Stokes (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter KersleyDigs
- Start date
rupert_bear
Well-Known Member
Why criticise Stokes, criticism should be aimed at those who got rid of Blair Adams, and didn't replace him and giving us a left back problem we never had.
Gonna stand up for him to a certain extent. When you've got Odelusi left side midfield and "I'll play wherever the mood takes me, look busy and make futile runs wasted on a team at this level" O'Brien on the right side of midfield, neither full back has a lot of cover and time and again last night both Stokes and Phillips (and latterly Pennington) found themselves trying to defend against two attackers - and we know that Bradford attack in packs with some effect. All well and good having Adam Barton as holding midfielder (and I'll be crucified for thinking he did a decent job last night) but he can't cover left, right and middle. And I know expecting midfielders to cover fullbacks adequately at this level is a pipedream.
It was the third time I'd seen Stokes and I'd agree he'd not progressed from the first game I saw against MK Dons, but the whole defence last night looked as nervous as kittens, and that can't help a guy who's just come up from non-league. And I thought Aaron Martin looked more non-league than he did.
The shame of it is though we saw some dynamic performances we had early on from ("the new Gareth Bale") Ryan Haynes as part of a more confident team, he went and got found out and isn't (yet) a good defender; and he'd bring down even further the average age and experience of a frighteningly young defence. The only solution within the squad to the improvement and success of our defence is out permanently injured.
Sure, Blair Adams was a better left back by miles than Stokes, but to savage Chris Stokes is targeting the wrong problem at the wrong time. We are where we are, for better or for worse. Okay, just for worse. And the new manager has to work with the tools (no insult intended...) at his disposal. If he somehow sees us to safety and if he decides to take this on for the long run, I'm confident we'll see him putting round pegs in round holes. Yup, too many ifs for anyone's liking there.
It was the third time I'd seen Stokes and I'd agree he'd not progressed from the first game I saw against MK Dons, but the whole defence last night looked as nervous as kittens, and that can't help a guy who's just come up from non-league. And I thought Aaron Martin looked more non-league than he did.
The shame of it is though we saw some dynamic performances we had early on from ("the new Gareth Bale") Ryan Haynes as part of a more confident team, he went and got found out and isn't (yet) a good defender; and he'd bring down even further the average age and experience of a frighteningly young defence. The only solution within the squad to the improvement and success of our defence is out permanently injured.
Sure, Blair Adams was a better left back by miles than Stokes, but to savage Chris Stokes is targeting the wrong problem at the wrong time. We are where we are, for better or for worse. Okay, just for worse. And the new manager has to work with the tools (no insult intended...) at his disposal. If he somehow sees us to safety and if he decides to take this on for the long run, I'm confident we'll see him putting round pegs in round holes. Yup, too many ifs for anyone's liking there.
Nick
Administrator
Ah the old "if you say different you have never played football" line.
eastwoodsdustman
Well-Known Member
Spot on with what you say especially about JOB. People should be careful what they wish for. We could have had Hussey in there at left back!
I thought the defence held up pretty well last night bearing in mind that we would have been hammered earlier in the season against any side that was physical and aerial.
If a couple of our chances had gone in we'd be saying how solid the defence looked against them only conceding the one goal.
Hobo
Well-Known Member
Our defensive frailties, even last season when we were scoring at will, has largely been down to a poor midfield. This season the midfield has not only exposed the defence but offered little in creativity and attacking options.
Yes, there has been individual mistakes by defenders and keepers, but the midfield is constantly exposing them to pressure.
Yes, there has been individual mistakes by defenders and keepers, but the midfield is constantly exposing them to pressure.