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Thread | Worst signings - The Times
at 08:31 12 Aug 2022
Noticed we get a few mentions in the Times for worst signings in the premier league. The headline referenced Hateley, so thought yep, 100%, but no, they were actually talking about when we sold him back to Rangers in 96/97 - didn’t even realise the guy could walk by then. But surely the reporter should have been more on the ball with how poor he was for us and one of the worst signings we ever made rather than the 4 games for Rangers he played.
Is big Mark worthy of one of the worst premier league signings? Or am I being a bit harsh as he was following Les so was never going to be that good? |
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Thread | Faysal Bettache
at 10:03 7 Dec 2020
What type of player is he?
The coaching staff spoke very highly earlier in the season and from memory the Manager wasn't sure whether to secure him a loan or keep him involved with the first team - the latter winning over. He’s made a lot of squads recently but not seen any action. Just wondered whether he could add some much needed energy to that slow midfield of ours alongside a Ball and Carroll possibly?
If he’s another number 10 then ignore but sure I read he likes to break up play a bit and is a tidy midfielder so could add something. Even it’s just some youthful enthusiasm, given there was none of that at the weekend it would be a welcome addition. Same could probably said of the lad up front we bought from Southend as he seems keen to impress although middle of the park seems more of a problem to me.
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Thread | Dunne, Simpson or Barton?
at 10:05 22 Oct 2015
From the promotion team which of the 3 mentioned above would you say we miss the most at the moment?
I’ve got to say all 3, purely on performances on the pitch are proving a big loss. Simpson was Mr dependable, up and down the right side all day and seemed to have decent positional sense for an attacking full back. Shows what specialising in a position can do for you.
Barton, massively missing him on the pitch. People often highlighted the times he gave the ball away, his speculative passes etc, but the guy never hid. He always wanted the ball, always gave 100% and never stopped running, pressing and hassling the opposition. I said at the time I agreed with getting rid of him purely because of how he acted and the money he was on but always stated we were a better team with him in then without. I didn’t realise until now how we do miss him.
And finally Dunne, I didn’t appreciate at the time just how much of a useful job this guy did. The key thing, ignoring the experience and leadership side of things, was that he could handle a physical contest with the opposition, in fact I’d say he thrived on it. What we have now are centre backs that rarely attack the ball and bully the striker they’re marking. More often than not they get bullied themselves.
I think it’s a close call between all 3 on whose most missed, but for games like the other night and Blackburn at home we were crying out for a bit of energy and somebody to take the game by the scruff. He didn’t always do it successfully, but he always tried to, and for that reason I’d say Barton is the player we miss most from the last promotion team.
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Thread | Matt Phillips
at 11:06 28 Sep 2015
What are people's views on him? A standout performer at the end of last season, seems to be struggling this term. I have my own theory why.
Phillips to me (although early days), seems to struggle when he’s not part of a 4-4-2 system. Last season in the early weeks under Harry, I thought he was poor, part of the reason was because he was finding himself in situations which are not the norm for a right winger — think he missed crucial chances at Spurs and United. To me Phillips is a player that responds well to simple instructions. Get the ball wide and look to get balls into the box. I felt his big improvement under Ramsey occurred because his game was simplified. We went to a direct 4-4-2 and he was pivotal to it.
Putting him as part of this 4-2-3-1 system seems to negate all his strengths and shows up his weaknesses. I think playing wide in a 4-2-3-1, you need a bit more about you than simply being a traditional old school winger. He’s clearly working on his game, but I think when we talk about Phillips as a class player at this level, I’d respond by saying yes, when played out wide in a 4-4-2, but whenever we’ve strayed from the 4-4-2 I and Phillips has played, I don’t recall him having too many good games? Time will tell whether he can adapt or indeed whether Ramsey adapts and puts a system in place to suit Austin and Phillips. If it carries on like this I can see 4-4-2 and Clint Hill being wheeled out.
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Thread | Defoe and Pace
at 13:26 12 Jan 2015
Saturday showed up a lot of our frailties away from home, but for me what it showed most was how a lack of pace, a lack of a threat in behind teams, is killing us.
