Naismith 3 year extention

[4737carlin]

Over the past 12 months there haven't been many in the squad who've done better for us IMO.

This is true, if the rest of the squad (particulary the ones with more natural quality in there repertoire) gave us as much as he does week in week out we would be in the top 6. Martinez dosent drop him because he can't.

 

[banno]

Here is an interesting piece from espn re: Chelsea game

Further hindering the creative threat was the re-emergence of Martinez's penchant for shoehorning players into unfamiliar roles. Naismith offered proof of the debilitating effect of this tactic, floundering on the left of midfield.

Naismith has looked tired in recent matches, struggling to keep pace. His questionable distributing skills are rising to prominence amid these fatigued performances. Ceaseless in his work rate, the fair-haired forward is one player who would benefit from a break from the starting lineup.

 

[Haston]

Here is an interesting piece from espn re: Chelsea game

Further hindering the creative threat was the re-emergence of Martinez's penchant for shoehorning players into unfamiliar roles. Naismith offered proof of the debilitating effect of this tactic, floundering on the left of midfield.

Naismith has looked tired in recent matches, struggling to keep pace. His questionable distributing skills are rising to prominence amid these fatigued performances. Ceaseless in his work rate, the fair-haired forward is one player who would benefit from a break from the starting lineup.

I think they've got it spot on, Naismith does look jaded to me! The shoe-horning has been a problem all season and has affected the confidence of Ross and Naisy in particular.

Naismith has been playing far too deep lately, picking the ball up 30-40 yards from goal. He's not a creator, he's a penalty box player! It gets pointed out on here plenty that he can't pass, so why is he playing in a creative role? He should be operating in and around the penalty box, or not at all. Martinez has made big errors this season that he must learn from.

 

[davek]

Here is an interesting piece from espn re: Chelsea game
Further hindering the creative threat was the re-emergence of Martinez's penchant for shoehorning players into unfamiliar roles. Naismith offered proof of the debilitating effect of this tactic, floundering on the left of midfield.
Naismith has looked tired in recent matches, struggling to keep pace. His questionable distributing skills are rising to prominence amid these fatigued performances. Ceaseless in his work rate, the fair-haired forward is one player who would benefit from a break from the starting lineup.

The feller's been notorious since he got here for giving the ball away. That ESPN comment fails to recognise that his appalling levels of incompetency in the last couple of games - 26 out of 35 unsuccessful passes against Liverpool; 27 out of 36 passes unsuccessful against Chelsea - are par for the course with Naismith and are something we've known for a long time. He always produces passing stats of 1 in 4 going to the opposition or out of play.

For a manager who cherishes retaining possession, he's a strange choice for Martinez as an automatic starter.

 

[ijjysmith]

We've tried dropping everyone else (except Barry of course), so it's probably worth trying dropping Naismith now.

It's his turn.

 

[Haston]

It was around this time last season that Naismith started to have a big impact. Could have done similar this season but Martinez' refusal to rotate him this season has left the lad tired and lacking confidence. Now we're about to resume Thursday night football, and we have more wide attacking options, he has to give Naismith a rest!

 

[davek]

We've tried dropping everyone else (except Barry of course), so it's probably worth trying dropping Naismith now.

It's his turn.

He's an off the bench player. Same as McGeady. Having both him and Barry on the pitch has meant we effectively had 9 men out out on the pitch. Long gone are his early season days when he at least offered menace popping up in the box (and it didn't matter where he was put early in the season...he'd get himself on the end of things).

We really need to be seeing more of Kone and less of Naismith now.

 

[Little Ralphy]

For a manager who cherishes retaining possession, he's a strange choice for Martinez as an automatic starter.

This is the bit I just don't understand. Martinez seems to hinder his own style with his choice of players. Oviedo is another one for me who loses the ball in the wrong areas, and Barry isn't quick enough to cover the ground when one of them does lose it and half the team is out of position.


Naismith playing has a detrimental effect on Lukaku and Barkley in particular, as he doesn’t even offer the choice of a one-two as he can’t do it, and more often than not he crowds their space, or cuts the came off by moving inside.


I wonder if Naismith is playing to help with the Barry situation. We know Barkley has next to no work-rate defensively from that no.10 role, and Barry is so slow he can only really foul people half the time, so is he playing Naismith to counter-act the two from a purely defensive point of view? Would we need him so much defensively if it wasn’t him limiting the attacks/possession so often?

