Bidwell appreciation (5 Viewers)

[Saddlebrains]

This is just bizarre. Watching that and saying Bidwell is our weakest link is just strange.

I don't think anyone has said that have they? Allen and Thomas were the shittest out of all the shit

For me I've always liked Bidwell, defended him many a time. But I've not seen him look as lost as he did today probably ever. Positionally shit. Poor balls in, poor defensively, just a very Un-Bidwell like performance

 

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[fernandopartridge]

Two or three times he got into good positions awaiting a quick ball from EMC who failed to execute or even try to execute it.

 

[Ashdown]

Bidwell was fantastic going forward but why oh why didn’t he close his man down for their goal

 

[Frankly_Mr_Shankly]

Two or three times he got into good positions awaiting a quick ball from EMC who failed to execute or even try to execute it.

And one from Allen who hesitated.

 

[Cally Fedora]

I don't think anyone has said that have they? Allen and Thomas were the shittest out of all the shit

For me I've always liked Bidwell, defended him many a time. But I've not seen him look as lost as he did today probably ever. Positionally shit. Poor balls in, poor defensively, just a very Un-Bidwell like performance

Yes. Numerous quotes saying he’s our poorest starter. He’s not. Not by a long chalk.

 

[PVA]

Yes. Numerous quotes saying he’s our poorest starter. He’s not. Not by a long chalk.

When everyone is fit it probably is him. Maybe one of the centre backs would be the 'competition'.

It's not really a criticism it's just an indication of the squad improving year on year.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Looking at the team today Bidwell was the only ‘seasoned’ Championship player in the 11 along with Allen. Neither are particularly leadership material and the team as a whole really lacks that when things aren’t going well.

 

[Northeast sky blue]

Overall I just think the passing is to slow and to easy to defend against

 

[Tommo1993]

Overall I just think the passing is to slow and to easy to defend against

Big problem in the first half. Stoke used the pitch well, using the width, no nonsense quick passing. Not like us who wanted half an hour with the ball before each pass.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Overall I just think the passing is to slow and to easy to defend against

It’s the fundamental problem of this way of playing football as England found out a lot this summer. Gets you in trouble at the back, doesn’t hurt the opposition.

Cue someone coming along to say the only alternative is caveman hoofball, it isn’t. Just get the ball up the pitch at a higher pace with fewer touches per player. Sometimes switching the ball, sometimes by a series of shorter passes.

Even when we broke their lines in the second half we took so much time that the only option was optimistically punting it into the box.

 

[BlueSkiesForever]

Looking at the team today Bidwell was the only ‘seasoned’ Championship player in the 11 along with Allen. Neither are particularly leadership material and the team as a whole really lacks that when things aren’t going well.

There was loads of talk a few weeks ago about getting “experienced” signings into the squad and making sure we keep our “experienced” players in the starting 11. However I think yesterday, albeit only one game, shows how “experience” is just a catch-all phrase and it’s leadership and confidence we need rather than players that have played numerous games.

We need players that can beat a press in midfield, have the confidence to take a couple players on at a time, or shout to teammates to let them know what’s what. Allen isn’t that player at all imo, and I’m not sure I’d say Sheaf is that player either at times, even when he’s back we’ll need more quality in midfield than we’ve got currently.

 

[Ashdown]

Totally agree with another poster pointing out our obsession with going wide to put crosses in….especially when we barely had one up front and he’s not a great header of the ball. We need to vary our attacking threat.

 

[Evo1883]

Thought bidwell was poor yesterday

 

[stevenorfolkcov]

Bidwell is a whole-hearted player who gives his all every game - sadly the reality is that he is too slow and much like Allen and Thomas, if he remains in the team, we will always be a mid-table Championship team at best.

 

[Grendel]

Bidwell is a whole-hearted player who gives his all every game - sadly the reality is that he is too slow and much like Allen and Thomas, if he remains in the team, we will always be a mid-table Championship team at best.

Allen and Bidwell played over 80% of games in the season we finished 5th

 

[PVA]

Allen and Bidwell played over 80% of games in the season we finished 5th

And Ben Wilson played in 93%.

 

[Grendel]

And Ben Wilson played in 93%.

Hardly the point is it? Allen scored vital goals in that season. The defence was solid with Mcfazdean leading it. Robins has never until this season invested in goalkeepers at all. The fact we got promoted with Burge in goal shows it’s hardly a gotcha is it.

Bidwell missed about what 4 starts that season? You’ve always had a problem with him despite your claims to the contrary. It’s clear he can’t play a full season and we need an ultimate replacement but we bought a turkey from Bristol

 

[PVA]

Hardly the point is it?

It's exactly the point you were making

 

[Jamesimus]

Allen and Bidwell played over 80% of games in the season we finished 5th

Allen certainly played a part that season, but when he played his best though, it was usually in a more advanced position. One of his strengths is arriving late into the box and finishing a chance - it’s not breaking up the play, switching the ball and taking up sensible positions from deep.

Also, we were largely blessed with two enigmatic talents who dragged us through (not discounting the great showing from the defence that season, which was also immense). Those two players (who I’m not going to name) allowed us to play on the counter effectively, so keeping possession wasn’t important. Kind of feel like it is now.

None of this is knocking either Bidwell or Allen.

Bidwell wasn’t even that bad against Stoke and Allen was only terrible first half - came out much improved second half imo, despite what happened

 

[Grendel]

It's exactly the point you were making

No it isn’t.

Also robins has looked at alternatives to Bidwell but always went back to him. Allen is always one of the first players he picks when he’s fully fit.

Wilson I doubt will play league football again for the club

 

[PVA]

Wilson I doubt will play league football again for the club

Well that's the point - what anyone did two years ago is irrelevant, it's about the here and now.

 

[Grendel]

Well that's the point - what anyone did two years ago is irrelevant, it's about the here and now.

And the here and now is Bidwell is the best left sided defender - as we’ve spunked wages on a disaster signing on a 4 year deal - and Allen is always someone Robins likes in the team