Sawyer's attacking threat

[South Bank Hank]

Personally can't see what the love-in with Timlin is all about. He's been below average every time i've seen him play. I'd have Sawyer in the starting XI over him everytime.

For me, he's one of the first names on the team sheet and a major factor in the success we've had this season. I've got lots of time for Sawyer too so, while Sturrock's continuing to win/draw games, I'm happy to trust his judgement.

 

[kentblues]

He seems to be putting it all in and moving well but only Sturrock would really know overall. Before his injury he got mom acclaim most weeks so to never get a chance from the bench must be soul destroying but as we know Sturrocks brand of sleep inducing football will not involve Sawyer. Top of the league and probably the year that i have least looked forward to attending games!

The whole squad disappeared before the start of last season. We are in L2. There is a way to get out of this division quickly and thank God PS knows how. One thing is for sure, a mixture of L1 & L2 standard players playing it around at the back and through midfield is not that way.


That is not to say there aren't one or two that can't adapt to both-- I am afraid Gilbert has in the past proved he can play the type of football you wish for, but he is also professional enough to play to the plan. Thats why he gets picked.

If we go up I think 4 or 5 in of the calibre that we could then attract can might get you something more pleasing to you discerning eye.

In the meantime I am loving it

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Sawyer was good when we first signed him .. but that was what 5 years ago now??

I just don't think he's up to it personally

 

[GBJ]

For me, he's one of the first names on the team sheet and a major factor in the success we've had this season. I've got lots of time for Sawyer too so, while Sturrock's continuing to win/draw games, I'm happy to trust his judgement.

Really? what are his stats? goals/assists wise? To me he constantly misplaces passes or hoofs it aimlessly down the flank. He also seems quite clumsy at times. He does however show great determination and work rate to win the ball back. He does well in spits and spats, but not enough consistency.

No trolling, I simply can't see what he brings? Mediocre squad player to me. Maybe he's just been below par for the times i've seen him? I remember saying this to Smiffish a while ago, and haven't really seen anything that has changed my mind since

 

[Chairman Trigg]

This division unfortunately doesn't play beautiful football ,and Sturrock has got together a team that hopefully will get us up.Like him if your on a 17 game unbeaten run playing"tripe"lol I would stick with not changing things too much.As much as I like Sawyer its clear that if he knuckles down for Sturrock his time will come and he will be a better player for it.It only takes Ferdinand or Grant to go and his season will change.Agree that if Hall was to go its going to be a lot harder,but sure that Luggy would cover that at the time with a decent loanee

Go every home game and as i suspected most of you can't see past the result. Utter tripe football has been dished up and trust me if Ryan Halls thunderbolts don't continue then we will be lucky to go up playing hoof ball!

 

[South Bank Hank]

Really? what are his stats? goals/assists wise? To me he constantly misplaces passes or hoofs it aimlessly down the flank. He also seems quite clumsy at times. He does however show great determination and work rate to win the ball back. He does well in spits and spats, but not enough consistency.

No trolling, I simply can't see what he brings? Mediocre squad player to me. Maybe he's just been below par for the times i've seen him? I remember saying this to Smiffish a while ago, and haven't really seen anything that has changed my mind since

You've answered it for me. His passing can swing from the sublime to the ridiculous but he gets around everywhere. I lost count of the times he put in tackles to break up play against Oldham (largely because I wasn't counting!!) but I remember saying to the old man "Look, he's there AGAIN!" a number of times. The likes of Mohsni, Hall, Philips and Ferdinand might take the plaudits but, for me, Timlin makes the whole thing tick and is a huge improvement on Easton. Sawyer would definitely add further creativity but it might be at the expense of the balance, solidity and bite we currently enjoy in the middle.

 

[Angell Delight]

fair enough, although i think some of the time we play some pretty good football, sturrock has just instructed the back 4 to not fanny about with it and get rid of it

Which may be one of the reasons why we have such a good defensive record this season incidentally.

 

[Silencer]

You've answered it for me. His passing can swing from the sublime to the ridiculous but he gets around everywhere. I lost count of the times he put in tackles to break up play against Oldham (largely because I wasn't counting!!) but I remember saying to the old man "Look, he's there AGAIN!" a number of times. The likes of Mohsni, Hall, Philips and Ferdinand might take the plaudits but, for me, Timlin makes the whole thing tick and is a huge improvement on Easton. Sawyer would definitely add further creativity but it might be at the expense of the balance, solidity and bite we currently enjoy in the middle.

Spot on...Since Timlin came into the side and were 17 unbeaten. Coincidence?? Me thinks not

 

[Angell Delight]

For me, he's one of the first names on the team sheet and a major factor in the success we've had this season. I've got lots of time for Sawyer too so, while Sturrock's continuing to win/draw games, I'm happy to trust his judgement.

Not only this but Timlin is a LEADER and is almost like a second captain. Easton was a leader on the pitch and Timlin has not only taken his spot in the team but also as the orchestrator of the midfield. The result is we have an excellent spine thanks largely to the experience and leadership qualities of Barker and Timlin.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Not only this but Timlin is a LEADER and is almost like a second captain. Easton was a leader on the pitch and Timlin has not only taken his spot in the team but also as the orchestrator of the midfield. The result is we have an excellent spine thanks largely to the experience and leadership qualities of Barker and Timlin.

Exactly, my only criticism at the moment of him is that he's taking a more defensive role meaning we're not seen a Timlin thunderbolt goal for a while now.

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

Personally can't see what the love-in with Timlin is all about. He's been below average every time i've seen him play. I'd have Sawyer in the starting XI over him everytime.

Last game we lost was the last game he wasn't in the side (Swindon Away) - let's hope the same isn't true tomorrow night

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

Sawyer is far too forward thinking and exiting to fit in with the stadium emptying hoof ball that Sturrock prefers to play!

