⚽ Match Thread vs. Boreham Wood 13/08/22 [NL]

[magpie_mania]

Couldn't agree more.

There's probably no other position in a football team that requires as much all-round ability as wing back, because you've basically got to be good at both defending and attacking, have a great engine, good sense of when to make runs, and overall a reasonably high degree of football intelligence. Despite this, clubs often seem to occupy this role with 'bit part' or utility players of fairly modest ability. If you're going to insist on playing wing-backs then you really do have to invest heavily to get the specialists to play the role. I would have thought it was far easier to play a back four formation where the roles are more straight-forward, especially for players at non-league level who have their limitations by definition.

What has happened to Adebayo-Rowling?

I thought he was brought in for that role.

[jackal2]

What has happened to Adebayo-Rowling?

I thought he was brought in for that role.

For him to not even make the bench you have to assume there's an injury issue or a discipline issue, and I hope it's not the latter!

Put it this way, if he fit and available, and if the coach has already concluded he would rather pick a left-footed player at right-wing-back rather than play Adebayo-Rowling, then something's gone very wrong with that particular bit of recruitment!

Hopefully the explanation is injury related, but if so, it would probably help to say it. We've not been secretive about Connell Rawlinson's injury after all.

[the_anticlough]

Couldn't agree more.

There's probably no other position in a football team that requires as much all-round ability as wing back, because you've basically got to be good at both defending and attacking, have a great engine, good sense of when to make runs, and overall a reasonably high degree of football intelligence. Despite this, clubs often seem to occupy this role with 'bit part' or utility players of fairly modest ability. If you're going to insist on playing wing-backs then you really do have to invest heavily to get the specialists to play the role. I would have thought it was far easier to play a back four formation where the roles are more straight-forward, especially for players at non-league level who have their limitations by definition.

Very well put. It's an amazing con that clubs' main strategy for wing-backs still, is picking full-backs and whispering 'push up a bit' to them.

A wing-back pairing of, say, Kelly-Evans and Chicksen is so unthreatening to an opposition. Imagine a castle under siege. Well, there's no threat of attack on the left flank of the castle and no threat from the right. So all the defence's resources can be devoted to the front or the middle. You're much more unlikely to take that castle, and for that you can read get promotion.

Sorry, but if I had a season ticket and had to see Adam Chicksen or a player like that (good defender) as our attacking offering on one side of the pitch, I'd think I'd been sold a pup.

[Elite_Pie]

Sorry, but if I had a season ticket and had to see Adam Chicksen or a player like that (good defender) as our attacking offering on one side of the pitch, I'd think I'd been sold a pup.

On that basis, I've been sold more pups than you'd see in 101 Dalmatians!

[the_anticlough]

You've probably only picked up a couple of mongrels so far, not enough to open your own dog pound quite yet.

Thing was, teams would revert to the back 5 (or 'wing-backs' as its sold on the packet) out of desperation and only play it for a while. Then, when it's clear your team hasn't got enough on the pitch to take the game to the opposition, or doesn't have the specialists to play that way, they've gone back to a more balanced formation (between defence and attack)
It's only recently though that teams are sticking to it for the whole bloody season. You're right though, it's about proper recruitment. Hartlepool and Stockport got promoted with it and had players like Sterry and Kitching doing the job. Get those positions wrong though and it will severely limit a team's chances of success.

[lunaspie]

They'll probably be gloating that they're above Man. Utd. this evening, knowing them.

It's enough to make you 8-1,innit ?

[crazyfists]

Quite an encouraging interview in that he seemed down at having dropped two points rather than happy to have claimed one.

Agreed, he'll get us sorted this guy.

[matt_magpie]

Couldn't agree more.

There's probably no other position in a football team that requires as much all-round ability as wing back, because you've basically got to be good at both defending and attacking, have a great engine, good sense of when to make runs, and overall a reasonably high degree of football intelligence. Despite this, clubs often seem to occupy this role with 'bit part' or utility players of fairly modest ability. If you're going to insist on playing wing-backs then you really do have to invest heavily to get the specialists to play the role. I would have thought it was far easier to play a back four formation where the roles are more straight-forward, especially for players at non-league level who have their limitations by definition.

I got asked to play there when my body was gone for part of a season. It’s a ridiculous position, u need to have the legs of 20 year old but the intelligence of being a switched on defender and the attacking presence of an out and out winger, not easy, well not for me.

[Magpies1959]

It is a mystery for sure as to why TAR doesn't at least make the bench. If he is not carrying a knock maybe LW thinks he needs a little more coaching before being let loose in the RWB position. I hope it is not a personality clash, as TAR does come over as being a colourful character.
Hopefully on Tuesday we will see Nemane back at RWB, to offer an offensive threat, and playing on his preferred wing.
We should also see Taylor on his preferred wing and so attacking more purposefully and speedily whist being able to put in more telling crosses without breaking stride. These two changes could make a huge difference to our play.

[laddo]

Agreed about Chicksen, He makes a run up field then stops and passes the ball back. So frustrating. It was a good point, but it was a game we should have had wrapped up in the first half. If we want to get out of this league then we have got to stop messing about with the ball in our own goal mouth. This suicidal tactic cost us again today...We are doing exactly the same crap as last season..

That's always annoyed me when I've watched Chicken, clearly a good footballer and good pro but the insistence on turning back on himself.after advancing tells us all we need to know about his preferred position and style.