A Few Players Today

I wanted to single Russell out first because he’s been brilliant these past 3 games, in my opinion. He’s taken quite a bit of stick on here in past and sure, he’s had some poor games but since he’s come into the side after the international break, he’s played very well and I think we, as a team, have been much improved too. We look far more balanced in midfield with him and Connell. I said before but I reckon if Benson hadn’t have gotten injured, Russell might not have got this chance but he’s taking it so far.

Unlucky not to score against Charlton but a brilliant finish today.

Max Watters is the next I want to single out. Another player who was really good today. Yes, he’s missed 2 big chances but he’s also scored a brilliant goal and had 1 ruled out, which I’ll need to see again. He offers us something different in that he can run in behind and tbh, the rest of our attackers look incredibly slow in comparison to him. Jalo was case in point with his run in behind. I think Watters was good before his injury and has made a good start to post injury. I just hope he can take some confidence from these goals moving forward.

Final player to pick out is Gent. Again, since he’s come into the side he’s been brilliant. Even his defending, which when he came was meant to be questionable, I think he has done well. He offers us natural width down the left and actually looks to beat a defender and get a cross in.

Good performance today and I don’t want to get ahead of myself but with Russell and Gent especially, I think our entire team looks far more balanced and this has been shown in the last 3 performances. Keep the “gifting of daft goals away” to a minimum and we’ll be up there at the end of the season.

 

Agree with all that but i also thought Mael had a dominant game

 

Agree with that. All 3 centre backs looked very comfortable. Admittedly, they weren’t tested a huge amount but what they did have to deal with, they did so comfortably.

 

You're only supposed to point out his faults and errors, not the 95%+ of his steady play.

 

Exactly.

 

Always thought there was a player in Russell he can break up play and pick a pass and chip in a couple goals here and there we have always had better midfield options though, now he's really making a claim to be a regular starter after these last few games.

Watters is starting to make me and a few others eat my words, deserves a good run in the side now.

 

Russell is quality. His laconic style lulls some into thinking he’s lazy. Give me him rather than an energetic trier any day of the week.

 

Russell is pretty slow and looks quite cumbersome - but he’s got a hell of a lot of ability.

Playing him in front of the back as a cdm was foolish - he looked poor and so has gained few fans amongst our support - but further up as an ‘8’ (as the kids call it now) he can be a game changer and has shown that. Good to see him picked in such a way his attributes are being utilised rather than his weaknesses highlighted.

When Phillips is fit, and with Keillor-Dunn starting deeper today, we have a wealth of talent in attacking midfield roles and some real competition for a shirt.

Can’t be a bad thing.

 

I want to signal out Killip for reminding us what a clean sheet is.

 

Agreed. I'm liking him more and more!

 

Didn't really have much to do , but what he did was done competenly!

 

He'll keep his place for doing nothing wrong, but I could've thrown my cap on the one save he had to make.

 

Fully agree. We’ve had enough headless chickens running around with their legs going ten to the dozen. Hopefully Russell can keep this up and stay in the side.

 

Gent had a great game, our midfield has missed an attacing option down the left like we had with Cadden got to stick with him
as for Russell we are now finally playing him where hudders played him advanced

Keep em there

 

I think it’s clear he has little pace (although he did somehow run in behind their defence and get to the ball first today!) but I think cumbersome is a touch harsh. He got his leg moving quick enough for his goal and had a few little pirouettes around their defenders. I think it’s just his styles and how he plays the game.

Agree regarding the options in our midfield. I also think we have some good options up top, that all offer something different. We just need to shore up our defensive frailties and we’ll be good.

 

Great post mate, totally agree

 

I think Russell has played much better since he move further up the pitch starting with the Blackpool game. Gent has been great over the ladt couple of games and at last Max Watters has started to come good. Glad to see Killip back in the nets and he looked comfortable without having alot to do. We look a different team since the international break and long may it last.

 

Mate of mine who supports Huddersfield told me a while ago that Russell's good season with them was playing further up the pitch on the half turn which looks like it's bearing fruit for us in his new position.
I'd also mention Pines, I think the defence looks much better with him in it, he's just got the nack of being in the way and is so passionate about us.