Bell, McPake and Eastwood (2 Viewers)

[Nonleagueherewecome]

Spot on. Best way to desribe McPake is a clogger - he dives into tackles and put's his body on the line.....usually to make up for a rick he's just made seconds earlier.

THIS is the post I disagree with more than any other I have read on this, or possibly any other, forum. Yep, even more than the SISU-lovers!

 

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[shmmeee]

Another thing mentioned in this thread..these are the first players that SISU have signed to have renewed their contracts. Platt and McSheff don't count as they were automatic options that kicked in after they'd played a certain number of games. That does tend to suggest that something has changed..or that McPake and Bell were on less money than we think..or they've accepted a pay cut?

That's the interesting thing for me. Have they accepted reduced terms and it's another part of the cost cutting exercise or have we come into some more money, prompting us to offer everyone a new deal and try to sign up ALF and another? Only time will tell I guess.

 

[shmmeee]

THIS is the post I disagree with more than any other I have read on this, or possibly any other, forum. Yep, even more than the SISU-lovers!

I honestly think that there are some posters who would say that any player that signs for us is shit and any player we lose would have been the component keeping us up all these years. Just look at some of the back tracking going on around Carsley and McIndoe: now they're vital players without which we are doomed to relegation, last season they were shit and we should get rid.

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

Thanks
I have been fighting a one man battle defending Mcpake's corner for most of the day.

Soz mate, work

I'm here now and ready to take on all comers! McPake is a bloody colossus, I just can't belive everyones forgotten how much better than all our other defenders he is..people bang on about our results without Sammy, but our results without McPake versus with him suggest we miss him every bit as much.

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

Soz mate, work

I'm here now and ready to take on all comers! McPake is a bloody colossus, I just can't belive everyones forgotten how much better than all our other defenders he is..people bang on about our results without Sammy, but our results without McPake versus with him suggest we miss him every bit as much.

I totally agree, you just have to watch that video to see the defensive qualities he has.

I always felt more confident going in to a game if Mcpake's name was on the team sheet. I can't honestly say the pairing of Keogh-Cranie fills me with the same confidence.

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

True I suppose, but even so I'd like to go on record as stating that £15k/week for any player who has never played top flight football is a fucking joke.

NO player in the division should be on more than £10k/week and that's pushing it.

Sorry I'm still catching up..agree with this, too. At least next years rules will slow things down a bit. Just stop and think about it..that's 60k plus a month! Of course, the "rumours from Leeds" ignore the fact that not only was no bid accepted for him, but perhaps none made? In which case, Leeds must have been tapping him up..or it is utter B.S.

 

[stupot07]

OK I know this was posted hours ago, but just got in and I had to respond.

McPake has never been 100% fit since he joined us-yet when on the pitch has still been amongst out best players pretty much all of the time. In terms of pure defensive ability, I rate him above Turner(even at last seasons best). The side under Coleman that was just outside the playoffs was partly built on McPakes fearsome defending. As soon as McPake was out, we didn't win again.

He is a fantastic tackler, has very good awareness, is our 2nd most dominant player in the air after Turner, and is the best "blocker" we've had since The Prem. Every game he played, he would throw himself in front of at least 1 or 2 goalbound shot. He drew George Curtis comparisions from Bobby Gould. He's a guy who loves defending and is rather good at it. I think I've seen him have one bad game, but would have rated him our MOM in at least 5-8 games. A fantastic assett, and when fit he'll prove those doubters wrong. Twice the player Wood is. His signing is fantastic news, as is Bells. That's 2 less Championship class players that we'll lose for nothing!

Do people think players get injured on purpose? C'mon, neither of these guys are exactly Julian Joachim or Keith O'Neill; they've both had particular long-standing injuries that have re-occurred. I'm amazed that anyone thinks it's 'cos they're "lazy".

Good job we didn't sign Andrew Driver, eh? Just got his first goals in yonks..after an injury-blighted year!

Another thing mentioned in this thread..these are the first players that SISU have signed to have renewed their contracts. Platt and McSheff don't count as they were automatic options that kicked in after they'd played a certain number of games. That does tend to suggest that something has changed..or that McPake and Bell were on less money than we think..or they've accepted a pay cut?

As I've said in my previous thread I do not think McPake is shit just an average championship player and in my opinion would be third choice centre back behind turner and cranie. I believe that people misjudge his aggressive blocks as commitment. When I have seen him play he has a tendency to dive in when standing up would be the better option, he gets far to close to strikers either getting rolled or pulling himself out of position and leaving an exposed hole behind him that needs covering. He is also a liability when with his shirt pulling when marking at corners. These are all things that can be improved with coaching.

