CONFIRMED Fleck-in.

[Pinchy]

If Wilder says that it implies his tactics are fairly basic. Which is fine by me.

I did point out though that Fleck had played as a deep lying midfielder and as an attacking midfielder so that indicates he has the ability to play as a traditional box to box midfielder.

The reference to Coutts was simply because you didn't apply the goal scoring criteria to your assessment of him as a midfielder so I'm struggling to see why you apply that criteria to another midfielder. If you think central midfielders should contribute to our goal tally, then surely you accept that Coutts isn't a suitable player for us?

Is there any 'if' about it? Of course a central midfielder should contribute goals, whether as creator or scorer or preferably both. It's not basic tactics to expect a midfielder to actually carry out that role. The fact that S2 let numpties like Montgomery do half a job for a decade is not my problem. He didn't get my permission or approval.

Of course basic is "fine" in S2. It's all most of you have ever known and hence you know no better. Your guru Diplodocus Dave is the Godfather of 'Basic'. The only pass he knows is up the Khyber, which is of course where his ugly primitive "football" belongs.

I'm not leading any crusade for Coutts. He hasn't done it consistently for us, but we have seen glimpses of class that few of our squad could match. I merely suggest that it might be worth persevering to see if he can come back fitter, hungrier and more committed. If not, let him go. But I won't shed a tear if Tufty gets rid of him tomorrow. It's not Coutts v Fleck.

I want two good strong athletic midfielders who can play pass and move football to the standard required to compete at the top of League One. I have no requirement at all that one of them be Paul Coutts so let's forget all that nonsense. What I don't want is a mediocre little Flecker who scores about once a season just because he's got a left foot and happened to be Coventry's least bad player one season.

The big Scottish fella is the one we should be after.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Fleck is small, but quite strong and can get stuck in. At this level he's a quality playmaker and he will get on the ball and try to make things happen. Wilder has spoken of players having to be mentally strong to play for us and I think Fleck fits that description, being willing to take responsibility.

We should probably play him alongside a mobile, big guy. Wilder will probably try Basham and see if they can form a good partnership.

 

[David Lee's first touch]

How about another 6 inches in height and a few goals? The idea that we can't ask for anything better than Cov's best player is a novel one.
I'm afraid I do ask for more than 5' 6", a left foot and a career average of one goal a season.

Couldn't ask for more? Silly Flecker.

Serious question pinchy fleck is a tidy midfielder good first touch, great vision, decent distribution and a great engine. Plays with both feet predominantly left agreed that adds balance, from a man that advocates a certain style of play why don't you think it will be a good signing. As for your obsession about hight why do our players need it to play on the deck.

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

Pinchy:
I fear youre heading for (further) gloom if we get "the big Scottish fella"
Goal return < Fleck
He's Australian
He is tall mind
Very similar to Basham in 'style'

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

Cov fans seem to rate him

 

[Grizzly blade]

Vey good footballer, as simple as that.

Best player on the park every time I've seen him. Lacking in goals, but cold be about the way he was used as much as anything.

Is he better than Coutts, Basham, Scougall, Reed, Whiteman, Woolford? Most certainly, so his addition is a huge increase in quality.


Though if we sign all the players mentioned, we won't need that scout til next season!

 

[Pinchy]

Serious question pinchy fleck is a tidy midfielder good first touch, great vision, decent distribution and a great engine. Plays with both feet predominantly left agreed that adds balance, from a man that advocates a certain style of play why don't you think it will be a good signing. As for your obsession about hight why do our players need it to play on the deck.

You have to compete. Do you not think we are outmuscled constantly? Big fellas can play as well. The Arsenal Invincibles were the finest footballers I have seen in English football for many years. There were also giants, not least the heart of the team Vieira and Petit. Both well over six feet and both physical. It's not one or the other. I have not seen the Fleck of whom you speak I'm afraid. If I do, I shall gladly change my view.

My views will never be conditioned by what other teams' fans think though. If I applied that to S2 I would become a devotee of ugly, outdated pub standard anti-football and that ain't happening any time soon...

 

[Darthblade]

Fleck is small, but quite strong and can get stuck in. At this level he's a quality playmaker and he will get on the ball and try to make things happen. Wilder has spoken of players having to be mentally strong to play for us and I think Fleck fits that description, being willing to take responsibility.

