Matt smith
Well-Known Member
Ridiculous comment.
Our midfield - do we have problems? (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter shepardo01
- Start date
Johhny Blue
Well-Known Member
I think Eccles could play a major role for us. Remember he’s still very much in the developing stage and will have a few nightmares
covcity4life
Well-Known Member
Post of the year
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Also the last time I checked, 88+4 adds up to more than 90. And I didn’t see someone ‘out on his arse’ after 70 minutes either.
covcity4life
Well-Known Member
Lol 
clint van damme
Well-Known Member
Who said bin him?
Are you just imaging words in your mind.
Osabisa3256
Member
Eccles is not good enough for a team looking to get into the premiership he’s a division one player and no better. don’t get all this bullshit about him being anything better
SlowerThanPlatt
Well-Known Member
Why are we looking to get into the top flight of Rugby Union?
He was an important part of our counter attacking team last season but we look to be doing something different this year so not sure where he’ll fit in.
He needs a season and I suspect he might look very good by the end of it.
skybluecam
Well-Known Member
It really isn’t irrelevant whether or not the best midfielder in the league was playing alongside him.
You could’ve put a sack of potatoes in there with Hamer last year and he’d have made it work.
skybluecam
Well-Known Member
Adding stoppage time on to minutes played is a new one, do you know where that time comes from?
Palmer was noticeably tired last 20 min.
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
I wonder what your thoughts were on the team this time last season? We looked far from being a top 6 team then too.
This season, we’ve played Leicester, Middlesborough, Swansea, Sunderland and Watford. Lost once, and with a bit more luck could’ve won 2 or 3 more of those games.
Things take time to click. We look a decent outfit and if Ayari can play in that CM role well, we’ll be fine.
BlueSkiesForever
Well-Known Member
Completely agree with others on here, Eccles is just not good enough at this level yet, maybe he will be in time but I don’t think he’s going to come on leaps and bounds overnight. Maybe Latibeaudiere could play there, I’ve heard others talk about him playing CDM, he’s got pace and stamina so could be something in it.
I know loads of us have banged on about it before but it really is quite shortsighted of the management not to have found a Hamer replacement, even if it wasn’t Hamer quality just yet I don’t think it would have mattered, at least it would have been someone we could use in midfield that’s not Kelly or Eccles. Even just a £3m midfielder that can put a shift in and be decent on the ball, I’m sure it wouldn’t have been that hard to find. Be prudent, as others have suggested, and save the big money for the proper Hamer replacement when they find him but just for this season (and for squad depth at the very least) I think £2m-£4m would have been well spent on a defensive CM that can actually move the ball into dangerous areas quickly and effectively.
I know loads of us have banged on about it before but it really is quite shortsighted of the management not to have found a Hamer replacement, even if it wasn’t Hamer quality just yet I don’t think it would have mattered, at least it would have been someone we could use in midfield that’s not Kelly or Eccles. Even just a £3m midfielder that can put a shift in and be decent on the ball, I’m sure it wouldn’t have been that hard to find. Be prudent, as others have suggested, and save the big money for the proper Hamer replacement when they find him but just for this season (and for squad depth at the very least) I think £2m-£4m would have been well spent on a defensive CM that can actually move the ball into dangerous areas quickly and effectively.
letsallsingtogether
Well-Known Member
He wanted to go and replace him with who?
Balli001
Well-Known Member
So you wanted to spend almost half of our record transfer fee on a 1 year squad player?
Saddlebrains
Well-Known Member
Sheaf and Eccles doesnt work
They either tread on each others toes, they ran into each other 4 times on Saturday
Or they are so far apart a massive gap appears through the middle allowing opposition a clear run at the back 3.
I dont know what the answer is but i know its not them 2 playing together every game until January
They either tread on each others toes, they ran into each other 4 times on Saturday
Or they are so far apart a massive gap appears through the middle allowing opposition a clear run at the back 3.
I dont know what the answer is but i know its not them 2 playing together every game until January
TomRad85
Well-Known Member
It's not even that I don't like Eccles, I think he's decent enough. But as I've said all along he's the bloke you bring on for Sheaf, or play to rest Sheaf, whatever... together it just doesn't really do anything.
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Saddlebrains
Well-Known Member
I agree
Eccles is a decent championship player and I'm happy we have him. But playing him alongside Sheaf just doesnt work. We want to hope Ayari comes good because i believe him and Sheaf could work well
BlueSkiesForever
Well-Known Member
Firstly, I said somewhere between £2-£4m, not necessarily £4m.
Secondly, I never said he would be a 1 year squad player, it’s not like he stops becoming an option when the proper Hamer replacement comes in, players will get tired or injured, we will need back-up players, something we really lack in midfield atm.
Thirdly, people forget that players tend to keep their value, yes there are wages to pay but it’s not like that transfer fee money disappears once you’ve bought him.
Fourthly, somewhere between £2m-£4m is not a lot of money these days in terms of player prices. You’d struggle to get a decent quality midfielder for less than that, but if our scouting can then great, even better.
