Fatawu

[CloudFox]

Can people just not see that Small and Preston's other left sided defender just had really, really good games against Abdul today? He kept trying, but they kept bullying and fouling him. Ref just wouldn't have it. He's just got back from a big injury too, give him some slack. He's not trying to put himself in the shop window, he was just trying to get us to do something in that game, but had no support whatsoever.

 

I think it's too early for a team to swoop in and try for him. Fingers crossed, anyway.

[Claudio Fannieri]

8 hours ago, ClaphamFox said:

 Vardy still doesn’t have a club…🤔

I can honestly see Top and Rudkin going back cap in hand to Vardy and getting him to sign for a year, just to deflect away any criticism and pressure from themselves. 

[RowlattsFox]

Hopefully the scouts were watching yesterday because he was atrocious 

[Bordersfox]

8 hours ago, CloudFox said:

Can people just not see that Small and Preston's other left sided defender just had really, really good games against Abdul today? He kept trying, but they kept bullying and fouling him. Ref just wouldn't have it. He's just got back from a big injury too, give him some slack. He's not trying to put himself in the shop window, he was just trying to get us to do something in that game, but had no support whatsoever.

 

I think it's too early for a team to swoop in and try for him. Fingers crossed, anyway.

Small is a top player IMO. Certainly at this level, and very quick.  Was really surprised nobody bigger than PNE went in for him.  

 

Ref was crap as well, allowed all sorts of shirt holding.  

 

That said Fatawu's delivery was abysmal, and he was back up to his old trick of shooting from way, way out.  It's up to Cifuentes to sort that, like Enzo did.  

[foxfanazer]

If he has any sense he'll be pushing for a move in this window

[Finnegan]

45 minutes ago, RowlattsFox said:

Hopefully the scouts were watching yesterday because he was atrocious 

 

He was marked out of the game by two good defenders doubling up on him because the rest of our team offers so little threat they can focus on our few decent players. 

 

There was a moment in the first half we tried to counter through Mavididi and by the time he'd even crossed the halfway line there were 3 of them surrounding him. 

 

They'd done their research. 

 

We have one or two players who are very dangerous at this level but when you shut them down, we've got **** all. 

 

 

[Nick]

2 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

He was marked out of the game by two good defenders doubling up on him because the rest of our team offers so little threat they can focus on our few decent players. 

 

There was a moment in the first half we tried to counter through Mavididi and by the time he'd even crossed the halfway line there were 3 of them surrounding him. 

 

They'd done their research. 

 

We have one or two players who are very dangerous at this level but when you shut them down, we've got **** all. 

 

 

[RowlattsFox]

2 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

 

He was marked out of the game by two good defenders doubling up on him because the rest of our team offers so little threat they can focus on our few decent players. 

 

There was a moment in the first half we tried to counter through Mavididi and by the time he'd even crossed the halfway line there were 3 of them surrounding him. 

 

They'd done their research. 

 

We have one or two players who are very dangerous at this level but when you shut them down, we've got **** all. 

 

 

Yeah, their left wing back was excellent, especially first half, he was recovering the Fatawu knock and run every time. 

Fatawu did get more space second half but is shooting and crossing were very poor. 

 

He definitely needs a striker to play off sometimes, they all do. 

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Preston played against him well tactically. 

 

But just like last week, he's playing like he's making a show reel. Trying the same old flick constantly in the first half when it wasn't working. Then the constant habit of cutting in and shooting when there are better options available, it was foolish and greedy. I'm hoping it isn't just trying to impress other clubs hoping for a transfer. 

 

But was definitely one of the worst games I've seen him have.

 

Also JJ and Thomas offer barely any support in an attacking sense to either wing, so both him and Mavididi just get stuck with the ball with no options constantly 

[Finnegan]

11 minutes ago, RowlattsFox said:

Yeah, their left wing back was excellent, especially first half, he was recovering the Fatawu knock and run every time. 

Fatawu did get more space second half but is shooting and crossing were very poor. 

 

He definitely needs a striker to play off sometimes, they all do. 

 

He's definitely more productive when he remembers his crossing is better than his shooting. 

 

He created an immense amount of quality chances last time he was in the Championship. 

 

He's a better creator than scorer, as much as its nice if/when he can add goals to his game. 

 

[Grebfromgrebland]

Both wingers were doubled up on and we still couldn't figure out how to use the space

[whoareyaaa]

Try him on the left and Mav on the right, that would require midfielders getting into the box though which Page only seems to be capable off and Bilal.

[NewquayFox]

Nobody in the box for him to pass/cross too, fully agree that both the full back & midfielder had him in there pocket, no point having great wingers if we have no decent strikers to aim at… 

[Chelmofox]

1 hour ago, Finnegan said:

 

He was marked out of the game by two good defenders doubling up on him because the rest of our team offers so little threat they can focus on our few decent players. 

 

There was a moment in the first half we tried to counter through Mavididi and by the time he'd even crossed the halfway line there were 3 of them surrounding him. 

 

They'd done their research. 

