The RB situation-Key and Galbraith

[Cooperman]

Ok, let's take this off the recent direction of conversation.

Would posters like to see us move for a RB who can offer us more balance in the team? A player who can offer the attacking width to compliment the winger, overlap but also offers enough dependability defensively also?

Do we look to bring Lissah back, give him a go as the RB but possibly having Galbraith to step in if Lissah doesn't adapt?

Nobody is going to say no to your first two questions. Lissah is not a proven upgrade on Key and doesn’t need to be rushed into our first XI as we have a contract option up to 2028. A lot now depends on how Matos views Key, there are twelve games left for Key to win back the RB spot for next season.

 

[magicdaps10]

But we don’t play that way. Matos has learned from Klopp, Klopps system is to have the RB playing inside as another midfielder. It’s what made TAA the force he was in the Premier League, there are few RB’s that can play that way and Galbraith is one of them.

It means the team control the ball more but at risk of being attacked wide when in quick transitions. To want an overlapping RB is to want another manager with a different system.

So the question isn’t really about Galbraith, it’s about are you happy with Matos’ system?

I would argue that considering we are having our best season outside the parachute years since relegation, and it coinciding with Matos’ system and moving Ethan to RB, it’s proven itself to be effective.

We played that way 2nd half on Tuesday night and it was pretty impressive compared to the way you are saying in the 1st half which was pretty poor.
So that shows Matos is willing to play that system if needed.

We clearly need to be adaptable. The way you suggest will work on times and the way I suggested will clearly work in other situations as proven Tuesday.
I think if we are looking to be rigid and decide one style of play is the way to go with no varying options then it would be extremely naive,luckily Matos didn't think the same Tuesday night and made the switches to change the system which proved to be effective for us 2nd half.

So, on that evidence that was shown Tuesday night and changed by Matos, do we look at adding a RB who can offer us something different?

It was very pleasing to see Matos be ruthless at half time and his changes along with moving players around highlighted he is prepared to adapt the system to suit the game at hand. I think most fans were happy that Matos adapted the system from one that wasn't working 1st half BUT has worked previously at times ALTHOUGH struggled on times also...most notably in away games.

 

[magicdaps10]

Nobody is going to say no to your first two questions. Lissah is not a proven upgrade on Key and doesn’t need to be rushed into our first XI as we have a contract option up to 2028. A lot now depends on how Matos views Key, there are twelve games left for Key to win back the RB spot for next season.

I wouldn't have thought any differently purely because I think most people would see the benefit it would bring.
I believe some posters have suggested Lissah to be brought back and be given a go at RB. Lissah being first choice RB next season would be a no from me but I understand fans being fed up with Key and wanting Galbraith to be pushed into MF and therefore seeing Lissah doing well at Falkirk which would suggest he could do a job here.

 

[TruckerJack]

We played that way 2nd half on Tuesday night and it was pretty impressive compared to the way you are saying in the 1st half which was pretty poor.
So that shows Matos is willing to play that system if needed.

We clearly need to be adaptable. The way you suggest will work on times and the way I suggested will clearly work in other situations as proven Tuesday.
I think if we are looking to be rigid and decide one style of play is the way to go with no varying options then it would be extremely naive,luckily Matos didn't think the same Tuesday night and made the switches to change the system which proved to be effective for us 2nd half.

So, on that evidence that was shown Tuesday night and changed by Matos, do we look at adding a RB who can offer us something different?

It was very pleasing to see Matos be ruthless at half time and his changes along with moving players around highlighted he is prepared to adapt the system to suit the game at hand. I think most fans were happy that Matos adapted the system from one that wasn't working 1st half BUT has worked previously at times ALTHOUGH struggled on times also...most notably in away games.

Because the game state called for it, Preston were 1-0 up and were giving us the ball. This allowed Ethan to come into the middle as they had no threat down the flanks sat in a low block.

Matos has proven himself to be adaptable in game (just as Klopp is) but the system will more often than not be the Liverpool one which is the RB playing inside.

Key and Lissah offers us the other type as and when needed, but that is the secondary plan and not the primary.

I have no argument with those that prefer Ethan to play in the middle, it’s personal preference. It’s when people say he’s being played out of position, being caught out of position or doesn’t offer balance is what I am arguing against.

Being caught out of position suggests he shouldn’t be where he was when the possession was turned over, but being in the middle is exactly where he should be in this system on a quick turnover. His positioning is by design not a lack of positional awareness as others have said.

