| Sorry Paal 13:34 - Dec 27 with 9594 views | Jules4367 |
Don't get me wrong, I DO actually like Ken Paal - but only in his attacking format.
I have griped and moaned (as many will know and probably will comment) for the last two seasons and despair at his defending!
How many times are we going to see Paal beaten and a cross come in from close quarters or the goal line to the centre of the box leading to a simple tap in. Time and time again the ball goes to our right and 15 seconds later they score a goal.
(This is how sensitised to this weakness I am, I couldn't watch the match yesterday but was keeping track and asked someone who was at the ground whether any of the first two were balls played past Paal and crossed in to the centre and sure enough one was! I'm not psychic, so how did I know that this WOULD be the case? - and if I know this, other teams know this, but clearly Ken doesn't get it! 
Surely they analyse and break down who should have done what for each goal and learn from things don't they? In any job, you WILL make mistakes but the key is to learn from them and not keeping doing more of the same?
Teams playing us probably rub their hands with goal inspired glee when they see Paal on the play sheet as a defender.🤔🤬.
We were unlucky with the third but their second, which put us under pressure was, in my opinion, due to Paal's continued lack of awareness and reaction.
But hey, I am probably once again talking rubbish and someone will advise me as such and cite that he does an outstanding job in defence, and clears balls off the line etc. [Post edited 27 Dec 2024 13:39]
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| Sorry Paal on 20:42 - Jan 1 with 1241 views | Loyalitat |
| Sorry Paal on 18:47 - Jan 1 by lassel |
Respectfully Gaz, if you think their goal was Ashby’s fault I’d wager you don’t know much about football… |
Respectfully, you need to watch that particular passage of play again. Smyth mis-controlled the ball whilst Ashby overlapped. Watford exploited the space left vacant by Ashby and broke on us to score with the aid of a deflected shot. To level all the blame on Paal beggars belief.
I thought Ashby played well today but we were leading 2-0 at the time and there was no need for him to bomb forward in advance of Smyth at that stage.
I suspect that if that incident had arisen on the left side between Chair and Paal, your willingness to absolve Ashby would not be so forthcoming in the case of Paal.
We, yes the whole team, played well today against a decent Watford side. Yet it would appear that certain players are blamed regardless, even when the source of the fault clearly emanated on our right side.
Well played the entire team today. [Post edited 1 Jan 21:02]
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| Sorry Paal on 20:48 - Jan 1 with 1206 views | Hunterhoop |
| Sorry Paal on 18:27 - Jan 1 by gazza1 |
Opinions Hunter, we have different opinions....I like him, you don't.
I would say though that you are being harsh on the man, he may be told/expected to play narrow as I said earlier. As for the Watford goal - I though Ashby was the player out of position and the guy had yards of space on out right which was left by Ashby, the players then had to regroup and go narrow for safety and when it did get played to the scorer, Paal shut him down and deflected it into the net. Harsh to lay any blame on Paal. |
But Paal did not shut him down, Gaz. Watch the goal again. He’s 5 yards from him. If he closes quickly the deflection doesn’t go in.
Of course it’s opinions. So is yours that I’m being harsh. |  | | |
| Sorry Paal on 21:26 - Jan 1 with 1119 views | WadR |
| Sorry Paal on 20:48 - Jan 1 by Hunterhoop |
But Paal did not shut him down, Gaz. Watch the goal again. He’s 5 yards from him. If he closes quickly the deflection doesn’t go in.
Of course it’s opinions. So is yours that I’m being harsh. |
Just watched the goal back and do think it's exceedingly hard on Paal to blame him for it. Us losing the ball in transition like that - he's running back facing his own goal to get goal side and sorts his body shape out to face forwards just as the assist is played.
If he were any tighter to Baah at the point of the pass being played - he'd be in danger of Chakvetadze playing the ball in behind the gap between Paal/Fox - which would, normally, be a far more dangerous situation. And then Baah takes the shot first time, so Paal hardly has time to get tighter. I really think it's one you chalk up to unfortunate deflection and the fact we ought to take care of the ball better in transition.
