Ahead of facing in form Peterborough United, Michael Skubala was happy to talk about some individual players and how he sees their status at the club.
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You can discuss what Michael Skubala has said ahead of this match here, and get involved with our pre-match discussion!
Under 21’s Midweek Game Against Derby County: These type of matches are important to MS as he likes to see players in action for a variety of different reasons, be it young lads gaining experience, minutes to professionals that haven’t had much game time or people like Paudie O’Connor and Danny Mandroiu returning from suspension lay offs. MS was pleased with performances within the game.
Danny Mandroiu: The player is training well and under consideration for selection. MS rebutted the query of whether there is a trust issue given DM’s disciplinary record.
“No, I trust him. I think every player makes mistakes…Danny knows mistakes he’s made…..You can make mistakes once, twice. I don’t think you can make the same mistake again by being sent off…..he’s clear about that, I’m clear about that…….we have to accept it happens. That’s not being negative or passive, but there’s not so much a trust (issue) there; it’s more of a mentality on the pitch of being really aggressive…..I want them to be front footed but not being stupid”
Burgeoning Draper/Taylor Combination: “So far so good. I think there’s still loads of headroom for growth, especially in their relationship when they play together”
There is a lot more work to be done around their combination and how they connect on the pitch – how one ‘drops’ and one ‘goes’. With there being two number nines on the pitch MS also expects goals.
MS really liked parts of their respective games versus Derby where Freddie’s strength and Joe’s pace in behind were on show. However there is much more to their games than that and they are not simply a traditional big man/little man combination. Whilst FD can hold the ball up he can also get into the box to score goals, whereas JT can link up play in addition to his pace in behind defences.
The duo are still young and as such MS is expecting to see peaks and troughs from them but the Imps now have a real threat to the last line of opposition defenders.
Teddy Bishop: The issues that TB has faced pertain to completing back-to-back games and the physicality within that – ability to get around the pitch without the ball.
“My challenge to Teddy coming in has been, if you can do those things (everybody can see what quality he brings in possession)”.
Players need to do the stuff that is not nice.
“Definitely what you’ve seen from Teddy since I’ve been in is willingness to do the dirty stuff off the ball a little bit more, and be aggressive……run around, do the things that are sort of not favoured sometimes by what I call really talented technical players (of which MS certainly knows Teddy is)”.
Resultingly the Imps are actually starting to see TB get 90 minutes under his belt, playing consistently with the quality he brings to the team – the finesse to slow the game down whilst possessing the quality to break through lines at a high level of execution.
Peterborough United: “Probably for me the best possession-based team in the league…The way they try to play football is brilliant”.
Darren Ferguson coaches their players really well and his side are on a great 11-match unbeaten run.
The Posh score and concede a lot of goals which MS puts down to the way they try to stretch the pitch.
The Peterborough front four are the best in the league with notable pace and they deploy two ‘games’ tactically, one of which is akin to a six at the back with the other four stretching the pitch. It is that which creates the spaces for their pace to be utilised, leading to goals but also leaves them susceptible to concede.
Even so, MS has told his players to have a go at Peterborough. The tactics will need to be slightly different and the players will need to be aggressive whilst also retaining the ball for long spells.
“There’s every chance if we go after them we can do as well as we did against Derby”.
Writer: hulloutpost
Skubala: "I think there's still loads of headroom for growth."https://t.co/MeIf8toj73#WeAreImps #PUFC
— Vital Lincoln City (@VitalLincoln) January 26, 2024