We should probably play him alongside a mobile, big guy. Wilder will probably try Basham and see if they can form a good partnership.

I would hope that we will be bringing in sufficient quality so that Basham is a squad player this season .......

Still need GK, 2 x CH, 2 x CM, CF and wide mid and if Adams & DCL go then we need an additional CF & wide midfield as well.

UTB & FTP

 

[Pinchy]

Vey good footballer, as simple as that.

Best player on the park every time I've seen him. Lacking in goals, but cold be about the way he was used as much as anything.

Is he better than Coutts, Basham, Scougall, Reed, Whiteman, Woolford? Most certainly, so his addition is a huge increase in quality.


Though if we sign all the players mentioned, we won't need that scout til next season!

He's been used badly for a very long time, then!

However, I hope you're right. I want a Blades team full of talented footballers but, despite popular misconception, I've always valued athleticism as well so long as it is allied to talent. My beef with S2 fans is they are blissfully ignorant of, or at best indifferent to, the vital importance of the latter. Hence the likes of Montgomery were applauded rather than run out of town at midnight, which is what would have happened at most clubs.

 

[Ldn_Rd_Blades]

 

[Pinchy]

I would hope that we will be bringing in sufficient quality so that Basham is a squad player this season .......

Still need GK, 2 x CH, 2 x CM, CF and wide mid and if Adams & DCL go then we need an additional CF & wide midfield as well.

UTB & FTP

I agree. We need to do better than Basham. A limited trier I'm afraid...

 

[Grizzly blade]

He's been used badly for a very long time, then!

However, I hope you're right. I want a Blades team full of talented footballers but, despite popular misconception, I've always valued athleticism as well so long as it is allied to talent. My beef with S2 fans is they are blissfully ignorant of, or at best indifferent to, the vital importance of the latter. Hence the likes of Montgomery were applauded rather than run out of town at midnight, which is what would have happened at most clubs.

Well I've seen this lad half dozen times and he certainly has talent and quality with the ball.
He has athleticism in that he is full of energy and effort for 90mins. Granted he's quite short at 5/6, but lack of height can mean a low COG and strength. I certainly aren't worried about his lack of height because he is strong instead, and totally different to Reed and Scougall for example.
So long as he is used in a way to suit his game and has some dominating centre halves behind him we won't need to worry about his lack of height.

Best midfield signing in my opinion since K Mac.

Don't forget the lad is also only 22. Was at Rangers in their side very young. (16) in a side that's doing well,mike we will hopefully, I reckon he might get half a dozen goals minimum.

 

[Ricky]

The Coventry fans seem to be universally disappointed. They all seem to rate him highly. That is extremely promising.

Coventry have been a passing team under Mowbray so the only thing that could be an obstacle to him having similar success here is style of play.

 

[Grizzly blade]

Well I for one am hoping we will be a passing team under Wilder!

I loathed the shite under Blackwell and Adkins especially.

 

[Pinchy]

The Coventry fans seem to be universally disappointed. They all seem to rate him highly. That is extremely promising.

Coventry have been a passing team under Mowbray so the only thing that could be an obstacle to him having similar success here is style of play.

You mean the style encouraged by the most unsophisticated fans in the land? Not looking good, is it?....

 

[Pinchy]

Well I've seen this lad half dozen times and he certainly has talent and quality with the ball.
He has athleticism in that he is full of energy and effort for 90mins. Granted he's quite short at 5/6, but lack of height can mean a low COG and strength. I certainly aren't worried about his lack of height because he is strong instead, and totally different to Reed and Scougall for example.
So long as he is used in a way to suit his game and has some dominating centre halves behind him we won't need to worry about his lack of height.

Best midfield signing in my opinion since K Mac.

Don't forget the lad is also only 22. Was at Rangers in their side very young. (16) in a side that's doing well,mike we will hopefully, I reckon he might get half a dozen goals minimum.

You make your point well, save that he's 25 next month. I doubt he's going to become Lampardesque at this stage.

 

[Roygbiv]

The Coventry fans seem to be universally disappointed..

not exactly........

http://www.skybluestalk.co.uk/threads/will-fleck-stay.65848/

Does sound very much like sour grapes though

 

[Grizzly blade]

You make your point well, save that he's 25 next month. I doubt he's going to become Lampardesque at this stage.

You are quite right....where did I get that from!!

Cancel that...it was an article on him I read. Said he was 22...but the article was 2 years ago

Must be my age.

