2017/18 Aaron Lennon

[Zatara]

..i’m not a fan, busy players often flatter but are ineffective. I accept he made a difference against Watford and should’ve got a penalty at Leicester but he does ball watch defensively (he switches off when Vardy scores for example). Saying all of that, it’s needs must at the moment and we need a conventional wide player on the right. Fair play to him.

Its basically like having a quick average right back in the team at right midfield...

Theres minimal attacking threat.

I see why people are saying how good a game he had, and I agree 100%. However, if we had Kanchelskis playing then Palace would not have risked attacking so much on that flank. The more attacking threat we have, the more the opposition have to sit deep.

In essence, we are the ones whove been sitting deep all season because of our slow defenders and having players like Lennon/Schneiderlin in midfield who offer little threat going forward.

If we had Lookman on the right hand side I wonder if he would have seen more of the ball yesterday, playing ahead of a past-it Baines cant be ideal.

 

[cronullasharks]

I like having him in the team at the moment. One of the few that looks like they actually want to be out there and not go through the motions. Obviously he has his limitations as a player but saying lookman or vlasic are really going to make a difference in this team is wrong i reckon, having players in the centre of the park that can keep the ball would be a start for being able to use the wide players effectively

 

[Eggs]

Its basically like having a quick average right back in the team at right midfield...

Theres minimal attacking threat.

I see why people are saying how good a game he had, and I agree 100%. However, if we had Kanchelskis playing then Palace would not have risked attacking so much on that flank. The more attacking threat we have, the more the opposition have to sit deep.

In essence, we are the ones whove been sitting deep all season because of our slow defenders and having players like Lennon/Schneiderlin in midfield who offer little threat going forward.

If we had Lookman on the right hand side I wonder if he would have seen more of the ball yesterday, playing ahead of a past-it Baines cant be ideal.

...I don’t know, Matey. It’s getting to a point where it’s a bit like moving the deckchairs on the Titanic, nothing seems to work. Giggs and Beckham set the standard of wide players working tramlines covering the length of the pitch. I do think building partnerships is the way to go, picking full backs and wide players who compliment each other. Trevor Steven/Gary Stevens; Baines/Pienaar etc.

Not exactly sure who that might be in this squad. I’ve always thought Kenny/Lookman was something worth working on. No doubt Kenny has a great partnership with Dowell, but I think him and Lookman would offer threat going forward.

 

[Zatara]

...I don’t know, Matey. It’s getting to a point where it’s a bit like moving the deckchairs on the Titanic, nothing seems to work. Giggs and Beckham set the standard of wide players working tramlines covering the length of the pitch. I do think building partnerships is the way to go, picking full backs and wide players who compliment each other. Trevor Steven/Gary Stevens; Baines/Pienaar etc.

Not exactly sure who that might be in this squad. I’ve always thought Kenny/Lookman was something worth working on. No doubt Kenny has a great partnership with Dowell, but I think him and Lookman would offer threat going forward.

Agreed, perhaps that's another reason why the u23s coming into the side seem to look better than the seniors, because theyre used to playing together. Niasse mentioned that about playing with Davies...DCL about Niasse.

I think Unsworth or whoever comes in really needs to tap into this.

 

[Eggs]

Agreed, perhaps that's another reason why the u23s coming into the side seem to look better than the seniors, because theyre used to playing together. Niasse mentioned that about playing with Davies...DCL about Niasse.

I think Unsworth or whoever comes in really needs to tap into this.

..i’ve been having an off-line chat with @Andy C and mentioned the real lack of what I call ‘athleticism’ in the team. Folk talk about pace, I think it’s a bit more than that. Gary Stevens and Pat van den Hauwe were talented but they both had Rolls Royce engines. We lack that running power all over the pitch. This is why I think Walsh has to be culpable, he helps set the strategy and we are void of athleticism.

 

[Zatara]

..i’ve been having an off-line chat with @Andy C and mentioned the real lack of what I call ‘athleticism’ in the team. Folk talk about pace, I think it’s a bit more than that. Gary Stevens and Pat van den Hauwe were talented but they both had Rolls Royce engines. We lack that running power all over the pitch. This is why I think Walsh has to be culpable, he helps set the strategy and we are void of athleticism.

I think Walsh had a say in some but not all of the players...again though, looking at most of the young lads...they are definitely able to get up/down/around the pitch. The signings which id put down to Koeman aren't in that mould at all though...

 

[Groucho]

Agreed, perhaps that's another reason why the u23s coming into the side seem to look better than the seniors, because theyre used to playing together. Niasse mentioned that about playing with Davies...DCL about Niasse.

I think Unsworth or whoever comes in really needs to tap into this.

I agree in part - a team should be a "team", more than the sum of its parts and not the collection of 11 random individuals we seem to see a lot of these days.

Th e '80's side was that - obviously talented, but working together they had much more that a simple assembly of 11 lads. OK the U23's can't just walk in and get results, they'll never make it in the PL en masse right now, but once they all have a bit of first team experience, I see no reason why we shouldn't try a side mostly from the U23's. As you highlight, they are used to playing together. Part of our problem currently is that no man knows what the player next to him is doing because the continuity is simply non-existent.

...I don’t know, Matey. It’s getting to a point where it’s a bit like moving the deckchairs on the Titanic, nothing seems to work. Giggs and Beckham set the standard of wide players working tramlines covering the length of the pitch. I do think building partnerships is the way to go, picking full backs and wide players who compliment each other. Trevor Steven/Gary Stevens; Baines/Pienaar etc.

Not exactly sure who that might be in this squad. I’ve always thought Kenny/Lookman was something worth working on. No doubt Kenny has a great partnership with Dowell, but I think him and Lookman would offer threat going forward.

Kenny, Lookman, Coleman (soon) and Lennon. That's some right side we have. I agree with what you say about partnerships, they're the way forward for me. Dowell also as you say, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Lennon though, I think he's been good since Unsworth has come in, and I thought he was one of our better players yesterday. He can tackle, he can get back, he has pace and experience and he can cross. OK, he's never winning player of the season BUT you need people like him, and I for one would find a place in the match day squad for him, starter or bench at least.

 

[d4kyxx]

Should have gone in the summer. Not the player he was years ago

 

[Rothanaa]

He has played majority of games since Unsworth has taken over. I honestly don’t know what he offers to the team. Rotational player at best and holding the likes of Lookman and Vlasic from development.

 

[maccavennie]

Solid 2nd half performance, well done Aaron

 

[AdaBrummieblue]

I didn't want him to start tonight but I thought he was very good. Grafted a lot, as he does, but he was useful for us too. Good game.

 

[KaiserEFC]

Played well again today, could be of use as a wingback if I’m honest

 

[Tin-Tin]

Love him.

 

[flibbyflob]

He has played majority of games since Unsworth has taken over. I honestly don’t know what he offers to the team. Rotational player at best and holding the likes of Lookman and Vlasic from development.

Work rate is what he offers which some others don't. He isn't as naturally gifted as some but works really hard and given our predicament I can see why he has played ahead of Lookman at times. Would hope he can be phased out of the side once we start winning a few games and confidence returns though.

 

[paulbefc]

He really is useful in crises.

When you can't rely on anyone else in the squad to put a shift in, he'll lead by example.