Luca Connell

Give over.

 

Anybody seen much of young lads who might beable to break up play,I never really rated scowen in the beginning but he could stop things frm happening,gwyn Thomas was good at it,I think there could be a lot of players who could learn how to play that breaking play up role especially if learnt from a young age,who do we think should be new captain,I'd go Philips just because it might just make him find his form again,Roberts is a leader anyway even though not on top form regularly,we need someone infront of defenders who can be seen to play a simple pass to then find a player,maybe nwalki,God knows,remember mcphail Huddersfield away,he could have a man on him,ball wood still get played to his feet,he'd pass it back, step to side,striker would try close defender down,ball would be back to mcphail,he'd turn and av space,mcphail wa good like but shouldn't be that hard,Bobby hassell played just in front of defence when we bet Chelsea,best game I've seen him play,conner could av played just in front of defenders,don't need much legs,takes pressure off,defenders and not just getting hoofed or going out of play.i ant been as much so am probably talking ****.

 

I stand by my comments. It’s bad enough to stick out in a mid table league one side so I’m not convinced he would look much better in league 2.

Like I say, can’t fault his energy and commitment.

 

You don't think Connell would make a good league two midfielder?

 

If he had someone with more quality next to him? Yes. But that’s going off at a tangent.

 

Fair enough.

 

Saturdays stats

 

I pointed those stats on the match day thread. After someone tried telling me Russell never made a tackle all game. When I saw him with my own eyes breaking up play making tackles. Turns out he made more tackles and had a better pass % stats eh.

BTW I like connell thought he played OK Saturday I'd rather have him avaliable than not but you'd have thought he was prime kante way some talk about him.

 

Now show me the stats that show recovery runs, sprints in your own half, covering the runs of opposition so they aren’t in space, the awareness of where to be and where to get to, to snuff out problems before they happen; commitment and - dare I say it - bravery.

I assume you refer to me in your post. No I don’t think he’s ’prime Kante’ - that is a ridiculous assertion. He’s nothing like that level - I also think he’s a bit out of form on the ball to be honest - but his game intelligence, defensive discipline and general desire make him key even despite that. Yes, his passing stats aren’t too strong currently.

But you can prove or disprove most things with stats if you look for them. Lies, damn lies and statistics as they say (and I did a degree in maths and stats btw, I’m not saying they don’t serve a strong purpose, of course they do - but there’s a lot more nuance to it. How long have we criticised ‘spreadsheet’ signings based just on data?) - so Russell having made some interceptions and tackles, be it more than Connell or even if it was more than the rest of the team added together, has no relevance in an observation that he chickens out of fifty fifties and doesn’t very effectively challenge in the air, especially given his height advantage over most. Of course he will make some blocks and tackles. He might even win the odd header.

My point is he is too often half-hearted, he at times seems to lack the cahonas to be committed in duals. I’ve seen him make committed runs forward on the ball - marauding even - but track back in slow motion like he’s running through a peat bog. I have seen this consistently - and in most performances of his.

Awareness, positioning, nous, high workrate and movement - it lessens the requirement to make interceptions or tackles. It makes the opposition turn round, then pass backwards or sideways. That’s what Connell has - and it’s what he provides every game, even if he’s sometimes crap on the ball. It’s also something the others lack. It is that which we will miss.

If using these stats is an attempt to argue Russell is a more effective midfield player than Connell, then you could also probably prove Joe Gauci is a better goalkeeper than Alisson by showing he’s made more saves or clearances in 90 minutes; there will likely be stats that show Donny Pines is more effective than Marc Roberts too.

Making blocks and tackles is an indicator of a strong defensive midfielder - but not having to make them in the first place is as well.

 

You made out and have for weeks asif connell was the only person in the side apart from the defence who makes a tackles. On Saturday I saw with my own 2 eyes Russell (who imo has been abit of a scapegoat in some posters eyes for a while) make tackles and break up play challenge for 50/50s. I then looked on the game stats which backed up what I saw.