 

[Booker4]

Fleck is small, but quite strong and can get stuck in. At this level he's a quality playmaker and he will get on the ball and try to make things happen. Wilder has spoken of players having to be mentally strong to play for us and I think Fleck fits that description, being willing to take responsibility.

We should probably play him alongside a mobile, big guy. Wilder will probably try Basham and see if they can form a good partnership.

I don't see Basham as the man to play alongside a play maker. Basham is slow, his work rate although good, isn't enough because of his physical limitations. I.E he hasn't the pace to get around as fast as some of the opposition players. Basham can tackle and he's got other good attributed but box to box he isn't and if Fleck is a bit like McDonald was, slow, and pedestrian which some Cov fans have said, but when on form he's quality, then I think we need someone with a decent engine alongside him. Either way i'm delighted that Fleck is coming! 3 years to late sadly for Wilson!

 

[Ricky]

Basham isn't slow, he's a good all round athlete at L1 level. Good stamina, mobile, agile. We could do with someone similar physically but with more goalscoring ability.

I'm a bit concerned though that if we do sign Fleck that'll be it for central midfielders. We need to sign two.

 

[Booker4]

Basham isn't slow, he's a good all round athlete at L1 level. Good stamina, mobile, agile. We could do with someone similar physically but with more goalscoring ability.

I'm a bit concerned though that if we do sign Fleck that'll be it for central midfielders. We need to sign two.

We'll have to disagree on Bash's speed mate, or more importantly his box to box ability. He definitely has stamina and he gives his all and has decent work rate, but that doesn't mean he can press as well as I would like to see because of his lack of mobility. When you look at some of the guys that ripped through our midfield last season, like Moncur, I don't see Basham the guy to track such players because he hasn't the pace or the mobility etc. Of course Basham wasn't the only centre mid and I think he had a decent season last season. Playing Hammond alongside him was never going to work. Nor would Coutts work with Basham for me. To get the best out of Basham I would say he needs to sit in midfield and with other players of greater pace and athleticism around him he can sit in the midfield and break things up. Personally I see his best position as a centre back, because of the my previous points, but he can read the game and is a decent header and tackler. Just my thoughts.

Don't think the budget will stretch to two centre mids. With Fleck likely to sign we have Coutts, Reed, Whiteman, Wallace, Scougall, Basham and even Kieran Wallace all centre mids. I think Coutts will go to Burton at some point.

 

[The_Green_Man]

If Fleck does sign I will be absolutely over the moon as it fills a void that has been left ever since Mcdonald left the club.

I've seen more than enough of fleck to see that he is a fantastic player. And whilst some of the negative amongst us rightly point out his lack of height, he makes up with this in all other departments.

First and foremost he is a box to box midfielder who is able to pick the ball up and instantly run the length of the pitch and create an attacking opportunity. He is very direct in his attacking style of play which is something we have lacked big time!

Secondly his work rate and physicality are second to none which really suits wilder's high pressure and high intensity style of play. He will chase the ball down in midfield and win possession for you. He will track back and get his foot in when needed.

His passing and vision are on par with that of Mcdonald. His pass completion rate is ridiculously high for a league one player and like his fellow Scotsmen he looks for that killer ball. He passes forwards or plays a ball down the wing or into the 18 yard box. Not sideways and backwards....Billy would love a player with this mindset behind him.

Finally he scores goals from midfield and this is what successful, promotion chasing teams need!. He is the type of player who will pick the ball up 25 yards out, take a touch and pull the trigger into the corner of the net. He has a lethal shot on him.

I will be absolutely delighted if Fleck comes to United.....The perfect signing, a well thought out signing.....a signing that actually improves the team and fills a void.

 

[Champagneblade]

Looks like we are on the verge of signing the player of the year, both fans and fellow players, from a team who finished above us.

Isn't this the sort of strategy we've all been in favour of?

 

[Revolution]

Don't think the budget will stretch to two centre mids. With Fleck likely to sign we have Coutts, Reed, Whiteman, Wallace, Scougall, Basham and even Kieran Wallace all centre mids. I think Coutts will go to Burton at some point.

I don't know anything about Fleck but the other lot scored a grand total of 3 league goals between them last season - all by Basham.

We are desperate for some sort of end product from centre midfield.

 

[Chali 2na]

...Secondly his work rate and physicality are second to none...

