Fullbacks

[Boxer Blade]

Pretty poor I think today especially Freeman, Lafferty may prove to be a better player over the season that I see now but I have never been a big fan of Freeman, he just seems an ok wing back, come January I would definitely be wanting a replacement fir Freeman, strange really when you think not to long ago it was one of our strongest positions with beardy, any chance of him coming back? I doubt it, tbat ship has probably sailed but a quality wing back to help us win the league.

 

[Leonardo Green]

Brayford was playing pretty poorly before he left, not one of our strongest positions.

 

[Ricky]

We need to try and get more pace into the side and the wing back positions are the first places to look. We could do with a wide outlet, someone who's a threat running with the ball.

Given that we have Lafferty and Hussey for the left side I'd possibly be looking more at the right side for strengthening.

As for now, I think Freeman needs a rest. He shouldn't play in the cup games.

 

[sitwell]

Freeman who marked their best player (Colclough) out of the game so much so that he was subbed after about an hour ? How you can say Lafferty had a poor game ?

 

[Harry's Game]

Pretty poor I think today especially Freeman, Lafferty may prove to be a better player over the season that I see now but I have never been a big fan of Freeman, he just seems an ok wing back, come January I would definitely be wanting a replacement fir Freeman, strange really when you think not to long ago it was one of our strongest positions with beardy, any chance of him coming back? I doubt it, tbat ship has probably sailed but a quality wing back to help us win the league.

Although Lafferty looks more comfortabke as a wing back I don't think he was poor today. Freeman is demonstrably better than Brayford and again had a good game IMHO.

 

[Caseh]

I find it hard to criticise either of our fullbacks today.

 

[FatLadFromSheffield]

Cover/competition for Freeman is my biggest concern about the fullback positions, I don't see Brayford playing for us again. MK Dons rightback Baldock was one of their best players today, put in some dangerous balls and had a bit of skill about him. Wouldn't mind us keeping an eye on him.

 

[Ecco1889]

We're 11 unbeaten in league so they must be doing something right......

 

[zablade]

Pretty poor I think today especially Freeman, Lafferty may prove to be a better player over the season that I see now but I have never been a big fan of Freeman, he just seems an ok wing back, come January I would definitely be wanting a replacement fir Freeman, strange really when you think not to long ago it was one of our strongest positions with beardy, any chance of him coming back? I doubt it, tbat ship has probably sailed but a quality wing back to help us win the league.

What exactly did you think Freeman did wrong today?

 

[Ted Hemsleys chads]

Blades won, vermin lost, who gives a fuck if the full backs were poor today?

 

[GrayBlade]

I was impressed with Lafferety today, he's definitely getting better with games. He played the odd loose pass but a generally strong performance in my opinion.

I wouldn't mind their number 2 mind. So much pace and looked a real class act.

 

[GrayBlade]

What exactly did you think Freeman did wrong today?

He miss-hit a cross....disgraceful!

 

[Ricky]

Blades won, vermin lost, who gives a fuck if the full backs were poor today?

Personally I care more about our full back's performances than I do about Wednesday's result.

 

[Ted Hemsleys chads]

OK, thanks for that.

 

[Preecey]

MK Dons had a lot of pace out wide today, hence our switch to 4-4-1-1 / 4-4-2 in the first half. Considering the fact that we won 3 points, I'm not too fussed personally. They'll be good enough for most games this season playing 3-5-2. The main problem is that we haven't got enough wingers in case we need to play 4-4-2, leaving the full backs more exposed.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Just don't like 4-4-2 or what ever flavour it was - it doesn't suit our players.

When we switch to 4-4-2 we seem to struggle although thought Lafferty got forward well.

We got put of jail today - MK moved the ball well - we dug in and to answer the OP the fullbacks did ok - more workmanlike than some of the fluent stuff we have seen of late.

We wouldn't have won last season or the season before, or the one before that too - our "previous" managers would have built up MK to be more than they were.

We move on.............back to 3-5-2 next game please.

UTB

 

[Rodley]

Thought both did pretty well.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Freeman is a regular 7/10 player, every team needs them.

