Sorenson in the middle

[East Rider 548]

Worthy of a thread of its own.

Thought he was superb when he was moved into the centre. This, in my opinion was one of the main reasons the game changed. Well done DF

[sonyc 5,482]

Agree and stated it in the main thread. He just seems to have time and has a real composure about him. 

A very good positional change by DF in that last quarter.

[Indy 3,283]

12 minutes ago, sonyc said:

Agree and stated it in the main thread. He just seems to have time and has a real composure about him. 

A very good positional change by DF in that last quarter.

Yep indeed also never forces the ball if it’s not on! Looking like the best signing of the summer, early days but this lad has something about him!

[hogesar 9,611]

Be nice to have a left back available so we could see him in the middle for a period of games. Looks to be very composed but with the ability to tackle and mix it up physically a bit too.

[ron obvious 1,495]

A very classy player.

[dylanisabaddog 4,848]

He makes Skipp look quite ordinary by comparison 

[Capt. Pants 4,194]

Frustrating that we don't have cover at LB to enable Sorensen to play there all the while. But when we do, Farke will have a nice selection problem.

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 3,776]

5 hours ago, Capt. Pants said:

Frustrating that we don't have cover at LB to enable Sorensen to play there all the while. But when we do, Farke will have a nice selection problem.

Sorensen, Skipp, Rupp, Vrancic, Tettey, McLean.

Pick two.

[Big O 225]

Sorenson has been great since he came on, clearly not a natural left back but just gives his all and retains his composure. He has pretty much played in 4 positions, left back, right back, one of a back three and in midfield and he looks a real asset. It’s such a shame we lost young mumba when we did as he looked good for some cameos too. Hopefully Quintilla or Byram will be fit soon and Sorenson can have a chance to hold down a centre mod spot. 

[TheGunnShow 5,909]

7 minutes ago, Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man said:

Sorensen, Skipp, Rupp, Vrancic, Tettey, McLean.

Pick two.

Sorensen and Rupp for me, unless we can keep Skipp, then Skipp for Rupp.

[Pockthorpe 527]

5 hours ago, dylanisabaddog said:

He makes Skipp look quite ordinary by comparison 

Skipp is in no way ordinary ! 

[Pockthorpe 527]

15 hours ago, dylanisabaddog said:

He makes Skipp look quite ordinary by comparison 

Skipp is in no way ordinary ! 
 

Edit : Sorry didn’t mean to post this twice ! 

Edited December 6, 2020 by Pockthorpe

[chicken 2,604]

36 minutes ago, Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man said:

Sorensen, Skipp, Rupp, Vrancic, Tettey, McLean.

Pick two.

I think you can say fairly that Tettey is really there as an option from the bench to help see out a game these days. I think Vrancic is out of contract at the end of the season. Add to that Farke has said that he feels he is more suited to an attacking role than a defensive role and that his legs are starting to go. He'll be 32 at the end of the season. I like him, I think we should try to keep him IMHO, but at the same time, I think for the formation we play, we have better specialists.

Rupp turns 30 in January, and until being injured was in with a shout of player of the season, though it's early doors.

For me it would have to be two from Rupp, Sorenson and Skipp. With the games coming thick and fast it would be nice to be able to afford a bit of rotation too.

It'll be a funny summer if we don't keep Vrancic and with Tettey retiring.

[TeemuVanBasten 3,327]

6 hours ago, dylanisabaddog said:

He makes Skipp look quite ordinary by comparison 

Remember that Skipp is about 2.5 years younger.

[Kenny Foggo 1,116]

Been a great signing

[shruk4 60]

4 hours ago, chicken said:

It'll be a funny summer if we don't keep Vrancic and with Tettey retiring.

Has Tettey announced that he is retiring at the end of the season? I guess he will be 35 at the end of the season . I think it would be sympathetic to give him another year contract for services rendered if he wants it. He has been surprisingly important this season

[Six Pack 91]

11 hours ago, dylanisabaddog said:

He makes Skipp look quite ordinary by comparison 

Rupp, Skipp and Sorensen are different types of CM so can't say one is better than the other. e.g Sorensen may have looked good in the 5 minuted he played at CM yesterday but what happens if he had to actually win the ball the way Rupp & Skipp does during an entire 90 minutes - looking "good" may then become looking "poor".

