Maja

[Derek Hardballs]

The general refusal of our midfielders to play through balls, or to use the strikers in build up play in and around the box makes all of our forwards look shit. None of the three get used correctly for their abilities.

I expect we'd see a lot more out of Maja if he just had a simple job of linking up play in the final 3rd and getting onto crosses and cut backs.

Having the forward running the full width of the pitch all game to press the centre backs and then expecting them to get their heads on wildly placed long balls doesn't give anyone an opportunity to score.

Agree totally. Price could potentially have slid Dike in yesterday, he's had the chance to do it for Hegg and taken a shot instead.

MJ Has put some decent crosses in but he also likes to cut inside and shoot. 

I'd hate to be a striker for them atm tbh. Basically just getting used a try and hold up play.

Not meant to be a price bashing post as he worked hard yesterday but he'll happily have a crack when there's better options. Wouldn't be too bad if he had a better ratio.

Price needs to improve his decision making and MJ needs to keep it fugging simple and put a crosses into the box.

[Bob Fossil]

The general refusal of our midfielders to play through balls, or to use the strikers in build up play in and around the box makes all of our forwards look shit. None of the three get used correctly for their abilities.

I expect we'd see a lot more out of Maja if he just had a simple job of linking up play in the final 3rd and getting onto crosses and cut backs.

Having the forward running the full width of the pitch all game to press the centre backs and then expecting them to get their heads on wildly placed long balls doesn't give anyone an opportunity to score.

Agree totally. Price could potentially have slid Dike in yesterday, he's had the chance to do it for Hegg and taken a shot instead.

MJ Has put some decent crosses in but he also likes to cut inside and shoot. 

I'd hate to be a striker for them atm tbh. Basically just getting used a try and hold up play.

Not meant to be a price bashing post as he worked hard yesterday but he'll happily have a crack when there's better options. Wouldn't be too bad if he had a better ratio.

Price needs to improve his decision making and MJ needs to keep it fugging simple and put a crosses into the box.

Price was inches away from 2 game changing balls yesterday, so he at least has the vision, just lacks the confidence and application. 
MJ is a superb outlet, but was poor yesterday. I still like him on the right and, as you say, just stick it in the box!

[HawkingsHalfpint]

If someone could get the old Mowatt back somehow, with a fully firing Molumby or Diakite sitting beside, it would make Price redundant (which for a player of his ability he all too often is), and allow for that second striker any troubled side badly needs. Back to 4-4-2 please now Jed is fit, play MJ where we know he is best, and play Aune with Maja up top. Maja can drop better as Aune seems to lack stamina sometimes. And as for Maja, surely the thick cunt will realise sooner or later he is his own shop window; we may as well get the best out of him while still paying him.

Mowatt can’t pick a killer pass without a striker to receive it. Which is why we see it so little these days. Give him that chance.

Dike I couldn’t really care about. Far best all round he sits on his arse and deputises until then, and fucks off in June. Yes he’s been very unfortunate (and having suffered one of his injuries quite recently I understand all too well his reticence). But he’s a shadow of what we signed, and a shadow of what last recuperated briefly.

Although he’d be far from alone in this regard during recent seasons, just an all-round terrible value signing. When you realise you’ve caught the wrong train, get off as fast as you can.

With PSR worries due to ease soon, fuck both off and spend big on something we badly need - regular goals. Meanwhile, at least Maja looks like he still knows how he might be able to score one. I think all Dike sees when he looks at a set of goalposts is ‘oh, wouldn’t that make a decent thing to help with my bicep lifts’.

[Man from delmonte]

If someone could get the old Mowatt back somehow, with a fully firing Molumbu or Diakite sitting beside, it would make Price redundant (which for a player of his ability he all too often is), and allow for that second striker any troubled side badly needs. Back to 4-4-2 please now Jed is fit, play MJ where we know he is best, and play Aune with Maja up top. Maja can drop better as Aune seems to lack stamina sometimes. And as for Maja, surely the thick cunt will realise sooner or later he is his own shop window; we may as well get the best out of him while still paying him.