Go every home game and as i suspected most of you can't see past the result. Utter tripe football has been dished up and trust me if Ryan Halls thunderbolts don't continue then we will be lucky to go up playing hoof ball!

Agree & disagree. Yes we are not the prettiest team to watch but when you see the way some of the other teams in lg2 play - now that's long ball. Yes we play direct, we get it up the other end quickly and rely on Dicko/Harris to hold it up for the oncoming midfield.

And whilst it's not always pretty, we play efficiently and I think we are about the most well organised side in the division, which is why we are where we are and something to be admired in itself.

Agree that if Hall leaves or gets injured we won't be the same though.

 

[Bluepen]

Thread was about Sawyer not being given chance not even to come on at the moment when at times its seemed
like by coming on it might mix things up a bit.
As for Timlin he is experienced enough to know if you shout an screech through games you get noticed he also is on the move all the time looking busy goes an takes the ball of other players like he can do better than them an often doesnt, loses the ball quite a lot, an passes going astray quite alot puts in a good tackle in front of crowd on sidelines gets applauded, in general the crowd like him he got our immediate attention by scoring but has since gone off the boil with his strikes .
Basically 50/50 good an bad but crowds happily remember the good points of players when winning.
Been good for the team so far BUT no more outstanding then any other midfielder IMO but do feel without him we would still survive an be top of the league

 

[Onion_Bag_Dave]

Wiggy, get back on the happy pills, at one point you were almost bearable, but now you are acting like a complete lunatic!

SOME FACTS!

Possession against Oldham 55%
Possession against Rovers 60%
Possession against Oxford 56%
Possession against Macclesfield 59%

Just a handful of some recent games. If you wack the ball up in the air and don't hold onto it Wigster, how do you have more possession that the other team?

Just a little question for you to answer.

:smiles:

 

[danburyshrimper]

I am astounded by some so called fans on here --- We are enjoying a wonderful unbeaten run , semi final of a wembley cup final , possible FA cup match at Anfield , we are still top o' the league , just battered a team from the division above for the entire 2nd half on saturday without the luck our scintilating perforamance deserved... and all i read is negativity!!! on this thread alone i read about Sturrocks hoof ball , Timlin , Barker , Gilbert , Daniels, not good enough bla bla bla ... whats wrong with you lot !! Just sit back , enjoy it & Trust Paul Sturrock -- he gets promotions -- he's done it before , he is doing it again ! when before have we got more than 2 points per game approaching xmas ? We have the best goal difference in the league, We have brought in players costing nothing and now have clubs ready to put in big bids for several of our players ..... ENJOY THE MOMENT + STOP MOANING !!!!
We ve all had to suffer plenty of lows over the years .... so be happy we are on a roll + long may it continue! the next 3 games are absolutely MASSIVE .... get behind the Blues + encourage every one of our players to get the wins we all desire.

 

[Bromley Blue]

I'm not a massive fan of the direct style we play but it seems to be working right now and I'll take anything which gets us out of this awful division. I don't think I remember a Southend side that is so well drilled and clearly playing to a tried and tested formula where every player knows their role so well.

As far as Sawyer is concerned, I am/was a massive fan of his and there's no denying the boy had bags of talent which he showed in his first loan spell with us. I, for one, believe that talent is still there. I can remember him coming on as a sub away at Torquay last season and playing a great ball which if memory serves BBBC finished to grab us a draw. I think he's got that eye for the killer ball that no one else in the squad can really play. Hally gives us great service from wide but through the middle I think Sawyer can unlock defences more than Kalala, Timlin, Grant or Ferdinand.

The reason he's not getting into the side could stem from any number of reasons. Firstly obviously he's been out injured on and off for the past few months. Secondly we're on a great run and even the longest serving player at the club (Granty) can't get in the side. You then have other reasons which are pure speculation but could be relevant. For example, maybe Sawyer's style of play doesn't fit into the Sturrock system and he sees another player doing the specific role in the side better for the benefit of the whole team. This might give us more over the course of a season than the odd defence splitting pass every couple of games from Sawyer. Or perhaps Lee is not pulling up trees in training.

All of the above aside, in January we're going to see some movement in the central midfield department anyway. Timlin will go back to Swindon and rot in the reserves, and if he doesn't then someone else will have to move on to free up the cash. I really can't see the club cashing in on Ryan Hall as its obvious that he is our main creative outlet and key to our promotion chances so our only other really valuable assets are central midfielders in Grant and Ferdinand. I'd imagine that Ferdinand's stock is highest at the mo and I personally believe we could survive without him.

Once someone moves on then Sawyer will get more opportunities and if he doesn't then he'll have to wait for injuries and suspensions to kick in.

 

[Firestorm]

I am quite surprised at these comments about hoofball, longball or even direct football.

All the long ball games played by numerous managers in the past have been because of that Charles hughes study some time ago, and was about stuffing the ball behind the opposition back 4 and then getting someone on to it

I don't see this in our style at all, I see a cautious approach tp a 4th Division defence trying to play football in their own final third. Playing to strengths and in this division a pair of ball playing centrebacks is not going to be one of them.

Get the ball to the midfield to play the football in the opposition half, or get it to the Full backs to play the wingers in. If that option is not on then clip it longer so the Midfield can by brought in with the knock down.

The only thing I can think of is that the odd overhit ball from the back is being seized upon at every oportunity as an example of Longball

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

I think LS ex missus knows all about his attacking threat anyway

 

[Bluepen]

I think LS ex missus knows all about his attacking threat anyway

Was that meant to be funny:thumbdown:

 

[BLUEBLOOD]

Was that meant to be funny:thumbdown:

No













just factual :winking: