Matty platt

[EABluebird]

And I've watched Ipswich Town this season several times and I can tell you they would also struggle sometimes to get anywhere near the flair or style of our play. And have said so witheringly to several tractor boys.

However appearances can be deceptive and there are reasons why these clubs are in higher leagues. For example Ipswich have a pair of centre backs in Skuse and Chambers that would shut down Quigley in an instant. Fit, able and capable they are experienced by L1 standards (both played in the Championship) and need to be given Towns deficiencies elsewhere notably up front.

Most L1 and decent L2 sides will have certain areas of excellence in their teams. Whilst they will not be streets ahead of our players all over the park they will inevitably pose greater problems. Also tactically teams at these levels are much better prepared. They do their homework. They can try to impose themselves and shut you down at the same time. If I had a concern about Evatt at a higher level it was whether our team would've been allowed to play the type of football that we've all come to appreciate. Even towards the end of last season, NL teams were learning how to best disrupt our play and had worked us out. It got more difficult.

I'm not underselling our players and there is a poverty of class at the bottom of L2. But we shouldn't aspire to compare only with the likes of Morecambe or Carlisle. These might be great games for us but the opposition does not represent the best of what L2 can offer.

Funny you mention Ipswich as I’ve watched them a couple of times and Colchester also, in fact I live so close to Portman Road my daughter complains the floodlights keep her awake when a game is on!
As mentioned I’ve watched Colchester a lot too and the standard is not high, I feel that our Barrow team would be more than a match for them, it’s the usual hoof ball and they can’t generally string more than 3 passes together unless they passing it round in their own half. They finished in the play offs.

[andyg]

Good post by Suffolk Blue. Living in Manchester area I've watched Salford a couple of times and Bolton in their last home game against Accrington (who were the better side in that game). Felt there is more of a "toughness" in the EFL that we need to come to terms with. These teams will be more resilient against us. I think we need some players who have been effective at L2 level in order to protect and release our flair players. I'd even go as far to say that not only do we need a Platt like player at the back but possible a pair of them and a more commanding goalkeeper. Yes I know Dixon is good and certainly a good shot stopper but he needs significant competition to develop. Interesting comments about Quigley. I agree. For him to flourish at this level he need help and support up front. I still see Dior more as a wide player. Whether we like it or not we will have to tough things out more in the EFL. There will be long ball teams we will come up against like Colchester but the quality of the players they have are better long ball players than in the NL. To impose our game we will have to be both mentally and physically stronger. I too felt after the turn of the year (where our last away win was on Jan 1st at Fylde) and apart from Ebsefleet (who played over half the game with 10 men) opposition teams were working us out. L2 teams will work us out quicker. It would have been an interesting run in for us with away games at Harrogate, Halifax & Yeovil plus a home game against a resurgent Stockport. But that is all conjecture now. But we need to be ready and hopefully hit the ground running. So we need a new manager quick! Along with a couple of players of the caliber of Platt.

[Suffolk Blue]

Agree Andy. Its probably more about improving the all round quality. Back to my Ipswich example - If these two that I mentioned are so good why aren't Ipswich still in the Championship? The answer is obvious if you go and watch them. Firstly they have lacked any cutting edge up front so dont score enough goals.

Secondly teams have learned not to go head-to-head with Skuse and Lambert because they are too good. The weakness however is on the flanks. So teams invariably play wide against Ipswich to exploit the weakness and get behind the defensive line and turn the centre-backs around. It levels the playing field.

None of this is rocket science of course. Its just that at a higher level teams are better at executing the tactics.

[Jonty]

Good post by Suffolk Blue. Living in Manchester area I've watched Salford a couple of times and Bolton in their last home game against Accrington (who were the better side in that game). Felt there is more of a "toughness" in the EFL that we need to come to terms with. These teams will be more resilient against us. I think we need some players who have been effective at L2 level in order to protect and release our flair players. I'd even go as far to say that not only do we need a Platt like player at the back but possible a pair of them and a more commanding goalkeeper. Yes I know Dixon is good and certainly a good shot stopper but he needs significant competition to develop. Interesting comments about Quigley. I agree. For him to flourish at this level he need help and support up front. I still see Dior more as a wide player. Whether we like it or not we will have to tough things out more in the EFL. There will be long ball teams we will come up against like Colchester but the quality of the players they have are better long ball players than in the NL. To impose our game we will have to be both mentally and physically stronger. I too felt after the turn of the year (where our last away win was on Jan 1st at Fylde) and apart from Ebsefleet (who played over half the game with 10 men) opposition teams were working us out. L2 teams will work us out quicker. It would have been an interesting run in for us with away games at Harrogate, Halifax & Yeovil plus a home game against a resurgent Stockport. But that is all conjecture now. But we need to be ready and hopefully hit the ground running. So we need a new manager quick! Along with a couple of players of the caliber of Platt.

Agree with this, ultimately the direct power football teams will always cause problems for us. Watched the Northampton V Exeter highlights and asked the question, how would we fair up to these teams, and ultimately, you could see what got the result, that physical power game, crosses into the box, powerful presence in the air, headers etc. We need to adapt to this. Its almost a hybrid of a Cox / Evatt approach will be needed.

[NORTHERNSOUL]

Agree Andy. Its probably more about improving the all round quality. Back to my Ipswich example - If these two that I mentioned are so good why aren't Ipswich still in the Championship? The answer is obvious if you go and watch them. Firstly they have lacked any cutting edge up front so dont score enough goals.

