| Chair 14:56 - Dec 22 with 4824 views | NW5Hoop |
Does he fit into our strongest XI these days? I'm not sure he does any longer. We all know he takes a long time on the ball, and we look at our best moving quickly, not relying on dribblers. And, really, has he actually got any better in the last few seasons?
For a long time he was our most creative player. Not having a dig at him. I just don't think he is any more. |  | | |  |
| Chair on 15:12 - Dec 22 with 2484 views | Myke |
Dear me, we play well for one (1) game without him and suddenly he's surplus to requirements. 'Standards' has been a buzz word on here this season. Nobody epitomises high standards on the pitch better than Chair. It wonderful that we now are no longer totally reliant on him as we once were. ƁUT he remains our best player and fist name on the team sheet when fit. [Post edited 22 Dec 15:22]
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| Chair on 15:19 - Dec 22 with 2437 views | slmrstid |
| Chair on 15:12 - Dec 22 by Myke |
Dear me, we play well for one (1) game without him and suddenly he's surplus to requirements. 'Standards' has been a buzz word on here this season. Nobody epitomises high standards on the pitch better than Chair. It wonderful that we now are no longer totally reliant on him as we once were. ƁUT he remains our best player and fist name on the team sheet when fit. [Post edited 22 Dec 15:22]
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This.
Our Ilias thrives with better players too (just think back to the glorious days of Illy and Willy...when Willy was still bothered!)
I'd have him ahead of Saito in the pecking order at the minute, as much as I like little Koki, cutting in and he finally has quality in the centre to aim for with Kone and Burrell. Ilias is still a key part of this club. |  | | |
| Chair on 15:33 - Dec 22 with 2388 views | Northernr |
I think he does. Prior to Saturday both Dembele and Saito were seen to be in pretty poor form. |  | | |
| Chair on 15:35 - Dec 22 with 2362 views | BrianMcCarthy |
Snap.
Just posted this on another thread:
"Any winger who plays consistently well gets in the team, imo.
If fit, Chair's a good bet to do that.
I wouldn't bet for or against any of the others." |  |
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| Chair on 15:36 - Dec 22 with 2347 views | BazzaInTheLoft |
When he got himself fit / ankle bracelet free this season didn't he go on a run of four games with either a goal or assist or something?
Arguably the best period of consistency from any of our fit players.
My question is however, why he isn't able to string a long stretch of appearances together. [Post edited 22 Dec 15:38]
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| Chair on 15:44 - Dec 22 with 2323 views | kensalriser |
This question was answered earlier in the season; he was straight back in the starting team.
The difference now is that for a long while we were quite reliant on him but now there are so many different quality options in attack, not so much. Stephan has really stuck with Dembele through his erratic form, more displays like Saturday may cement his starting position (even if that wasn't the most testing game).
What a wonderful and novel feeling it is to have genuine options. |  |
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| Chair on 15:49 - Dec 22 with 2304 views | loftupper |
| Chair on 15:33 - Dec 22 by Northernr |
I think he does. Prior to Saturday both Dembele and Saito were seen to be in pretty poor form. |
I think the competition for places means we do not need to have a 'strongest 11' as such. Manager is able to rotate that attack (outside of Kone and Burrell) based on what he feels is the best fit for the game and who has trained well that week,
How good is it that they score 4 against Leicester and still have Poku, Vale and Chair to come in!! | | | |
| Chair on 15:53 - Dec 22 with 2286 views | johncharles |
We can’t have too much class and talent in the team. Chair stays |  |
| Strong and stable my arse. |
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| Chair on 15:59 - Dec 22 with 2269 views | PhilmyRs |
Lets revisit this when we've struggled at Pompey.
Personally, think we need to look at ways of accommodating Chair/Saito and Dembele/Poku into the same side, with either Kone or Burrell up front as 4-4-2 won't always work, and we'll need different variations. Good problem to have. | | | |
| Chair on 16:24 - Dec 22 with 2187 views | Silverfoxqpr |
Yes but with the caveat of him not taking the set pieces. |  | | |
| Chair on 16:42 - Dec 22 with 2134 views | daveB |
He'll still get in rotating with Saito on the left, he was playing really well before his injury |  | | |
| Chair on 16:51 - Dec 22 with 2083 views | Ned_Kennedys |
| Chair on 15:12 - Dec 22 by Myke |
Dear me, we play well for one (1) game without him and suddenly he's surplus to requirements. 'Standards' has been a buzz word on here this season. Nobody epitomises high standards on the pitch better than Chair. It wonderful that we now are no longer totally reliant on him as we once were. ƁUT he remains our best player and fist name on the team sheet when fit. [Post edited 22 Dec 15:22]
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I’d say he’s no longer the first player on the team sheet: behind RND (if fit), Mbengue, Madsen, Burrell and maybe a couple of others. He also missed our good performance against Birmingham as well. Good squad player though. |  | | |
| Chair on 17:06 - Dec 22 with 2024 views | CiderwithRsie |
| Chair on 16:51 - Dec 22 by Ned_Kennedys |
I’d say he’s no longer the first player on the team sheet: behind RND (if fit), Mbengue, Madsen, Burrell and maybe a couple of others. He also missed our good performance against Birmingham as well. Good squad player though. |
I tend to agree, but it's largely because apart from Burrell in all those positions there isn't really an alternative in the same class as the first choice.
