Good uses and bad uses of Liam Fraser

[Vision]

Also those 3 strikers mentioned played with a strike partner as a front 2. Rightly or wrongly thats not how we, or virtually any other team, currently plays.

Back to the original post. I've not seen anything so far that suggests Fraser is a nailed on number 6 and nothing else.

He was better further forward than he was defensively before Wing got injured against Huddersfield. Had a couple of great incisive passes whilst in an advanced position in that game.

Against Wimbledon that flick that almost got Ahmed away was exactly the sort of back to goal inventive play that is required from an advanced midfielder. Added to that, we clearly wanted to use his aerial presence in an attacking sense by making runs into the box. He got on the end of a couple of sub par crosses. Better deliveries and we may have been looking at a real attacking threat adding a different dimension to the team. I can't recall too many occasions in the last few seasons where we've had a midfielder arriving late into the box to get on the end of crosses. Knibbs was good at finding space in the area and sniffing out chances but I wouldn't say he directly got on the end of crosses as an aerial threat.

I can only comment on what I've seen for us so far and it may prove that he is mainly suited to a defensive midfield role but the evidence I've seen in a Reading shirt suggests he can definitely provide something positive when played further forward.

I think Fraser is a great squad player but not in my starting 3. I am going to jump back to o Mahoney sorry, you mentioned the 2 up front and I think this is the issue, some players are better suited to a front 2 and I think Omahoney is this type of striker. So we either need to find a striker to play with him and change formation. Or find a striker designed as a lone striker. Lucas Joao anyone lol.

If we had anyone who could cross a ball then peak Kermogant would be ideal.

[West F]

Also those 3 strikers mentioned played with a strike partner as a front 2. Rightly or wrongly thats not how we, or virtually any other team, currently plays.

Back to the original post. I've not seen anything so far that suggests Fraser is a nailed on number 6 and nothing else.

He was better further forward than he was defensively before Wing got injured against Huddersfield. Had a couple of great incisive passes whilst in an advanced position in that game.

Against Wimbledon that flick that almost got Ahmed away was exactly the sort of back to goal inventive play that is required from an advanced midfielder. Added to that, we clearly wanted to use his aerial presence in an attacking sense by making runs into the box. He got on the end of a couple of sub par crosses. Better deliveries and we may have been looking at a real attacking threat adding a different dimension to the team. I can't recall too many occasions in the last few seasons where we've had a midfielder arriving late into the box to get on the end of crosses. Knibbs was good at finding space in the area and sniffing out chances but I wouldn't say he directly got on the end of crosses as an aerial threat.

I can only comment on what I've seen for us so far and it may prove that he is mainly suited to a defensive midfield role but the evidence I've seen in a Reading shirt suggests he can definitely provide something positive when played further forward.

I think Fraser is a great squad player but not in my starting 3. I am going to jump back to o Mahoney sorry, you mentioned the 2 up front and I think this is the issue, some players are better suited to a front 2 and I think Omahoney is this type of striker. So we either need to find a striker to play with him and change formation. Or find a striker designed as a lone striker. Lucas Joao anyone lol.

If we had anyone who could cross a ball then peak Kermogant would be ideal.

Maybe a little digging into how Portsmouth or Cork City got the best out of him.

Just did. Please don’t look. If you did, there is a number you can call for support.

[traff]

In answer to the question asked.

Good use:

Berkshire Lumberjack Liaison Officer
Drake Aficionado
Manning a maple syrup advice line
Adorning double denim
Beaver stroker

Bad uses:
Rapport building with Donald Trump
3 legged hat stand

[linkenholtroyal]

In answer to the question asked.

Good use:

Berkshire Lumberjack Liaison Officer
Drake Aficionado
Manning a maple syrup advice line
Adorning double denim
Beaver stroker

Bad uses:
Rapport building with Donald Trump
3 legged hat stand

[RoyallyFcuked]

The first choice midfield 3 has to be Wing, Elliott and Savage. I think Fraser will get a fair few starts though even with everyone fit, depending on how we want to play and who we are playing, but he needs to always be playing as a defensive midfielder surely.

