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Post by pirate49 on Sept 2, 2014 15:26:56 GMT
Last season Tom Lockyer's development was one of very few good news stories.
Great application, good attitude and often MoM performances.
He's come up through the ranks as a CB, and he's good and reliable in that position.
When pressed into service in CM he didn't let us down. The last pass may have been lacking
but all other aspects of his game were good.
Now he's stuck in the RB position. As always he's giving it his best shot, but often he
doesn't look totally comfortable there. And Leadbitter is in the background.
At CB we've got TP, NT, MM wih Pierce Mitchell signed and Turley 'lurking' in the background.
There's competition for CM with LM, AM, SS, OC et al
So are we going to fail to get the best out of Tom? Is he the long term replacement for Michael Smith?
There's a danger of him becoming a first off the bench player, or of going somewhere else eventually
to a team which puts him at CB or CM. That would be a shame and our loss.
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Post by The Man from Del Monte on Sept 2, 2014 15:34:45 GMT
Let him adjust and settle into that right back slot. Give him game time. Work with him on the training pitch. Support and encourage him.
All things Smith did (and had) despite his shaky start to life at Rovers.
Lockyer has the ability IMO and I think we just have to be patient and supportive for the time being.
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The Concept
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Post by The Concept on Sept 2, 2014 15:50:40 GMT
After the Alty game, with SS sent off, I thought TL should be back in central midfield. But then OC has pulled a couple of great performances out of the bag, when I thought he was due to be dropped.
I remember the Plymough game last season: everyone was raving about the young pairing of TL & OC in midfield, even Plymouth mentioned how good they were. It all went downhill from that game though, especially Dagenham & Redbridge at home, where we lost after taking an early lead.
At the tail end of last season OC always seemed slow to the ball, as if he was on the back foot, rocking back before moving forward to a challenge. What a difference we saw against Halifax then, with OC seeming first to every ball he went for.
As TMfDM says above, it may be that TL can develop into the right back role; he's already shown he can do that elsewhere by transferring from centre back to centre midfield.
I know TL was close to being sent off on Saturday, but at the time I thought the first booking was rather harsh, if it was a foul.
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james83
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Post by james83 on Sept 2, 2014 15:50:52 GMT
The kid is a better CD than parks for me but very poor a RB drop parks and tuck Lockyer inside and bring back LB basically then we should look more solid and have more pace at the back
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james83
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Post by james83 on Sept 2, 2014 15:51:04 GMT
The kid is a better CD than parks for me but very poor a RB drop parks and tuck Lockyer inside and bring back LB basically then we should look more solid and have more pace at the back
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Alveston Gas
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Post by Alveston Gas on Sept 2, 2014 16:06:20 GMT
Thought Parkes and Trotman starting to look like a decent CH partnership. Not sure I would change that at the moment.
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james83
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Post by james83 on Sept 2, 2014 16:15:31 GMT
Thought Parkes and Trotman starting to look like a decent CH partnership. Not sure I would change that at the moment. parks has been so slow to keep up with the play that it's frightening to watch at times but I do like the look of Trottman |
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Peter Parker
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Post by Peter Parker on Sept 2, 2014 16:28:41 GMT
He is not a RB to me either
Centre-half (could see him alongside Trotman) or a defensive midfielder (better than Clarke IMO)in my book
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2014 16:44:28 GMT
Lockyer is one of those old fashioned,natural footballers who adapts and gets on with his job. An old head on young houlders. He is a better centre half than right back but had a good game at Forset Green which showed to me he can play there and do a good job.
He is the best young player to come through the ranks at Rovers in years and will eventually go onto better things but it would be good for him to be able to settle into one position and not be Mr Adaptable/dependable at such a young age.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2014 17:39:58 GMT
hes just played 2 games at right back against strong conference sides,he totally owned the forest green winger frear and came through a tough test against halifax so dont see a problem,dc knows he can play other positions when needed there.
dont get the critical comments on parkes? he was dreadfull at altrincham but has come back very well since then
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Post by PeterHooper57 on Sept 2, 2014 18:00:49 GMT
IMO Tom is a centre back who can play in midfield; he likes the ball comming on to him, he is not a full back, he really struggles when he has to turn and shut down the wide man and he is unable to show the winger inside. I would personally play Tom alongside trotman at centre back, he is very good on the ground which parkes is not, and his tackling is a lot better than parkes.
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james83
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Post by james83 on Sept 2, 2014 18:16:14 GMT
hes just played 2 games at right back against strong conference sides,he totally owned the forest green winger frear and came through a tough test against halifax so dont see a problem,dc knows he can play other positions when needed there. dont get the critical comments on parkes? he was dreadfull at altrincham but has come back very well since then maybe the the critical comments of parkes is because he keeps on hitting 50 yard passes when he could easily lay on a pass to someone in midfield which would then encourage a bit more of a passing game. Also his lack of pace will result in several goals against this season I fear |
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dido
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Post by dido on Sept 2, 2014 18:21:44 GMT
"when he could easily lay on a pass to someone in midfield"
You didn't see the goal conceded on Saturday, then?
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james83
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Post by james83 on Sept 2, 2014 18:27:53 GMT
That was probably down to the fact that the midfield was shocked they were given the ball by one of our defenders
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2014 18:37:31 GMT
the team are trying to pass the ball including lockyer and parkes but in lower leagues you have to play some long ball,parkes diagonal balls to the left wing can be effective at times,its a fantasy to imagine we can always play out from the back but we have at times played some good passing football this season
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Post by supersteve73 on Sept 2, 2014 18:48:08 GMT
He has to play right back as Leadbitter is useless.
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Post by Gregory Stevens on Sept 2, 2014 18:57:31 GMT
Parkes is probably the best footballer at the club and he is judged harshly. He has quality. At this stage, more than tl.
However, people will leave at get injured. He will get back in the middle, with time. Everyone knows that TL is being a true pro, we all know where he is best. Needs of the club....but I still admire Parkes more as a cb. Needs to lose weight but he is a footballer for sure.
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Post by gasgomarchingin on Sept 2, 2014 19:01:38 GMT
Parkes is probably the best footballer at the club and he is judged harshly. He has quality. At this stage, more than tl. However, people will leave at get injured. He will get back in the middle, with time. Everyone knows that TL is being a true pro, we all know where he is best. Needs of the club....but I still admire Parkes more as a cb. Needs to lose weight but he is a footballer for sure. But I think that's why people get frustrated with Parke's as many can see the potential but he is not consistent enough. |
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Post by Gregory Stevens on Sept 2, 2014 19:08:00 GMT
Even with inconsistency, you'd still want him here. We've had some awful cb for years and Tom is settled and by far too good for this level. Where do you find in the conference ball playing cb?
Agreed he has looked unfit and less than motivated sometimes, and that is frustrating.
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Royal Blue
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Post by Royal Blue on Sept 2, 2014 19:12:26 GMT
Think Leadbitter, over time, will prove a good player for us in the right back spot. Smith took plenty of time to adapt to the club and prove his worth and look how he turned out. I'm not saying DL will be as good as Smudger but some players need to be given time - after all, he has only played three(?) times so far.
However, in the short-term we are picking up results with Lockyer playing there and whilst he may not be the most orthodox full-back it would be silly to change the line-up. It would be undeserved to drop any of the players given the way we have played in the last few matches. He does look slightly uncomfortable out there at the moment but I'm sure he'll learn the position with further game-time. It will be good for him to be able to play in yet another position and it's good for DC to have someone who can cover various positions.
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