I'm fond of Paal generally - I think this season he has been up and down. He has his weaknesses and can sometimes be a bit weak in the tackle. But, while Dunne has been fantastic over the last couple of months, what separates Paal from our other fullback options is, normally, his security on the ball and ability to play out. He can take the ball under pressure, offer for one twos, tuck into midfield gaps in the build up that I think is really significant to how Cifuentes would really like us to play ideally. | | | |
| Sorry Paal on 21:57 - Jan 1 with 981 views | OxfordHoops |
| Sorry Paal on 18:02 - Jan 1 by gazza1 |
It is Chair & Saiko job to support the full backs, just like Smyth does for the RB and does it generally better than on the left. Paal's positioning was excellent today throughout, he also cut out many crosse that you are complaining about, it isn't realistic to expect him to stop all of the crosses - did you go the the match and were you watching??
Did you see his excellent weighted pass for the first goal?? Did you see his excellent left foot passes he hit down the line??, did you see the challenges he put in both on the ground and in the air?, I presume not otherwise you would not be complaining about how he played today!!!!. If you are coming all the way from Oxford and you are not seeing these things it seems to me as being quite bazzar. [Post edited 1 Jan 18:06]
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I didn’t actually say he was bad today, but i do think we can do a lot better. And I travel down every home game, Season Tickets Bl and Paal plays directly in front of me most weeks, so I do have a good view of what he does, his performance today was better than most weeks, the whole team played well, on a points basis he’s a 6 to 6 1/2, that should be a decent average not a good game. The goal wasn’t his fault, we got exposed losing the ball high up the pitch, Paal, was left 1 on 1 with Baah, he could have closed Baah down quicker, instead of backing off, the result may well have been the same, we will Know? | | | |
| Sorry Paal on 09:52 - Jan 2 with 683 views | terryb |
| Sorry Paal on 18:27 - Jan 1 by gazza1 |
Opinions Hunter, we have different opinions....I like him, you don't.
I would say though that you are being harsh on the man, he may be told/expected to play narrow as I said earlier. As for the Watford goal - I though Ashby was the player out of position and the guy had yards of space on out right which was left by Ashby, the players then had to regroup and go narrow for safety and when it did get played to the scorer, Paal shut him down and deflected it into the net. Harsh to lay any blame on Paal. |
Ashby wasn't out of position. He had overlapped Smyth & in position to receive the pass that did not come. As all good full backs should have been.
Should Paal be blamed for the deflection? NO! The sole blame was with Smyth who accepted that he was culpable. I do think that he should be forgiven for this after his performance today though! [Post edited 2 Jan 9:54]
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| Sorry Paal on 13:43 - Jan 2 with 557 views | gazza1 |
| Sorry Paal on 18:47 - Jan 1 by lassel |
Respectfully Gaz, if you think their goal was Ashby’s fault I’d wager you don’t know much about football… |
Respectfully lassel, I would suggest I made that observation because my 'vision' of that period of play is a lot better than yours!!!!
Loyalitat has actually covered it very well in his response to you and I fully agree with it and, furthermore, I discussed the goal at the time with my Son asking him why did Ashby leave his defence totally unbalanced, no Rangers anywhere near the right side of the pitch defending and run 50 yards towards Smyth?? It wasn't the bast of balls pace wise from Ashby (Smyth was waiting for it). We are 2-0 up ffs!!!
Have a look and let me know but knowing you, I will hear nothing more!!!!
Thanks Loyalitat, good chat!!! | | | |
| Sorry Paal on 13:47 - Jan 2 with 540 views | gazza1 |
| Sorry Paal on 09:52 - Jan 2 by terryb |
Ashby wasn't out of position. He had overlapped Smyth & in position to receive the pass that did not come. As all good full backs should have been.
Should Paal be blamed for the deflection? NO! The sole blame was with Smyth who accepted that he was culpable. I do think that he should be forgiven for this after his performance today though! [Post edited 2 Jan 9:54]
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Ashby was 100% out of position, the Watford man had yards & yards to do what he wanted.....why??, because Ashby went 'bombing' forward leaving the right side empty of Rangers players. Watch Dunne look over to the right after the Watford deflected goal - that will tell you what he thought.
