Dyer and Gallagher

[accessory]

Well, define frequently. As I said, players like that are rarely consistently amazing, or else they'd be playing at the highest level.

Last season Pearson played Gallagher on the wing in a 4-4-2 most of the time and even though he was out of position (even more so than now) he was regularly involved in our positive play. He scored a reasonable amount of goals and they were mostly screamers. Take the goals against Forest, Watford and Palace for example. And frankly, when he's playing well as part of the team he often goes unnoticed by a lot of fans, it's not just his individual brilliance that he's in for, take the Derby game this season for example.

Beckham was a good player but how often did he change the game from open play? He couldn't go buy a man, most of his magic was when he had an acre of space in which to use his right foot.

It's harsh to say we carry Gallagher for 90 minutes because when we are playing well he's often involved. I doubt Sven's just putting him in to take penalties and according to you waste free kicks.

Gallagher's not been good in recent games but how many players have? Don't remember many good ratings from the Millwall game, and having seen the Leeds game there were few positive performances from that as well. it just annoys me though that he's singled out.

But Gallagher was often a liability even under Pearson. How many good away performaces have we ever seen from him?

[ThatGuyDave]

I know i've arrived late into this discussion but I thought i'd throw my two cents in.

Personally I just can't be doing with Gallagher, I don't think he puts in nearly enough effort and his corners are just plain useless. (Explains at least a part of the corner related goal drought?)

Dyer on the other hand, at this level is a definite threat, in the prem? maybe not so much.

Wouldn't mind seeing Moussa get more of a shot but I assume theres a reason Sven isn't giving him much game time.

All-in-all definitely an area for improvement. Please use the money well Sven, unlike past managers *cough* Peter Taylor *cough*

[Haydos]

But even without penalties, he's scored more than Dyer, Vassell and Wellens.

Again this is why I think people have just got it in for him - Vassell has shown something in the 2 games he's scored and the second half against Forest - the rest of the time he's been pretty poor and largely anonymous. There's no way he's contributed more than Gallagher since Sven took over.

That somewhat explains why he's in the team then. Out of interest, how many open play goals has he scored? Cba to search right now. Tbf though, Wellens and Dyer don't score enough. Dyers finishing (one v one) is another thing i'd question hugely but I wanted to address Gallagher at the moment. And Vassell does look like scoring when played in a central role. Sounds like i'm making excuses now

I've never said he had nothing to offer, just that he doesn't offer enough over the course of a game and I still feel my point about the other players overshadowing him stands. I think a reason for this could be that his contribution is magnified by the fact that he is sometimes detrimental to our attacking play.

[Bettsj2]

Well thats's a load of cock. Neither of them have done anything for us. Bednar's been downright awful and granted, some fans have been rather dickish with the way they've treated Kirkland but it doesn't change the fact that they don't warrant a place anywhere near the team.

Gallagher's form has been questionable all season and despite what you say, he has been lagging behind the others in what he offers going forward. Dyer, Vassell, King, Wellens all outshine him.

Minute for minute he's been no worse than Howard, Fryatt or Waghorn have been this season.

He's not set the world on fire but he's done nothing to warrant the abuse he gets on here and in the stands, especially after such a short space of time and time is the key word.

Only in the last couple of games is Vassel starting to show his worth. It takes time to form a relationship with your fellow strikers and for your midfield to recognise your pattern of play. Add to that the fact that he's trying to regain match sharpness, got injured against Watford away and has carried it with him.

If the effort against Forest that was cleared off the line or the effort at Watford away that was cleared off the line had gone in, everyones opinion would be different.

As for Gallagher, he is inconsistent but no more than King who goes missing more often than not but as he's come through the ranks, gets forgiven more easily. Gally offers a good option and at the moment we dont have better. You cant really have 3 pace men up front (Vassell, Dyer and Waghorn) balance is required which Gallagher provides.

[ScouseFox]

Gallagher has 1 goal from open play this season, he's not going to win any argument about goalscoring.

