Post by Bernard Briggs on Apr 4, 2015 14:30:28 GMT
Apr 3, 2015 17:56:26 GMT @bambergasgroin said:
I did think it was interesting that Clarke went with Lockyer and left McChrystal out. Not exactly normal to change your centre back pairing after recording a clean sheet. I doubt it's to do with him sharing my doubts though - probably just squad management and not wanting to play an older defender for 180 minutes in 4 days if you don't have to. Has Lockyer played as many games at Centre Back this year as McChrystal-Parkes have played together? I don't know but it feels like Clarke mixes it up quite a lot anyway; I've seen 3 at the back etc.
I've never made the case for Lockyer as a Centre Back - I think we need someone else if we go up, I think Lockyer will be a right back in the end. Lockyer doesn't have the physical prescence to dominate that position but he does have the mobility to cover in behind Parkes when he goes walk about which is quite regularly so I'll take the balance. His distribution is definitely missing though which I think is necessary for a more mobile centre back to have. But it's primarily what it allows your Centre Midfield and full backs to do; they can attack more and play further up the pitch if they know there's cover back there but you're not going to see that in one game; it's about a pattern of play over a longer term. Either way I don't you learn much about your Centre Backs in a 5-1 home win!
If McChrystal is as immobile as you claim, he won't cover that much ground so wouldn't be too knackerd after 90 mins.
Interesting to see how effective Leadbitter was running at defenders at pace. As good as Dawson but offers more when tracking back.
If Kiddy had a scout at today's game it's hard to know what he would report back as the weaknesses that they should look to exploit?