A lot of the teams around us at the bottom have defenders with similar characteristics to us — big and not very mobile. For all the plaudits Dunne has received, and to a lesser extent Caulker, Saturday showed (if it hadn’t already), where we can easily be hurt — balls in behind. Getting in front of the striker to intercept a ball to feet, using strength to brush them off, winning the aerial war, Dunne and Caulker have no issue. They’re at their best when the games played in front of them. However, get a striker with a bit of movement and sharpness, one willing to run in behind and they look uncomfortable. In the case of Caulker (going on Saturdays performance), they look like a pub footballer.
Ings is not express pace, but he’s sharp and willing to run in behind. Every time Burnley hit a hopeful long ball he was in, hassling our back line, causing havoc. Us on the other hand, we never posed that threat. Austin’s a great finisher and improving his hold up play all the time but he lacks pace and rarely gets in behind. Our option from the bench was Bobby Zamora which also made for quite depressing viewing. So much space behind the Burnley back line which Zamora had rightly noted yet you just knew any through ball played, the guy wouldn’t have the legs to get there. The Damien Delaney’s of this world that we’ll be coming up against in our scrap for survival are big units that enjoy the game being played in front of them, they don’t want to be tested by runs in behind. Sadly we just don’t have this weapon available to us.
He’s not the popular choice and I have no idea about the sort of condition he’s in, but I can see the logic in getting someone like Defoe into the squad. Defoe is a striker that prefers facing the opposition’s goal rather than his own. That burst of pace and willingness to not only look to get in behind, but have enough in the tank to get away from a defender is something that we need. Without it, I can see us posing little threat to some of our relegation rivals, whilst with it we could begin hurting teams again, we could actually win an away game.
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Thread | Niko and Ravel
at 11:03 23 May 2014
Niko and Ravel
Genuine consensus on team selection seems to be one or the other.
A one off, must win game, surely you get your best players on the pitch, and these 2 are that — match winners that could make the difference. Hoillet, Niko and Ravel behind Austin from the start would be a sign of our intentions, a sign that we are not going to keep it tight and hope Charlie can find the back of the net. It would be setting a side up to cause Derby problems and put them under pressure from the start. With Suk Yun hopefully left back we’d at least have an engine getting up and down that side as Nico or Ravel would clearly like to drift in field.
A Manager that achieved his objective of getting promoted at the first attempt, masterminding a successful playoff campaign in the process, or a guy that struggled to ignite a team of individuals and ultimately was out thought by the coaching specialist he employed. History will be the judge and getting the team selection right tomorrow will be key. Let’s see what you’re made of Harry.
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Thread | Nedum Onuoha
at 10:25 20 May 2013
Ok he’s now had a few games playing at centre back, probably needs a few more, especially in games that mean something rather than ones where our fate has already been confirmed, but what’s everyone’s general views of him? Should he still be considered a full back or has he done enough to warrant a place at centre back?
My own personal view is that he’s done very well and I hope we look to play him in the middle, especially if Samba leaves. He offers pace and youth and looks to have a good head on his shoulders. Should Hill stick around for a go at the Championship, Nedium’s pace could cover for some of his limitations. Although I think in time we Hill will need replacing he will certainly be needed for the transitional period and for his experience. I don’t see Hill playing every minute of every game next year, but I certainly see him having a part to play.
Not much to cheer about this season but a definite positive from the last few games has been Nedum. Throw in Harriman at right back and Traore at left back and the defence has a bit more of a youthful look about it. Just need to get a few more leaders and good characters across the rest of the team.
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Thread | Football Intelligence.
at 12:44 13 May 2013
The word is used a lot by pundits, by players, by fans. I could be wrong but I see football intelligence as knowing what to do during those key moments in matches.
If you lose the ball in a dangerous position for example, you’ll occasionally be forced to take a yellow for the team (Man U home). Sometimes when 89 minutes are on the clock and you’re winning, you don’t have to go for goal. Take the ball into the corner and kill time (Wigan home). If the opposition are attacking and it’s in injury time, stay on your feet and don’t give any needless free kicks away (Wigan at home). Just before half time if you find yourself winning and controlling the game, try and see the half out, don’t give the ball away cheaply and get caught on the counter (Villa away). If you’re winning and in total control of a game don’t give a needless penalty away (Newcastle home). In the 1st minute of a game try not to play yourself into trouble (Arsenal home). In a must win game try not to gift goals away by needless penalties and over playing near your goal, especially if you’re a defender that’s not the greatest with the ball (Fulham away). Don’t dive in and try and win the ball when you’re on a yellow, or jump in for a ball you’ll never win with studs up in a must win game (West Ham home and Wigan home)
The above are examples of the big incidents, ones that led to goals and caused us to drop points. But there are so many more examples where football intelligence has been abysmal. Throw ins — feet and back — it’s not hard to do. You win a free kick and the centre backs come forward, don’t play it short and end up playing yourself into trouble. If you have a corner try and clear the first man. If Adel is up front with Remy don’t launch high balls to their heads...
