WHAT THE F**K IS THE PROBLEM WITH RICHARDS?

I think we have options

but I would start, injury permitting, the next 4 matches with Knight and Nardiello no matter what. If we need to change things we have Hayes on the bench. I'd hate to see K Reid running past the opposition full back at full pelt and Richards waving at him on the half way line waiting for his taxi. or Nardiello making a chance that gets parried by the keeper and no one there to finish the rebound. two decent finishers in the box and Howard and McCann getting forward from midfield, there's goals there for sure.

 

McCann getting forward?

Did he cross the half way line on Saturday?

I thought Knight did okay.
Battled for everything & put them under pressure.
I just wish he'd put the one in when he battered into the keeper ... which was created by a quality Hayes cross.

First time I've seen him, so it's unfair to form a real opinion - but I do hope McCann improves.

 

Richards works

but I dont think he works smart enough. he's awfully predictable and slow when he's got the ball at his feet, and his presence weakens us in the box. fair do's he's more useful on set pieces, particularly in our own box, but Championship sides have 2 strikers that contribute goals, as well as the all round game. Nardiello and Knight can improve their work ethic, you cant teach predatory finishing to Richards, he just aint got it. and the mere fact we have 2 strikers under 6 foot should force us into playing the ball on the deck, which is our strength. ask the most centre halves in our league whether they prefer a physical battle against someone like Richards or having to second guess what Knight or Nardiello are going to do around the box, and you know what the answer will be. if we're looking to tighten up and make ourselves difficult to beat, we need to take the few chances that we create. which is why Knight is in the team. if he misses a few easy chances (I cant recall him having one yet!) then he should be dropped.

 

Away from home

and without Wallwork, maybe he's been told to be more defensive. he won us the game against Ipswich tho and his stats tend to show he scores a few.

 

i agree in part

however it is all dependant on us playing it on the deck and although that would be ideal it isunrealistic as sometimes you have to mix it up, Richards changed the game against ipswhich for me because until then the defenders had it easy due to our poor passing and long ball!!

richards has almost scored more at this than knight has in far less games, and in 3 games knight has not had a chance or has he not gotinto those positions to score?

Yes richards has missed some sitters however he was inthe right place right time and for me scoring them or not is down to form!!

 

Scores a few.

In League Two & League One.
Not sure how Hayes & McCann will do against some decent winger/full back combo's.
I thought Crainey & Douglas (at full back before he went into the middle of the park) were the worst Leeds players by a street mile.
Robbie Blake was head & shoulders above everyone.

I'd play wingers at home - try to get a few in front & then close up shop.
Like you say - I think away from home the lack of attacking players might serve us well.

£160k for McCann.
He needs to improve.
Passing it back to Hecky every time he gets it won't win him many fans.

 

RE: Scores a few.

Worse than just passign back to Hecky was that they were poor passes which put him in trouble meaning he booted the ball away and it came straight back at us or he lost it altogether.

Hecky played well but he was under pressure all the time because of McCann.

 

He's got 11 caps for Northern Ireland

for what its worth. too early to judge, but scoring on your debut aint a bad start. Id like to see more of K Reid down the left, but then we seem to have 3 left sided midfield players competing and not much over the other side. Howard 'in the hole' maybe? good to have options, and I still would like to see a left back and a centre half in January, maybe if Knight doesnt work out, someone like Shipperley?

 

11 caps for Northern Ireland means nowt

I've got 7

 

RE: He's got 11 caps for Northern Ireland

11 caps for them means **** all. I've got 4 and I was born and bred in South Elmsall.

McCann at left midfield fits in with SD's style in first few games. Makes us more solid. Just coz he's left midfield doesn't mean he has to play like McIndoe

 

You're always a minute or so behind

 

RE: You're always a minute or so behind

your lass has said the same.

 

That doesn't even make any sense

 

RE: i agree in part

Agree - I think Richards is very much a confidence player and his goals will come in groups of games, when he gets one he'll probably go on to score in 2 or 3 games running and then not score for a while again.

I think he does add something to the dimension of the team overall, he chases down defenders and wins back the ball, last week for example he chased down which prompted a defender into a hurried clearance which enabled us to win back the ball.

He isn't an out and out striker, however play him alongside a player who is and you get a partnership.

I don't think Nardiello and Knight will be a partnership, it's one or the other.

Unfortunately there are too many football fans who cannot see past the goals scored column for a forward and see what else they contribute.

 

Did you both play in the recent qualifiers

beating Spain and Latvia, and the draw in Denmark? third in the group, good work.

 

Jay got a hat-trick against Spain.

He rolled 3 tabs up really quick.
Motson was well impressed.

Dillinger came off the bench & didn't look interested.

Nice to see the results have moved Northern Ireland up the world rankings to number 1,846,287.
They are now above The Longbow & Jossey's Giants.

I hope McCann turns out to be a genius.
But then he's probably got a clause in his contract that says if someone offers £161k for him that he can go.
"Modest profit" and all that.
But we wouldn't have signed him without the clause.
Oh aye.