The "blocking" and "committed tackling" is a very English obsession, look at the best teams and most tackles are made through reading the game, making interceptions and standing up waiting for a chance to nip the ball away.

I agree that he has not been 100% fit during his time here and I have never called any injury prone player lazy. For a club that is losing £500k a month can we afford to fund wages however small for a player who has only been 90% for an average of a 1/4 of each season I hope he can put his injury problems behind and prove me wrong, I have no personal vendetta against him.

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

As I've said in my previous thread I do not think McPake is shit just an average championship player and in my opinion would be third choice centre back behind turner and cranie. I believe that people misjudge his aggressive blocks as commitment. When I have seen him play he has a tendency to dive in when standing up would be the better option, he gets far to close to strikers either getting rolled or pulling himself out of position and leaving an exposed hole behind him that needs covering. He is also a liability when with his shirt pulling when marking at corners. These are all things that can be improved with coaching.

The "blocking" and "committed tackling" is a very English obsession, look at the best teams and most tackles are made through reading the game, making interceptions and standing up waiting for a chance to nip the ball away.
QUOTE]

We'll have to agree to strongly disagree. I keep getting accused of being some kinda football Neanderthal just for likeing aggressive players! I'm not, I really do think that McPakes positioning, tackles and blocks put him head and shoulders above Wood and Cranie in particular. I don't agree with most of the things you've mentioned-I don't remember the scenarios you describe happening with McPake at all, and I've seem all his home appearances. Are you sure you wern't thinking of Brian Kilcline

I think I can remember 1 goal that was mainly his fault. I can think of numerous examples from Wood and also from everybodies fave, Cranie. I think Cranie is too slow, gets beaten too much in the air, is slow to react to danger, takes too long to make decisions, and is guilty of every sin that Ward was-yet never gets stick for it. For a guy with great touch, he makes some real clangers. And all his weaknesses are McPakes strengths-maybe they can be a good partnership?

AT obviously wants ball-players at the back. We'll see how that works out. I think they'll cost us too many goals. Even Cloughy wanted defenders who defended first, and he played the game "where God intended", on the grass!

 

[SkyBlueScottie]

.....usually to make up for a rick he's just made seconds earlier.

Not true at all, its a common misconception by fans who think that because they have watched Sky / MOTD and he comes in with a last ditch tackle its because an error has been made....

He reads the game very well and does not like forwards to breach the back 4 line, hence when they do he is often covering across.

 

[CovScott88]

Good to see some people backing McPake. As I said previously in this thread, I personally think he is the best 'defender' we have. He may not be as comfortable on the ball as Cranie or Keogh, but in terms of defending, he is the best we have.

 

[Dinyull]

THIS is the post I disagree with more than any other I have read on this, or possibly any other, forum. Yep, even more than the SISU-lovers!

Fair enough, I just don't rate the guy. Decent option as a squad player but would put Turner, Cranie and Wood ahead of him and Cameron not too far off. I think a lot of our fans rate him simply because he put's it all on the line for us - a brilliant block oftern clouds people's memories when he's just been turned inside out.

I forgot to mention his distribution which involves kicking it as hard and as far as possible even when a midfielder is wide open 5/10 yards in front of him.

 

[Dinyull]

I honestly think that there are some posters who would say that any player that signs for us is shit and any player we lose would have been the component keeping us up all these years. Just look at some of the back tracking going on around Carsley and McIndoe: now they're vital players without which we are doomed to relegation, last season they were shit and we should get rid.

It's fair enough getting rid but you need to replace them. Some posters note that we've lost squad players from a squad that was already weak/small in numbers - so the squad that finished 17th is weaker. From that you'd have to say the chances of finishing below 17th are real - not even taking into account losing our 2 best players.

 

[SkyBlueScottie]

Another thing mentioned in this thread..these are the first players that SISU have signed to have renewed their contracts. Platt and McSheff don't count as they were automatic options that kicked in after they'd played a certain number of games. That does tend to suggest that something has changed..or that McPake and Bell were on less money than we think..or they've accepted a pay cut?

I trust you mean since Sisu offed Ranson?

There is another way to look at it, Ranson was tight, looking back, too tight and it was a failing of his. We do have to hope that the new contract deals are sensible.

I think a lot of our fans rate him simply because he put's it all on the line for us - a brilliant block oftern clouds people's memories when he's just been turned inside out.

I forgot to mention his distribution which involves kicking it as hard and as far as possible even when a midfielder is wide open 5/10 yards in front of him.

Thats the thing he does not often get turned inside out. His distribution however is poor. However the management, player should be working on that, or Harrison and Thorn have been telling him all summer look for the simple one.