Eccles (1 Viewer)

torchomatic

Well-Known Member

Adge

Well-Known Member
Hmmm, had an excellent first half against Norwich but really went into his shell after they scored but not alone I hasten to add.
Has there been million pound plus bids for him-no. Will there be million pound plus bids for him in the future-probably not.
He is what he is, a middle of the road Championship player who is capable at this level.
 

Perennial Lurker

Well-Known Member
Hmmm, had an excellent first half against Norwich but really went into his shell after they scored but not alone I hasten to add.
Has there been million pound plus bids for him-no. Will there be million pound plus bids for him in the future-probably not.
He is what he is, a middle of the road Championship player who is capable at this level.
That's fair
His progression has to be now being able to grab a game like Sheaf does , if he can do that then he can be rated on a par with some of the better midfielders in the league
 

BlueSkiesForever

Well-Known Member
Well the stats say otherwise on that too ;)

Oh come on 😂 I’m down for some basic stats but I’d rather actually see how a player affects a game than use some numerical value to measure it, particularly something as nuanced as positioning or how a series of passes can affect a game.
 

blunted

Well-Known Member
That's fair
His progression has to be now being able to grab a game like Sheaf does , if he can do that then he can be rated on a par with some of the better midfielders in the league
Thought his progression has been really good for three seasons. This new campaign he has looked to have dropped off in form for the first time. But so has everyone else apart from MVE, so his performances perhaps have to be put in context. Has always struggled with that killer pass that great players can conjure out of nothing. That said, he is good at stopping the opposition and doing the sensible passes (apart from recently). That should be good enough for top 6 if everyone else is doing their job properly.
 

BlueSkiesForever

Well-Known Member
Eccles is a quality player who is still improving. He is not the reason our midfield is malfunctioning.

I don’t think anyone’s suggesting that (maybe I’ve missed some comments tbf), our midfield’s struggling because there’s no one better than Eccles in midfield atm. Eccles is fine alongside Sheaf or O’Hare or Hamer but Torp and Rudoni aren’t currently at the same level as them. I think a move to 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 is needed to get the best out of the team tbh.
 

Hutch11

Well-Known Member
Oh come on 😂 I’m down for some basic stats but I’d rather actually see how a player affects a game than use some numerical value to measure it, particularly something as nuanced as positioning or how a series of passes can affect a game.
Hard to see when you're blinkered
 

BlueSkiesForever

Well-Known Member
Hard to see when you're blinkered

True, and I’ll admit that it’s easier for me to see the negatives in Eccles’ game because I’ve never really warmed to him for some reason, but I genuinely do wish he was a little more creative and consistent with it. He made some decent assists last year but generally I find that his passes going forward lack importance (not all, but the vast majority of them).
 

BlueSkiesForever

Well-Known Member
It’s just occurred to me that to see the best out of Eccles I think he needs a scenario where he’s fighting for his way to be back in the starting 11.

For the last couple of seasons he’s been a guaranteed starter and is clearly one of Robins’ favourites. I think he could be one hell of a player if he had a bit of swagger and creativity about him, I think he needs a reason to say “you know what, you better take me seriously because this is what I have to offer and we’ll be better a team with me in it”. Currently he has no reason to think that, he knows he’ll be picked almost every week and he knows that he’s a safe, steady player that Robins won’t drop unless he has to for whatever reason.

It’s just a thought but to me Eccles has always seemed like he’s younger than he actually is, there’s loads of talent there but I feel like he’s almost scared to take players on or try something daring. If we didn’t have such a woeful midfield, a bit of time on the sidelines would maybe do him some good tbh.
 

Ccfcisparks

Well-Known Member
It’s just occurred to me that to see the best out of Eccles I think he needs a scenario where he’s fighting for his way to be back in the starting 11.

