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Llera (and a bit of Pugh)


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Really surprised that this guy (Llera) hadn't earned his own thread this weekend.

Thought he was immense yesterday. Completely bossed the game at the back. Seemed everything was aimed down his throat and he dealt with it time and again.

Took the whole back 4 a few minutes to get used to Mackail-Smith's direct running, but once they did, Llera had him in his pocket.

And to save me starting a new thread: what were people's thoughts on Pugh at left back? I found his performance really eclectic. At times, he looked the weak link, he let players in behind him a few times in the first half and came within inches of booting CMS for a penalty in the lead up to their goal. But the rest of the time, he looked surprisingly composed and cut out a few loose balls in the box.,

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And to save me starting a new thread: what were people's thoughts on Pugh at left back? I found his performance really eclectic. At times, he looked the weak link, he let players in behind him a few times in the first half and came within inches of booting CMS for a penalty in the lead up to their goal. But the rest of the time, he looked surprisingly composed and cut out a few loose balls in the box.,

 

I was surprised (pleasantly) that Mackail-Smith didn't go down after that. Looked to me like Pugh did clip him but Mackail-Smith knew he was through on goal so stayed on his feet.

 

Which is nice to see- I hate it when players go down easily when they're in on the keeper. Try and score FFS.

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Agree totally about Llera dominating CMS once he got to grips with him. My only criticism of Llera yesterday was he gave away posession a lot in the first half. Some of this is due to him having to use his right foot a lot though.

Pugh was steady though, looks a bit slow. Great left foot delivery though. Some interesting decisions lay ahead for DJ.

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When in possession he was poor, especially in the first half. He's got a lovely left peg and can pick and a pass but he was guilty of not really looking/taking time and just booted it up field. But he tried playing it out against the likes of Boro and got punished earlier in the season and he took some stick. Maybe he just thinks getting rid would be better.

However, defensively he was superb, in fact I'd go as far as saying that was his best defensive display in this league and since he's been here. He was a rock, dominated everything the air and in fact he was better than Gardner today, which takes something.

He's been excellent for the last two months.

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I thought Llera was a great 'stopper' today, but a little bit hoofy when it other options were available. I would rather him defend like that though if it means he makes clearances and keeps the shutters down.

Pugh obviously has that little bit of 'Man U' quality about him, not sure he should keep Reda out of the tem when the big man is back fit, but his dead ball quality is a welcome addition.

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It would be nice for us to play the ball out of defence but as been said before he was punished earlier for it.

 

I think we are only commenting on the hoof because the Gay pride boys were shouting hooof every time he kicked it, even when he was just clearing the lines

 

I would have liked to see a bit of hooof in the build up to their goal.

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Guest swfc4_1

Really surprised that this guy (Llera) hadn't earned his own thread this weekend.

Thought he was immense yesterday. Completely bossed the game at the back. Seemed everything was aimed down his throat and he dealt with it time and again.

Took the whole back 4 a few minutes to get used to Mackail-Smith's direct running, but once they did, Llera had him in his pocket.

And to save me starting a new thread: what were people's thoughts on Pugh at left back? I found his performance really eclectic. At times, he looked the weak link, he let players in behind him a few times in the first half and came within inches of booting CMS for a penalty in the lead up to their goal. But the rest of the time, he looked surprisingly composed and cut out a few loose balls in the box.,

Totally agree. Llera handled CMS very well.

And Llera didnt used to play the long ball all the time, I think this is something thay he has been instructed to do.

Pugh was a strange one... hopefully just nerves, because the majority of his performance was decent.

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Totally agree. Llera handled CMS very well.

And Llera didnt used to play the long ball all the time, I think this is something thay he has been instructed to do.

 

 

When in possession he was poor, especially in the first half. He's got a lovely left peg and can pick and a pass but he was guilty of not really looking/taking time and just booted it up field. But he tried playing it out against the likes of Boro and got punished earlier in the season and he took some stick. Maybe he just thinks getting rid would be better.

 

I think they're obviously linked.

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Very good performance from him yesterday, probably his most solid of the season. His distribution wasn't that bad, but he was guilty of booting it up field a bit and giving it away, but I'd rather see him give it away up there than in the final third.

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See people's point with distribution. The thing is, I assume that this is the way he is told to play. We've played a lot of high balls from the back in recent years and the percentages are always low. But overall, it seems to get results when the ball does drop our way.

 

Yep, Dave Jones laid into Llera in an interview after the boro (?) game where he had cost us a goal due to trying to distribute the ball on the floor. He basically said that we need to just get rid of the ball as quickly as possible and stop trying to be clever.

 

So he is just doing as instructed.

Edited by evaD
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