This season I’ve seen a lack of Football intelligence that defies belief. Players earning good money but not understanding the first thing about decision making and what’s required to win Football matches. I’m not of the Harry view that all our players are just not good enough. I think the problem is that we have a very unbalanced squad. What we need to do is become more street wise. I don’t believe a total squad change is necessary, we just need a few more players that understand what it takes to win games. It’s contagious, you get winners in, the others start to learn what’s required. We’ve got too many sheep, we need a few more shepherds.
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Thread | Junior Hoillet
at 20:49 28 Apr 2013
Can't remember a player in the last 30 years that struggles from the bench as much as him. I've been disappointed with him but seen glimpses of potential so know he can play. However, I can't remember him ever coming off the bench and having a positive impact on a game. I'm sure he has and I just can't think of it, but I'm getting to the stage where he either starts or we leave him out totally. Some players just can't pick up the pace of games, whereas others love being an impact player. Junior is most certainly not an impact player. |
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Thread | Players owe it to us to keep fighting
at 16:48 16 Apr 2013
I think we’re very much favourites to go down. Not great with percentages, but would probably put it at about a 5% chance of escaping, but whilst there’s a chance you have to at least try. I was as disappointed as anyone with Saturday’s performance. The lack of effort seemed to suggest the players have all but resigned themselves to relegation and are planning their next career move or summer holiday to forget their feeble efforts. This is criminal. Whilst fans are paying to watch the club, whilst we have a mathematical chance of surviving, whilst we can inflict Football pain on Stoke, whilst there are games to be played, we have to try and win Football matches.
This time next week if Wigan lose at West Ham, Reading beat Norwich, Sunderland lose to Everton and United beat Villa, I don’t know about you but I’d be sitting here thinking had we won against Stoke (a very ordinary team in my opinion) it would have at least been an interesting game with Reading. Should results play out like I’ve listed above, were we to then beat Reading, we would be a maximum 5 points off relegation, and possibly 4 with 3 games left. Villa play Sunderland, Stoke play Norwich so regardless of winners we would be 4/5 points off someone. That’s ignoring Wigan who if they fail to win against Spurs before we play Reading, could mean we’re only 1 point off them come close of play a week on Sunday.
Clawing back 4 points from 3 games is achievable, and would at least make the Arsenal 17:30 game a good watch with a cracking atmosphere. I know it’s extremely likely we’re down, but the players owe it to us to at least fight until the lights go out. If we put in a half hearted display against Stoke and lose and results go our way it will indeed be ‘typical Rangers’.
Sunderland (Everton home, Villa away, Stoke home)
Stoke (us, Norwich home, Sunderland away)
Villa (Manu U away, Sunderland home, Norwich away)
Wigan (Man City away, West Ham away, Tottenham home)
Norwich (Reading home, Stoke away, Villa home)
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Thread | Armand Traore
at 09:33 5 Apr 2013
Does he get an easy ride? There are times I think his touch and Football intelligence are extremely limited during games. His decision making and positioning always strike me as a little suspect too. Yet because he’s quick, can put a decent cross into the box and is not a loan, these failings are often overlooked. Fabio on the other hand — other than on a couple of occasions — has really impressed me when he’s played. Good skills for a full back, not afraid to fly into a tackle, and for a loan player, much like Andros Townsend, is putting in a really decent shift when picked.
I guess the logic is with Zamora upfront the improved delivery from wide could create more chances, and on Monday night this did open up one or two opportunities, but I just think Fabio’s composure, use of the ball, and willingness to fight, will serve us better in the run in? Fabio or Armand?
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Thread | Survival, worth a bet?
at 12:59 3 Apr 2013
Win or bust at the weekend without doubt.