Chair can play as a No 10 or winger. As such Saito, Dembele, Poku, Burrell, maybe Smyth, even Madsen could be used instead of him, depending on the formation.
I still have Chair as at least as good as any of those and more versatile. (He's had to be, for years he's been first on the team sheet and then had to fit in with whoever the hell else we've been trying to make into some sort of attack.)
So a hell of a lot of other players have got to be on fit and in decent form before a match-fit Chair doesn't get into my starting XI
The good thing is that we don't have to drive him into the ground all season now. | | | |
| Chair on 17:34 - Dec 22 with 1937 views | connell10 |
Chair was playing really well until he picked up his injury , he would be the first name on the team sheet for me. |  |
| AND WHEN I DREAM , I DREAM ABOUT YOU AND WHEN I SCREAM I SCREAM ABOUT YOU!!!!! | | Poll: | best number 10 ever? |
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| Chair on 17:36 - Dec 22 with 1922 views | Wilkinswatercarrier |
| Chair on 17:34 - Dec 22 by connell10 |
Chair was playing really well until he picked up his injury , he would be the first name on the team sheet for me. |
100% agree. | |
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| Chair on 17:57 - Dec 22 with 1851 views | Ghost_on_the_Westway |
The Bloody nonsense you read in the Grauniad, eh? |  |
| I need a SAGA. What’s the SAGA? It’s ….. Queen’s Park Rangers. |
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| Chair on 18:40 - Dec 22 with 1738 views | Mr_Beef |
| Chair on 17:34 - Dec 22 by connell10 |
Chair was playing really well until he picked up his injury , he would be the first name on the team sheet for me. |
Agreed, was being written off by some a few months ago and came back into the side and looked really good. The injuries are a concern, but a fit Ilias Chair gets into this team every week. |  | | |
| Chair on 18:49 - Dec 22 with 1703 views | joe90 |
Smyth - 7 starts | 3 goals | 0 assists
Chair - 9 starts | 1 goal | 2 assists
Saito - 11 starts | 2 goals | 2 assists
Dembele - 11 starts | 1 goal | 0 assists
I don’t see anything here that suggests he wouldn’t fit in our strongest XI. We’re playing well, that includes those that don’t start or have been in and out of the team. |  | | |
| (No subject) (n/t) on 19:09 - Dec 22 with 1653 views | Mr_Beef |
| Chair on 17:34 - Dec 22 by connell10 |
Chair was playing really well until he picked up his injury , he would be the first name on the team sheet for me. |
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| Chair on 19:23 - Dec 22 with 1598 views | davman |
Of course he does.
This board continues its weird narrative of questioning Chair.
Barmy. |  |
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| Chair on 19:25 - Dec 22 with 1594 views | davman |
| Chair on 16:24 - Dec 22 by Silverfoxqpr |
Yes but with the caveat of him not taking the set pieces. |
This is a view that I may be able to get along with.
Madsen and Dembele are better deliverers of the ball.
That's it though; Chair remains the best player we have by a long street. | |
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| Chair on 19:46 - Dec 22 with 1556 views | Ned_Kennedys |
| Chair on 19:23 - Dec 22 by davman |
Of course he does.
This board continues its weird narrative of questioning Chair.
Barmy. |
Seems barmy to blindly think he’s untouchable and must be a certain starter every game when we now have a stronger squad with a number of decent players competing for his positions. Surely ALL players need to compete for their places in the first team: healthy competition and all that. [Post edited 22 Dec 21:00]
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| Chair on 20:53 - Dec 22 with 1433 views | TacticalR |
I think it's a reasonable question to ask.
In the past, when Chair was on, we played Chair-centric football, and the team is not playing like that at the moment. Where we could do with him is in those games where we are on the defensive, can't string two passes together, and need someone to hang on to the ball. [Post edited 22 Dec 20:53]
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| Chair on 20:59 - Dec 22 with 1404 views | BlackCrowe |
It's a great question from the OP. Love Chair to bits but he's not an auto starter for me....depends on the oppo. If we're going for blitzkreig then probably not as i think he has a tendency to slow the game down. But he's a super important player for unlocking a tight defence in a tight match. As i said, a great question and one we've also been debating in the Crowes nest. |  |
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| Chair on 21:35 - Dec 22 with 1311 views | sdm1508 |
I think to get the most out of Chair you need a fullback who will get forward and overlap. Chair doesn't have the out and out pace of a winger but he is good at coming inside. It limits our width but if you have RND galloping on the outside it gives us the option to go on the outside or cut in. Can anyone remember if RND was a loan until January or season long loan? I would get him for the season if only a loan until January and if he stays fit, I wouldn't mind us trying to get him permanently after that | | | |
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