Dike I couldn’t really care about. Far best all round he sits on his arse and deputises until then, and fucks off in June. Yes he’s been very unfortunate (and having suffered one of his injuries quite recently I understand all too well his reticence). But he’s a shadow of what we signed, and a shadow of what last recuperated briefly.

Although he’d be far from alone in this regard during recent seasons, just an all-round terrible value signing. When you realise you’ve caught the wrong train, get off as fast as you can.

With PSR worries due to ease soon, fuck both off and spend big on something we badly need - regular goals. At least Maja looks like he still knows how he might be able to score one. I think all Dike sees when he looks at a set of goalposts is ‘oh, wouldn’t that make a decent thing to help with my bicep lifts’.

Some interesting points made here. You do have wonder what on earth is wrong with Maja. If you compare him to Grant who really was doing the maximum to impress pre-injury with his contract due to be up, Maja is the complete opposite and ambles round like its a kickabout in the park on a lazy Sunday. He really is another De Freitas type imo. Plenty of talent but just doesn't use it. I know there have been comments suggesting he's worried about getting injured again but what does he expect? To be wrapped in cotton wool permanently whilst being handsomely paid.

As for Dike, I've never known such universal hope for an Albion player to get fit and for things to work out. I really hoped that this could be his season after that impressive game against Luton last May. However, he doesn't look just rusty to me, he's been absolutely miles off the pace when involved. I'm starting to see why Mason decided he wasn't a useful option. I think I'm agreeing with HH here though, I just don't see him ever doing it for us now. As much as I'd love us to be able to bin off Maja till his contract is up I think he may well actually be more useful to us than a broken Dike. I'd love him to prove me wrong though!

[HawkingsHalfpint]

One thing is for sure is that I think an overcrowded midfield and an isolated forward isn’t working, and hasn’t for several months. Play two up-top and get some more delightful through balls out of Mowatt again. He’s playing like a caged bird as he is.

[Tom Joad 25]

One thing is for sure is that I think an overcrowded midfield and an isolated forward isn’t working, and hasn’t for several months. Play two up-top and get some more delightful through balls out of Mowatt again. He’s playing like a caged bird as he is.

True 'nuff. Although I thought Mowatt did really well 2nd half. Did anyone manage to see a replay of his early booking? It looked to me like he and the opponent both dived in but Mowatt won the ball and got a card for his trouble.

[HawkingsHalfpint]

One thing is for sure is that I think an overcrowded midfield and an isolated forward isn’t working, and hasn’t for several months. Play two up-top and get some more delightful through balls out of Mowatt again. He’s playing like a caged bird as he is.

True 'nuff. Although I thought Mowatt did really well 2nd half. Did anyone manage to see a replay of his early booking? It looked to me like he and the opponent both dived in but Mowatt won the ball and got a card for his trouble.

It did look harsh. Even my daughter (who had to sit through each and every streamed and pixelated angle of it) though it was pretty innocuous.

[1952]

Maja is acting exactly the same as he did in his last year at Sunderland and Stoke.

[TartanRug]

The general refusal of our midfielders to play through balls, or to use the strikers in build up play in and around the box makes all of our forwards look shit. None of the three get used correctly for their abilities.

I expect we'd see a lot more out of Maja if he just had a simple job of linking up play in the final 3rd and getting onto crosses and cut backs.

Having the forward running the full width of the pitch all game to press the centre backs and then expecting them to get their heads on wildly placed long balls doesn't give anyone an opportunity to score.

Agree totally. Price could potentially have slid Dike in yesterday, he's had the chance to do it for Hegg and taken a shot instead.

MJ Has put some decent crosses in but he also likes to cut inside and shoot. 

I'd hate to be a striker for them atm tbh. Basically just getting used a try and hold up play.

Not meant to be a price bashing post as he worked hard yesterday but he'll happily have a crack when there's better options. Wouldn't be too bad if he had a better ratio.

Price needs to improve his decision making and MJ needs to keep it fugging simple and put a crosses into the box.

Price was inches away from 2 game changing balls yesterday, so he at least has the vision, just lacks the confidence and application. 
MJ is a superb outlet, but was poor yesterday. I still like him on the right and, as you say, just stick it in the box!

Yes don't know why we abandoned MJ on the right, got the best out of Heggebo too