Secondly teams have learned not to go head-to-head with Skuse and Lambert because they are too good. The weakness however is on the flanks. So teams invariably play wide against Ipswich to exploit the weakness and get behind the defensive line and turn the centre-backs around. It levels the playing field.

None of this is rocket science of course. Its just that at a higher level teams are better at executing the tactics.

Off the subject a bit but how have you found Kayden Jackson then ?

[NORTHERNSOUL]

Good post by Suffolk Blue. Living in Manchester area I've watched Salford a couple of times and Bolton in their last home game against Accrington (who were the better side in that game). Felt there is more of a "toughness" in the EFL that we need to come to terms with. These teams will be more resilient against us. I think we need some players who have been effective at L2 level in order to protect and release our flair players. I'd even go as far to say that not only do we need a Platt like player at the back but possible a pair of them and a more commanding goalkeeper. Yes I know Dixon is good and certainly a good shot stopper but he needs significant competition to develop. Interesting comments about Quigley. I agree. For him to flourish at this level he need help and support up front. I still see Dior more as a wide player. Whether we like it or not we will have to tough things out more in the EFL. There will be long ball teams we will come up against like Colchester but the quality of the players they have are better long ball players than in the NL. To impose our game we will have to be both mentally and physically stronger. I too felt after the turn of the year (where our last away win was on Jan 1st at Fylde) and apart from Ebsefleet (who played over half the game with 10 men) opposition teams were working us out. L2 teams will work us out quicker. It would have been an interesting run in for us with away games at Harrogate, Halifax & Yeovil plus a home game against a resurgent Stockport. But that is all conjecture now. But we need to be ready and hopefully hit the ground running. So we need a new manager quick! Along with a couple of players of the caliber of Platt.

Agree with this, ultimately the direct power football teams will always cause problems for us. Watched the Northampton V Exeter highlights and asked the question, how would we fair up to these teams, and ultimately, you could see what got the result, that physical power game, crosses into the box, powerful presence in the air, headers etc. We need to adapt to this. Its almost a hybrid of a Cox / Evatt approach will be needed.

Curle is a very good manager but he insists on having 2 players for each position and insists on tinkering when he doesn't need to and its as if he just can't help experimenting to find out who his best 11 are when he would be better just concentrating on winning games.

Exeter are a very well run club [ 3 playoff finals in 4 years says so ] But they dismantled their last really good side too early then Tisdale and his mentor Perryman then left and the new manager now two years in will have a completely new side next season but if you can match Exeter you will be doing ok.

[Suffolk Blue]

Agree Andy. Its probably more about improving the all round quality. Back to my Ipswich example - If these two that I mentioned are so good why aren't Ipswich still in the Championship? The answer is obvious if you go and watch them. Firstly they have lacked any cutting edge up front so dont score enough goals.

Secondly teams have learned not to go head-to-head with Skuse and Lambert because they are too good. The weakness however is on the flanks. So teams invariably play wide against Ipswich to exploit the weakness and get behind the defensive line and turn the centre-backs around. It levels the playing field.

None of this is rocket science of course. Its just that at a higher level teams are better at executing the tactics.

Off the subject a bit but how have you found Kayden Jackson then ?

Sorry NS have just picked this up a bit late.

First saw Jackson play against us for Wrexham and there was a little tattle about us being interested which at the time was never on as he was too good and too expensive. When he came to Ipswich they were in the Championship and I joked that the writing was on the wall. It was.

Looked totally out of his depth at the higher level. Has looked better in L1 last season and this is clearly as far as he is likely to go. Would do very well in L2. Ipswich try to play with youth and pace and he is quick. He's also learned to find decent positions in the box and his finishing has improved. He has scored a few decent goals for Town and is also useful with his head.

But I would say that he lacks the instinct and creativity of a potent striker at that level and whilst he seems a reasonable fixture in the squad he doesn't score enough. In fact he is pretty representative of Ipswich's season. Competent without being dynamic and short of the class he would need to be of real interest to the league above.

I know hes northern based and if the question was would he do for BAFC (or Bolton) the answer would be undoubtedly yes.

[PerthBluebird]

DFB2F39D-53C3-4EBB-8173-FEA3A9D957EE.png (3.17 MiB) Viewed 7011 times

Promising

[Dwayne Beresford]

I hope the club will be doing every effort to sign Steve McNulty back. Would be the perfect partner for Platty.

[PerthBluebird]

I hope the club will be doing every effort to sign Steve McNulty back. Would be the perfect partner for Platty.

Good bit of fishing 10/10

[philbrownstan]

I hope the club will be doing every effort to sign Steve McNulty back. Would be the perfect partner for Platty.

I think Razor Ruddock would be a better option

[russell_anderson]

I hope the club will be doing every effort to sign Steve McNulty back. Would be the perfect partner for Platty.

Too late for that. He's 37 years old!

[Steeley]

I hope the club will be doing every effort to sign Steve McNulty back. Would be the perfect partner for Platty.

Don't actually believe that's totally mental tbh.

[ruins]

I hope the club will be doing every effort to sign Steve McNulty back. Would be the perfect partner for Platty.

Don't actually believe that's totally mental tbh.

Not the worst shout

[djjbafc]

Dunn pulling the strings...