SHA
Small Heath Alliance
08:48, Sun 29 Jun
I we’ve got a bit of a problem when it comes to Jay Stansfield – and I say that with nothing but respect and admiration for him as a player.
First off, massive congratulations to him for playing such a selfless and important role in helping England U21s win the Euros (I think it’ll be overlooked by the wider football world). That says a lot about his character. He’s been a talisman for us – not just for what he does on the pitch, but also for what he represents under Knighthead. He embodies the direction the club is trying to go in, and that’s a big reason why we signed him.
But the problem – or rather, the challenge – has become clearer through his recent performances for England.
For me, he’s not a natural number 9. He doesn’t have the instinctive movement or striker’s mentality that someone like Jamie Vardy has – even though they share some physical similarities like pace and build. That’s not a criticism, just an observation about his most effective role.
Out wide on the right, he works hard and puts in the extra yards, but defensively he can be a bit vulnerable. He gets beaten too easily at times, which can expose us.I know that wasn’t his role last night and he was just putting extra yards but that was highlighted for everyone to see last night.
His best position, in my opinion, is as an inverted forward on the left – in a counter-attacking setup, like what we had under Eustace. But in a more positive, possession-based system –like Daviesball – playing him there creates a different issue: you lose the chance to play a natural wide man to hold the width, or another proper inverted left winger. You lose out on an, Anderson, Gray, and, I’d even prefer Hansson in that role.
So I think, for the time being, we’ll continue to see Jay used as a number 9 – even though I don’t think that’s where he’s at his best. As he develops, he might grow into a central number 10 role, but I do think we’re heading toward a bit of a dilemma: where do we play him, and how do we get the best out of him in this team?
Just to be clear, this isn’t a dig at him. It’s not about his ability or effort – far from it.
In fact, there were so many halves of football last season where I thought, we’ve been decent, but we’re missing something – except Jay. He was often the standout. I’m a proud Blue, and I love players who leave everything on the pitch. He plays with heart, and the fact that he can create something out of nothing – and do it regularly – is incredible.
Maybe he just needs a bit of a break. He’s young and super fit, and I know he’ll probably get a week off, but honestly, I’d give him three and tell him not to think about football at all. Let him recharge properly – he’s earned it.
First off, massive congratulations to him for playing such a selfless and important role in helping England U21s win the Euros (I think it’ll be overlooked by the wider football world). That says a lot about his character. He’s been a talisman for us – not just for what he does on the pitch, but also for what he represents under Knighthead. He embodies the direction the club is trying to go in, and that’s a big reason why we signed him.
But the problem – or rather, the challenge – has become clearer through his recent performances for England.
For me, he’s not a natural number 9. He doesn’t have the instinctive movement or striker’s mentality that someone like Jamie Vardy has – even though they share some physical similarities like pace and build. That’s not a criticism, just an observation about his most effective role.
Out wide on the right, he works hard and puts in the extra yards, but defensively he can be a bit vulnerable. He gets beaten too easily at times, which can expose us.I know that wasn’t his role last night and he was just putting extra yards but that was highlighted for everyone to see last night.
His best position, in my opinion, is as an inverted forward on the left – in a counter-attacking setup, like what we had under Eustace. But in a more positive, possession-based system –like Daviesball – playing him there creates a different issue: you lose the chance to play a natural wide man to hold the width, or another proper inverted left winger. You lose out on an, Anderson, Gray, and, I’d even prefer Hansson in that role.
So I think, for the time being, we’ll continue to see Jay used as a number 9 – even though I don’t think that’s where he’s at his best. As he develops, he might grow into a central number 10 role, but I do think we’re heading toward a bit of a dilemma: where do we play him, and how do we get the best out of him in this team?
Just to be clear, this isn’t a dig at him. It’s not about his ability or effort – far from it.
In fact, there were so many halves of football last season where I thought, we’ve been decent, but we’re missing something – except Jay. He was often the standout. I’m a proud Blue, and I love players who leave everything on the pitch. He plays with heart, and the fact that he can create something out of nothing – and do it regularly – is incredible.
Maybe he just needs a bit of a break. He’s young and super fit, and I know he’ll probably get a week off, but honestly, I’d give him three and tell him not to think about football at all. Let him recharge properly – he’s earned it.