I felt like we were in a tricky situation with Hamer but we never explored the possibilities of buying someone that can fill a gap until we find the proper replacement. There’s absolutely no doubt we will struggle to break into the top 6 this season without someone in the midfield that’s not Eccles or Kelly, the fact we’re playing either of them week in week out is poor tbf.
BlueSkiesForever
Well-Known Member
100%, I like both of them but just doesn’t seem to work together, and I’m just not convinced Eccles has the ability to pick up the ball and either run with it or pick out a killer pass.
Atm we simply pass the ball around in a horseshoe shape and hope the opposition makes a defensive mistake. (Love the effort and work rate we put in but it just seems all in vain atm, could put in a lot less work if they had the confidence to take players on or look for decisive passes.)
The Philosopher
Well-Known Member
We’ve spent £10m or as near as makes no difference on wing backs and defenders.
Over £10m on strikers to develop.
£0 on central midfielders. We have a teenage loanee who we might develop but never own.
There is little doubt that MR wanted to bring in midfielders, so anyone saying we are ok in that department needs a reality pill.
Sheaf and Eccles and Kelly are not top level championship midfielders.
Our attacking midfielders cannot be relied upon fitness wise, the loanee and Tats are completely unknown quantities.
We needed a midfielder or two. We didn’t get one.
That means we still need one.
Fairly straightforward.
We either wait until Jan, hope for the best or sign a free agent.
Fairly straightforward.
Over £10m on strikers to develop.
£0 on central midfielders. We have a teenage loanee who we might develop but never own.
There is little doubt that MR wanted to bring in midfielders, so anyone saying we are ok in that department needs a reality pill.
Sheaf and Eccles and Kelly are not top level championship midfielders.
Our attacking midfielders cannot be relied upon fitness wise, the loanee and Tats are completely unknown quantities.
We needed a midfielder or two. We didn’t get one.
That means we still need one.
Fairly straightforward.
We either wait until Jan, hope for the best or sign a free agent.
Fairly straightforward.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
The one goal *we* scored from open play on Saturday came from midfield being bypassed and Watford being caught out of shape. Thought in general we threatened most when Wilson just hit it straight down the middle or when MVE had the ball played over the top and his pace would do the rest.
Julie SBA
Well-Known Member
I think Eccles always gives 100%, is he top end championship quality, no, is he bottom end championship, maybe?
The fact is Robins clearly rates him (4 year contract) and has shown repeatedly that he goes out of his way to fit Josh into his teams.
None of this is on Eccles, this for me is the blinkers that Robins has when it comes to certain players.
The reality is our midfield was stronger last season, Hamer has not been replaced and I don't feel the answer is currently at the club. Hamer was the heartbeat of the team and nobody is currently capable of stepping into the gap.
The fact is Robins clearly rates him (4 year contract) and has shown repeatedly that he goes out of his way to fit Josh into his teams.
None of this is on Eccles, this for me is the blinkers that Robins has when it comes to certain players.
The reality is our midfield was stronger last season, Hamer has not been replaced and I don't feel the answer is currently at the club. Hamer was the heartbeat of the team and nobody is currently capable of stepping into the gap.
Matt smith
Well-Known Member
What are you on about?
it’s like you can’t criticize the club for not replacing our best player on here.
it’s laughable
agree on the points made on Eccles and sheaf, too similar. I’m really unsure on what the 3 should be in midfield, maybe the box to give us more legs and defensive solidity.
JSL
Well-Known Member
Roberto Pereyra - Player profile 24/25
Roberto Pereyra, 33, from Argentina ➤ AEK Athens, since 2024 ➤ Central Midfield ➤ Market value: €1.80m ➤ * Jan 7, 1991 in San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
JSL
Well-Known Member
Xeka - Player profile 24/25
Xeka, 30, from Portugal ➤ Estoril Praia, since 2024 ➤ Central Midfield ➤ Market value: €3.00m ➤ * Nov 10, 1994 in Paredes, Portugal
Sky_Blue_Dreamer
Well-Known Member
Why the obsession with being able to do 90mins? There are these things called subs. If someone is a supersub that bangs in goals do you write them off because they don't do it for 90mins?
People's natural athleticism differs from person to person and no matter how hard they try their aerobic capacity etc will be limited. But if they have natural footballing ability bin them off because they get tired after 60mins? Would you prefer a player giving it everything for 60mins or coasting a bit so they can get through 90? Of course you couldn't have every player like that as there aren't enough subs, but 2 or 3 you could get away with. Wing backs especially it should be looked at as it's a very demanding position.
I'm not saying Palmer is some amazing superstar, but he does have technical ability and we should look to use it, and if we need to replace him after an hour so be it. Or use him as an option off the bench for 30.
slondonskyblue
Well-Known Member
Ccfcisparks
Well-Known Member
Eccles and Sheaf individually are good enough, if they play next to someone like Hamer. Problem is, and has been highlighted by others, is that they are extremely similar. This gives us a lot of depth in that particular role, but leaves us extremely limited on the creative side. I do wonder if given license to go forward Sheaf could be a lot better. He played really well against Middlesbrough getting forward.
Is this a joke?
edgy
Well-Known Member
Lati drops in there, now a new Kitching has been fitted.
All well and good to say that, but he hasn't played a single minute there for us. Why would we want half-arsed solutions.