Woodwardfan
Woodwardfan
- Banned
- #31
I take an interest in what Clough says - I believe the original intention of NC was to play Wallace and Basham in centre midfield together - Doyle would have missed out. Wallace not being fit has meant complete change of plan. Also Higdon was to be the main man up front - again, lack of early fitness couples with Chezzer sending off plus injury in training has put paid to what he wanted to do. Doyle has been very good (since Fulham at home) - quite a revelation really which has probably added to the dilemma. Basham was to hold, with Wallace going forward. Think we have all see how versatile Basham is and to sit in front of the back four takes a footballer with a brain - ie: Basham. As for McCarthy - this should have been Butler, but sadly this didn't work, hence Mccarthy. Clough wants stability at CH and you won't get that with 2 new boys in Basham AND Mcceverly - you NEED experience. Collins isn't the answer and Harry has gone - yet another dilemma for NC. Basham and mcceverly are ok against teams like Crewe - but Forte showed how easy it was against inexperience - ie: his goal on Saturday.
We need at least 1 experienced CH, and up until January it will be McCarthy in league games plus one other - probably mcceverly as he is left footed. Doyle and Basham may well now play together and possibly against Plymouth, Reid will come in and one has a rest.
When McCarthy goes back, we may try and sign permanently, trouble is - wages and his family down South. We will have to go into the market for an experienced CH - Clough will not trust Basham and mcceverly for the remained of the season. If he trusted them, they would have played together on Saturday.
So, where everyone is crying out for a striker (and rightly so), we will also need an experienced CH. We cannot "hope" Basham and Mcceverly are good enough - that would be mad.
As for Basham - he is our master utility player - every teams need one.
Who should we get? - go and offer Hull a kings ransom to loan Harry back!
UTB
I too listen to what Clough says but I sometimes disagree with him. Have United conceded a goal with Basham in the Back 4, maybe one?! How many games have we won with Basham in midfield? How many games has Basham played in midfield in his career. He has scored less than a handful of goals ever.
We have options in central defence at this level: Basham, McEveley, Collins (plenty good enough), McGahey ( the boy wonder not long ago), Kennedy ( who I rate highly) and Clough played Alcock there for the first two games. Did we really need McCarthy over a striker? We also still have Butler on our books. Listening carefully to Clough about Butler tells us nothing.
Do you really prefer the Wallace/ Basham partnership over the Wallace/ Doyle duo? Your opinion not Clough's?
You see a class act. I see a fish out of water in midfield, the more uncomfortable the further he moves upfield. He is honest but his technique is sorely lacking in tight situations and in his heading at goal.
I so hope you are right and I am wrong because our manager is obstinate and seems determined for Basham to succeed in midfield. Shame for Doyle, he was the man leading and supporting all areas of the team yesterday and also as I said "how much dirty work is there to do at this level", so its just not right to play both of them together, certainly in home games.