 

[Saint Domingo]

Naismith is your classic second striker, as in paired with a big man in a 4-4-2 he would get goals galore as he did in Scotland because his intelligent running and good finishing will always put him in the right places. He is not a left winger and he is not a number 10. Again it's not the player, its Martinez asking hmi to do a job he can't do. As fans though when its Ross on the wing everyone complains 'it's not his position' when its Naismith everyone complains 'he's rubbish'. Complete double standards. For what its worth I would wager we might have scored more recently if Naismith was upfront by himself instead of Lukaku but that's really the only position he can take in Martinez's formation unless we suddenly switch to a 4-4-2.

 

[Haston]

Naismith is your classic second striker, as in paired with a big man in a 4-4-2 he would get goals galore as he did in Scotland because his intelligent running and good finishing will always put him in the right places. He is not a left winger and he is not a number 10. Again it's not the player, its Martinez asking hmi to do a job he can't do. As fans though when its Ross on the wing everyone complains 'it's not his position' when its Naismith everyone complains 'he's rubbish'. Complete double standards. For what its worth I would wager we might have scored more recently if Naismith was upfront by himself instead of Lukaku but that's really the only position he can take in Martinez's formation unless we suddenly switch to a 4-4-2.

Absolutely bang on! He made his name as a goal scoring penalty box player at Kilmarnock. Unfortunately for him, his work-rate often gets him played out of position to 'do a job'!

I would love to see him partner Lukaku up front, although I'm not sure Martinez has ever operated with 2 up front so I can't see it happening!

 

[royvernon39]

I agree that Naismith is a second striker and that he has some qualities.

But surely there is no disagreement that his lack of pace, poor passing and low level of technical ability should deny him access. And has been pointed out his presence crowds out Barkley and leaves Lukaku abandoned. The team is lopsided. Two defensive midfielders plus the Pale Messi is too much ballast for the good ship, EFC.

Imagine if we had a half-decent no10. Think Ings let alone an even better upgrade. Pace, ingenuity and an outlet for a pass.

 

[davek]

This is the bit I just don't understand. Martinez seems to hinder his own style with his choice of players. Oviedo is another one for me who loses the ball in the wrong areas, and Barry isn't quick enough to cover the ground when one of them does lose it and half the team is out of position.


Naismith playing has a detrimental effect on Lukaku and Barkley in particular, as he doesn’t even offer the choice of a one-two as he can’t do it, and more often than not he crowds their space, or cuts the came off by moving inside.


I wonder if Naismith is playing to help with the Barry situation. We know Barkley has next to no work-rate defensively from that no.10 role, and Barry is so slow he can only really foul people half the time, so is he playing Naismith to counter-act the two from a purely defensive point of view? Would we need him so much defensively if it wasn’t him limiting the attacks/possession so often?

I agree completely. When you think of Martinez in his two previous jobs you think of the fluidity of movement and passing. At times last season you could see it taking hold with us. But this season has been a mess. No pace or precision, and the personnel fielded and formations he puts them in has aided and abetted that. Injuries have played a part, I suppose. But I do think we are at a crossroads now with this squad. Martinez needs to swing the axe in the summer and get the players in he feels can play the type of football he has overseen in the past. In short: he has to make this his squad now and not his adaptation and reconfiguration of Moyes' squad. That should have started last summer. He's delayed this unforgivably by 12 months.

 

[davek]

Imagine if we had a half-decent no10. Think Ings let alone an even better upgrade. Pace, ingenuity and an outlet for a pass.

We should be moving heaven and earth to get Sigurdsson or similar type this summer. That and a couple of quality CBs should be the summer transfer targets.

 

[Haston]

I agree that Naismith is a second striker and that he has some qualities.

But surely there is no disagreement that his lack of pace, poor passing and low level of technical ability should deny him access. And has been pointed out his presence crowds out Barkley and leaves Lukaku abandoned. The team is lopsided. Two defensive midfielders plus the Pale Messi is too much ballast for the good ship, EFC.

Imagine if we had a half-decent no10. Think Ings let alone an even better upgrade. Pace, ingenuity and an outlet for a pass.

I agree that the ACM role has to be occupied by a creator. The problem is that the likes of Barkley and Mirallas don't do their defensive duties, hence why Naismith gets the nod. This in turn exposes Naismith's weaknesses ie. creativity! It's up to Martinez to sort this out and find the correct balance for the team, it's been all over the shop this season!

 

[hullefc]

Naismith is a squad player but the way we have been playing we needed to dig deep and work hard, something Naismith offers and he does move into space - a good attribute to get the attacks going. His limitations poor passing, looses control of the ball have hindered our attacking play. It is a doubled edge sword. Does some good things then let down by losing possession. This has got worse lately and feel he needs to be benched. I feel it was needs must with Naismith and would keep him next season in the squad to be used as a sub and the occasional start. A filler-in.