Blackpool v Burton Albion Official Matchnight Thread 16.03.21

I know KaiKai is frustrating and the difference in his performance first and second half was marked. But i think much of that is the role NC asks him to play.
First half stuck out wide left, totally ineffective. Second half more of a free role, popping up on the right, centre, cutting in from the left and linking play.
Think we're at the stage where we need to go for things a bit more and let the opposition worry about our strengths and us play to them. It's not impossible he will be stuck out wide left at Oxford Saturday.
Stick with him in more of a free role i say, cos the lads got ability.
 
rememberlesshannon said:
I know KaiKai is frustrating and the difference in his performance first and second half was marked. But i think much of that is the role NC asks him to play.
First half stuck out wide left, totally ineffective. Second half more of a free role, popping up on the right, centre, cutting in from the left and linking play.
Think we're at the stage where we need to go for things a bit more and let the opposition worry about our strengths and us play to them. It's not impossible he will be stuck out wide left at Oxford Saturday.
Stick with him in more of a free role i say, cos the lads got ability.
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I say sell him get rid and get someone less high maintenance who works hard for the team and doesnt sulk...it could be a moot point because he can walk away for free in the summer...he has great talent on his day but that just isnt often enough
 
TANGERINETOWERPOWER said:
I say sell him get rid and get someone less high maintenance who works hard for the team and doesnt sulk...it could be a moot point because he can walk away for free in the summer...he has great talent on his day but that just isnt often enough
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Just saying playing to his strengths makes us a better team, because he has that something in his locker others can't do. It's time for us to start thinking about how we hurt the opposition and not the other way around..
 
rememberlesshannon said:
Just saying playing to his strengths makes us a better team, because he has that something in his locker others can't do. It's time for us to start thinking about how we hurt the opposition and not the other way around..
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I dont disagree BUT we keep playing him in the same role that doesnt work and I would rather him not play than play as a passenger
 
TANGERINETOWERPOWER said:
I dont disagree BUT we keep playing him in the same role that doesnt work and I would rather him not play than play as a passenger
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That's the crux of it. His best position is behind the strikers with the ability to float and be our creative talisman. If he's not able to impose himself on the game enough, then you can't set your team up around him and you're better off with a less creative player who provides a more consistent performance week in week out.
 
straightatthewall said:
That's the crux of it. His best position is behind the strikers with the ability to float and be our creative talisman. If he's not able to impose himself on the game enough, then you can't set your team up around him and you're better off with a less creative player who provides a more consistent performance week in week out.
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Kaikai responded massively in that second half, linking play, getting tackles in, making himself available in dangerous parts of the pitch. I was almost calling for his execution at half time but I've eaten humble pie since. If he's in the team on Saturday then it's got to be in that free role. Reverting to the shape,shape,shape mentality would be a huge disappointment.
 
Wizzerboy said:
😁
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Thanks for lightening up Wizzer. Now, when I talked about having learned a big lesson I meant that the first half showed - as with Crewe and Wimbledon - that sticking unwavering to plan A was getting us into a whole heap of trouble and that we needed a fresher, more open and attacking approach. Against Crewe/Wimbledon we didn't learn and kept on plodding in the same old way. Last night Critchley grasped the nettle with a very good swap of Embleton for Simms and a change of shape that freed up Kaikai to be more adventurous whilst telling all the players to get their tackles in first and to be in the opponents' faces.
Long may it continue as well.
 
1966_and_all_that said:
Kaikai responded massively in that second half, linking play, getting tackles in, making himself available in dangerous parts of the pitch. I was almost calling for his execution at half time but I've eaten humble pie since. If he's in the team on Saturday then it's got to be in that free role. Reverting to the shape,shape,shape mentality would be a huge disappointment.
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The question is whether you get that second half performance again. We’ve seen him enough to know that his inconsistency is not just a result of where he’s been asked to play.

Of course I hope he responds well as the talent is there. To paraphrase Robbie, if KaiKai does well, the club will do well...
 
This I would say is debatable, we all know what he is capable of. Has the manager identified where his most effective role his ?
If your up against a team you can employ his skills accordingly then play him in a free role. But if you give him a more disciplined role
he struggles. How many games this season have we seen a poor performance from him ? It comes down to the manager to
work this out with the players he has. If the manager can effect his attitude to a role in the team then I would offer him a new contract.
 
I'm not that convinced the first half was following a plan rigidly. I'd be more inclined it was a consequence of being figuratively and literally blown away through a combination of the weather conditions and Burton's in your face tactics.

We got the wind behind us second half and Burton slackened in intensity because they couldn't keep up that ferocity and pace. We also changed shape slightly and that helped too, but if we'd started that way, I still believe Burton were out battling us, and would have done so anyway.
 
Haven't enjoyed a half for a long while as i did the second half, first time I've seen us play with freedom and be creative. The players always really put a shift in, if we could be better in that final third we are an automatic promotion team. Let's sneak into the POs and do what we do in those, West Ham and Torquay aside.
 
Wizaard said:
I'm not that convinced the first half was following a plan rigidly. I'd be more inclined it was a consequence of being figuratively and literally blown away through a combination of the weather conditions and Burton's in your face tactics.

We got the wind behind us second half and Burton slackened in intensity because they couldn't keep up that ferocity and pace. We also changed shape slightly and that helped too, but if we'd started that way, I still believe Burton were out battling us, and would have done so anyway.
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Fair comment about the first half, we were resorting to hoof-ball just to clear our lines. However, the changes in the second half were marked in a way that didn't happen against Crewe and Wimbledon. Kaikai was enthusiastic chasing the ball and getting stuck in. Embleton was a breath of fresh air and I'd start him against Oxford. he worked well with his midfield colleagues and with Yates. Virtue enforced himself on the game more than in the first half, even though he was one of the few that actually turned up for the first 45. Mitchell continued to impress - and I'd start him next game as well.
 
Micky Walsh said:
Haven't enjoyed a half for a long while as i did the second half, first time I've seen us play with freedom and be creative. The players always really put a shift in, if we could be better in that final third we are an automatic promotion team. Let's sneak into the POs and do what we do in those, West Ham and Torquay aside.
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and Bradford (picky I know).
 
One thing I will say about NC, he realised where the problems were and his H/T sub and a change of tactics made a world of difference.
Looked like 2 different teams after H/T.
Well done NC.
 
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