I'm not saying connell is a bad player at all I actually like the lad and if he was fit he would start for me tomorrow. But the connell is the only midfielder who makes a tackle, is similar to the Phillips doesnt do anything apart from score and assist.

I don't really like digging 1st team players out unless they really piss me off but some seem to do it with Russell week in week out. Even with the Stockport opener which is laughable as connell is more at fault than Russell for me.

 

Watch a full game back Russell has played in. Full ninety.

I guarantee there will be a fifty/fifty or block tackle he doesn’t go into fully, and an aerial challenge he doesn’t even try to jump for.

I’ve never once in any post referred to Connell even making a tackle, never mind imply he’s the only one who makes one. If you read what I have put as being about making tackles, that’s your doing. He doesn’t actually make a high number of tackles at all.

 

I've watched him for 2 seasons pal. The only player who doesn't jump for a ariel challenge is Humphrys for me, fans singing his name as he left the pitch on Saturday i said to my mat there easily pleased. And I think it was you who referred to connell as the only midfielder who gets stuck in.

 

My goodness. Honestly the football understanding of some of our fans is unreal.

I would hate to be Connell in this team. Why? By god is he ever set up to fail.

We can go into detail as much as you want, but the biggest point…..look how many times he is stood in the middle of the park by himself, completely isolated. In and out of possession (*especially* in possession).

I’m happy to go through the game and pull of at least 10 instances of this happening last game.

Those criticising, have you played the game? Do you know how poor that is for a team to be set up like that. Do you see why we end up playing backwards so much? Open your eyes people!

 

Example 1 of 5000. We ended up going nowhere here.

 

Statistically speaking, Jon Russell is having a great season. Based on my own eyes, I’d suggest he’s done well too. Yet he comes in for some right stick.

Agree with @redrum on the Humphrys chanting the other day too. I shook my head in disbelief. The lad made one good pass in the first half. Offered nothing else. Yet he gets serenaded when subbed off. I ought to be happy, that it’s good support of our players. But where’s the Phillips and Russell love? Phillips goes three games without scoring and it’s “he goes missing”. Humphrys hasn’t scored since Jesus was a lad and they’re singing his name.

Football.

 

Exactly, awareness, positioning, nobody else has it.

I’m not even fully convinced it’s the setup - I just don’t think his teammates have the discipline to play there properly.

But be careful, someone will be along with a table of stats in a minute that show you’re wrong.

 

You’ve watched him the same amount of time as me and missed a lot of shirking responsibility then.

And as I said the other day, I agree about Humphrys.

 

We’ll certainly miss his character but definitely replaceable technical wise. Love his passion. Hopefully Nwakali comes in and puts in a performance.

 

Maybe he should tell the captain to have a word with the other players in regard to their discipline and possibly how they are setup?

We’ve got to ignore our eyes and stats and listen to you cos you know that there’s no other player in our squad who can do his job. Just because he’s the best in the squad at a job it doesn’t mean he’s good at it. It just means we have no other player in that position. I personally think if we had a better forward line we could play more players in or around Luca to supplement him but unfortunately we don’t as proven by the lack of goals from the strikers. Russell and Phillips don’t chase back or fill in like Luca does but they weigh in with the goals. I am no great lover of Russell or Phillips either but you’ve got to pick em on their stats !

We need a better defensive midfielder at least one defender and possibly 2 strikers. Funnily enough that’s what we needed before we signed an untested striker and a winger. Unfortunately recruitment team couldn’t see this or achieve this. I expect a we may lose a bit in midfield as far as chasing etc but I would prefer to see Nwakali start in a solid and disciplined midfield but I doubt we will get this. Probably start with Benson , he’ll go off and injured and he will chuck Lewis on and no one will pass to him or even look to pass to him.

 

He has started and been hopeless. We have a lot of issues but Connell is way, way down the list.

Again, like I said. Watch the game back and tell how he’s set up for success. It’s not just the CM’s, the forwards rarely drop into pockets, the wing backs rarely come inside and offer an option to feet. There’s better players than Connell sure, but if you want to improve that area, there’s about 20 things that could be done before replacing him.