 

We have one or two players who are very dangerous at this level but when you shut them down, we've got **** all. 

 

 

This where KDH got Enzo out of jail a few times last season, especially early on. We offer nothing through the middle at the moment, especially when Bilal as downed tools. 

[CloudFox]

1 hour ago, Finnegan said:

 

He's definitely more productive when he remembers his crossing is better than his shooting. 

 

He created an immense amount of quality chances last time he was in the Championship. 

 

He's a better creator than scorer, as much as its nice if/when he can add goals to his game. 

 

Agreed. He definitely Cifuentes to remind him to pass rather than shoot. That said, whenever Fatawu or Mavididi did get the ball in dangerous places, there was almost never anyone in the box or ahead of them to cross to anyway. And if they'd waited for Ayew to jog on up all 11 Preston players would have been behind the ball anyway.

 

We desperately need a striker for our wingers to shine.

[Bluearmyfox28]

People need to realise elite footballers unless you are named Messi, have specific styles that make them great. Thierry Small is literally the perfect mould of left back to neutralise Abdul’s style. It happens to the best players in the world. We won’t see any other left back like Small in the championship this season, he’s an athletic freak.

 

Also, Thierry Small will end up going to the top of the game, how he ended up at Preston is beyond me. He looked special and has the profile teams dream of having in a fullback. He will be at Preston 12 months at most.
 

The one thing I will say about Abdul, is he needs to stop trying to play it through the defenders legs, he tries 4/5 times a game minimum, it’s becoming slightly predictable and he needs to learn to mix it up dependent on the fullbacks stance.

[Grebfromgrebland]

I'm not sure the manager has any other way of playing.

 

It seems to be get the ball to the wingers and push players s forward.

 

We need more tactical nous to break teams down. It is early days and our players aren't as good as last time either.

 

With our players we should be the team trying to play counter attack.

[coolhandfox]

3 hours ago, Finnegan said:

 

He was marked out of the game by two good defenders doubling up on him because the rest of our team offers so little threat they can focus on our few decent players. 

 

There was a moment in the first half we tried to counter through Mavididi and by the time he'd even crossed the halfway line there were 3 of them surrounding him. 

 

They'd done their research. 

 

We have one or two players who are very dangerous at this level but when you shut them down, we've got **** all. 

 

 

Desperate for a CF and ACM.

[The Doctor]

4 hours ago, Finnegan said:

 

He was marked out of the game by two good defenders doubling up on him because the rest of our team offers so little threat they can focus on our few decent players. 

 

There was a moment in the first half we tried to counter through Mavididi and by the time he'd even crossed the halfway line there were 3 of them surrounding him. 

 

They'd done their research. 

 

We have one or two players who are very dangerous at this level but when you shut them down, we've got **** all. 

 

 

This is why we can't play Ayew and Soumare. Much as people meme on Daka because he's woefully inconsistent, his running and movement is important in freeing up Abdul and Mavididi (assuming we're not signing a new striker). Both can absolutely shred teams if given space, but when the striker is completely stationary, and theres no-one breaking from deep, its very easy to double or even triple up on the only players capable of doing anything, and there's not many players in the world, let alone this level, that can't be kept quiet in those circumstances.

[Sunbury Fox]

2 hours ago, Bluearmyfox28 said:

People need to realise elite footballers unless you are named Messi, have specific styles that make them great. Thierry Small is literally the perfect mould of left back to neutralise Abdul’s style. It happens to the best players in the world. We won’t see any other left back like Small in the championship this season, he’s an athletic freak.

 

Also, Thierry Small will end up going to the top of the game, how he ended up at Preston is beyond me. He looked special and has the profile teams dream of having in a fullback. He will be at Preston 12 months at most.
 

The one thing I will say about Abdul, is he needs to stop trying to play it through the defenders legs, he tries 4/5 times a game minimum, it’s becoming slightly predictable and he needs to learn to mix it up dependent on the fullbacks stance.

Small's performance shows that there are bargains to be had out there. A free transfer for a 21 year old with bags of potential. Looked several levels above our options at LB.

Edited 17 August 2025 by Sunbury Fox

[1972 Fox]

2 hours ago, coolhandfox said:

Desperate for a CF and ACM.

I've said to you enough times that we won't be bringing players in.

[Scotch]

2 minutes ago, 1972 Fox said:

I've said to you enough times that we won't be bringing players in.

But you are saying this as an OPINION, right? So repeating it has absolutely zero significance. It's still just an opinion.

[Bordersfox]

3 minutes ago, 1972 Fox said:

I've said to you enough times that we won't be bringing players in.

Apart from the fact you don't actually know anything, so who gives two hoots how many times you repeat it.  

[Bordersfox]

1 minute ago, Scotch said:

But you are saying this as an OPINION, right? So repeating it has absolutely zero significance. It's still just an opinion.

Beat me to it! 

[coolhandfox]

50 minutes ago, 1972 Fox said:

I've said to you enough times that we won't be bringing players in.

 

£100 charity bet, if we don’t bring a player in I give £100 LOROS if we bring one player in you give £100 to LOROS?