Player Watch Player Watch: Archie Gray

[For the love of Spurs]

Looks he isn’t going to cover what VVD does, he can’t run as quick nor defend as aggressively, nor be as positionally spot on. He did as well as he could and is lovely on the ball.

Our way of playing puts huge pressure on our defenders and we have Gray out of position, Spence out of position and Dragusin in to cover Romero. It’s a big ask against Liverpool.

 

[hughy]

Felt sorry for him on the fourth goal, which was the one that ultimately killed us. Two attempts to clear and it falls to the feet of the best player on the planet.

 

[beats1]

I rather play Dorrington at CB and Gray at DM then continue with this experiment

Jones and Dier both came on to the scene great but got constantly moved around DM, RB and CB, they never learned the positional sense to be a CB

Gray needs to play DM to be learn the position. He isn't a CB and naturally too risky for a CB

 

[Misfit]

I rather play Dorrington at CB and Gray at DM then continue with this experiment

Jones and Dier both came on to the scene great but got constantly moved around DM, RB and CB, they never learned the positional sense to be a CB

Gray needs to play DM to be learn the position. He isn't a CB and naturally too risky for a CB

Yes, temporary injury circumstances aside, and me being just a humble layman and all, whenever possible it seems prudent to play players in their more natural positions, whatever they are or the age of the player.

 

[parj]

Looks he isn’t going to cover what VVD does, he can’t run as quick nor defend as aggressively, nor be as positionally spot on. He did as well as he could and is lovely on the ball.

Our way of playing puts huge pressure on our defenders and we have Gray out of position, Spence out of position and Dragusin in to cover Romero. It’s a big ask against Liverpool.

VVD wasn't the same VVD when he was 18. Let's chill on comparing the two.

 

[DannyNZ]

He played decent enough, Liverpool found it easy to close the passing lane between Gray and Dragusin frequently and isolated Dragusin as the ball player and his passing isn’t up to much.

 

[teddy1066]

Gray did ss well as he could I was impressed. Look back at the lack of defensive effort from Biss Madders and Kulu before digging a kid out who has worked his socks off for the team

 

[McFlash]

Maybe try Biss as a CB and Gray in Midfield.

Oh god no, can you imagine Biss at CB?

 

[DJS]

Looking forward to seeing him in midfield more, as you can see how calm on the ball he is and reckon it will improve our ball retention in the middle of the park massively.

 

[DJS]

Oh god no, can you imagine Biss at CB?

At least he wouldn't have so far to stroll back to lol

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

I thought he was good again, I actually thought him, Dragusin and Spence all did well considering. (Seems a stupid thing to say when we conceded 6)

Porro and Bissouma though were very poor. For me when everyone is fit Gray starts ahead of either of them.

Most of the chances came from Porro being beat one on one, Bissouma giving away the ball, our midfield being non existent or some wonderful crossing from TAA (which in general should have been closed down more by Son).

We have problems right now, but it's not our youngsters imo. We get Bentancur back, Udogie back and one of our centre backs we should be in a better position.

I think we'd be a lot better off if we had Hoijberg (or a hoijberg replacement) in the squad.

 

[DaiT]

I thought Gray was very good considering he is being played out of his normal position. When Romero or VDV return Gray needs to play DM. He is definitely our future.

 

[marion52]

He is 18 yet he is so calm with the ball, measured passing. If his development carries on he will be a star.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

He is 18 yet he is so calm with the ball, measured passing. If his development carries on he will be a star.

However, his short passing is very suspect. Every game he'll make a few mistakes, which can really hurt us from CB. Maybe he'll grow out of it, maybe not.

 

[mil1lion]

Love how he's playing but hopefully gets a bit of rest soon. It's a lot of games in short time for an 18 year old.

 

[Silky Skills]

I rather play Dorrington at CB and Gray at DM then continue with this experiment

Jones and Dier both came on to the scene great but got constantly moved around DM, RB and CB, they never learned the positional sense to be a CB

Gray needs to play DM to be learn the position. He isn't a CB and naturally too risky for a CB

This is how Ange would get me back onside; there was a high chance we lost to Liverpool whatever so actually play a CB at CB, move Gray into Midfeld and freshen it up wi5h Lucas B and Brennan J

 

[Flobadob]

I wouldn’t have Gray playing ahead of Bentancur in the DM position just yet. Don’t really get the thinking behind that. Bentancur was looking very good in the PL just before his ban. I’d be pretty surprised if Gray could replicate that level just yet. I agree he’s looking good to be our DM for the long term but for now I’d have him as second choice there or I’d quite like to see him paired with Bentancur as a 2. I think that would give us a really nice balance with their composure on the ball and higher defensive and football IQ.

 

[Westmorlandspur]

He played decent enough, Liverpool found it easy to close the passing lane between Gray and Dragusin frequently and isolated Dragusin as the ball player and his passing isn’t up to much.

Liverpool did the same to Paul Miller in the 82 League Cup Final . Marked everyone else and let him just fire the ball up the pitch so they got the ball back, Nothing really changes does it.
Well ahead of their time, that 80s Liverpool team. Would beat the current lot hands down.

 

[spurs mental]

I wanted to put this in to the Levy thread as there isn't a transfer thread, but I'll leave it here.

If this is true then I give up. He's basically our only available player to play at CB right now

 

[Stamford]

I wouldn’t have Gray playing ahead of Bentancur in the DM position just yet. Don’t really get the thinking behind that. Bentancur was looking very good in the PL just before his ban. I’d be pretty surprised if Gray could replicate that level just yet. I agree he’s looking good to be our DM for the long term but for now I’d have him as second choice there or I’d quite like to see him paired with Bentancur as a 2. I think that would give us a really nice balance with their composure on the ball and higher defensive and football IQ.

The way Bentancur is playing Gray would be a far better option