Archie Gray

[MartyFunkhouser]

Indeed. And if/when that happens, i wonder if he might make a late bid for, etc, etc... ...there's always one or two surprises in the final squad.

His versatility won't go unnoticed either. A good 6 months and he could well be in

 

[braineclipse]

Thought he did well again.

There were some moments after we went behind until he was subbed off I think are worth highlighting. Moments in and around our box IIRC. He showed fantastic composure and quality to keep possession and then help us get out. Similar qualities he showed last season when playing at the back.

For me he has that real quality in tight spaces and while he has done well recently when starting games deeper it feels to me that there's more to come from him there. And I hope we try to play through him more rather than around (wide) and over.

 

[harr1984]

Thought he did well again.

There were some moments after we went behind until he was subbed off I think are worth highlighting. Moments in and around our box IIRC. He showed fantastic composure and quality to keep possession and then help us get out. Similar qualities he showed last season when playing at the back.

For me he has that real quality in tight spaces and while he has done well recently when starting games deeper it feels to me that there's more to come from him there. And I hope we try to play through him more rather than around (wide) and over.

Something that will automatically help the quality of our play is having Gray in the team - I hope Frank agrees (it seems he is beginning to trust him there), it's a quick win that enhances our passing quality just by having him playing...

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Thought he did well again.

There were some moments after we went behind until he was subbed off I think are worth highlighting. Moments in and around our box IIRC. He showed fantastic composure and quality to keep possession and then help us get out. Similar qualities he showed last season when playing at the back.

For me he has that real quality in tight spaces and while he has done well recently when starting games deeper it feels to me that there's more to come from him there. And I hope we try to play through him more rather than around (wide) and over.

I thought for 30 minutes he looked lost
Same with Muani
Almost as if thy didn’t know where they were supposed to play
Once Xavi was off their natural instincts as intelligent footballers a seller to kick in (just my opinion) and they really got involved. Coincided with is getting control ish with only 10 men

 

[SteveAWOL]

I thought for 30 minutes he looked lost
Same with Muani
Almost as if thy didn’t know where they were supposed to play
Once Xavi was off their natural instincts as intelligent footballers a seller to kick in (just my opinion) and they really got involved. Coincided with is getting control ish with only 10 men

Yeah, dunno if it was the siege mentality kicking in but the players seemed to kick up a great once we got reduced to 10 men which does beg the question why they couldn't manage that level from kick-off.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Yeah, dunno if it was the siege mentality kicking in but the players seemed to kick up a great once we got reduced to 10 men which does beg the question why they couldn't manage that level from kick-off.

100% that
The players reacted to the fans
Even the pool manager and players commented on it
Maybe form kick off they were playing to instruction. Hard to tell as we don’t have an obvious way of playing to judge

 

[braineclipse]

I thought for 30 minutes he looked lost
Same with Muani
Almost as if thy didn’t know where they were supposed to play
Once Xavi was off their natural instincts as intelligent footballers a seller to kick in (just my opinion) and they really got involved. Coincided with is getting control ish with only 10 men

Didn't think he looked lost, just bypassed. With 10 men we had to play in tight spaces and with risk to keep the ball, and he showed what he can do. Now just give him the ball more in those situations with 11 vs. 11 for me.

 

[braineclipse]

Yeah, dunno if it was the siege mentality kicking in but the players seemed to kick up a great once we got reduced to 10 men which does beg the question why they couldn't manage that level from kick-off.

Probably a bit of that siege mentality.

We also had no choice other than to play with more risk and more in tight spaces because there's fewer ways to keep it safe. Again Gray imo thrived in those tight spaces as he's done repeatedly in the past too.

But if we're not willing to give him the ball in those situations 11 vs 11 he can't do that.