I will never forgot that moment against Liverpool, to suggest he sliced it though suggests it was an error of technique, he just willingly looped the ball straight into the middle of the pitch, I have absolutely no idea what he could’ve been thinking. He was also hilarious to watch whilst tracking back, he’d often turn his back on the attacker with the ball and just run away from them.
Yep. Always felt he was giving his all which has been a rare attribute with some of our recent squads! I wish him well.
Two positive memories of Masina. The goal at Cardiff, obviously, and that tackle against Norwich at home in the Champ.
Wasn't that his first game (or perhaps start) back? We all like to have a moan about him from time to time because of how woefully out of his depth he looked in the Prem, but he was so so important to us in the Championship
Not the required level, but gave his all and seemed like a positive influence around the place. More than can be said of many others we’ve picked up. He’ll probably be a solid player for Udinese. Hopefully they give us a fee.
A kind man. I recall him whacking a shot into the Rookery pre match and smacking some poor lady in the face. He came over to see that she was ok and at full time came back and gave her his shirt. Gormless but good hearted and the deli in St Albans will miss him most perhaps? Good luck to you Adam.
Always came across as a decent guy and we have suffered far worse players that’s for sure - must say I’m surprised to read so many comments about him always giving his all though. There’s been a number of games (mainly in our Covid-relegation season where he clearly went missing. And I’ve never forgotten whatever his effort at West Ham away was…but he certainly wasn’t giving his all! Just came across a bit of wimp on the pitch a lot of the time IMO. And I certainly won’t miss those long-range slice passes he was always played to absolutely nobody.
Glad you said this about the effort as I thought I was on my own. The West Ham game was the pinnacle of lack of effort but the general closing down of players crossing a ball always irritated me. The penalty he gave away against Villa last season summed him up for me
The last few seasons our FBs seem incapable of stopping the ball from being crossed and seem to make no attempt to block. Is this just a new thing in football ? I remember the days when a Rostron or a Gibbs would consider they had failed and let the side down if the opponent got a ball over but our FBs just don't seem to have it as an objective these days.
Kamara was better at it. Masina used to stand 5-6 yards away with his hands behind his back. Drove me up the wall. Close him down ffs
In fairness, the biggesrt part of the importance was actually being a left back - that was the main difference maker, when he became available again. Don't get me wrong, he was perfectly serviceable at it (and, strangely, for one single season developed an impressive penchant for defensive headers) and I'm not criticising him at this level, but it's not like he set the world ablaze and became the Championship Gareth Bale in doing so - it just meant we finally had a player playing the appropriate position on both sides of the pitch. A tactical masterstroke, if ever I did see one.
Oh for sure, he wasn't a world-beater at Championship level (certainly not the best in the division as he was voted!), but he was very solid and I can't recall a single time he let us down in the Championship
Sometimes it's a tactic to let the winger cross it in rather than let them try to get closer to the box, sometimes you can trust you centre-backs to head the ball aw...oh
I remember hearing Gary Neville talk about this very thing whilst commentating over a match (can’t remember which one exactly but it didn’t involve us). He mentioned that the role of the wing back seems to have changed since the days of when he was a player. The role back then was to stop any crosses coming in “at all costs”, and closing down the opposition winger as soon as he came into the defenders zone and blocking off “any” attempted cross. Whereas nowadays, it appears to be a case of wing backs being given the role of; stand off the winger, don’t let him get past you but let them cross earlier on > letting them run down the byline to whip in a cross. Supposedly it’s easier to defend high crosses than low whipped crosses. So it doesn’t appear to be just us doing that; whether right or wrong.
One could argue that it makes sense to “allow” teams to do that if you’ve got 6ft 7 defenders and an equally large goal keeper.
Goodbye Adam, you were pretty **** and brainless most of the time but gave us a few good moments At least certain fan groups will be relieved they don't have to hear his 'inappropriate song' next season
It’s not that uncommon. If you’ve got an aerially dominant defense and you’re up against a small, skilful frontline, wouldn’t you want to funnel them wide and make them cross it?
No. As a defence, where do you not want the ball? In the box. A vast majority of goals are scored inside the box. If you stop the ball going in the box you will concede far less goals
If you lose your shape because you’re trying not to let them cross, they can make runs into the gaps you’ve left and pass it into the box instead. I’m not saying it’s a great idea or should be used often, just that it happens and makes sense. Look at basically every defensive set-up against Guardiola’s Barcelona. High crosses into Messi and Pedro? No worries. Over-commit trying to stop a cross so they can play round you? Big trouble.
Just like the Success and Pusseto deals then. Good deal when it’s in our favour, same wallet when it’s (pretty much always) in theirs.
For the Cardiff goal and the tackle against Norwich he made two season-defining contributions Nice person as well. Filled the void left by Zeegelaar so off he goes to...fill the void left by Zeegelaar...
Nice lad and at least gave his all and showed commitment to the cause unlike some. That debate at the London Stadium and Nigel Pearson was the nadir but there were the bright spots namely the free kick versus Cardiff. Wish him well. And he may well be at the World Cup too.
