Archie Gray

[El Dante]

just cannot understand the allergy Ange has to playing him in midfield. you know, his actual position.

baffling.

Had all players been fit enough to play the roles then last night I would have had a midfield of Gray, Bentancur and Bergvall. I think that those three are comfortable in possession. Will work to get the ball back and when conditions are right then they have good energy.

Yesterday Bentancur was poor but I do think some of that was due to playing in that midfield. I would sell Bissouma and not convinced by Sarr. Sarr is someone that I want to see succeed but he remains a Jack of all instead of being someone with an identified skill set.

 

[sirharolddove]

Had all players been fit enough to play the roles then last night I would have had a midfield of Gray, Bentancur and Bergvall. I think that those three are comfortable in possession. Will work to get the ball back and when conditions are right then they have good energy.

Yesterday Bentancur was poor but I do think some of that was due to playing in that midfield. I would sell Bissouma and not convinced by Sarr. Sarr is someone that I want to see succeed but he remains a Jack of all instead of being someone with an identified skill set.

I've said elsewhere, I think a lot of CMs will look poor in this system - are so open through the middle they're just lambs to the slaughter.

Sarr is best as an impact sub if the game opens up, nothing more.

there's serious (terminal) structural issues in Ange's setup which mean it's not possible to get the best our of many of our squad.

 

[El Dante]

I've said elsewhere, I think a lot of CMs will look poor in this system - are so open through the middle they're just lambs to the slaughter.

Sarr is best as an impact sub if the game opens up, nothing more.

there's serious (terminal) structural issues in Ange's setup which mean it's not possible to get the best our of many of our squad.

The system requires energy, the players need to be pressing constantly but also able to go box to box as required. The players need to be at least decent passers of the ball but also need to be composed on the ball and to be able to play through the press. Bissouma showed signs that he could do that at the start of last season but something has happened since then and his passing can be sloppy even when not pressured.

It’s the area of the pitch that requires the greatest amount of rotation due to the high demands of the role and yet, we don’t have sufficient numbers of players who are suited for what’s required. So the players tire and then are less effective as a consequence. Will be physically tired and mentally drained and that’s going to lead to mistakes at this high a level.

 

[parklane1]

Me too, although I wonder what will happen on here if he finally gets a game in CM and isn't instantly the greatest thing since sliced bread!

You know the answer to that.

 

[parklane1]

Our CM is without a doubt [IMO] our weakest part of the team its so wide open to opposing players. Been banging on all season that we BADLY need a proper DM player in there to hold it together and untill we solve that problem nothing will change.

 

[markysimmo]

Few stories I saw on X today about us going in for his brother in the Summer
Harry, is a striker

 

[Danishfurniturelover]

Had all players been fit enough to play the roles then last night I would have had a midfield of Gray, Bentancur and Bergvall. I think that those three are comfortable in possession. Will work to get the ball back and when conditions are right then they have good energy.

Yesterday Bentancur was poor but I do think some of that was due to playing in that midfield. I would sell Bissouma and not convinced by Sarr. Sarr is someone that I want to see succeed but he remains a Jack of all instead of being someone with an identified skill set.

Sarr was my favourite player last season.

I would keep him around for next season and see what a proper coach could do with him.

 

[El Dante]

Sarr was my favourite player last season.

I would keep him around for next season and see what a proper coach could do with him.

He has had excellent performances but his role needs to be correctly detailed to get the best of him.

 

[braineclipse]

just cannot understand the allergy Ange has to playing him in midfield. you know, his actual position.

baffling.

What allergy?

He's been very much needed at full back and then CB because of the lack of other options.

Been saying for a while that when we have other defenders back/available perhaps a good idea to give the 18 year old who started 15+ games (?) in a row with two games a week a bit of a breather.

Both for injury prevention now and to make sure he's not overplayed at a young age that seems like the responsible thing to do.

 

[Bishop]

What allergy?

He's been very much needed at full back and then CB because of the lack of other options.

Been saying for a while that when we have other defenders back/available perhaps a good idea to give the 18 year old who started 15+ games (?) in a row with two games a week a bit of a breather.

Both for injury prevention now and to make sure he's not overplayed at a young age that seems like the responsible thing to do.

Iim gonna be a tiny bit pedantic but he didn't have to play him at FB he had Spence and Reggy available but chose not to use either earlier in the season.

Whether that was the correct decision or not only he knows, but those options were there and not used.

 

[Finney Is Back]

Iim gonna be a tiny bit pedantic but he didn't have to play him at FB he had Spence and Reggy available but chose not to use either earlier in the season.

Whether that was the correct decision or not only he knows, but those options were there and not used.

I would much rather have Gray at full back than Reggie.

 

[metalgear]

I would much rather have Gray at full back than Reggie.

i think he needs to be higher up the pitch for his own development. he has spent too much time at the back, his "seeing/going forward skills" have probably stalled, say compared to bergvall who has steadily got better with every game.

in the long run i believe both of them will be utilised in the centre of the pitch, the earlier we get them working together the better also in creating that understanding between players that we don't have since kane and son were getting the golden boot for fun.

 

[braineclipse]

Iim gonna be a tiny bit pedantic but he didn't have to play him at FB he had Spence and Reggy available but chose not to use either earlier in the season.

Whether that was the correct decision or not only he knows, but those options were there and not used.

For a very small number of league games that's probably true.

i think he needs to be higher up the pitch for his own development. he has spent too much time at the back, his "seeing/going forward skills" have probably stalled, say compared to bergvall who has steadily got better with every game.

in the long run i believe both of them will be utilised in the centre of the pitch, the earlier we get them working together the better also in creating that understanding between players that we don't have since kane and son were getting the golden boot for fun.

I think it's clear that he's been an emergency CB.

The way we typically use our full backs a significant part of their role is quite similar to that of a midfielder. Sometimes the full backs are given even more licence to get forward than the six.

I don't think it matters that much where he's been getting game time at this stage. I also think both in theory at least benefit from having other more experienced midfielders around them when playing, also in midfield.

It may be that Gray and Bergvall are just good enough to make that work, who knows. But it's been a big ask just starting one of them in midfield, playing both in midfield at the same time is an even bigger ask.

 

[Muttley]

I think it's clear that he's been an emergency CB.

The way we typically use our full backs a significant part of their role is quite similar to that of a midfielder. Sometimes the full backs are given even more licence to get forward than the six.

I don't think it matters that much where he's been getting game time at this stage. I also think both in theory at least benefit from having other more experienced midfielders around them when playing, also in midfield.

It may be that Gray and Bergvall are just good enough to make that work, who knows. But it's been a big ask just starting one of them in midfield, playing both in midfield at the same time is an even bigger ask.

Started almost 50 games for Leeds last year as a 17/18 year old.

Even though Archie's playing time was limited at the start of the season, he's now wracked up 25 starts for Spurs this season with 3 months to go.

This is what Poch did with Dele. It's also what Fulham did with Sess.

I'll happily see him back on the bench.

 

[K.D.D.D.D.Soc]

i think he needs to be higher up the pitch for his own development. he has spent too much time at the back, his "seeing/going forward skills" have probably stalled, say compared to bergvall who has steadily got better with every game.

in the long run i believe both of them will be utilised in the centre of the pitch, the earlier we get them working together the better also in creating that understanding between players that we don't have since kane and son were getting the golden boot for fun.

Time is on his side, Geoff Hurst was a wing half at his age, Steve Archibald a midfielder and Gareth Bale a fullback.