Tuesday nights match against Wigan really befuddled me. On one hand, it was a complete mismatch - Premiership class Wigan vs Championship class Barnsley. On the other, we did compete with them at times. We had a good spell in the second half, and really took the game to them; but at the same time, I never really believed we were going to score, and when Macken saw his shot cannon off the bar, I knew for sure we weren't. We looked good in patches, but we always looked like we might concede when Wigan attacked. This was concerning for me. Souza and Moore looked great when competing for aerial balls, even against Emile Heskey, they attacked the balls and won; but when it came to ground attacks, they looked a genuine liability. I fear that Souza and Moore aren't really the partnership we are looking for, and time after time they may get found out (unless Van Homoet/Foster can consistently clean up after them). I've never been a big fan of Souza, especially his general football ability. He's always got a mistake in him, and time after time last season, we needed Foster and Nyatanga to clean up after him. The team gives me the impression of a machine, that is missing a small part - it can still function without it, but not to the same capacity it would if the part were in place. A little checklist if I may: - Hassell must never play midfield again. This is a given. - Kozluk is NOT a wingback. So if Davey DOES insist on playing 3-5-2, then Kozluk is not the man for the job. - JCR MUST start. - Leon has NO pace, and against the better teams in this league - he will be found out. Pace is essential, unless you have the skills and intelligence of messrs Zidance/Molby etc...We will struggle if he plays with Howard week in, week out. A lot of people are crying out for a new striker, I must admit - I'd love another striker at the club, but I feel we would be more inclined to bring in a quality centre back. Someone with pace and power. We can't go on conceding schoolboy goals for the rest of the season - I've seen enough of Souza to know, that he has plenty of mistakes in him and I don't feel Moore has the necessary pace to cover for him when he does make those mistakes. I hope I'm wrong, and they turn out to be a wonderful pairing; but I feel I'm right. What does everyone else think?
A bicycle with no seat? "The team gives me the impression of a machine, that is missing a small part - it can still function without it, but not to the same capacity it would if the part were in place."
Agree with most of that, but system made us look a poor side, this could down to Leon and Howard not being able to play in the same team.If you don't play to your teams strengh and force a system on players that don't fit into it then it will be a long season. Souza may have one mistake in him but Kozluk has far too many a game but still seems to be well liked. I think if we sign a left back ( Nyatanga ) and a forward with an eye to goal, Midfielders back from injury and play 4-4-2 it should be a good season.
I don't understand why Souza gets singled out all the time? All defenders make errors. Dig the stats out and I think you will find he is one of our better defenders.
Souza may make a mistake every now and then and lack half a yard of pace, but 9 times out of 10 he wins the ball wether its in the air or not. If he possesed those other attributes as well, I dont think he would be playing for barnsley. I thought the system in the first half gave ourselves no chance. The space in behind the wing backs was massive and a prem team will (and did) punish you for that. Kilbane and Melchiot had hours on the ball and our only outlet was kozluk putting hopeful crosses into no-one. The positive is that i dont think we will ever play that system again! and 2nd half we looked a different team. Personally i dont think we are too far away if we play 442 and get players back fit.
What stats? Where? To say he is one of our better defenders, is vague. We only have Foster and Moore who have any ability to read the game. So yes, Souza IS one of our better defenders, because we don't have THAT many. He win's a lot in the air, for that, I praise him. But the amount of balls he misjudges on the ground, and the amount of times he gives away possession (compared with Foster for example) is ridiculous. His distribution is absolutely terrible. Is he really any better than Reid? Moore, in my opinion is just what we need, but he needs someone like Nyatanga playing next to him - someone with a bit of pace, and a footballing brain. Rather than someone with a general 'Oomph' mentality. Souza isn't a bad defender, but he isn't a good one either - and an average defender against the likes of Birmingham, Reading, QPR, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest etc etc...will get found out. My back four (from what we have) would be: Van Homoet ---Moore --- Foster --- Hassell
RE: He's no midfielder. But he's a solid defender. nt Why moore over souza? they both win everything in the air and have poor distribution and are slow, but moore is VERY slow and his distribution is terrible. Souza every time for me.
Plain and simple, Moore is technically astute. He has experience, he can read the game, he is a natural leader, he is commanding, he's been there, done it all and sold a car load of t-shirts. Souza everytime, really?
I have to differ on that one. I believe he is slow and he often gets dragged out of position. He also has a tendency to ball watch letting attackers get in behind him. I just wish he would look over his shoulder more so he can get a full picture on what goes on around him.
RE: Plain and simple, Moore is technically astute. Just my opinion, dont get me wrong im not slating moore I just wouldnt play the two together and if i had to choose it would be souza and foster. We can still gain from moores experience in the dressing room and bring him on when under siege away from home for example. just think hes a bit immobile.