The elephant in the room

Quoted from diehardmariner

Last season, having Clifton operate on the left hand side of midfield gave us so many added benefits beyond his sheer work-rate and energy that came from him cutting inside

• It created an overload in midfield in our favour
  
• It created space for the attacking left-back to exploit. who he was always happy to drop back and cover.
  
• The two central midfielders could shift across which mitigated the less defensive game from the likes of JMD on the right wing.
  
• As above, the shifting across allowed cover for Efete bombing on from right-back.
  

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Yeah good post.

I would add that Clifton isn't particularly effective in a central position, especially with only 2 in CM, because his touch isn't sharp enough. In tight areas he's likely to lose possession. Moving him out wide allows him the space to exploit what he's good at, like progressive carries, supporting attacks by moving into the box and, of course, his versatility.

It works when he picks the ball up in our half, carries it forward and lays it off quickly, usually to McAtee or Amos. It doesn't work when he's caught one-on-one with a defender, as he's not likely to dribble past him or work the space to put in a decent cross, especially on his left foot. He also takes up good positions in the box, often getting a shot away. His conversion rate last season was decent.

You're right about him drifting inside and creating an overload in midfield, but is that really necessary this season with us playing 3 centrally? I think with Taylor still being utilised as a target man and Green/Holohan being more advanced to support him, we probably need more specialised wingers/inside forwards to be able quickly move it on from a congested central area and provide fast counter attacks.

But I can absolutely see why Hurst has utilised Clifton in this way and it will definitely work in some situations. Our squad is even more versatile this year so I don't think we'll be stuck playing one system all season.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Personally I don't see the issue as Clifton operating on the left wing, it's more a case of what system that is in.

In a 4-4-2 (or the 4-4-1-1 we played last season) with attacking full-backs, having a more defensive minded winger isn't an issue.  This season, largely because of injuries to Taylor and McAtee we've gone with a 4-3-3 that doesn't suit what Clifton can bring really.

Last season, having Clifton operate on the left hand side of midfield gave us so many added benefits beyond his sheer work-rate and energy that came from him cutting inside

• It created an overload in midfield in our favour
  
• It created space for the attacking left-back to exploit. who he was always happy to drop back and cover.
  
• The two central midfielders could shift across which mitigated the less defensive game from the likes of JMD on the right wing.
  
• As above, the shifting across allowed cover for Efete bombing on from right-back.
  

This year, operating further up the pitch there's more onus on offering an attacking threat and both providing a supply line to the other attackers and supporting them.  With 3 in midfield there's also less of a need to have his energy levels topping everything up.

Ideally, I'd want to see Kiernan and Wearne either side of Taylor in this system.  But our outstanding feature this season, the Orient game aside, has been the sheer energy and press that we put on teams, of which Clifton is a huge part of.

Maybe we need a horses for courses approach. Teams will sooner rather than later learn that with our energy and fitness levels that they’ll drop deep and allow us the ball. That won’t be Harry’s game and where you need more adventurous players with more guile and quality.

Better teams will still go for it against us and leave us more openings and also demand we defend more, so you’d select Harry in those sorts of games. With injuries, suspensions and losses of form, none of which Harry suffers from, he’ll still play a lot of games.

Quoted from darren9

I’m fully accept that Paul Hurst, an ex footballer and football manager with a decent reputation in the game who has so far guided us to 2 promotions and who see’s the players in training daily knows more about football than I do and than some random blokes on the internet.

On that basis if Hurst thinks Clifton is the best option to play on the left, middle or anywhere else for that matter then that’s what should happen.

If you really want an opinion from someone who knows the sum total of naff all about football then mine is that Clifton’s main problems are;

1. that he’s a ‘local lad done good’ and some people like to build these types up and then knock them down again … he’s been somewhat built up last year, maybe people see a need to knock him down again?
2. He’s very versatile and will do a job pretty much everywhere.

I think if/when Clifton does leave that’s when he’ll be truly missed and appreciated by the fan base in a similar way to Danny Butterfield.

Clifton is very good at football, he’s also fit and motivated. This is exactly what we want in a Grimsby player.

If Harry didn't want to stay, and PH didn't want him, then no 2 year contract would have been signed. Harry isn't a journeyman.
He hasn't played in goal yet, but he's still got 2 years, so you never know. I think GTFC is lucky to have him.

Joni Mitchell said it best
"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone"

Quoted from 123614

He didn't post shite, he posted fact, Clifton is NOT a LW or LM.  

The posting sh1te bit was more around throwing terms around like Guardian Reader in refence to someone who may have a differing opinion rather than the OP.

Personally I don't think H is a left winger either but do think he can play on the left of mid field.

He's not a left winger and we have better in centre mid positions .

Quoted from 123614

He didn't post shite, he posted fact, Clifton is NOT a LW or LM.  

It's not a fact though is it? If PH plays him as a left midfielder, then that is what he is.

While I agree he isn't a traditional hug the line wide man, we have to get away from these labels and trying to put people into familiar boxes. It's akin to those who always bang on about 4-4-2 when the team are not performing well, as we saw in the mid part of last season.

The game has changed and instead of looking at what he doesn't do well, we should look at what he does do well.

If PH didn't want him, he could have let him leave the club, but he brings so much to the team and is one of those players that are more appreciated by management than fans. There always seems to be one or two in every era.

Is Harry the best option in any of the midfield positions? Maybe, maybe not. But, he’s the only one capable of playing in all of them.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Is Harry the best option in any of the midfield positions? Maybe, maybe not. But, he’s the only one capable of playing in all of them.

It entirely depends on the opposition and what PH's game plan for a given match is, as to whether he is the best option or not.

I think he's better out wide, right back or right wing back aremaybe his best positions for me. But I think he's better at LM or RM than in the middle. For me he gives away too many free kicks in dangerous areas when playing in the middle for a start. Its certainly isn't 'fact' that he's not a LM when he played there pretty much all of last seasons promotion campaign.
He was a great consistent performer last season, and had earned L1 interest which tells you a lot.

He isn't the best passer of the ball although he's improved, he isnt the best in front of goal but he gets in front of goal more than many others would in his position because of his pace and incredible fitness, so that helps redress that. Obviously he's a strong tackler and his off the ball work is fantastic, he's also a very positive player that drives forward when he does have the ball.

I suppose he may be usurped from the LM role if, for example, the glennon/Amos thing comes off or another player takes that spot. But that's not the same as saying he can't play there.

He didn't have a good game on Saturday but his pace was one of our only outlets during that first 30 minute hiding we were getting. Wearne was struggling badly with the defensive side of his role, it was hardly just Harry that was struggling, it was all over the pitch we were struggling.

Quoted from dapperz fun pub

Exactly it’s all opinions mate

Opinions are only allowed if they concur with the beetroot sarney brigade.