Tuesday 24 January 2017

Does deeper Wilshere role work best for AFCB?

The interview with Jack Wilshere on BBC Radio Solent after the Watford game was quite revealing in that Jack said to Kris Temple that he wanted to play in the deeper midfield role, or at least hat is where he feels he can influence games more. Playing strikers in from a deeper position and switching play from half way is perhaps a sign of how the game has evolved and that withdrawing yourself to see the bigger picture of movement up ahead is where talented players like Wilshere really see more and can hurt teams more than being right up by the main striker.
Jack is yet to find his scoring boots for AFCB.
Against Watford, I had Jack well ahead on the score card in his performance than his team-mates with the exception of Ryan Fraser, who also played very well. But Jack almost has to play that bit better for him to be recognised as putting in a good performance, as his average standard is already above what most players can achieve. Even Jack though knows that his ability to score goals is not as frequent as it might be, and that others can perhaps score the goals, if he can find them in space. It perhaps takes some pressure off him in not having to worry about how many goals he can get himself, but I don't mind that if he is busy creating for others.

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There is a growing need for him though to get that first AFCB goal, just to free him from the obvious line of - well, if he is playing so well every week, where are the goals? It is probably bad luck that has stopped him from scoring and I can't say that he doesn't shoot when in good positions to score. He tends to find the woodwork or inspired keepers though, and if it is frustrating him then I see why Eddie Howe has not minded letting him play a bit deeper while Harry Arter has a short rest.

It may be that Howe pushed Jack further forward again against Crystal Palace if Harry Arter is training again and able to play. But the problem with players like Jack is that you can play him almost anywhere and he'll do a good job for you. 

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