Further forward, Doyle can play as either of the wide men in the front 3 can't he? Think he might be more effective there than in the midfield. With everyone fit Kyerewaa, Doyle, Lane, Kelvin and Camara should be fighting for those 2 places. Shame Kelvin isn't better at playing centre forward, as we obviously need someone who offers something a bit different from O'Mahony.

[Vision]

The first choice midfield 3 has to be Wing, Elliott and Savage. I think Fraser will get a fair few starts though even with everyone fit, depending on how we want to play and who we are playing, but he needs to always be playing as a defensive midfielder surely.

Further forward, Doyle can play as either of the wide men in the front 3 can't he? Think he might be more effective there than in the midfield. With everyone fit Kyerewaa, Doyle, Lane, Kelvin and Camara should be fighting for those 2 places. Shame Kelvin isn't better at playing centre forward, as we obviously need someone who offers something a bit different from O'Mahony.

I'm sure I read somewhere that Rob Eliott the manager at Crawley where he had a successful loan was quite adamant that Doyle was at his best centrally rather than out wide.

[Esteban]

The first choice midfield 3 has to be Wing, Elliott and Savage. I think Fraser will get a fair few starts though even with everyone fit, depending on how we want to play and who we are playing, but he needs to always be playing as a defensive midfielder surely.

Further forward, Doyle can play as either of the wide men in the front 3 can't he? Think he might be more effective there than in the midfield. With everyone fit Kyerewaa, Doyle, Lane, Kelvin and Camara should be fighting for those 2 places. Shame Kelvin isn't better at playing centre forward, as we obviously need someone who offers something a bit different from O'Mahony.

I'm sure I read somewhere that Rob Eliott the manager at Crawley where he had a successful loan was quite adamant that Doyle was at his best centrally rather than out wide.

He's a lot stronger than I realised, looks very stocky. I think he'd do well playing off the striker as a number 10. Given the amount of times the ball bounces off our number 9s, he'd get loads of touches.

[Snowflake Royal]

The first choice midfield 3 has to be Wing, Elliott and Savage. I think Fraser will get a fair few starts though even with everyone fit, depending on how we want to play and who we are playing, but he needs to always be playing as a defensive midfielder surely.

Further forward, Doyle can play as either of the wide men in the front 3 can't he? Think he might be more effective there than in the midfield. With everyone fit Kyerewaa, Doyle, Lane, Kelvin and Camara should be fighting for those 2 places. Shame Kelvin isn't better at playing centre forward, as we obviously need someone who offers something a bit different from O'Mahony.

I'm sure I read somewhere that Rob Eliott the manager at Crawley where he had a successful loan was quite adamant that Doyle was at his best centrally rather than out wide.

And I think his first game here where he played out wide he was not very effective.

[juneof86]

I’m a Canadian supporter and I’ve watched a lot of Liam Fraser over the years and I’ve never seen him used the way Noel Hunt is using him. Before he went to Crawley, I wasn’t sure how Fraser would fare with the physicality and the pace of play in League One, but he showed better work rate and got stuck in more than I had really seen previously and I thought he did pretty well. And Crawley were absolutely dire until they brought Scott Lindsey back.

Fraser has his limitations, but he has one very strong trait… he has a great understanding of what is going on around him and can play a pass extremely quickly. A few times a match he will either receive a pass or get on a loose ball and hit a 15-20 yard pass to catch out the opposition before they’re in their shape. And ideally it leads to a chance. He’s decent in the air, he tracks runs pretty well and defends well in and around his own area, but his quick decision-making and ability to hit a progressive pass are his only truly elite qualities.

And playing him as far forward as he has been almost totally negates those traits. Watching him trying to make a run into the channel to get onto a ball played into the box is painful. It’s so far removed from what he does well. His strength is in transitional moments, launching counters and then being good in possession building out of the back. I’m not even saying that Fraser has to sit in front of the back line like Wing does, but against Lincoln he was pushing forward really early when there were spaces deeper in the midfield he would have been more effective in occupying to receive the ball. I was hoping it was due to the score when he came on, but that seems to be how Hunt wants him to play based on what I’ve seen in other matches.

