Lewis Cook

Runnerrunnerru said:
The real disaster has been letting Lerma go with no replacement and having to shoehorn Cook into his role, who isn’t even half the player there that Lerma was.
He did ok today up until that act of stu pidity, but ok isn’t enough in such a key role and he doesn’t offer the defensive cover that Lerma did.
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Cook is a decent enough player, but at this level I don't think he's quick enough, or aggressive enough to play as a lone DMC as Lerma and Adams can.

By aggressive I don't mean head butting people (as pathetic a headbutt as it was) and the odd hard tackle, he just doesn't seem to have the presence/appetite to really impose himself there enough which being a lower half side, you really need, even more so when playing just 1 deeper midfielder.

He seems more of a deep lying dmc, who can play tidy passes, sat alongside a more aggressive and mobile DMC... which is not how AI likes to play it seems.

That said he was is the best option we have, after the absent Adams. We really could have done with him v Burnley in particular, as that is a game we simply have to win, and we now look somewhat hobbled a week before it even kicks off!

I'm not sure who Burnley have in the attacking midfield role, but Rothwell was making mistakes and getting left for dead at times by decent AMC's earlier in the season, prior to Cook returning... not his fault, as he simply isn;t resolute in that role or doesn't possess enough of the qualities needed to play there and deal with top level AMC's. So we now have to face the proposition of having an extremely weak core, which is far from ideal in a side thats struggling and needs absorb pressure and attempt to get a foothold in midfield.

Scott is more 'resolute' than Rothwell and can play defensively, but again, from what I know about him, he isn't a proper tough DMC and needs play alongside a more specialist DMC, and leaving a young player alone there, just returning from injury and adjusting to a higher level is a very high risk manouvre and far from ideal, but we don't have an awful lot of choice right now, so he may be given the nod.
 
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MB1980 said:
One of those that 20 years ago (maybe 30...)it woukd probably lead to mass handbags, before a yellow card was administered.

Now it's as much about the intent isn't it rather than if the player actually caused someone's nose to explode.
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I don't think it's even intent. It's more treading the line between standing up for yourself or your team and being baited into giving the opposition a chance to collapse. You don't really want players to shy away from confrontation but equally when you're that close you can be asking for trouble

Reminds me of the Richarlison 'headbut' on Smith.

I'm one of his harder critics but thought he had a decent game up until that point and fair play for him to come out and apologise.
 
MB1980 said:
Cook is a decent enough player, but at this level I don't think he's quick enough, or aggressive enough to play as a lone DMC as Lerma and Adams can.

By aggressive I don't mean head butting people (as pathetic a headbutt as it was) and the odd hard tackle, he just doesn't seem to have the presence/appetite to really impose himself there enough which being a lower half side, you really need, even more so when playing just 1 deeper midfielder.

He seems more of a deep lying dmc, who can play tidy passes, sat alongside a more aggressive and mobile DMC... which is not how AI likes to play it seems.

That said he was is the best option we have, after the absent Adams. We really could have done with him v Burnley in particular, as that is a game we simply have to win, and we now look somewhat hobbled a week before it even kicks off!

I'm not sure who Burnley have in the attacking midfield role, but Rothwell was making mistakes and getting left for dead at times by decent AMC's earlier in the season, prior to Cook returning... not his fault, as he simply isn;t resolute in that role or doesn't possess enough of the qualities needed to play there and deal with top level AMC's. So we now have to face the proposition of having an extremely weak core, which is far from ideal in a side thats struggling and needs absorb pressure and attempt to get a foothold in midfield.

Scott is more 'resolute' than Rothwell and can play defensively, but again, from what I know about him, he isn't a proper tough DMC and needs play alongside a more specialist DMC, and leaving a young player alone there, just returning from injury and adjusting to a higher level is a very high risk manouvre and far from ideal, but we don't have an awful lot of choice right now, so he may be given the nod.
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Yes. A modern cdm is not about the ability to tackle per se it’s about the ability to cover ground and be physically strong. Cook shouldn’t be playing that sole role. We either had to be better in the transfer market or AI adjust his tactics. Probably both to be fair.
 
He was the first England captain to win the World Cup since the great Bobby Moore, funny enough Cook won it in South Korea!

Good for him making a public apology.

Now maybe he can make amends and show true leadership on the pitch, even if he doesn’t wear the captain’s armband.

Our team really do need a leader on the pitch to get us out of the relegation zone.

www.thefa.com

Cook: 'Best day of my life'

England U20s captain pays tribute to squad and staff after lifting the U20 World Cup in South Korea
www.thefa.com www.thefa.com
 
MB1980 said:
Cook is a decent enough player, but at this level I don't think he's quick enough, or aggressive enough to play as a lone DMC as Lerma and Adams can.

By aggressive I don't mean head butting people (as pathetic a headbutt as it was) and the odd hard tackle, he just doesn't seem to have the presence/appetite to really impose himself there enough which being a lower half side, you really need, even more so when playing just 1 deeper midfielder.

He seems more of a deep lying dmc, who can play tidy passes, sat alongside a more aggressive and mobile DMC... which is not how AI likes to play it seems.

That said he was is the best option we have, after the absent Adams. We really could have done with him v Burnley in particular, as that is a game we simply have to win, and we now look somewhat hobbled a week before it even kicks off!

I'm not sure who Burnley have in the attacking midfield role, but Rothwell was making mistakes and getting left for dead at times by decent AMC's earlier in the season, prior to Cook returning... not his fault, as he simply isn;t resolute in that role or doesn't possess enough of the qualities needed to play there and deal with top level AMC's. So we now have to face the proposition of having an extremely weak core, which is far from ideal in a side thats struggling and needs absorb pressure and attempt to get a foothold in midfield.

Scott is more 'resolute' than Rothwell and can play defensively, but again, from what I know about him, he isn't a proper tough DMC and needs play alongside a more specialist DMC, and leaving a young player alone there, just returning from injury and adjusting to a higher level is a very high risk manouvre and far from ideal, but we don't have an awful lot of choice right now, so he may be given the nod.
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On a plus note, Connor Roberts also got sent off, so he'll be missing against us. Meaning our wingers may have a chance of more joy.

Lewis Cook will be an excellent number 6 if we get relegated. Can't remember who said it and I'm too lazy to read back to find out who it was, but someone said that Lewis doesn't have a defined role within the team. I thought this was a very good point. Give him more of a clear role and we may see him play more effectively. Leeds fans loved him (albeit in the Championship). He was good enough to get an England call up before the first bad knee injury. Good again in Championship once he settled back into the side. Now it's up to him to show his strength of character to prove everyone but Druss the Legend wrong. But, he needs a clear role to help him.
 
We really dont have anyone to play that combative midfielder role, i thought Senesi would have had a go there by now especially with Kelly & Mepham also now fit
 
Lewis Cook : An Enigma if there is such a thing in Football...am I totally off the scent by thinking that if this bloke put some emotion, passion and spirit into his game....the actual football.....not the laid back Leeds corner shop lazy crap he puts out weekly....that he could step up to being a midfield maestro with attitude...like Arter but better....???
He showed that he can lose his temper in contention with a dork.....fine lines.
Whats he afraid of.....if he pulls his finger out now......he can avoid oblivion at Bradford City or Bashley !
 
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