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Player Watch Player Watch: Archie Gray

SUIYHA

Well-Known Member
Jan 15, 2017
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9,196
Am not really sure what we stand to gain from blooding him into the team at RB if his long term position is in midfield. Yes we need cover at RB because Porro can't play every game, but the positions are very different and the experience gained is only partly relevant. I suppose full-backs that drift inside are in fashion these days and am sure Pep would be playing him all over the pitch if he was at City.

Think he did ok overall last night but the lack of raw pace against a fast winger was exposed a bit particularly as it was clear that City were targeting him. Still though, glad he's got the minutes and will hopefully be a big confidence booster being part of the win.
 

Tucker

Shitehawk
Jul 15, 2013
34,010
158,422
Of course he would have? Porro can actually defend especially just against pace. Nunes isn’t a winger

100% this. Porro would’ve had Nunez in his pocket
I love Porro, but there are numerous examples of when he’s lost his man at the far post that result in a goal. Just like the goal conceded last night.

Archie did fine against a very good team.
 

Dazzazzad

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2006
1,394
5,096
Both Gray and Johnson completely ignored him so both were at fault
Gray tracked a runner who was darting into a dangerous position for the cross, which did leave the back post open but someone had to take that man.

1000099245.png
 

Joshua shepherd

Well-Known Member
Jan 31, 2013
1,471
3,630
Gray tracked a runner who was darting into a dangerous position for the cross, which did leave the back post open but someone had to take that man.

View attachment 147216
There’s two problems, one is Johnson is marking nobody yet again, and two the communication between the back four just isn’t there. Archie could pass him onto Romero if he let him know and then deal with the Nunes at the back post.
 

Silky Skills

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2013
406
1,287
There’s two problems, one is Johnson is marking nobody yet again, and two the communication between the back four just isn’t there. Archie could pass him onto Romero if he let him know and then deal with the Nunes at the back post.
Three: Destiny gets skinned again / fails to block the cross ............... sorry
 

C1w8

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2011
747
1,427
Correct. I wasn’t gonna mention Udogie as I refuse to blame him until there’s a suitable rotation option.

Both sides the wingers had the beating of our guys 1 v 1 most of the night, city have quality wingers, its a tough assignment for players this young.

On the goal dont think it was Archies fault, he tracked the runner, there was no time to pass him off to romero with the striker coming in from romeros blindside, it was timed perfectly to open up for the back post, brennan shouldve been on one of them either runner or far post really, but no communication between RB and WR.
 

DannyNZ

Well-Known Member
Jul 3, 2017
2,101
5,871
I love Porro, but there are numerous examples of when he’s lost his man at the far post that result in a goal. Just like the goal conceded last night.

Archie did fine against a very good team.
Agree we seem to concede a lot of goals at that back post on the right. Did much better in the second half.
 

DogsOfWar

Well-Known Member
Jan 12, 2005
2,366
3,866
Gray, quite rightly, picked up the man Johnson didn't track back with.
He spotted the danger and covered it.
And, even then, Johnson still had an opportunity to see the danger at the far post and cover it but didn't.

This is why managers love players that 'run around a lot', it's how the top teams concede so few goals.
They are all willing to work back as well as forward.
 

newbie

Well-Known Member
Jul 16, 2004
6,461
7,019
Tbf I blame the ref we had two desicions which went against us before the goal.
one of our players was blatantly pulled down and two of there players collided.

we need to defend better, at the same time city are quality, we have a lot of young players with a very high ceilin.

Ange needs time and the squad need time give it time I think we will have a very good talented squad.
 

Danny1

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2006
5,951
19,104
Yet another good performance by this extremely good 18 year old. A mark of his understanding of the game was when he pulled their winger back and just held on to him to stop an attack late in the game. 'Dark Arts' or whatever you want to call it but a clever move from a lad who clearly understands the game.

He is extremely comfortable on the ball and the experience he is getting from these minutes in invaluable. If we compare him to Rodri for development, at the same age Rodri played a handful of games for Villareal B in the Segunda Division. In fact Rodris first appearance at the top level was when he was 20.
 

Ron Burgundy

SC Supporter
Jun 19, 2008
8,605
26,818
the experience gained is only partly relevant
Positionally, perhaps. But I'd argue first team exposure is valuable in of itself. And it's not like he doesn't drift upfield.

He's just been on the field with some really good players - with and against - and has learnt, mentally, what's required to hold on to a lead against a top tier team. That's massive from an experience point of view.

We need to make sure that at some point, he learns what it's like in midfield too, but in the meantime, this is incredible experience for an 18 year old.
 

Blake Griffin

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2011
14,369
39,633
Gray tracked a runner who was darting into a dangerous position for the cross, which did leave the back post open but someone had to take that man.

View attachment 147216
we concede this goal so often.

archie is doing the right thing here, just as porro is when he "loses his man". either the rcm or rw needs to be picking up the runner at the back post. sarr is usually pretty diligent at this, the others less so.
 

Yantino

Well-Known Member
Apr 28, 2012
766
3,444
I thought he was superb last night. He's clearly not a RB but he coped really well IMO. The goal was Udogie's doing, not Gray's.

I'd love to see him get some minutes in midfield.
 

funkycoldmedina

Well-Known Member
Jun 20, 2004
2,650
8,671
we concede this goal so often.

archie is doing the right thing here, just as porro is when he "loses his man". either the rcm or rw needs to be picking up the runner at the back post. sarr is usually pretty diligent at this, the others less so.
So many of our defensive issues stem from not have the quality we need from our midfielders. I don't think we have any that are elite at sniffing out trouble, they're all reactive.
 

RJR1949

Well-Known Member
Jan 31, 2013
1,225
6,804
There was a moment in the first half when Nunes flew past Grey beating him hands down for speed. I feared the worst. But it never happened again. I put this down to really smart positioning by Grey.

Agreed, he’s not a top class full back and lacks the speed to ever be one.

But he’d hugely talented and is going to be a top class midfielder.

I’m excited to see how he develops.
 
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