Crooks

the_holgate_roof

Well-known member
How does Crooks force his way back in, we practically play a 4-4-2, albeit Giles gets much further forward than Smith, he can’t drop Hackney, the only way in would be leaving McGree out, does Crooks now have to sit it out, in which case he may aswell go for his operation?
 
Play Crooks on the right of the midfield four in front of either Smith or Djiksteel. His arial ability will add a further benefit going forward. Get him in Saturday👍
 
McGree would be the one to make way. We lack physicality in the midfield - Crooks would help in that respect and is also a good foil for Jones. Crooks also contributes in both penalty areas more so than McGree in my opinion. We still look susceptible to the ball coming into the box from set pieces in particular as we are not the tallest of sides.
 
The problem I see is that the squad is very much shaped to play 3 at the back and wing backs. At times last night we looked incredibly soft on the flanks playing a 4. The spine was good last night but Forss, McGree and at times Giles/Jones were peripheral. It will be interesting to see how Carrick looks to address it - Crooks for his height and goal threat should start for me.
 
Play Crooks on the right of the midfield four in front of either Smith or Djiksteel. His arial ability will add a further benefit going forward. Get him in Saturday👍
Would be the slowest and least creative midfield I’d ever witnessed without jones on the right to be fair. Gets us way higher up the pitch with jones playing. The only one of our players who looks likely to make anything happen going forward, yes he may lose the ball quite often but it’s usually because he’s trying something high risk (possibly under instruction to do this and why we have smith in behind him to cover) and when it does come off it usually results in him creating a goal scoring chance.
 
Stays out of the team for now for me. I like the Howson and Hackney partnership and I wouldn’t play Crooks out wide.
 
Crooks best spell at the Boro was playing on the right side linking up with Jones. Jones being completely out of form means Crooks will instead form a partnership on the right with Smith or Djiksteel. Crooks flick on headers and defensive Ariel cover on the right seems a big bonus for us to utilise. Crooks works hard to get up and down the pitch so with Howson holding a McGree, Hackney and Crooks middle 3 sounds good to me?
 
Would be the slowest and least creative midfield I’d ever witnessed without jones on the right to be fair. Gets us way higher up the pitch with jones playing. The only one of our players who looks likely to make anything happen going forward, yes he may lose the ball quite often but it’s usually because he’s trying something high risk (possibly under instruction to do this and why we have smith in behind him to cover) and when it does come off it usually results in him creating a goal scoring chance.

That’s a very generous appraisal of Jones last 20 to 30 games.
 
Crooks best spell at the Boro was playing on the right side linking up with Jones. Jones being completely out of form means Crooks will instead form a partnership on the right with Smith or Djiksteel. Crooks flick on headers and defensive Ariel cover on the right seems a big bonus for us to utilise. Crooks works hard to get up and down the pitch so with Howson holding a McGree, Hackney and Crooks middle 3 sounds good to me?
Where is the width? Honestly that sounds absolutely abysmal
 
Crooks offers very little other than being a big bloke in the box at corners. Hes a yellow card in waiting. He can't time a tackle , has very little ball skills No pace . Poor passing ability. A 3rd division player at best.
 
Back
Top