Shrewsbury v Blackpool Official Matchday Thread 02.03.24

[eatmygoal]

Good read and spot on about CJ, he looks utterly lost and we almost played a man short for the time he was on the pitch. Not showing for the ball, not making runs in behind and unable to keep possession when he got it. Standing on the half way line like a lost soul with no idea of what was expected of him, I felt sorry for him and wanted him to be put out of his misery.

i can see CJ's attributes and have/will defend him against the abuse he gets on here by some, but i think his confidence is low atm.

i wasn't there yesterday but i was on tuesday night and, tbf, he didn't look quite right. he was on the left and knew he had the beating of the full-back, which he did, a few times. however, after getting that half a yard, he immediately looked for the square pass or pull-back which wasn't always on. a confident player would have hit the by-line imo, knowing that the options are greater. he is not alone in not "attacking the space" btw,, as some of our more one-footed players are guilty of too (but never seem to get any of the stick like CJ does).

i honestly think CJ will improve now that JR is back - he is the first player he looks for when he beats his man or has an opportunity to find a striker.

 

[rememberlesshannon]

i can see CJ's attributes and have/will defend him against the abuse he gets on here by some, but i think his confidence is low atm.

i wasn't there yesterday but i was on tuesday night and, tbf, he didn't look quite right. he was on the left and knew he had the beating of the full-back, which he did, a few times. however, after getting that half a yard, he immediately looked for the square pass or pull-back which wasn't always on. a confident player would have hit the by-line imo, knowing that the options are greater. he is not alone in not "attacking the space" btw,, as some of our more one-footed players are guilty of too (but never seem to get any of the stick like CJ does).

i honestly think CJ will improve now that JR is back - he is the first player he looks for when he beats his man or has an opportunity to find a striker.

I'm not giving him stick, I'm giving an honest opinion of his performance on Saturday. He looked devoid of confidence and looked like he had no clue what his role was. I'm also saying it's not his fault because we aren't playing to his strengths or in his proper position

 

[eatmygoal]

I'm not giving him stick, I'm giving an honest opinion of his performance on Saturday. He looked devoid of confidence and looked like he had no clue what his role was. I'm also saying it's not his fault because we aren't playing to his strengths or in his proper position

soz, i wasn't implying you were giving him stick - i was just alluding to some of the grief he gets on here, which is largely non-constructive and unhelpful.

fwiw, i agree with your analysis, and i just wish that this board could debate the enigma that is CJ in a more rounded way. NC's deployment of him is an important part of that discussion, for sure.