As I said before this season he's a mainstay. The idea that he'd make way for somebody else was always nonsense. We as a young team need leaders and he's one of them.Still our best defender... Discuss
Most experienced, best leader and organiser, surprisingly good range of passing on him (the long diagonal he’s pretty good at) but prone to the odd clanger.
I would say currently most influential defender, if not necessarily the best technically. His experience is massive this season.
I was sceptical about whether he would survive at his age, but looked good against a (fairly unimaginative) Barnsley. Those passes around the back will see me in the cardiac unit
AgreedStill our best defender... Discuss
I was sceptical about whether he would survive at his age, but looked good against a (fairly unimaginative) Barnsley. Those passes around the back will see me in the cardiac unit
In some respects yes but others a resounding no. He can look like he is bossing and marshalling the defence one min and the next can get caught on the ball (Bristol City, which they should have scored from) and worryingly give away a pen (QPR, which they did score from). Those errors don't define his worth and without them he would be first CB on the team sheet.Still our best defender... Discuss
Have you changed your opinion on this , out of curiosity RobWorst player of the 4 centre halves imo, but the only one if his 'type'. Add his experience and leadership and he'd be one of the first names down. Any 2 from the other 3 and we're blessed to have them all or at least for our system. If we ever revert to 4 at the back, the main concern concern would be pace.
Not even closeAnd still
And still
I think he's been outstanding, particularly recently and as I said in my original post he has to play as we don't have a ready made replacement of his ilk. At the moment he's there on merit regardless of who we might have - he reads the game well and certainly comfortable in a 3, even better coming away with the ball into the gaps in front of him, which took a while to click but doing it more often now, however I still wouldn't want him in a 2.Have you changed your opinion on this , out of curiosity Rob
I think he's been outstanding, particularly recently and as I said in my original post he has to play as we don't have a ready made replacement of his ilk. At the moment he's there on merit regardless of who we might have - he reads the game well and certainly comfortable in a 3, even better coming away with the ball into the gaps in front of him, which took a while to click but doing it more often now, however I still wouldn't want him in a 2.
I also stand by one of my other posts on our CB situation which is how much better we are with JCS in at LCB, despite 2 clean sheets in 2 games without him. Rose and Hyam have both stepped up and I still think are good options for either to play the RCB role. Fadz is the old school, kick it or head it and get in where it hurts, but if I had the choice of him or Ostigard who isn't getting in the Stoke side at present, I'd take Ostigard, who I also think carries a greater threat in attack too.
We are where we are though and with our budget he'll do just fine for now.
I think he's been outstanding, particularly recently and as I said in my original post he has to play as we don't have a ready made replacement of his ilk. At the moment he's there on merit regardless of who we might have - he reads the game well and certainly comfortable in a 3, even better coming away with the ball into the gaps in front of him, which took a while to click but doing it more often now, however I still wouldn't want him in a 2.
I also stand by one of my other posts on our CB situation which is how much better we are with JCS in at LCB, despite 2 clean sheets in 2 games without him. Rose and Hyam have both stepped up and I still think are good options for either to play the RCB role. Fadz is the old school, kick it or head it and get in where it hurts, but if I had the choice of him or Ostigard who isn't getting in the Stoke side at present, I'd take Ostigard, who I also think carries a greater threat in attack too.
We are where we are though and with our budget he'll do just fine for now.
Sqwawka Comparison , there's alot of stats you can compare , these seemed the best fit for a defenderFairy muff, cheers @Evo1883 . Not sure I go off just that, but certainly justifiable. I think the Osti we had at the end of last season was really starting to flourish and looked as though he still had more improvement in him. Also been a bit stop start with Stoke so perhaps not got into the rhythm fully yet. Be interesting to see how that continues to the end of the season, where do you get them from?
When compared against arguibly one of the best centre halves in the division , who Is also playing into their mid 30s ... he comes off very well View attachment 22849