I am one of the few that always thinks the impossible is possible, but I admit that should we be defeated on Sunday, or perhaps even if we draw, we are all but relegated. I think even the most optimistic would say that. However, something just keeps making me think that somehow we can still get out of this mess. Should we win on Sunday and results play out as expected elsewhere, I think a lot changes. With a bit of luck, we could find ourselves about 4 or 5 points off Wigan, Villa and Sunderland with 6 games to play. If you had to claw back a 4/5 point deficit with 6 games remaining it is doable. Especially if we can bring our goal difference in to play over the next few games.
Above everything else though, what keeps on staring back at me is that final day fixture, Villa v Wigan. If Sunderland can implode and continue losing games, and assuming Reading don’t recover, as long as we can make that final game mean something, e.g. a draw doesn’t guarantee survival for Wigan and Villa, we have a chance. Let’s go all out to get 3 points on Sunday ignoring anything else, and then have a look at the points that need to be clawed back. A 4 point deficit with 6 games to play is achievable, especially as we’re not far off having a superior goal difference to 3 teams around us, with a little work obviously. Should we lose though, it will be all over.
Worth a cheeky £10 on the Rs staying up? The bookies look like they're losing faith.
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Thread | The Old guard (part 2)
at 09:47 13 Mar 2013
Getting rid of the old guard.
I posted recently about whether it would be the right move to shift the old guard in search of wins, most said it wasn’t and we should stick with them. I confess I never once contemplated dropping Adel and even went so far as to say for the gamble of winning games I’d probably put Hill on the bench. With the exception of Clint whose played well in the last 2 games, Jamie Mackie hasn’t featured much and Adel and Derry haven’t featured at all. In that time we’ve got back to back wins for the first time since we’ve been back in the premiership.
So by dropping Jamie Mackie and Derry from the first team are we now a better side? There’s no doubt in my mind that Hoillet and Townsend posed more questions of the opposition than Jamie Mac would have done. I’ve been critical of Mbia and Park as centre midfielders but on Saturday they played well, Mbia particularly took me by surprise. If Derry had played would we have looked so dangerous? I’ve always been a fan of Mackie from the bench due to his enthusiasm and workrate, I felt he was the perfect sub on Saturday, buzzing around annoying the opposition. Is this where he should be used till the end of the season?
What about Bosingwa? One of the new arrivals that seemed to sum up everything that’s wrong with the club. Since coming back in to contention in place of arguably more deserving/hardworking players (Onouha) he has definitely added value and contributed to our upturn in results. On Saturday I thought he was superb.
I won’t do the Adel analysis, there’s already been a thread on it, but 2 wins without him makes you wonder if it suits us more not having him the side? Personally I would always have Adel in my team, but in the right formation and not expect everything to go through him. Just give him a position and define his role.
Clint Hill however has proved that the old guard does still have a role to play, he was exceptional against Southampton and steady enough against Sunderland. But with only one surviving face from the promotion year still in the side, and the return of the hated new boys Bosingwa and Park, was Harry right to ditch the majority of the old guard? Or do they still have a key role to play?
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Thread | Drop the old guard?
at 17:08 25 Feb 2013
The old guard, time to make way? controversial I know, but due to the fact draws are no longer going to be enough do we alter the team accordingly?
I prefer Clint Hill, Jamie Mackie, Shaun Derry and Adel Tarrabt to pretty much every player we have, but with the exception of Adel, I recognise their limitations. Now with our situation being desperate, with the likelyhood that quite a few wins will be required, is it time to put genuine quality above heart and desire and hope for the best? Or do we go with players we know will draw blood for the cause? Or do we go for something in between?
It was noticeable to me following the Swansea game that the 2nd half was a significantly improved performance having taken Derry and Mackie off at half time. As much as I like him, I don’t think Mackie deserved to stay on the pitch ahead of Townsend on Saturday, he was poor. As unpopular as it is I also think Hill was pretty average on Saturday. Partly to blame for both goals.
I think most people agree that as Footballers Townsend and Adel are better than Mackie. Personally I would say the same of Hoillett and possibly SWP, although it’s borderline. In terms of effort and desire Jamie Mackie is above them all. Right now it’s crucial we win games, draws aren’t enough, is there an argument to say we should go with the better quality and hope they click? Although admittedly when it goes wrong the crowd are a lot less forgiving. For what it’s worth I think had we stuck with 2 of Hill, Mackie and Derry in the team for the season and not been so quick to get rid we would be in better shape, but right now with something special required (draws not enough) I think we’ll need a bit more quality on the pitch.