Finally he scores goals from midfield and this is what successful, promotion chasing teams need!. He is the type of player who will pick the ball up 25 yards out, take a touch and pull the trigger into the corner of the net. He has a lethal shot on him.

For the record, if he signs, I'll be fully behind him, but I take issue with these two points.

Firstly I don't think his work rate is second to none. In the games I've seen him he does get stuck in and chase, but not in the manner your implying: based on what I've seen he doesn't have the stamina for that.

Secondly, in regards to his goals from midfield: he's played over 200 career games, and has a grand total of 10 goals. This averages about 2 a season: hardly prolific.

 

[Balham]

not exactly........

http://www.skybluestalk.co.uk/threads/will-fleck-stay.65848/

Does sound very much like sour grapes though

Sounds like they've got a bit of a chip on their shoulders about us too: a lot of talk of a "sideways step". There can be no doubt that we are a bigger club than Coventry City - let's also not forget that they've not finished in the top 6 of any division since 1970!!

 

[Coily]

Sounds like they've got a bit of a chip on their shoulders about us too: a lot of talk of a "sideways step". There can be no doubt that we are a bigger club than Coventry City - let's also not forget that they've not finished in the top 6 of any division since 1970!!

That might well be true, but in the last 45 years they've probably spent 30 of them in the top flight. Us? Not so much sadly.

We should be a step up from Coventry, but right now we aren't. Off the field we dwarf them, but it's high time we had a team to get even close to matching us.

 

[Houso]

Asked a couple of even-handed posters on 365 for their thoughts and here's what they said...

Would be very annoyed if Fleck moves to another League One club, it seemed like he would only leave us for a Championship team.

But money talks and if he's not managed to find a Championship club then there's no doubt you'll be able to offer him a higher wage.

On his day he's as good a midfielder as anyone in the league and will run the game. Has the odd spell where he can't seem to complete a 5 yard pass but overall he's a very good player at this level and one we will miss.

Agree, when Fleck is on his game he's comfortably one of the best midfielders in this league technically. Fantastic range of passing and always good for a few long range efforts. Sometimes has a brain fart with a through ball to the opposition but was deservedly our player of the year (bar Stokes possibly).

I will be very pissed off if he goes to another L1 team.

 

[Grizzly blade]

For the record, if he signs, I'll be fully behind him, but I take issue with these two points.

Firstly I don't think his work rate is second to none. In the games I've seen him he does get stuck in and chase, but not in the manner your implying: based on what I've seen he doesn't have the stamina for that.

Secondly, in regards to his goals from midfield: he's played over 200 career games, and has a grand total of 10 goals. This averages about 2 a season: hardly prolific.

Fitness can improve thankfully, but the fact he's strong in the tackle and not afraid of a tackle either is something he has already.
Plus he has ability on the ball, so if fitness is the only real issue then that is something that can easily be improved and Wilder talks a lot about insisting his players are the fittest they can be, so this move may well be what Fleck is looking for to take his game up a level.

As for goals, I said before that he hasn't got enough. But he may also have been used in a system where he isn't getting into the box or leaving it to others. Again, with the ability he has, shooting and encouragement to shoot from 18-25 yards out can be improved upon.
Take Michael Brown for example.....hadn't got many but in one season everything he seemed to hit went in.

 

[Chali 2na]

Fitness can improve thankfully, but the fact he's strong in the tackle and not afraid of a tackle either is something he has already.
Plus he has ability on the ball, so if fitness is the only real issue then that is something that can easily be improved and Wilder talks a lot about insisting his players are the fittest they can be, so this move may well be what Fleck is looking for to take his game up a level.

As for goals, I said before that he hasn't got enough. But he may also have been used in a system where he isn't getting into the box or leaving it to others. Again, with the ability he has, shooting and encouragement to shoot from 18-25 yards out can be improved upon.
Take Michael Brown for example.....hadn't got many but in one season everything he seemed to hit went in.

I take both points, but as a counter:

Fitness can improve, but there's no guarantee. Player has to really want to train like an animal and plenty don't. Look at someone like Baxter a fat fuck despite having advice and training from nutritionists, sports scientists, fitness coaches etc.

And yes, goals could improve if he was played in a different role, but again no guarantee.

My point being, if we want a big athletic midfielder who can go forward and defend, why not go and buy one, than get someone else and mould them? Unless of course we haven't the budget for it.