[Haydos]

Minute for minute he's been no worse than Howard, Fryatt or Waghorn have been this season.

He's not set the world on fire but he's done nothing to warrant the abuse he gets on here and in the stands, especially after such a short space of time and time is the key word.

Only in the last couple of games is Vassel starting to show his worth. It takes time to form a relationship with your fellow strikers and for your midfield to recognise your pattern of play. Add to that the fact that he's trying to regain match sharpness, got injured against Watford away and has carried it with him.

If the effort against Forest that was cleared off the line or the effort at Watford away that was cleared off the line had gone in, everyones opinion would be different.

As for Gallagher, he is inconsistent but no more than King who goes missing more often than not but as he's come through the ranks, gets forgiven more easily. Gally offers a good option and at the moment we dont have better. You cant really have 3 pace men up front (Vassell, Dyer and Waghorn) balance is required which Gallagher provides.

I haven't seen Bednar in every game but where I have he seems to offer next to nothing. I remember roughly one bit of good technical play from him and that was when he held the ball up brilliantly for Vassell in the build up to Kings goal in the Forest game. The rest of the time his touch has been poor and for his size he seems ineffectual and not as good as Howard. It didn't sound like he won a header in the Millwall game.

And I would still argue that King has been better on the whole. Even if only marginally he makes up for this by being a MATCH WINNER like was mentioned earlier. He's our top scorer so surely this argument is moot.

[Kitchandro]

But Gallagher was often a liability even under Pearson. How many good away performaces have we ever seen from him?

No I don't agree with that. I thought he was an important player for us, especially considering he was played on the left in a 4.

[Kitchandro]

That somewhat explains why he's in the team then. Out of interest, how many open play goals has he scored? Cba to search right now. Tbf though, Wellens and Dyer don't score enough. Dyers finishing (one v one) is another thing i'd question hugely but I wanted to address Gallagher at the moment. And Vassell does look like scoring when played in a central role. Sounds like i'm making excuses now

I've never said he had nothing to offer, just that he doesn't offer enough over the course of a game and I still feel my point about the other players overshadowing him stands. I think a reason for this could be that his contribution is magnified by the fact that he is sometimes detrimental to our attacking play.

I agree with that, Vassell does look a lot different in the centre which is why he must be played there, I'm just saying that so far he's not been that impressive, and I think it is largely because he's not being played in the right position.

anyway, I'm gonna oversleep at this rate and miss the game so I'll leave it there, lets hope for 3 points tomorrow

[samuel]

Dyer doesn't have the legs for 90 minutes of football, he has 55-60 at the most.

Not a bad thing but we need someone who can takeover when he has gone over. Moussa needs to get a few minutes on the pitch, I reckon he could be decent for 30 minutes of a game.

PG is in the team because of his allround ability, not brilliant by any means, but he has a locker full of "Football Nous".

We don't see nearly all of what he is capable of on a match day, that is so frustrating, but he must convey his ability at the training ground, else he wouldn't be in the side.

A match in front of thousands of people is always going to make it harder to shine than a few down the training ground.

I think as frustrating as he is to us watching him, he merits his inclusion in the team. A few more brains packed with ideas and we will be okay.

[dannythefox]

Dyer really causes problems just wish his finishing was a bit better but thats probably why hes a championship player and not in the prem. But as for Gally he does put some good balls in but he should of scored at hull he missed the target from about 15yard anywhere on target and it would of been 2-0 because there keeper couldnt see anything with all the players in the way.

Question,

Why dont Gally an Dyer swap sides? Did anyone see how much time Gally spent coming back on to his right foot. He probably wastes 3seconds everytime by that time someones there tackling him. Pearson nos that and i think alot more managers are getting wise to him hes not quick at running so he needs to be getting the ball in alot quicker.

[Zingari]

reverse the names and it sounds like a 70s pop duo

[teblin]

I like Dyer like all wingers can be frustrating but has the ability to tear teams apart in the championship.