[YellowSubmarine 39]

1 hour ago, Six Pack said:

Rupp, Skipp and Sorensen are different types of CM so can't say one is better than the other. e.g Sorensen may have looked good in the 5 minuted he played at CM yesterday but what happens if he had to actually win the ball the way Rupp & Skipp does during an entire 90 minutes - looking "good" may then become looking "poor".

But he’s a different type to those two isn’t he? If he plays with one of them why would he have to “win the ball they way they do” 

[canarydan23 4,060]

8 hours ago, Pockthorpe said:

Skipp is in no way ordinary ! 

Can't get how anyone could call him ordinary, he's been great and seems to be improving with every game. 

Sorenson is class. He had his first bad performance against Luton but bounced back yesterday. Even at left-back he was having a great game. 

[seanthecanary 168]

2 hours ago, Six Pack said:

Rupp, Skipp and Sorensen are different types of CM so can't say one is better than the other. e.g Sorensen may have looked good in the 5 minuted he played at CM yesterday but what happens if he had to actually win the ball the way Rupp & Skipp does during an entire 90 minutes - looking "good" may then become looking "poor".

To be fair, he's been playing in defence so he must be able to tackle somewhat.  Even if he doesn't break up play as well as Rupp and Skipp it's horses for courses.  There have been some games this season where we didn't need Skipp and Rupp together because the opposition just sat back. In games like that a player with slightly more offensive capabilities might be favourable.  In all though, we just haven't seen enough of Sorenson in a midfield role to make a judgement but let's not put him down before he even gets a real crack at it.

Edited December 6, 2020 by seanthecanary

[TheGunnShow 5,909]

1 hour ago, seanthecanary said:

To be fair, he's been playing in defence so he must be able to tackle somewhat.  Even if he doesn't break up play as well as Rupp and Skipp it's horses for courses.  There have been some games this season where we didn't need Skipp and Rupp together because the opposition just sat back. In games like that a player with slightly more offensive capabilities might be favourable.  In all though, we just haven't seen enough of Sorenson in a midfield role to make a judgement but let's not put him down before he even gets a real crack at it.

Sorensen looks like a very balanced midfielder to me. Looks like he's got a bit of everything - not quite Vrancic-like in his ability to hit passes, but that one against Bristol he pinged over was definitely a sign of a player who can see what's happening and pick one. He looks like he's got a nice engine, looks like he can put a foot in, isn't bad in the air...

Rupp might edge it in dynamism, and he's a better progressive passer than some give him credit for, IMO. He's not about incisive passes like a Vrancic, but he's all about a constant stream of telling ones.

[smooth 114]

15 hours ago, Indy said:

Yep indeed also never forces the ball if it’s not on! Looking like the best signing of the summer, early days but this lad has something about him!

I agree Indy and tbh just his application has warranted this thread. He almost deserves to be player of the month because we have not come apart since a central midfielder who has never played in the championship, let alone England, has performed admirably at left back.

He can put his foot in, has a range of passes, has composure and I think already is proving to be a valuable first steamer and I expect him to play in the middle once we get a full back fit. I like his link up play with Placheta and think this is going to grow even when he moves to that central midfield position.

He has won the respect of his peers stepping in with Xavi's injury and the fans.

But he has more to give and think we can all see it once he can play in his preferred position.

[seanthecanary 168]

24 minutes ago, TheGunnShow said:

Sorensen looks like a very balanced midfielder to me. Looks like he's got a bit of everything - not quite Vrancic-like in his ability to hit passes, but that one against Bristol he pinged over was definitely a sign of a player who can see what's happening and pick one. He looks like he's got a nice engine, looks like he can put a foot in, isn't bad in the air...

Rupp might edge it in dynamism, and he's a better progressive passer than some give him credit for, IMO. He's not about incisive passes like a Vrancic, but he's all about a constant stream of telling ones.

I would agree about Rupp, it's not like he spends 90 minutes passing the ball 5 yards sideways, he does look for forward players when it's on.  I think that as well as he's played though, he lacks confidence in the final third when he has the ball but I do certainly think he's capable of more.  It's just confidence but we have to remember that he didn't have the greatest of starts to his career at City, often playing out of position granted and he's now starting to show us what he's capable of after gaining more confidence.  I think there is more to come as well.