For the last couple of seasons he’s been a guaranteed starter and is clearly one of Robins’ favourites. I think he could be one hell of a player if he had a bit of swagger and creativity about him, I think he needs a reason to say “you know what, you better take me seriously because this is what I have to offer and we’ll be better a team with me in it”. Currently he has no reason to think that, he knows he’ll be picked almost every week and he knows that he’s a safe, steady player that Robins won’t drop unless he has to for whatever reason.

It’s just a thought but to me Eccles has always seemed like he’s younger than he actually is, there’s loads of talent there but I feel like he’s almost scared to take players on or try something daring. If we didn’t have such a woeful midfield, a bit of time on the sidelines would maybe do him some good tbh.
Utter nonsense. You’d probably think Sergio Busquets was crap as he just played it safe
 

Hutch11

Well-Known Member
True, and I’ll admit that it’s easier for me to see the negatives in Eccles’ game because I’ve never really warmed to him for some reason, but I genuinely do wish he was a little more creative and consistent with it. He made some decent assists last year but generally I find that his passes going forward lack importance (not all, but the vast majority of them).
Respect the candid reply
I don't think he's a world beater or even our best midfielder but it gets my goat when he's dismissed out of hand like he's useless and therefore it's easier for me to see the positives
 

BlueSkiesForever

Well-Known Member
Utter nonsense. You’d probably think Sergio Busquets was crap as he just played it safe

Tbh I never really followed his career in football as I only really watch Prem and Championship football, however trying to compare Busquets to Eccles is impossible. Eccles’ reading of the game and impact with cute short passes or long balls over the top is not going to be anywhere near the level of a Barcelona player.

Any player can play it safe, it’s what you do outside of that that matters and for me Eccles doesn’t do much other than the odd rare assist and poor corner.
 

BlueSkiesForever

Well-Known Member
Respect the candid reply
I don't think he's a world beater or even our best midfielder but it gets my goat when he's dismissed out of hand like he's useless and therefore it's easier for me to see the positives

Yeah that’s fair, and I’ll never dismiss him out of hand, I’ve said multiple times I wouldn’t want us to get rid of Eccles, I just think he needs a bit of competition for his place so he hopefully improves his all round play and creativity.
I think if things go right for him and he improves his game then maybe he’ll be known as a championship great.
 

Cally Fedora

Well-Known Member
Just so I understand, to be considered a good player Eccles must do the defensive screening and the grunt work in midfield. He must just improve his passing range, creativity, attacking prowess and deliver it all with a bit more oomph. So just be the perfect midfielder then. Profound.
 

BlueSkiesForever

Well-Known Member
Just so I understand, to be considered a good player Eccles must do the defensive screening and the grunt work in midfield. He must just improve his passing range, creativity, attacking prowess and deliver it all with a bit more oomph. So just be the perfect midfielder then. Profound.

To be as good as everyone makes him out to be, yeah he’s got to be good defensively and good at making key passes forward 🤷🏻‍♂️ That’s literally the job of a midfielder to be an all rounder, to start attacks by anticipating the runs of your attackers and to stop the opposition from starting their attacks. Really don’t see how that’s a “profound” take on what makes a great midfielder 😂
 

Cally Fedora

Well-Known Member
I think I was just pointing out that what you are advising he has to do to be a better midfielder is to be a perfect midfielder. A bit like saying if he wants to be a good centre forward all he needs to do is be a good centre forward.
 

BlueSkiesForever

Well-Known Member
I think I was just pointing out that what you are advising he has to do to be a better midfielder is to be a perfect midfielder. A bit like saying if he wants to be a good centre forward all he needs to do is be a good centre forward.

Oh fairs 😂 I just think he’s an alright midfielder and great to have in the squad (especially given the current circumstances in midfield) but he’s not as good as some on here make him out to be imo.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
Josh Eccles once block paved my drive and it was OK but i doubt it will last the recommended 20 years before needing redoing.
 

wingy

Well-Known Member
He's nowhere near as bad as some would have you believe either
It's like this, there were two goals scored by him that helped put us in the PO final the year before last, I don't if they were winning strikes or not but they were two sweet strikes, that'll do for me!!
 

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