PS - he should not be overlapping in those circumstances, it left us defenceless on the right. [Post edited 2 Jan 13:49]
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| Sorry Paal on 15:27 - Jan 2 with 455 views | Hunterhoop |
| Sorry Paal on 21:26 - Jan 1 by WadR |
Just watched the goal back and do think it's exceedingly hard on Paal to blame him for it. Us losing the ball in transition like that - he's running back facing his own goal to get goal side and sorts his body shape out to face forwards just as the assist is played.
If he were any tighter to Baah at the point of the pass being played - he'd be in danger of Chakvetadze playing the ball in behind the gap between Paal/Fox - which would, normally, be a far more dangerous situation. And then Baah takes the shot first time, so Paal hardly has time to get tighter. I really think it's one you chalk up to unfortunate deflection and the fact we ought to take care of the ball better in transition.
I'm fond of Paal generally - I think this season he has been up and down. He has his weaknesses and can sometimes be a bit weak in the tackle. But, while Dunne has been fantastic over the last couple of months, what separates Paal from our other fullback options is, normally, his security on the ball and ability to play out. He can take the ball under pressure, offer for one twos, tuck into midfield gaps in the build up that I think is really significant to how Cifuentes would really like us to play ideally. |
To be very clear, I’m not blaming Paal for the goal entirely. It obviously begins with Ashby bombing on with no protection and Smyth losing it.
All I am saying is Paal should be much tighter. He’s backed off 5 yards deeper than the other defenders when the striker takes the shot, is 5 yards off the shooter when he should have been rushing to close down. He would have blocked the shot or forced the forward to beat him on his outside which would have closed the angle down. I’ve re-watched it several times and I think Paal plays the situation badly.
The thread was about Paal. I don’t think he is playing well. I think he is going through the motions. Absolutely no issues with people who disagree, but I’ve been a ST holder for 30 odd years and I just don’t rate him very highly. I think there’s ample evidence to support my opinion. He has a decent touch and technique. I just don’t like his attitude. I don’t think he’s brave on the ball, and I don’t think he’s giving 100%. Players like that bug me.
Is he the best left back we have? Yes. That is because he is the only left back. It’s a bit silly to be in this situation. A left back in Jan would be behind a forward only in priority for me.
Whatever happens with all the young European fellas brought in, going into the season with 2 strikers and 1 left back was pretty shambolic. We get to rectify this month. Failure to do so will be inexplicable. | | | |
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| Sorry Paal on 17:56 - Jan 2 with 341 views | gazza1 |
| Sorry Paal on 15:27 - Jan 2 by Hunterhoop |
To be very clear, I’m not blaming Paal for the goal entirely. It obviously begins with Ashby bombing on with no protection and Smyth losing it.
All I am saying is Paal should be much tighter. He’s backed off 5 yards deeper than the other defenders when the striker takes the shot, is 5 yards off the shooter when he should have been rushing to close down. He would have blocked the shot or forced the forward to beat him on his outside which would have closed the angle down. I’ve re-watched it several times and I think Paal plays the situation badly.
The thread was about Paal. I don’t think he is playing well. I think he is going through the motions. Absolutely no issues with people who disagree, but I’ve been a ST holder for 30 odd years and I just don’t rate him very highly. I think there’s ample evidence to support my opinion. He has a decent touch and technique. I just don’t like his attitude. I don’t think he’s brave on the ball, and I don’t think he’s giving 100%. Players like that bug me.
Is he the best left back we have? Yes. That is because he is the only left back. It’s a bit silly to be in this situation. A left back in Jan would be behind a forward only in priority for me.
Whatever happens with all the young European fellas brought in, going into the season with 2 strikers and 1 left back was pretty shambolic. We get to rectify this month. Failure to do so will be inexplicable. |
I agree we need another LB, not sure we can get better than Paal though with the finances that we have unless we get money by selling Paal but then we would be down to one LB again.
We need a striker for sure and it should not be too difficult to get better than we have already. Saying that I thought Frey done a proper job against Watford and Kolli has taken his goals well but too weak to play CF for us as No1. | | | |
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