Player Watch Player Watch: Archie Gray

[Cavehillspur]

Big cheer went up from the crowd when he trotted into midfield as Ben Davies came on lol

 

[Gbspurs]

Gray Bergvall Kulusevski 3 with pace out wide is a the dream. Hopefully we will see it soon

 

[adamsky]

I thought he was slightly at fault for the goal as he let the AZ attacker start from behind him and he wasn’t offside. It was noticeable the difference when VDV came off, but that is to be expected. No one has VDV’s pace and strength and it showed how big a miss he has been.

Archie then went on to make some good interceptions and he looks very comfortable on the ball. I just hope his versatility doesn’t end up preventing him of really making his mark in his best position, as we will always have injuries and need covering.

 

[Lenny Leonard]

He doesn’t look a CB to me, the drop off from VDV was very noticeable. Just need Ange to play him in midfield, or get a manager that will play him there. Would be nice to see him in a well coached side with some structure

 

[coy-spurs1882]

Gray Bergvall Kulusevski 3 with pace out wide is a the dream. Hopefully we will see it soon

I dreamt a Hojbjerg-Ndombele-Lo Celso midfield years ago, hopefully this time will be better

 

[worcestersauce]

Nice to see other people saw the drop when Van de Ven went off as I did, I don't think anyone can level a single dig at Archie for how he's coped for us at CB but I am really looking forward to seeing him in midfield. I keep thinking if he'd had the same experience in midfield this season as Bergval what a pair we'd have on our hands. He needs to be able to concentrate on that in training from now on instead of defence.

 

[muppetman]

Called up (in midfield) to the England U21 squad - along with our old boy Cirkin.

Also, interesting to see Wharton in the U21 rather than the main squad.

 

[soflapaul]

The big thing I noticed was that he tracked midfield runners as well. It's one of those things in a game you don't notice unless you are deliberately looking for it because the only time it's a talking point is when it doesn't happen. NONE of our other midfielders do this well, and I include Bergvall in that.

Lucas is more about reading the game and reacting to what is happening in that moment, where as Archie is preempting what could happen and makes sure it doesn't.

This is why I'm convinced they should be playing as a two in those deeper roles.

Missed the tracking completely. will watch for it. thanks.

I don't want this to sound like hyperbole but he looks like his greatest asset is how he sees the game developing and that he can almost second guess what a player is planning to do.

Anticipation was what Toby did so well. Fingers crossed that he reaches Toby's level and more as a midfielder.

 

[superted4]

Wrong thread but that squad is more exciting than the seniors!

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

I dreamt a Hojbjerg-Ndombele-Lo Celso midfield years ago, hopefully this time will be better

I remember the dream midfield of Samways, Howells and Caskey!

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I thought he was slightly at fault for the goal as he let the AZ attacker start from behind him and he wasn’t offside. It was noticeable the difference when VDV came off, but that is to be expected. No one has VDV’s pace and strength and it showed how big a miss he has been.

Archie then went on to make some good interceptions and he looks very comfortable on the ball. I just hope his versatility doesn’t end up preventing him of really making his mark in his best position, as we will always have injuries and need covering.

Yeah I noticed AZ were clearly targeting him by hitting long balls down his side.

He's done well filling in at CB but last night highlighted the drop off to him from a high level player in their natural position.

 

[Thenewcat]

The big thing I noticed was that he tracked midfield runners numerous times. It's one of those things in a game you don't notice unless you are deliberately looking for it because the only time it's a talking point is when it doesn't happen. NONE of our other midfielders do this well, and I include Bergvall in that.

Lucas is more about reading the game and reacting to what is happening where as Archie is preempting what could happen and makes sure it doesn't.

This is why I'm convinced they should be playing as a two in those deeper roles

It’s something the experience of playing CB would definitely help with. Obviously tracking your man is fundamental to playing there, be interested to know if he was good at this at Leeds when he played in midfield or if it’s a benefit of our injury crisis!

 

[Westmorlandspur]

Wrong thread but that squad is more exciting than the seniors!

15 months to the World Cup. Tommy isn’t going to fill the squad with boys. Plenty of young players already in it.

 

[spursville]

The big thing I noticed was that he tracked midfield runners as well. It's one of those things in a game you don't notice unless you are deliberately looking for it because the only time it's a talking point is when it doesn't happen. NONE of our other midfielders do this well, and I include Bergvall in that.

Lucas is more about reading the game and reacting to what is happening in that moment, where as Archie is preempting what could happen and makes sure it doesn't.

This is why I'm convinced they should be playing as a two in those deeper roles.

Agreed. Kind of begs the question as to why he didn’t start in midfield.

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

Agreed. Kind of begs the question as to why he didn’t start in midfield.

The most obvious answer is he is needed at CB and full back before that. Hopefully when (if) we have 3 fully fit CBs we can see him in midfield more often.

Davies obviously isn't fully fit yet, so we still needed him as backup. I'm hoping that we see him take turns with Bergval and they share minutes until the end of the season.

 

[Lappi]

One thing I noticed last game with him in midfield last game is that his body shape can seem a bit "closed off" when he's passing, for want of a better phase. It's like he;s shaped to always want to pass it inside him, which makes it easier for the opposition to understand what he's trying to do and close him down. Compare to Maddison, Bentancur and Bergvall, who are shaped to dribble or pass either way very naturally. Was wondering if other people notice this?

Hopefully it's something he can improve with training - I think Sarr used to do this and has gotten better at it. It would fundementally limit how useful he can be as a 6 if he's closing himself off from passing options like this.

 

[tobi]

Was his body shape predictable in midfield at Leeds?

 

[Hazelton]

When you watch Bergvall becoming a key part of the team and compare it to Gray, you can't help but feel a bit sorry for Archie. He's played plenty of games but only been used 3 times in midfield, mostly used as a utility player across the back and filling gaps left through injuries.

I hope he gets a run of games in midfield towards the end of the season, there is nothing to play for in the league now so I'd much rather see Gray used properly ahead of Bissouma for example.

Can't help but feel like he's been poorly managed this season. He's done well and been one of the few bright sparks but he's earned some playing time in his actual position.

 

[rabbikeane]

When we get a back 3 manager, Gray will probably play RCB.

 

[Marty]

When we get a back 3 manager, Gray will probably play RCB.

Where is the assumption of a back 3 manager coming from?