Matty Palmer

[durhampie]

I thought he had been getting better over the last few games. The thing is, With Notts, there is little or no movement when we are on the attack, and more often than not there is no one making the forward runs for either him, or Abbott to provide those defence cutting passes.. Other players can make another player look not very good, as in this case.

[Elite_Pie]

Matty Palmer isn't quite the player he once was yet, but he's getting there. He had a mixed game today, but any thoughts that we should get rid astonish me.

[WarsopPie]

I fully appreciate what he has done for the club but sometimes sacred cows have to be destroyed in order to move forwards.He is too good for the national league and would be great in a league 2 team with no great ambitions.However i dont think he has the physicality for a team with promotion ambitions .With a fully fit squad Crowley Abbott and Robertson would be my midfield picks.

After reading your post I think you need wobble your head

[magpie_mania]

No coincidence imo that Abbott’s performances have been getting better as Palmer has improved over recent weeks, just as last season Bostock’s performances started to fall away after Palmer was injured.

He gets on with it making it possible for others to shine. Would definitely be in my midfield.

[MAD_MAGPIE]

Matty Palmer is one of the undeniable heroes who helped us get back to where we belong. As fans we owe him the time, space and patience to enable him to get back to his best. We are not talking a few weeks or even a few months he was out.

Again another player who I feel will be crucial for us in the second half of the season and the business end of the season.

[Boomerangpie]

He?s definitely improving as the season goes on especially in recent weeks but he is playing within himself both on and off the ball. Yesterday was another good example isn?t take as many risks or being progressive enough when the game needed it without Jones or Crowley to create ahead of him. He?s always been neat and tidy but he?s too conservative this season

[the_anticlough]

He?s definitely improving as the season goes on especially in recent weeks but he is playing within himself both on and off the ball. Yesterday was another good example isn?t take as many risks or being progressive enough when the game needed it without Jones or Crowley to create ahead of him. He?s always been neat and tidy but he?s too conservative this season

This

[maddogslater]

Left pegs post is to be applauded, certainly taken the wind out of the nay post's

[CamPie]

I'm really pleased to see the vast majority backing Palmer on this thread. While the OP is of course entitled to his opinion I am with the majority who believe Palmer is still a vit*l and often unheralded star for us and is definitely getting back to his best. Palmer and Abbott make a great combination in my opinion offering very different attributes to the deep midfield pairing. With Crowley plus 1 (McG / Edwards) in front of them we really are a footballing force at this level, we just need the goal return to improve.

[matt_magpie]

I thought this thread might appear tonight. I thought Palmer had a good game today. He probably misplaced about 3 passes all afternoon.

Given the position he plays, and call that what you want, the water-carrier etc. he is there to do a specific job. He is there primarily to connect the whole team in our possession based style.

His movement off the ball, especially when oppositions play with a 10, is much better than Robertsons and better than Hinchys. He is more often than not in good positions to receive the ball. He may not always get it, but positionally he is excellent. He is also very rarely dispossessed when receiving the ball facing his own goal; this allows Bass the opportunity to play into midfield as well as the back three.

Nobody wants Crowley to play so deep and if you ask Abbott to play there, you take away all his best attributes. Edwards could be the other option, but I cannot see him being defensively as sound.

At times, he can be a bit sideways and backwards, I cannot argue with that (but I would far more is retain the ball and work a team out than lose it playing poor balls for the sake of going forward), but I feel in recent weeks he has passed forward more, often to good effect. Maybe down to confidence, or rhythm, who knows? It is also positive to see him driving into space with the ball too. I also thought he pressed intelligently today too.

Abbott was excellent today, full of running, dynamism; supporting all over the pitch. Who allowed him that freedom? Matt Palmer. Abbott goes because he knows MP will cover for him. The wing backs can start and play so high because MP can drop into the channels and support to two wide CBs when we get turned over.

Heard a few murmurings about corners today too; Palmer took plenty. When they are being put in, it is obvious they are being asked to put them right on the front post, between the touch line and six-yard line with pace. Any touch with a well whipped in delivery is a goal. We also load the box and do not have anyone deeper than about 25 yards out as a defensive header or keeper punch is not going to travel too far when a ball is whipped in at such pace and in that spot. Corner takers are not always going to hit the spot, especially when they are being asked to hit such a specific spot.

His two long shots were immensely frustrating, for a player of such technique, not many can escape that fact.

Palmer is not going to score all the goals, or set them all up. He will not steam into tackles, beat his chest, shout and yell as some think a captain should (another absolute fallacy in my opinion). He is not the best CM in the division and will not grab many headlines.

He is no Sergio Busquet by any means and most of his work will go unnoticed by quite a few.

But I guarantee, if you ask the whole squad who makes us really tick, who the heartbeat of the side is, the vast majority would say Palmer.

Great post.