It's a shame because I think he can be a good player in this league, but he won’t be effective in the role he’s being cast.

[morganb]

This isn't aimed at Fraser in particular but:

Can't players think for themselves?

Can they not say "Boss, I've never played like this. I don't think I'm particularly suited to this role?" or talk to the captain etc

What would happen if the decided to use their own initiative and drop into the positions they feel more comfortable in?

What does a manager see in a player to decided to utilise them totally differently to how they've been used in the past?

[Snowflake Royal]

This isn't aimed at Fraser in particular but:

Can't players think for themselves?

Can they not say "Boss, I've never played like this. I don't think I'm particularly suited to this role?" or talk to the captain etc

What would happen if the decided to use their own initiative and drop into the positions they feel more comfortable in?

What does a manager see in a player to decided to utilise them totally differently to how they've been used in the past?

They do what they're told or they get dropped and binned off.

[West F]

I’m a Canadian supporter and I’ve watched a lot of Liam Fraser over the years and I’ve never seen him used the way Noel Hunt is using him. Before he went to Crawley, I wasn’t sure how Fraser would fare with the physicality and the pace of play in League One, but he showed better work rate and got stuck in more than I had really seen previously and I thought he did pretty well. And Crawley were absolutely dire until they brought Scott Lindsey back.

Fraser has his limitations, but he has one very strong trait… he has a great understanding of what is going on around him and can play a pass extremely quickly. A few times a match he will either receive a pass or get on a loose ball and hit a 15-20 yard pass to catch out the opposition before they’re in their shape. And ideally it leads to a chance. He’s decent in the air, he tracks runs pretty well and defends well in and around his own area, but his quick decision-making and ability to hit a progressive pass are his only truly elite qualities.

And playing him as far forward as he has been almost totally negates those traits. Watching him trying to make a run into the channel to get onto a ball played into the box is painful. It’s so far removed from what he does well. His strength is in transitional moments, launching counters and then being good in possession building out of the back. I’m not even saying that Fraser has to sit in front of the back line like Wing does, but against Lincoln he was pushing forward really early when there were spaces deeper in the midfield he would have been more effective in occupying to receive the ball. I was hoping it was due to the score when he came on, but that seems to be how Hunt wants him to play based on what I’ve seen in other matches.

It's a shame because I think he can be a good player in this league, but he won’t be effective in the role he’s being cast.

It is a shame that he puts Elliot on the bench. The only elite quality he has is that he was free. That is why we signed him.

[Snowflake Royal]

I’m a Canadian supporter and I’ve watched a lot of Liam Fraser over the years and I’ve never seen him used the way Noel Hunt is using him. Before he went to Crawley, I wasn’t sure how Fraser would fare with the physicality and the pace of play in League One, but he showed better work rate and got stuck in more than I had really seen previously and I thought he did pretty well. And Crawley were absolutely dire until they brought Scott Lindsey back.

Fraser has his limitations, but he has one very strong trait… he has a great understanding of what is going on around him and can play a pass extremely quickly. A few times a match he will either receive a pass or get on a loose ball and hit a 15-20 yard pass to catch out the opposition before they’re in their shape. And ideally it leads to a chance. He’s decent in the air, he tracks runs pretty well and defends well in and around his own area, but his quick decision-making and ability to hit a progressive pass are his only truly elite qualities.

And playing him as far forward as he has been almost totally negates those traits. Watching him trying to make a run into the channel to get onto a ball played into the box is painful. It’s so far removed from what he does well. His strength is in transitional moments, launching counters and then being good in possession building out of the back. I’m not even saying that Fraser has to sit in front of the back line like Wing does, but against Lincoln he was pushing forward really early when there were spaces deeper in the midfield he would have been more effective in occupying to receive the ball. I was hoping it was due to the score when he came on, but that seems to be how Hunt wants him to play based on what I’ve seen in other matches.

It's a shame because I think he can be a good player in this league, but he won’t be effective in the role he’s being cast.

It is a shame that he puts Elliot on the bench. The only elite quality he has is that he was free. That is why we signed him.

Fraser's clearly a good player, just put in the wrong role.