 

[Cooperman]

I wouldn't have thought any differently purely because I think most people would see the benefit it would bring.
I believe some posters have suggested Lissah to be brought back and be given a go at RB. Lissah being first choice RB next season would be a no from me but I understand fans being fed up with Key and wanting Galbraith to be pushed into MF and therefore seeing Lissah doing well at Falkirk which would suggest he could do a job here.

Lissah is up against bottom half League One/League Two standards on most weekends. If he really is the next academy prospect to make it with us then another season out at one of the better League One clubs will do him the world of good.

 

[magicdaps10]

Lissah is up against bottom half League One/League Two standards on most weekends. If he really is the next academy prospect to make it with us then another season out at one of the better League One clubs will do him the world of good.

A loan to L1 would certainly be another step up in test and give us a better idea on where he is.
Clearly there is not much faith in Key defensively so I believe he might be a player who won't be with us next season with a first team RB sourced. Lissah I think will be a part of the squad as the cover to the new RB and 4th choice option at CB.
Galbraith available to play RB if injuries or lack of form raises its head.

Ben Davies showing up this week and given his Tottenham situation then I wouldn't rule out a return soon.....that will offer many more questions and debate

 

[magicdaps10]

Because the game state called for it, Preston were 1-0 up and were giving us the ball. This allowed Ethan to come into the middle as they had no threat down the flanks sat in a low block.

Matos has proven himself to be adaptable in game (just as Klopp is) but the system will more often than not be the Liverpool one which is the RB playing inside.

Key and Lissah offers us the other type as and when needed, but that is the secondary plan and not the primary.

I have no argument with those that prefer Ethan to play in the middle, it’s personal preference. It’s when people say he’s being played out of position, being caught out of position or doesn’t offer balance is what I am arguing against.

Being caught out of position suggests he shouldn’t be where he was when the possession was turned over, but being in the middle is exactly where he should be in this system on a quick turnover. His positioning is by design not a lack of positional awareness as others have said.

If he's being caught out of position by design then we need to be aware of teams that can expose that and then adaptability to team selection needs to be considered.
Having a full back who holds that RB position and looks to play down the flank does then offer a more balanced team than it would with Galbraith coming in field.....something Matos clearly saw Tuesday evening which he rightly made the call when he switched things.

If you don't see that then that's a shortfall from your side but luckily Matos was aware of it.

 

[Neath_Jack]

I’ll be shocked if Lissah isn’t part of our squad next year, and won’t be surprised to see him as a first choice either. He has had rave reviews from all corners in Scotland, not just from Falkirk fans.

 

[Smurph]

The big question is what will happen to Josh Key.

Does he stay and fight for the position with potentially Lissah or another signing?

 

[Smurph]

If he's being caught out of position by design then we need to be aware of teams that can expose that and then adaptability to team selection needs to be considered.
Having a full back who holds that RB position and looks to play down the flank does then offer a more balanced team than it would with Galbraith coming in field.....something Matos clearly saw Tuesday evening which he rightly made the call when he switched things.

If you don't see that then that's a shortfall from your side but luckily Matos was aware of it.

Why do you keep engaging?

 

[magicdaps10]

The big question is what will happen to Josh Key.

Does he stay and fight for the position with potentially Lissah or another signing?

Likely to go, surely?

Think in situations like this, it's best that all parties just accept things and parting of ways is best solution.

 

[magicdaps10]

Why do you keep engaging?

He's replying decently so I see no issues in giving my opinion in return to his.

 

[Smurph]

He's replying decently so I see no issues in giving my opinion in return to his.

About the same thing, it's a little repetitive

 

[J_B]

The big question is what will happen to Josh Key.

Does he stay and fight for the position with potentially Lissah or another signing?

I would start him instead of Ronald at right wing for a few games and give him a go. He looked far more dynamic than Ronald in the second half on Tuesday and improved the team and that was from full back.

 

[Smurph]

I would start him instead of Ronald at right wing for a few games and give him a go. He looked far more dynamic than Ronald in the second half on Tuesday and improved the team and that was from full back.

I'd lean towards keeping him, when he first joined he looked a good player. Since he's been here we're now on our third manager which can't help.

In terms of Ronald, we had Liam Cullen on the right wing come the end of the game, that is quite telling.

I feel the persistence with playing Ronald week in week out is the lack of an alternative at the moment.