[Thracian]

Yes it's frustrating - but most players at this level have significant flaws, that's why they're playing at this level. All in all, I'm sure even Thracian (who adores a midfielder who'll contribute goals) would concede, a winger's ability to score one-on-ones isn't his biggest attribute.

Dyer frightens defences more than any other player currently in our arsenal. Far more than any other winger we've probably had in the last five or six years, to be honest.

Even Gradel, who was equally lightweight, lacked his pace and agility.

I rarely blame anyone for missing one-on-ones unless it becomes habitual. Every footballer misses such chances for a variety of reasons but the important thing is having players good enough to create such opportunities and, the better the defenders, the more pace is vital towards that end.

I'm not sure that Gradel is notably slower than Dyer in a straight line (he was still growing at Leicester and is actually deceptively fast and strong) but, in any case, I have always argued for both of them rather than one against the other. I've always rated Dyer and always known that Gradel was a goals machine - scorer and creator - at his best and given confidence and both are priceless assets for a winger.

But Dyer can score goals too and it should not be forgotten that the presence of such dangerous players - both capable of disrupting defences on their own, can also be used to provide vital space for others.

What I've wholly disliked about our policy has been this negative ploy of using "in-crowd" central midfielders as makeshift wingers-cum-defenders. It's cost us countless goals over many years because it destroyed any attacking impact we might have from out wide making us far more comfortable to defend against with our lack of infield pace.

Gallagher is just another example of the policy in motion and it's a nonsense. Gallagher is not a good defender anyway - he has about as much interest in tackling as Tony Blair had in telling the truth.

As for his set-pieces he's ordinary. I've liked his penalties but his free-kicks and corners lack pace and accuracy. If Gallagher got goals for every time he puts the ball wide or over the bar he'd have a decent reputation. But that's not how it works and for all his technique, he's always aware of the tackler and this costs him his balance and focus.

He actually slows moves down cos he so needs to get onto his stronger foot. And he lacks the pace to get away from people so is often caught, as Wellens used to be, trying to beat someone twice or even more, allowing defenders to hurry back into position.

Yes, I think Gallagher's been marginally more involved this season and is a worthwhile squad member but he's not win you anything and is not got nearly enough threat for me. Cue a goal tonight because Gallagher invariably nicks something when he's under threat but, for me, he's definitely not good enough as a first choice if we're to harbour any ambitions of promotion. .

[muzzy1981]

Keep Vassel up front, he's beginning to shine.

Dyer is class in this league

Gally needs to start performing, particular his delivery of crosses and set peices. Yes he can hit direct free kicks and penalties beautifully but he needs to start getting more assists from in-direct free-kicks and corners. Leeds were fantastic from set-peices against us, come on Sven get em in shape from Set-peices like the MON days!

In Sven we trust!

[i hate cov]

Lloyd Dyer is awesome may not score a lot but he tears defenders to shreds at times.

Gallagher in my opinion a waste of time don't get me wrong he's good at free kicks at penalty's wheres he's scored some important goals but on the ball he seems to run backwards and not forwards, he can't head a ball, backs out of every challenge and misses a lot of good oppourtunities from open play. Last season i thought he was brilliant, this season awful.

[tylesta]

No I don't agree with that. I thought he was an important player for us, especially considering he was played on the left in a 4.

didn't we play 4-3-3 alot

[shailen]

Why is everyone hating Gallagher. IMO he is someone who should be in the team because he gives us something different. He can hold the ball up, has good passing ability and really good with set pieces. Admittedly not very good defensively but his qualities further up the pitch make up for it.

Now Dyer was our best player in the Sousa era - every single game I remember him tearing up defences and he gives our team alot of pace which is much needed with the style we play.

For me starting both of these guys is a no brainer - now hopefully they will prove me right against the Swanss

[Yorkshire Blue]

The only reason I personally am not the biggest fan of Gallagher, is that he's a liability due to bottling challenges, headers and shots when he's been closed down. Every game it's the same, meaning his team mates, like Wellens have to make up for it.

Also, due to his position they are the tackles that often decide whether we attack or are caught on the break!