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Thread | Esteban Granero
at 10:04 10 Feb 2013
Not sure if there was a thread on him but thought he not only made a huge difference when he came on but looked like he cared. Was extremely disappointed at Harry's midfield yesterday. Having Jenas, Mbia and Derry was asking for trouble. What Granero offers is someone with quality and can retain possession, he would have been perfect to start against the Swans yesterday, instead we played 3 defensive midfielders with no hold up player. I Accept with Zamora struggling and Remy out, this part of the team was a difficult choice for Harry, but to have such a poor ball playing midfield against one of the best ball retention teams around was criminal.
You can get away with it if you have the option to go direct, but if you haven't got that outlet...Anyway it was a horrible performance. Adel last 25 minutes, Andros the first 60 minutes, Mbia last 15 minutues and Granero and Zamora the whole second half are the only players to have done anything. To note, I didn't think Adel played well, just a decent end to the game, but I have sympathy, playing up on you own with that midfield was always going to be hard.
On a separate point, had the stone wall penalty been given it would have been an interesting end to the game. That was a pathetic piece of refereeing. |
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Thread | Stick or Twist? Yes or No?
at 17:07 28 Jan 2013
With only a few days left of the transfer window, it's time to say what camp you're in. Spend and go for it? or keep the purse strings tight and accept the likely outcome? There's a lot of comments on different threads about Harry taking responsibility for players performances, that he should train them rather than buy more blood. I'm interested what the general consensus is on the board.
Only time will tell who will be right but I always prefer the ‘I told you so’ brigade to speak now or forever hold their peace. Me, I’d say Harry was brought in to do a job, let him do it, roll that dice and let him keep us up. This doesn't mean an endless supply of money for Harry to play with but he should be able to bring in 3 or 4 of his choice of players. Not simply rely on the Anton Ferdinand's of this world.
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Thread | Why can't we pass the ball?
at 16:20 22 Jan 2013
The easy answer and what most will say is we’re sh&t. To an extent I agree but I still have memories of Newcastle home and City home last season where I was proud of the shift and quality of performance. I know some players have gone but why as a team can we barely string a move together with the ball?
Last season against Newcastle was one of the highlights, we lined up with the following team:
Jay B
SWP Adel
Barton Derry Faurlin
Traore Ferdinand Gabidon Young
Kenny
Now looking at that line-up last season I don’t think it’ great, so why are we suddenly sh*t at passing the ball now? Is it because of our lack of a target man that can link it together? Supposedly tailor made for BZ if he liked football. Is it because Mr Barton has gone and we lack his bite and workrate during games? Is it because Faurlin has yet to recover from his serious injury and can’t resume his orchestral duties? Or is it the failure to hold on to the poise, and elegance of Danny Gabidon, the rock of our defence...
This leads me to wonder — purely on ball retention — are some of the old guard (Hill, Derry, Mackie, Nelsen *For his age*) part of the problem?
The above all shed blood for the cause and have clearly helped with the clean sheets in recent weeks, but are they hindering us going forward? Or more specifically, keeping the ball? Mackie can run all day and hurry opponents but he rarely play’s an incisive pass, one that opens up the game helping us move the ball quicker. I know that’s not his game but he often receives possession and runs down blind alleys, although admittedly forces an error from the opposition as a result. In helping to keep the ball, this isn’t always the best tactic.
Derry does an excellent job patrolling in front of the back four but with such slow centre backs we’re ridiculously deep at times. Situations regularly arise where Derry picks the ball up close to his centre backs — not a bad thing per se — but because they’re so fearful of pace Hill and Nelsen are stood dangerously deep which means Derry is as well. Derry then finds himself with the ball with no option in site. As a result we play it up quickly and due to a lack of a hold up player it comes right back.
I know our players aren’t as good as they think, but last season we did manage to put in some decent footballing performances and should be able to again as Spurs and Chelsea as this season showed.
My view is that Derry, Mackie, Nelsen and Hill are excellent pros but shouldn’t be in the same side together unless it will be a real backs against the wall type of match. In the coming weeks we’ll have games where we’ll have to take the game to the opposition, I don’t think with all 4 of them in the side we can do it.
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