Will Smallbone

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, coalman said:

There are some real positives in there as a player. He takes up great positions to receive the ball and is tidy in possession. Rarely misplaces a pass. Makes space for other players in the attacking third. Can receive the ball and move it quickly which is a prerequisite for Martin's system. In contrast Rothwell feels like a liability when he's receiving the ball in his own half.

There are times where it feels like he's not as committed to the out of possession work as, say, Downes. So when we don't have a natural defensive midfielder it can feel like he's not involved. That's something he can add to his game though. There were times on Saturday where some of his tracking back felt a bit half hearted. But then there were also a couple of really committed challenges in there too. I'm hoping this is something that comes with more consistent game time because he'll be some player if he can really take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Whatever your feelings on a player, no one deserves that degree of abuse. The Internet really does bring out the worst in humans.

Agree with much of this. Physically, he doesn't look like he's a tough combative DM type of player. That said, it's yet another part of the game he's got better at. There was chat about it earlier in the season, and in the next game he got in a couple of good challenges. Even if it's just getting a foul in, to take a card if he has to sometimes.

I can't think of games where he's taking it by the scruff either. But he was involved with more than 1 of our goals at the weekend. That isn't the first time. I'm pretty sure if I looked back at other games, it would be Will involved in a move to get it to our game changers like Fraser. Also protecting the spaces behind them.

On his tracking back, I'm just aware of the ground he already covers each game. With changed responsibilities without Downes, that could partly just be adjusting to manage his game. I see a lot of players make a short run, pass and then urge the play to go down the other flank because they're done. Will's pretty much always on the move somewhere. If he's asked to be more of a DM, it might have to at the expense of him being elsewhere.

As people have mentioned about other players, if you were to add tough tackling midfielder or game changing box to box player, he wouldn't be with us. He'd have been snapped up last summer.

Broadly, it's the same as the start of the season. He's not our best DM. He's not our best AM. But he does things neither of those positions do, and adds quite a lot more. But it really clicks when he's got a very good specialist partner.

[egg]

My only real criticism of the lad is that he's not great at playing on the half turn which really slows us down. I like that he gets into good positions, that he uses the ball well, that he makes good runs. He's definitely not a holding midfielder, but I like that he'll do a job for the team. 

There's loads of people who don't understand the game who can't recognise what he does well, but jump all over him for what he doesn't. I met one bloke yesterday who thought he was atrocious at the weekend. I asked if he didn't like the 2 x assists, but apparently they don't count as everything else was apparently shit! Bless.

I like the lad. A bit to work on still, but there's a player there. 

Edited March 6 by egg

[musesaint]

Some fans always want someone to hate. 
 

 

[Miltonaggro]

1 hour ago, egg said:

My only real criticism of the lad is that he's not great at playing on the half turn which really slows us down. I like that he gets into good positions, that he uses the ball well, that he makes food reasons. He's definitely not a holding midfielder, but I like that he'll do a job for the team. 

There's loads of people who don't understand the game who can't recognise what he does wel, but jump all over him for what he doesn't. I met one yesterday who thought he was atrocious at the weekend. I asked if he didn't like the 2 x assists, but apparently they don't count as everything else was shit! Bless.

I like the lad. A bit to work on still, but there's a player there. 

Good summary, he is markedly better and clearly more comfortable with Downes in the side. The real shame is that Downes is the only player we currently have who can compliment in that role.

[egg]

4 minutes ago, Miltonaggro said:

Good summary, he is markedly better and clearly more comfortable with Downes in the side. The real shame is that Downes is the only player we currently have who can compliment in that role.

Agreed that he needs a holding player alongside him, and Downes is the best we've got. It's a shame that Charles has flattered to deceive as, on paper, he'd be a great pairing with Smallbone. On that, I find it surprising that Smallbone gets so much flak but that Charles gets an easy ride despite costing a fortune. 

[coalman]

1 minute ago, egg said:

Agreed that he needs a holding player alongside him, and Downes is the best we've got. It's a shame that Charles has flattered to deceive as, on paper, he'd be a great pairing with Smallbone. On that, I find it surprising that Smallbone gets so much flak but that Charles gets an easy ride despite costing a fortune. 

I think there's a player there with Charles too. We were spoiled with how good Lavia was so quickly. This time last year Edozie was written off but he's really blossomed. Charles is still a kid who'll get better. And I think a midfield of Charles and Downes in would give Smallbone a real platform and also leave us a lot less open.

[notnowcato]

Charles will be a premier league player, he’s got all the attributes. He’s young and has a lot to learn.

[ErwinK1961]

1 hour ago, egg said:

Agreed that he needs a holding player alongside him, and Downes is the best we've got. It's a shame that Charles has flattered to deceive as, on paper, he'd be a great pairing with Smallbone. On that, I find it surprising that Smallbone gets so much flak but that Charles gets an easy ride despite costing a fortune. 

Not sure Charles gets an easy ride, it’s just that he doesn’t play much. When he has played, he’s generally been slated.

[VectisSaint]

3 hours ago, egg said:

Agreed that he needs a holding player alongside him, and Downes is the best we've got. It's a shame that Charles has flattered to deceive as, on paper, he'd be a great pairing with Smallbone. On that, I find it surprising that Smallbone gets so much flak but that Charles gets an easy ride despite costing a fortune. 

Where on earth do you get that Charles gets an easy ride. He has been slated on here since that start of the season, some of it justifiably. Seems to have redeemed himself a bit in the last couple of weeks. He is actually a very good player, or will be, but his confidence was shattered early in the season, made too many basic mistakes that cost us. He is still very young, needs a consistent run in MF (not as a CB) and he will turn out great.

[Convict Colony]

9 hours ago, egg said:

Agreed that he needs a holding player alongside him, and Downes is the best we've got. It's a shame that Charles has flattered to deceive as, on paper, he'd be a great pairing with Smallbone. On that, I find it surprising that Smallbone gets so much flak but that Charles gets an easy ride despite costing a fortune. 

[egg]

7 hours ago, VectisSaint said:

Where on earth do you get that Charles gets an easy ride. He has been slated on here since that start of the season, some of it justifiably. Seems to have redeemed himself a bit in the last couple of weeks. He is actually a very good player, or will be, but his confidence was shattered early in the season, made too many basic mistakes that cost us. He is still very young, needs a consistent run in MF (not as a CB) and he will turn out great.

This forum.

Charles gets nothing like the flak that Smallbone does, despite contributing a hell of a lot less. 

[Turkish]

9 hours ago, notnowcato said:

Charles will be a premier league player, he’s got all the attributes. He’s young and has a lot to learn.

hungry so guaranteed to improve, yes?