Page on Williamson

[mr.hobblesworth]

He was dreadful today. We scored form two dead ball situations, but lacked anything going forward. He has no footballing brain or anticipation which loses any advantage his pace gives. He was often looking for the ball over the top when sitting on the defenders shoulder, which is fine when further back, but he was doing it on the edge of the area, which is pointless and just too static in that situation. It was a great team performance today, but we desperately need someone else up front.

 

Last 2 games, 6 points, Williamson with 1 assist and 1 goal. Get off his ****ing back. The abuse he gets is so disproportionate; nary a mention of the classy 1-2 where he set up Dodds to score on Saturday, yet today when he actually scored, he was "dreadful".

[P.E. ST6]

Williamson's goal scoring record at the Vale says it all for me - 27 goals in 147 games, so about one in more than every five games, which is just not good enough for a main striker. You would expect better than this from a good goalscoring midfielder. I've seen him score some good goals but he lacks the two attributes needed in a striker - ruthlessness and composure, which is why he needs so many games and so many chances to score. I'd like him to prove all his doubters wrong (me included) but it isn't going to happen. Meanwhile we have Campion warming the bench with 9 goals in 7 reserve games, who deserves a chance.

How many of them games has he started though and actually lasted 90 minutes? The majority of them matches will be where he comes on as a sub?

 

Main striker?? He's always the one who gets dropped.

 

He is 1 goal behind Pope this season and had a handful of assists by his name not to shabby for someone who people don't seem to rate

[Mario]

look at the table is that what you call good and today's opponents will be penciling in three pionts at vale park today we can't keep clean sheets and need someone like Brown to pul us out the **** especially if recent games are anything too go by dream on fella

 

Oh dear what a plonker

[P.E. ST6]

Not in the league, that's 4 for him in the league, as I said bril today but still has a long way to go.

Only 1 goal behind Popey ;-)

[Paul6754]

Part of Page's tactics in playing Williamson is that when he plays on the shoulder of the last defender the opposition cannot defend as high up the pitch and condense the play because of the two speed merchants, Willo and Marshall. Hence play is stretched out more and the likes of O'Conner, Brown, Lines and Dodds have more room to play, particularly at home. We'd all like Williamson to score more goals but he gives Page tactical options and is an important part of the squad.

[old sage]

I wish that I could see what others see in Ben but to me yesterday he achieved a neat finish for our first goal but that apart he did next to nothing. The defender marking him had a very easy time for the rest of the match.

He doesn't battle for the ball either on the deck or in the air. He has the pace but on the couple of occasions that he had the opportunity to use this asset he simple stopped turned around and played the ball back. This to me completely wastes a good chance to bear in on goal.

[P.E. ST6]

I wish that I could see what others see in Ben but to me yesterday he achieved a neat finish for our first goal but that apart he did next to nothing. The defender marking him had a very easy time for the rest of the match.

He doesn't battle for the ball either on the deck or in the air. He has the pace but on the couple of occasions that he had the opportunity to use this asset he simple stopped turned around and played the ball back. This to me completely wastes a good chance to bear in on goal.

He is very similar to Dodds then?

[barry]

He was dreadful today. We scored form two dead ball situations, but lacked anything going forward. He has no footballing brain or anticipation which loses any advantage his pace gives. He was often looking for the ball over the top when sitting on the defenders shoulder, which is fine when further back, but he was doing it on the edge of the area, which is pointless and just too static in that situation. It was a great team performance today, but we desperately need someone else up front.

 

It's a bit cold to be out fishing

[Smugsy]

My mate made a very good point about Willamson yesterday. He always reacts to situations rather than anticipates the pass and perhaps that's the problem, he has all the physical tools but not the mental.

[Bells_Biscuit_Tin]

Willo was poor again yesterday imo, im not going to let his goal or the scoreline sugarcoat my judgement. Me personally I would like to see N'Gessun fill that roll as i think he offers more physically with Marshall playing just off him

[soothsayer]

I wish that I could see what others see in Ben but to me yesterday he achieved a neat finish for our first goal but that apart he did next to nothing. The defender marking him had a very easy time for the rest of the match.

He doesn't battle for the ball either on the deck or in the air. He has the pace but on the couple of occasions that he had the opportunity to use this asset he simple stopped turned around and played the ball back. This to me completely wastes a good chance to bear in on goal.

 

Firstly I'm not his biggest fan but I can see why RP plays him as he's quick and runs in behind which drags defenders deep allowing our midfielders to get in the hole and creating space for shots at goal for the likes of Brown, Dodds, Marshall, O'Connor etc.

[andy jones]

One in 3 this season is ok for the second striker I reckon.

[cheshirevaliant]

I wish that I could see what others see in Ben but to me yesterday he achieved a neat finish for our first goal but that apart he did next to nothing. The defender marking him had a very easy time for the rest of the match.

He doesn't battle for the ball either on the deck or in the air. He has the pace but on the couple of occasions that he had the opportunity to use this asset he simple stopped turned around and played the ball back. This to me completely wastes a good chance to bear in on goal.

 

They used to say the same about Leon Constantine, OS. "He does nothing other than score goals". Suits me for a striker. I thought he was excellent last week when he didn't score, and average to good yesterday when he did. Until Pope comes back (or, more likely, he leaves and we sign someone to replace him) Williamson is doing ok.

[andy jones]

Mike, we all have our own opinions about players and all have our own favourites and pet hates. But at the end of the day it's the Manager who picks a team, not individual players, and Page clearly believes Williamson is an essential cog in the team wheel.

 

My pet hate is Dicko although I agree he made good use of the space he was left with in the second half yesterday. And it was interesting to read Popes article in the senile where he says he would buy Dicko a photo of Page so he can kiss it before he goes to sleep at night, perhaps Willo should do the same.

[P.E. ST6]

One in 3 this season is ok for the second striker I reckon.

Or look at it as 8 goals in 15 starts that's even better reading plus a handful of assists. Not sure how many out of them 15 he's actually finished a full 90 minutes.