Hardly got a mention on this Forum following our win yesterday, but he was an ingredient that has been missing since Kenny went missing. Matty is a roughhouse footballer, who is essential at this level in midfield. He “ puts it about”. There are far more skilful footballers than he , but every team needs a hard man to complement players like Dembele. Take a bow son ! Yesterday you did the “ down and dirty” stuff to perfection.
Matty Virtue
- Thread starter Middxile
- Start date
Costero Poderoso
Well-known member
ive always liked matty virtue, does the defensive part without all the diving in and going to ground, good positional sense, when he goes forward he makes really good runs, got a shot and a pass on him and he does everything fairly quietly.
tangysider
Well-known member
I think Morgan likes a full blooded challenge, and think he will be the key defensive midfielder going forward. Happy with his signing and it shows there are free transfers out there who are worth pursuing.
If Dougall is leaving, and Norburn appears fragile and slow then Matty is needed in the interim.
If Dougall is leaving, and Norburn appears fragile and slow then Matty is needed in the interim.
Satriale's Pork Store
Well-known member
I honestly don't think MV is quite good enough for where we currently are and want to progress to.
TANGERINETOWERPOWER
Well-known member
I don’t think Virtue or Morgan are that good and we should eventually be looking to upgrade on both..however we have problems all over the park and perhaps a big strong ball winning centre half who can actually pass a ball must be a priority..our defenders on the whole lack pace and have awful distribution. First priority though has to be to sign Rhodes..I hope we at least bid for him and not f we don’t then it speaks volumes about our ambition going forward
Virtue is probably the closest we’ve got to Dougall and he and Morgan both put in a shift yesterday however I honestly don’t think a midfield of Virtue and Morgan has the quality to get us out of this division. Add to that Norburn and Carey (who was actually playing his best football for us until recently dropped). I think we still need a quality midfielder alongside one of those listed above
Critchknows
Well-known member
He played well yesterday and did the things that dont really get noticed. I do think we need to bring in a new CM though as if our ambitions are higher than League 1, im not sure he is quite good enough. Give him his due though he is worth his place again
I think that's fair comment but sadly NC chops and changes the midfield so much no-one gets a decent run. Take Carey as an example. As others have said just as he had started to play well he's 'rested.' Must be so demoralising for him. Really good teams going for promotion don't tend to change players around every game as NC does. We have absolutely no idea what his next team will look like.
WIZARD OF TANGERINE
Well-known member
Connolly gets stuck in as well ,yet every time he makes a mistake in what is not his natural position, there a big mouth in the crowd on his case,and I am not talking a spotty kid ,but an adult. I am sure people can judge for themselves rather then having this clowns commentary.
tangerinespud
Well-known member
Hard to tell from yesterday against opposition who basically played a 64 formation & bypassed the midfield.
Steve Thompson called it yesterday after about 5 minutes saying - if Blackpool can get it down in the middle & play from there they will get a lot of joy.
Virtue did play well yesterday but thought he became more anonymous after his booking.
Steve Thompson called it yesterday after about 5 minutes saying - if Blackpool can get it down in the middle & play from there they will get a lot of joy.
Virtue did play well yesterday but thought he became more anonymous after his booking.
FLATBACKFOR
Well-known member
Morgan is getting better all the time.
Burnnazzer
Well-known member
I always thought Dougall Virtue Dembele would end up as our best midfield 3 with others coming in when required. Unfortunately this probably is not going to happen. They are all mobile and first 2 strong. I don’t understand the silence if Dougall is going, if personal then fair enough.
Barbarian
Well-known member
I'm sure he gives everything he's got, but clearly it's difficult playing out of position. Playing alongside a big solid centre back like RIchard Keogh would bring the best out of him.
fcblackpool
Well-known member
CC or ME? There really shouldn't be a debate. ME is the clubs best defender and even through a lean patch he should be allowed to work himself in again. The passing errors surely, like with Dom T, could be sorted on the TG.
Also don't really buy the ME can't play in a 3. He should be in the middle. Whether it's a back 3 or 4 ME is weakest being pulled out to the RB area.
CC has many attributes, but one isn't as a nailed on starter.
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hertfordseasider
Well-known member
Matty Virtue is a clever player and moves the ball quickly, which is what we need. He will benefit from an extended run in the team. Carey and Morgan are pretty similar but Morgan is stronger defensively and Carey is slightly more creative, so with Dembele as the attacking midfielder of the 3 I can see why Morgan is starting in front of Carey but I like Carey so a bit gutted for him. As for Norburn, he's just too slow, he labours on the ball and doesn't pass the ball around him with any zip or even accuracy. He is constantly injured too.
Wizaard
Well-known member
Exactly.
I don't get how Ekpiteta is left out because he can't pass, yet Husband, Connolly and Casey are hardly Beckenbauer. Marv has far more positives, and showed it when he came on, winning headers and tackles comfortably and totally nullifying any threat they had.
Alfie Conn
Well-known member
Matt Virtue needs what has eluded him his whole Blackpool career, a injury free season.
Discojohndeary
Well-known member
I have been mystified, too, by both Carey's absence, just when he was developing some confidence in his role and assurance on the ball, and that of Ekpiteta, who is by far our best defender. Dougall, too, was playing really well. I could be wrong, but I suspect that other fans are wondering what is going on behind the scenes when some of our better recent performers are excluded from the team with no explanation. As a result, Virtue and Morgan are having to generate a new midfield understanding halfway through a tough season while shoring up a passenger (Norburn) who should never have been signed. I don't envy them, and suspect the whole thing has been ( and is being) badly mismanaged.
Loco
Well-known member
Morgan is more creative than Carey for me. He's an excellent passer of the ball. See Dembele's chance for example.
I bleed Tangerine
Well-known member
This, everytime he seemingly has secured his place in our starting 11 he gets injured. It's a shame because he is brilliant on his day.
WIZARD OF TANGERINE
Well-known member
I am not really bothered about how he is playing . What I don't like is someone highlighting his mistakes all the time when we can see for ourselves. There is never any praise when he puts his body on the line .Its as though its personnel.
Wizaard
Well-known member
Critchley said that Marv was ill, Dougall had a personal matter, and maybe Carey needed a rest, to be fair.
Discojohndeary
Well-known member
It's sheer ill-fortune, then, that three players who didn't start the season well, yet fought through those bad patches and regained good form, were then excluded for a variety of reasons. I completely accept Dougall's right to privacy, but remain sceptical about the reasons for the absences of the other two.
qurotangerine
Well-known member
Connolly started his career as a centre half and captained Evertons youth side.
I'm glad all it takes in your opinion to be a League 1 footballer is " to get stuck in ".