 

[SwissBlade]

Pretty poor I think today especially Freeman, Lafferty may prove to be a better player over the season that I see now but I have never been a big fan of Freeman, he just seems an ok wing back, come January I would definitely be wanting a replacement fir Freeman, strange really when you think not to long ago it was one of our strongest positions with beardy, any chance of him coming back? I doubt it, tbat ship has probably sailed but a quality wing back to help us win the league.

Freeman and Lafferty aren't fullbacks, they're wingbacks. Did they play fullback today?

 

[Wards]

I thought Lafferty was great at times today.

 

[Grizzly blade]

Lafferty showed a very good touch at times, and defended generally very well. His primary job let's remember.

Granted, he was less effective ups the pitch, and some,of his deliveries when having time were pretty poor. However he did get some good balls in too, its,not that he didn't get a good ball in all afternoon.

Freeman looks a little less confident. Doesn't look to beat his man as much, and agree he's much better when he knows he has a bit more cover behind him in 3-5-2. Agree he might need a rest.

 

[FattyFatterson]

I agree with the OP. I thought Lafferty was poor today. Didn't offer any quality going forward although that was down to the formation and he got caught at least a couple of times defensively in the 2nd half. I'm a Basham fan but thought he was poor today too.....having said that, 3 points in the bag with a couple of unimportant games coming up. Get some fringe players in and rest a few of the main stays for Chez.

 

[Blade58]

Whilst not having his best game today, especially going forward, thought Freeman put his head on the block today. Got crunched two or three times, but got up, shook himself down and got on with it

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Had to laugh at Wilder's post-match comments about their no.2 - effectively calling him a right wanker despite admitting that he's a very good player.

Personally, I thought Lafferty was very good today (as he is most games these days) & that Freeman was fine. But I sort of miss Freeman being as cavalier as he was when he first came back into the side - I just reckon Wilder & Knill have been working on his defensive limitations with him, trying to improve him as a defender first-&-foremost.

 

[shiposwaistline]

Freeman was outstanding a month back. He's the only one to play every full game recently and def deserves a rest.

 

[Deadbat]

Thought LAfferty was ok today but got skinned twice. Once he just let him run past him. Freeman was not great today. I think he has been ok this season but does have a tendency to switch off. Many of the goals we have conceded have come down his side (Wimbledon 2, Bradford 2, etc)

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

There's still scope for Brayford to return me thinks.

 

[Boxer Blade]

Read what I said Swiss, I said wing backs not full backs and as wing backs they are not goog enough

Freeman and Lafferty aren't fullbacks, they're wingbacks. Did they play fullback today?

 

[Bladey McBladeface]

I think the criticism is a bit harsh.

For me, Lafferty had a good game and has improved loads since the first few games (I don't think we've lost with him in the side).

Freeman wasn't quite at his best but he's been doing well - he would probably benefit from a rest in the cup though.

 

[SwissBlade]

Read what I said Swiss, I said wing backs not full backs and as wing backs they are not goog enough

Yeah I read what you wrote, you titled the thread 'fullbacks' and then stated that you never like freeman and laferty might be good enough, but both were poor yesterday.

Because of the title of the thread i stated that they were both wing backs. From your post i wasn't sure if:
a) you wanted to abandon the system playing with wing backs
b) you wanted to find new wingbacks
c) didn't understand the role of a wingback v fullback.
d) all three of the above
e) none of the above, you just don't like freeman

You didn't explain why you didn't like freeman nor what they did to warrant an immediate need to replace them. The system which has pretty much brought us to the 11th game undefeated won't always work perfectly, however suggesting that we need fullbacks instead of Lafferty and Freeman is a puzzling one because they aren't really defensive fullbacks, they're attacking wingbacks and they fit the system

Part of the 3-5-2 is that sometimes you will spend longer defending with more attack minded players, but the three centre halves and the deep midfielders should be dealing with most attacking threats.

From what i have seen of Lafferty (mostly on highlights and one game) and from what i've read on him, theres certainly no reason to complain. And as for Freeman, my only complaint previously under Adkins and Clough was that he wasn't a fullback, but i would've played him down the right or as a wingback, which is really his strength.

Again, 11 games unbeaten and whilst we're always going to be looking to improve in positions, i don't really see that by upsetting the system we're playing would be of benefit...