Did we miss Brown yesterday?

I think we did.

He was our most physical forward player, worked tirelessly and led the press from the front. After he signed for Stoke there was a big focus on what he wasn't good at on here. I honestly believe yesterday highlighted what he was good at.

We didn't really have an outlet and the ball came back without 'sticking' to any of our front three. I also think removing the option of the long ball for the wide player to compete in the air meant the midfielders were forced to hold onto the ball longer reducing our effectiveness in the transition once we'd broken up play.

I've confidence in our coaching staff to resolve this.

 

On

On yesterday’s showing he could not have been less effective then Simoes, so yes definitely missed him.

 

I’m not sure we did miss him. Not that I don’t rate him as a player, but we struggled in this type of game last season, before and after lockdown.

Brown would work his nads off to lead the press, but the press was bypassed as they went more direct. While he won headers, he never really held it up and found a team mate much, and I don’t think he would’ve scored the Frieser chance.

We were bullied all over the pitch, don’t think one player would’ve made much difference.

 

Fingers crossed it was just a bad day at the office.

I thought we missed Brown. I also think we’re lacking that bit of confidence that’s needed when going forward.

 

We’re missing someone who can hold the ball up and link the play and that’s two things that Browny wasn’t good at. To be honest i think it was the service or lack of it from midfield that was the main problem yesterday and you have to give credit to Luton for the way they did a job on us and didn’t allow us any space or time on the ball.

 

I’m sure Brown would’ve made a big difference yesterday, their defence had it too easy

 

Yes, we created l very little.

 

Yes we missed his pace energy and eye got a pass. We need a replacement and quickly.

 

We got done by a team using our own "plan" against us. They pressed and harried us all over the park and we never had a chance to get into our style. And worryingly we didn't have a plan B.
There'll be a few more of those unless Struber gets to grips with it.

 

Yes we missed him massively. A constant pest to defenders, our press starts up front and he was the best component of that. Added to the fact he was the only player capable of winning the ball in the air in attacking positions and could beat a man with the ball at his feet.

He wouldn’t have given Pearson and Bradley a moments peace as they are useless on the ball. Instead we had a laboured front three who offered very little with or without the ball.

 

One thing that surprised me about the opposition was their willingness to quickly regroup.
I never rated Bree when he played for us, but was impressed with him sprinting back to
help his co- defenders after his forward run and their particular press has broken down.

 

Yes. I think Simoes has potential, but gave the ball away too cheaply. TBH no one played well apart from our defence / keeper. We need Oduor on the left if we are playing 3 at the back. Ritz looks for a square or back pass every time.

 

I thought Bree had a lot of potential when he was with us.

 

Definitely missed him. Simoes isn’t half the player Brown was in physicality and as an out ball into channels - the club need to learn that we need to have the player we are happy with a replacement before we sell. Think we sold Brown to balance the books though mainly.

 

No we didn’t miss him.
Saying that - there wasn’t any improvement in the side without him.
As we played hoof ball for 90 minutes we are still missing Kieffer Moore much more than we ever will with Brown.

 

Fair enough Helen. It's all about opinions isn't it.? When he played for us, said I always thought he
looked very impressive going forward but he was less than average when it came to defending.
I wasn't the only one in our group to feel that way. His cousin is now a PC in the Met Police
and used to live next door to us in Ossett. He and my middle son are mates and I used to take him
to our home games. Like me, they too didn't rate him too highly.

His cousin was absolutely gobsmacked apparently when he got his move to Villa. He did OK for Luton yesterday, but I honestly would be surprised if he managed to nail down first team place down
for every game they play this season.

 

He's played 39 games for them since he went on loan, so he was a regular last season.

 

Fair enough SB. Are we sure he started every one of those games.? Yesterday he didn't get on until the
81 st minute but that's still registered as an appearance. Moncur is shown as making thirty one appearances
for them, but the majority of those involved being a sub. He was on the bench again yesterday, but didn't get on.
Be very interesting to see how Bree goes this season. Hope he proves me wrong an ex- Ossett Town and Barnsley
player and a nice lad as well. Wish him nothing but the best, but sadly I have never rated him.

 

I know what you're getting at...I was really surprised at the Villa move, that will probably be as high as he goes, but I think he's a steady player who will probably have a decent but perhaps unspectacular career in and around League 1.

 

34 starts, 3039 minutes on the pitch, he's still only 22. I'd say that's a pretty integral part of the team.