunity to show what he can do and not just the odd game here or there either.
What did he offer? Lad could tackle, was very strong, good in the air, great attacking an aerial ball and good at surging down the touchline. I hope he has improved his technique and game reading because positions, especially at higher levels aren’t things you can just bounce around. You need to hone your instincts and specialist abilities for a position. He played up front for the last game and couldn’t control the ball or bring other players into the game. He would make runs down the sideline and either give up the ball or send it all the way back. I hope these are things that can be improved, but also it’s a hospital pass by the coach to pretend you can be a utility without good technique.
The reason Payney has played all over the park is that he has a decent standard of technique. He can pass long or short, and he can read the game. He can tackle or jockey. He can put speed on a pass or take it off. Just look at how Boxall played for the AWs. And even Payney didn’t go all that well up front.
Don’t get me wrong- I wanna believe, but on a bit of evidence, not Chief’s hyperbole after last season.
And Ballane- I’m not slagging off the lad, just Chief’s bizarre description of him. He’s a utility, but in most positions with many drawbacks. It worries me to hear him described as a kind of superhero.
Sorry martinb if you need to have it pointed out what he offered there really is no point me trying to open your eyes. A lot better judges of football talent than me commented on what he offered and his potential so i prefer to trust their judgement. He isnt the first and sure he wont be the last Nix player to be critisized for what people think they they offer. Among them a player who Piper reminds me and a few others of being like and he went on to a great career at the Nix. SIGGY
Sorry martinb if you need to have it pointed out what he offered there really is no point me trying to open your eyes. A lot better judges of football talent than me commented on what he offered and his potential so i prefer to trust their judgement. He isnt the first and sure he wont be the last Nix player to be critisized for what people think they they offer. Among them a player who Piper reminds me and a few others of being like and he went on to a great career at the Nix. SIGGY
Could you link to any? Siggie was a diligent and experienced defender at local level who was judged by many, in fact almost universally, to be well ahead of that league. I understand that both were lion hearted players and I do appreciate that about Piper. But he has got a LOT to do to be at the overall level that Siggie was in my opinion. As others have said that’s perhaps something professional coaching can bring, but it is a worry that none of coaches so far had managed to coach him for these attributes.
And I worry when Chief talks about him like he’s Lamine Yamal or whoever. I don’t recall anyone proposing to play the Seamonster as a winger or a striker!
The formation will be similar to how Man Utd line up with 2 wide 10's (Mbeumo, Cunha) and then wing-backs. So the 10's should be further forward than wingbacks most of the time and will drift wide when the wingbacks aren't as forward and then move inside when they are.
Sorry martinb if you need to have it pointed out what he offered there really is no point me trying to open your eyes. A lot better judges of football talent than me commented on what he offered and his potential so i prefer to trust their judgement. He isnt the first and sure he wont be the last Nix player to be critisized for what people think they they offer. Among them a player who Piper reminds me and a few others of being like and he went on to a great career at the Nix. SIGGY
Could you link to any? Siggie was a diligent and experienced defender at local level who was judged by many, in fact almost universally, to be well ahead of that league. I understand that both were lion hearted players and I do appreciate that about Piper. But he has got a LOT to do to be at the overall level that Siggie was in my opinion. As others have said that’s perhaps something professional coaching can bring, but it is a worry that none of coaches so far had managed to coach him for these attributes.
And I worry when Chief talks about him like he’s Lamine Yamal or whoever. I don’t recall anyone proposing to play the Seamonster as a winger or a striker!
Piper scored 7 goals in 20 games for Birkenhead playing central midfield, that’s ahead of most players in the league.
He’s also only had one season as a pro at a decent level, give him a chance to adapt. Sure he might not reach Siggy’s level (a 31 cap All White) but anyone can see that the guy has potential and a passion/drive far beyond what we normally see.
Rufer was a utility passion merchant for a long time before he found his best role and grew into it.
Also gummon, Chief was hardly overhyping him, just explaining he can play multiple positions and that he can be trusted to carry out whatever is asked of him.
Well whatever the quality of our players and coaching I just watched this sequence of play in what is sometimes described as the ‘Super League’ because of the talent and money in the EPL.
One Manchester United (the team now coached by the man who was favoured to replace Pep Guardiola) defender had the ball in the box near his goal. He was promptly tackled by his own player, which coughed the ball up to an opposition player with a good chance to get a shot away as he was not immediately hindered any defenders. He did receive an excellent tackle from a fellow attacker, which sent the ball out wide to another attacker who headed the ball harmlessly clear for a goal kick.
At the friendly against the Mariners today so going to put some things in here (I know there's a preseason friendlies thread in the Straya section, but I figure that's more for the non Nix friendlies)
Lineup in no order: Josh Olywayemi Manjrekar James Isaac Hughes Xuan Loke Fin Roa Conchie Matt Sheridan Alex Rufer Kazuki Nagasawa Carlo Armiento Ramy Najjarine Ifeanyi Eze
Eze with a great run from before the Half way line, held off his defender brilliantly before passing to Najjarine in the box who was potentially brought down (nothing given). Najjarine still almost chipped the keeper but Redmayne scrambled back to grab it before going in
From what ive heard CCM are the pick for the wooden spoon. But, this will give the team a fantastic confidence boost heading into Perth. We'll done guys!
