danboyb
Youth team substitute
Posts: 507
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Post by danboyb on Feb 27, 2024 9:13:15 GMT
May can be guilty of taking an age to pick the right pass but he generally does find our players. He has bottled out of the occasional challenge, most notably against that lot at their place, but Cousins is also doing this on a gamely basis. I think it was against Bolton that he went in to a 80/20 in his favour so half heartedly it was embarrassing.
The fact some of us are in favour of a start for May really does highlight the fact we’re still short of that creative, ball playing midfielder that we’ve needed for years now. We saw in the games against Bolton and pish just how important such a player can be. Dictating play and at times completely running the show for the opposition.
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Sandypants
Reserve team star
Posts: 4,059
Favourite CUFC player: Harrison Dunk
Member is Online
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Post by Sandypants on Feb 27, 2024 10:17:13 GMT
Adam May is (imo) the best passer of the ball in the squad. He also happens to be massively underappreciated by some fans. It's amazing how people can see such different things in games. The most noticeable aspect of May's game this season has been his inability to find a teammate with a pass IMO. Maybe not most noticeable, his bottling of any physical contact has been stark too. I'd also take the opposite position to say a lot of fans have overrated him over the past couple of years. My view is he's a bit of an O'Neil - not dynamic enough, technical enough or aggressive enough to be a league one midfielder, but some rare long range strikes cloud people's views. If we released him in the summer I'd be shocked if a fellow league one club picked him up. Respect your view though - hopefully he can transform our midfield in the coming weeks as the others have been very disappointing of late. I'd be delighted for this message to age horribly! Did you watch him against Peterborough? He was slow, yes, and avoided tackles he could've gone for, yes, but his passing was consistently very good and in 15 minutes or so he had the close control to avoid the press that most (if not all) of our team couldn't. Criticise his flaws all you like, but it's unfair to suggest the thrice-seasonal long range strike is factoring more than it is.
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Post by Andrewlang on Feb 27, 2024 10:36:38 GMT
I think it was something of a free hit for Adam O'May this season. His injury was an absolutely horrific one to recover from and always likely to mean he'd not play a huge role in our side this season. I think if he gets through the year without a recurrence or any kind of associative injury i'll consider that a success.
The injury accounts for some of his more pronounced weakness this season I think, hopefully a strong pre-season will take care of that because I've always rated him.
Andrew
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Post by jamesm6688 on Feb 27, 2024 10:39:39 GMT
Long shot I know, but if anyone has a spare adult ticket for this evening, please can you drop me a message. Thanks in advance…
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cambsno
Youth team star
Posts: 1,031
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Post by cambsno on Feb 27, 2024 10:43:39 GMT
Hinsdight being a wonderful thing but when a player is out for so long, its probably worth sending them out on loan for a couple of months to a L2 or even conference side. Getting regular games (8-10 appearances) in that time should sort out niggles, get back to fitness and build confidence, rather than be training and coming on for 15 mins here and there. We did have Digby, Thomas, Cousins, Simper all in mid, and at a push Brophy or Lankaster could sit in there too (or even just play one mid in a 4141 system).
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Post by Andrewlang on Feb 27, 2024 10:51:47 GMT
Perhaps, the window was shut when he first returned to fitness so I don't think it would have been an option.
Maybe in January if we had the numbers, but I suspect we may want to keep him at the club so we can monitor his training and recovery times much closer. We've seen players rushed back and break down often so at this stage I think I think we're doing well by him.
It could be an option next season I suppose. Depends how brutal the new manager rebuild is going to be.
Andrew
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onlyluke92
Youth team star
Posts: 1,866
Favourite CUFC player: Scott Rendell
Favourite CUFC match: U's 3 vs 0 Stevenage (Conf Play Off Semi, 2nd leg, 2009
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Post by onlyluke92 on Feb 27, 2024 12:45:18 GMT
Hinsdight being a wonderful thing but when a player is out for so long, its probably worth sending them out on loan for a couple of months to a L2 or even conference side. Getting regular games (8-10 appearances) in that time should sort out niggles, get back to fitness and build confidence, rather than be training and coming on for 15 mins here and there. We did have Digby, Thomas, Cousins, Simper all in mid, and at a push Brophy or Lankaster could sit in there too (or even just play one mid in a 4141 system). Is Simper injured? I completely forgot that he was still with us, he's been completely absent from squads and pre match interviews with the manager for quite a while now
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Post by El Goodo on Feb 27, 2024 12:55:34 GMT
He is, yes. Picked up a ligament injury around the same time as McConnell, which we were told would keep him out for about 3 months.
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Post by duxfordbob on Feb 27, 2024 13:43:00 GMT
Really bad luck for Simper without this injury he would be out on loan in div.2 getting good match minutes. Keeping as squad cover behind Digby Thomas May and Cousins has really held him back. He now looks more of a unit than a lightweight and should be building good experience.
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cambsno
Youth team star
Posts: 1,031
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Post by cambsno on Feb 27, 2024 14:02:20 GMT
Really bad luck for Simper without this injury he would be out on loan in div.2 getting good match minutes. Keeping as squad cover behind Digby Thomas May and Cousins has really held him back. He now looks more of a unit than a lightweight and should be building good experience. Careful, people get annoyed at the idea of a youngster going out on loan!
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Post by Tom Shaw's Fist of Rage on Feb 27, 2024 18:50:20 GMT
Not sure what to make of that XI to be honest, presumably still 4-2-3-1 with May 10 and Lankester wide?
Possibly a bit one paced bordering on lumbering set of players (aside from Kaikai) which worries me against a presumably hard working Stevenage side
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Post by El Goodo on Feb 27, 2024 18:51:07 GMT
Given how Corr was talking about changing numbers in midfield and winning second balls, I suspect it's a more classical 4-3-3/4-5-1 with Kaikai and Lankester probably inverted.
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Post by Emperor Delbert Gradius on Feb 27, 2024 18:52:28 GMT
Bonne up top, wearily meandering from goalmouth to goalmouth like an aged bloodhound.
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imp566
Cult hero
Posts: 16,057
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Post by imp566 on Feb 27, 2024 18:54:26 GMT
Thomas injured I presume?
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moosehacker
Youth team substitute
Posts: 604
Favourite CUFC player: Alan Biley
Favourite CUFC match: U's 2 v 1 Exeter City, 1978
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Post by moosehacker on Feb 27, 2024 18:54:38 GMT
What do our coaches see in Cousins? Picked again, although I note Thomas is missing. Is he injured? Stevenage with a comfortable 2-0 win followed by a 5-0 thrashing at Bolton.
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