Edited December 6, 2020 by seanthecanary

[ged in the onion bag 854]

On 05/12/2020 at 23:05, Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man said:

Sorensen, Skipp, Rupp, Vrancic, Tettey, McLean.

Pick two.

Good question.... has to be Skipp and Rupp on the evidence so far, then for sheer prospect and development, Sorensen, but it’s foolish to rave over a 5 min cameo!    He needs his chance and at least he’s now done enough for Farke to be confident in him.   If we go up however, that list 6 reduces to two.... Rupp and Sorensen!    
 

Skipp will likely go back and the rest aren’t good enough for the EPL.   We will need two more players and both must be better (more strength, energy, pace and ideally ability) than what we have if we are to compete properly and give our defence some real protection next time.   
 

If we go up, unless Sorensen gets some serious game time and experience there then, for starting positions I am not sure we have one at this stage.   On current form Rupp is a better prospect than McLean and Tettey were last time out, but he doesn’t possess that strength, pace or ability to dominate at the next level.   He and Sorensen look like they may be better back ups than we had though!

Edited December 7, 2020 by ged in the onion bag

[king canary 7,562]

On 06/12/2020 at 04:32, shruk4 said:

Has Tettey announced that he is retiring at the end of the season? I guess he will be 35 at the end of the season . I think it would be sympathetic to give him another year contract for services rendered if he wants it. He has been surprisingly important this season

Not sure he's retiring but I think it has been suggested that his wife really wants to move back to Norway, so he may go play a couple of years there to finish his career. Apparently he had to work quite hard to convince her about his last contract extension here.

[Parma Ham's gone mouldy 2,219]

Really like the look of Sorensen. Looks to be a great solution to the Tettey CDM role that we have long needed. Has a bit of quality about him, good unflustered composure too. 

His utility is a considerable further bonus. The kind of player that Sir Alex always had and valued.

Parma 

nb: should add that there was an excellent moment in the Wednesday game where we created an overload and Sorensen broke into the box. The options weren’t perfect and he chose an excellent option to shoot, taking  responsibility in that situation when many don’t (even though the angle is tightish, you are not actually far out of goal). An excellent sign of his mentality. 

Edited December 7, 2020 by Parma Ham's gone mouldy

[Jim Smith 2,314]

I just really like Sorensens composure. He never panics and always seems to have that little bit of extra time on the ball. As has been said, such a shame we’ve not had a back up left back so he could stake a claim for a spot in the centre. The left back squad planning remains an utterly baffling error in my view. 

[Jim Smith 2,314]

On 06/12/2020 at 07:58, seanthecanary said:

To be fair, he's been playing in defence so he must be able to tackle somewhat.  Even if he doesn't break up play as well as Rupp and Skipp it's horses for courses.  There have been some games this season where we didn't need Skipp and Rupp together because the opposition just sat back. In games like that a player with slightly more offensive capabilities might be favourable.  In all though, we just haven't seen enough of Sorenson in a midfield role to make a judgement but let's not put him down before he even gets a real crack at it.

Whenever he’s had a few minutes in a more central position he’s made several tackles and broken up play plenty. 

[Jim Smith 2,314]

23 hours ago, seanthecanary said:

I would agree about Rupp, it's not like he spends 90 minutes passing the ball 5 yards sideways, he does look for forward players when it's on.  I think that as well as he's played though, he lacks confidence in the final third when he has the ball but I do certainly think he's capable of more.  It's just confidence but we have to remember that he didn't have the greatest of starts to his career at City, often playing out of position granted and he's now starting to show us what he's capable of after gaining more confidence.  I think there is more to come as well.

The one thing Rupp does that we miss when he’s not there is to run forward with the ball and change the pace of play. Skipp does it sometimes and Tettey is great but doesn’t really do that. 

[sonyc 5,482]

1 hour ago, Parma Ham's gone mouldy said:

nb: should add that there was an excellent moment in the Wednesday game where we created an overload and Sorensen broke into the box. The options weren’t perfect and he chose an excellent option to shoot, taking  responsibility in that situation when many don’t (even though the angle is tightish, you are not actually far out of goal). An excellent sign of his mentality. 

Good point Parma. I felt the same...he showed he had the belief  to try and it wasn't the worst shot either (on target and with power!). At other times we may well have tried our usual walk in approach.