Didn't put a foot wrong. We might have found another decent centre back! Really impressed with him this evening.
And yet loads of people on here were writing him off after one half of football. Arguably MoM tonight
Certainly looks better in the middle of the 3. He’s been good the last 2 games. Could be yet another interesting decision to make once Lopata is back fit.
I did say after his debut I was sure he was a much better player than he showed on that day and I’m delighted that he’s done so well these last few games. Think a place is his going forward. Not sure what the 3 will be when everyone is fit but I think Mael will be one of them.
CB is probably the position we are best at finding gems at. Look at the lads we've had play for us there in the past decade alone.
As I remarked on another thread, I noticed he was easily outpaced in one Cambridge attack. That's my only real criticism.
Same. Even though he was all over the place defensively you could tell by the quality of his passing that their was a player in there
I know the passage of play you're referring to. Not sure how fast their lad is who beat him, but agree that he looked slow at that point. I made a conscious effort to watch him after that. He was never in a foot race with anyone else for the rest of the game. He made sure he wasn't with some excellent positional play and timing his challenges so well. Some of my favourite central defenders didn't have any pace and that's what they did too. Way too early to know yet, but was very impressed tonight with how he ensured he didn't have to rely on his pace.
Good points. The immaculate Paul Futcher, one of my all-time favourite players, wasn't particularly quick.
He's not slow either though. Their lad was just rapid and had a better body position (whatever it is called). I'd say he's faster than Mads and certainly Helik. I really like the look of him in the middle of the three!
Considering the back three were the biggest worry going into the season with the entire line changing that position really hasn't been the weakest link. Each player has been solid but for a few understandable hiccups. The only thing I do think the team is missing at the moment is Kitching, Thomas and Anderson's ability to run through midfield (Kitching especially) and also make those long diagonal passes. Without that threat the midfield appears weaker and is easier to cancel out. I'm wondering whether this explains why the 'strongest midfield in the division' often looks ineffective.
A bit of pace needed if you're playing ether side.. that's why Williams is always there. Something that both Mael and Lopata don't have.. Our defence is still a problem..
Different player in the middle of the three takes up some great defensive positions and he's a talker organiser ,Lopta much better in the air and that's a bit of a worry with William's and Mccart at the side of him.