Got 30 mins today. Leeds were already 6 goals up so the only positive is that they stopped scoring after he came on. Replaced a striker but I assume played in a DM role
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Got 30 mins today. Leeds were already 6 goals up so the only positive is that they stopped scoring after he came on. Replaced a striker but I assume played in a DM role
If you weren't brought on before it got to 6-0 then I wouldn't say the manager rated you too highly ~ Well maybe your fitness ?Quote:
Originally Posted by rebelmusic
Definitely concerning looking at the state of the Stoke team right now that Lawal and Moran aren't getting a run. Might be next season before we know for sure whether Lawal's situation is fitness related or something else. I don't think Moran belongs in the Championship.
On after 33’ in midfield for Stoke tonight at home to SheffU. Blades scored after 38’ but wasn’t properly watching so don’t know if he was involved in any way. Won’t catch the second half either.
Played RCB today for Stoke against Liverpool. Didn’t go well for him at all.
First goal, is on his side, not his fault but looks sluggish. Second goal, he gives the ball away with a wayward pass and then can’t track Nunez who scores. Both goals he looked really slow. Third goal, Nunez shoots through his legs for his hat-trick. Fourth goal, Ngumoha shoots and it deflects off Lawal into the top corner.
As an aside, Jack Bonham made an appearances, not sure if it half time or when in the second half but he conceded one, nothing he could do about it, was a tap in.
He's definitely not a centre back. I don't know why managers keep trying to play him there, he wasn't even any good in that position for Celtic B. Whether he's a decent centre midfielder or not remains to be seen. He's been good at League 1 level, but we need to see more than that.
The midfielder thing can't be going all that well, if the manager is trying him at centre-back !
Generally easier for teams to find decent centre mids than centre backs (Ireland being the obvious exception here of course). If a player plays both it's usually more likely that a club will try and turn him into a centre back.
Watching Stoke Derby. Lawal starting CB and is playing brilliantly. Strong, fast and can play a bit too.
Went down injured and was taken off shortly afterwards.
Seemed to be moving freely at the end of the game though.
Rave reviews by the Stoke fans. Many mentioning him eventually moving to midfield due to incoming centre halves. Pray to God he does with our dearth of physicality in the middle. Certainly sounding like he’s playing with all the right attributes to succeed there. Great that him and Coventry are getting minutes at a higher level at least.
https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com...d-lawal?page=1
They love a big man at Stoke. But yes, they seem to be really taken by his performances in pre-season this year. Obviously we need him to be playing midfield, the last thing we need is him being turned into yet another big, strong, imposing centre back to add to our extensive collection of those.
Looks like he is starting against Walsall in DM tonight. One of the two in a 4-2-3-1... Great to see and that is just what we need.
Goal for him today v. high flying Birmingham…header from a corner. Starting CB today.
With Collins and O'Shea's troubles in Armenia you could honestly make a case for bringing him in to start at centre back for the October games. Obviously not the position we want to see him playing in, but it's the one he's playing in right now.
He got 8.6 on fotmob for his performance today which, according to Pineapples rating, is fair-to-middling if I recall properly :D
At this point no one in squad should be safe. Mixing it up a bit with new players might put others on their toes a bitQuote:
Originally Posted by Eirambler
I think we need to play a left footed centre back alongside Collins or o shea. O shea was horrible there the other night so slow moving the ball off his right foot. Play scales left centre half and at least uou have some balance and a chance to progress the ball out from the back without all the angles been closed off so easilyQuote:
Originally Posted by Razors left peg
I have a sneaking suspicion that unless Brady is fit he will play scales at left back going forward. Or else 3 CBQuote:
Originally Posted by liamoo11
Stoke fans certainly raving about him. Seem to think he’s destined to be a Centre Half for them, although appear well stocked in that department and getting cited for his passing ability, so remains to be seen. Maybe not a bad thing given our recent defensive lapses, although great that he’s playing well and would like to see him in the middle instead of Knight for some presence if he can play there. Encouraging that there seems to be widespread opinion that he’s PL quality and will be snapped up in no time. God knows the squad need a glimmer of positivity and character having bounced back from various set backs!
https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com...-lawal?page=85
Has had a decent run of games the last while. I'm only basing this on looking at formations but he seems to be playing across multiple positions. Was in midfield a few games back, then center back and is playing right back tonight. Anyone have more info?
I'm still praying that he settles into a strong DM role but the versatility is also a huge plus for us
Edit: I watched the last 20 mins and he was more like right midfield. Very smart overall play and was probably the best Stoke player on the pitch. Commentators complimenting him multiple times.
Cannon played well and was replaced by McGuiness to protect the lead.
Great to see him fit. Lack of top technical ability as we know gets shown up quickly in.midfield at international level killian Phillips been a recent example so it would be a big step up for him .Quote:
Originally Posted by rebelmusic
Looks like Lawal getting a run in midfield today as a response to Stokes current poor run of form. Currently one up.
Sounds like he had a good first half too. I might watch the second half to see how he goes.
Edit - so far all I've seen is John Egan (accidentally) ending Stoke's Slovakian striker Bozenik's season and a long stoppage as a result.
He had a solid second half, without setting the place alight. Nothing that instantly made him the standout candidate to replace Cullen in March but, as a strong physical presence in front of the back four for an away playoff semi final, I could see the logic in including him as an option. Certainly would make more sense than the whole moving Collins to midfield thing that gets brought up from time to time.
Very positive views from their forum on his performance yesterday, looking like he could have finally made the position his own…
https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com...ng-dull?page=1
Reading a few of the other threads, appears that he’s been a victim of his adaptability. Was rated as the best right back option also, especially after having the confidence to go forward. His technical ability and obvious athleticism certainly seem to be well regarded, although look like he’s struggled to get over his recent injury, so has been a bit up and down of late.
Personally think he could be the perfect wildcard if he can a good run of games over the next three months. Coventry and Molomby are the safer experienced options, however if he’s dominating in a play off chasing team, rather than struggling to get into a team getting sucked into a relegation battle in the same division, he’s obviously good enough. Reminiscent of Big Jack gambling with youth in Kelly, McAteer & Babb in 94.
Played left back today and by the sounds of things was very decent again. The Stoke supporters are moving into the "enjoy him while we still have him" mindset they had with Nathan Collins a few years ago.
If he can stay fit it seems very likely that he will have a role to play for us in March, either as a starter or off the bench. He almost covers too many positions not to have a role at this point. Whether he's the Cullen replacement or not is hard to say at this point, but we're not exactly overloaded with good alternatives.
Left back again today. He's being versatile across all our weakest positions so it's a bit of a godsend really. Must be a shoe-in for March
And left back again and having a solid game. We have a really good player in Lawal. Bazunu straight in for a start as well...
Sent off tonight...really harsh second yellow