EEL

[seanbeenstattoo]

So we are looking to buy a bloke who may or may not be ok in one position but if we do we would have to buy two more to cover.
Mmmmmm.

 

[Ranmoorblade]

I hope we don't buy him as he's not first choice for me, maybe another loan?

 

[Blade for Sale]

Brayford isn't a centre-back. I don't care where he played for soon to be relegated Burton. He isn't big enough or strong enough.

Does he read the game well enough though? I would say yes at Championship level. Cannavaro, Puyol and Danny Blind proved you don't need to be a giant, and while he isn't at anything like their level, we are talking 2nd tier football, for a side who would be fairly content with consolidation next season.

 

[Tyler Durden]

He's served his purpose, aim higher.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

I hope we don't buy him as he's not first choice for me, maybe another loan?

To be fair - this is an excellent point.

EEL is an unknown quantity at centre back in the league above - but we know he didn't end the season in our starting 11.

If we want "back up" - We wouldn't be any worse off taking a young premier league player on loan and seeing how they develops - i'm sure there are plenty available and there would be a good upside if they came in and excelled.

 

[chapelblade]

Not good enough for the team but a good room mate for Clarke.

 

[Pinchy]

Of course they're not. Interesting that 2 managers don't really want him around though. Obviously we get things right quite frequently,especially over the last 12 months. I just don't think EEL is what we need,it's an opinion based on seeing him frequently and on the clear understanding the quality of player he will be up against next season will be better week in week out.
I would,as always be very happy to be proved wrong,but that dosen't lessen the right to express an opinion based soley on what I've seen first hand and entirely free of any agenda.

No. I've never had you down as an agenda type. As I say it wasn't aimed at you. In fact, to my eternal shame, I hadn't taken in (that's a polite euphemism for 'read') what you wrote at all until you replied...

 

[wizadry]

He was alright until he started having an affair with Sunjihi s' missus.

 

[mattbianco1]

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

No. I've never had you down as an agenda type. As I say it wasn't aimed at you. In fact, to my eternal shame, I hadn't taken in (that's a polite euphemism for 'read') what you wrote at all until you replied...

A wise man once said it is easier for an EEL to pass through a camels arse than it is to acknowledge one is less than omnipotent.
Your post above does you great credit to match your passion for proper football.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Would I rather have an on form Brayford......yes.
Can we do better than Landell.......Definately.
But who?.............J.

WHO is not our problem - it's Paul Mitchell's initially.

All we can do is comment on a player we have all seen.

Even before his new contract in January, it was seen by many that he was nothing more than average at L1 level. Granted, half decent in the air, poor on the ground even when given plenty of time.

As you wrote - we CAN do better...........over to Mr Mitchell.............

UITB

 

[Chali 2na]

I would hope that we could sign a young, but experienced centre half, with excellent physicality and fantastic character. This may not be realistic. (Especially as there is an apparent shortage of centre halves in the English game)

For me Ebanks-Landell wouldn't be the worst option. He certainly ticks boxes for his age and physical attributes, if he can be coached to concentrate more and perhaps become a little better on the ball, then we would have some player on our hands.

Based on fuck all, I would have thought signing him for anything under £500k would be a low risk investment.

 

[8lade]

Think Wolves shot themselves in the foot regards this, trying to get a fee for a player who may or may not be good enough for this league; no fee, short (2 years) contract, moderate wages -worth a pop. Anything else, 'we were just browsing'.

 

[COME BACK CHED]

It was that song that did him around Crimbo , not his new 4 year fancy contract .

 

[BushBlade]

Think Wolves shot themselves in the foot regards this, trying to get a fee for a player who may or may not be good enough for this league; no fee, short (2 years) contract, moderate wages -worth a pop. Anything else, 'we were just browsing'.

Wolves have shot themselves in the feet so often I doubt they've got any toes left.

 

[Pinchy]

A wise man once said it is easier for an EEL to pass through a camels arse than it is to acknowledge one is less than omnipotent.
Your post above does you great credit to match your passion for proper football.

Thank you mate. That's very kind.

 

[Pinchy]

I would hope that we could sign a young, but experienced centre half, with excellent physicality and fantastic character. This may not be realistic. (Especially as there is an apparent shortage of centre halves in the English game)

For me Ebanks-Landell wouldn't be the worst option. He certainly ticks boxes for his age and physical attributes, if he can be coached to concentrate more and perhaps become a little better on the ball, then we would have some player on our hands.

Based on fuck all, I would have thought signing him for anything under £500k would be a low risk investment.

I agree. If we are/were after one CH only, EEL wouldn't be my choice. However, I'm as sure as I can be that Tufty wants two.

One to compete with Bash for the right-side berth and the kingpin middle man. I'm sure EEL would be man A. I think we might see a sizeable outlay on man B.

I hope so anyway. In my view, it's the most vital position to strengthen and we need a good big 'un. No, not you Bray, take a seat.

 

[Chali 2na]

I agree. If we are/were after one CH only, EEL wouldn't be my choice. However, I'm as sure as I can be that Tufty wants two.

One to compete with Bash for the right-side berth and the kingpin middle man. I'm sure EEL would be man A. I think we might see a sizeable outlay on man B.

I hope so anyway. In my view, it's the most vital position to strengthen and we need a good big 'un. No, not you Bray, take a seat.

I think you're right, the fact were most likely in for 2 centre halves means there's no need to panic, as he could be filling the void previously occupied by Wilson.

 

[sufcboy95]

Disagree with the point about him not being good enough for team last season. In the first half of the season, he was arguably one of our stand out players. The only reason he wasn't in team towards end was because he got injured and we was winning every week, not cause he wasn't good enough

 

[EddieColquhoun]

Regarded as a legend, then had a dip in form after which Wilder praised him for playing through injury.
Seems to love United and a big part of the fantastic team spirit.
Still young for a centre-back. If Wilder and Knill can improve him could be one hell of a good player.

 

[BigBed]

WHO is not our problem - it's Paul Mitchell's initially.

All we can do is comment on a player we have all seen.

Even before his new contract in January, it was seen by many that he was nothing more than average at L1 level. Granted, half decent in the air, poor on the ground even when given plenty of time.

As you wrote - we CAN do better...........over to Mr Mitchell.............

UITB

And your point is!?
I believe I pointed these exact facts, minus the Paul Mitchell bit, In my post!???

 

[Tom Traubert]

shown with his early form he can be ok,but may come good again with better players around him.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

When he came in early last season he was the right man in the right place at the right time for us made an immediate impact .Since Maguire left and after some more than questionable performances by our men between the sticks we always struggled with a side with a big target man or set piece team. EEL came in and aswell as his defensive attributes contributed a lot at the other end to yes me fell out of the starting 11 in last 3 months of season but I think some of the critism is a little harsh .
Do I think he could still do a job in the championship.. yes in a back 3 like last season depending who his partners are and if we are gonna add another one to compete in there .
I think the same can be said for Basham ,even though he's more the sweeper than the ball winner , he looks the part in 3 CH line up , but more than a few times in last 3 years when he's played CH in a back 4 he didn't look the same player and got caught out positionally on more than few occasions , in his defence that may have been covering others .
I think Wilder will continue with 352 & see how we fair against sides that are gonna be a bit more tactically astute , if we ended up going 442 to make us a bit more compact then I think we'd def need a better quality CH than what we have at the minute if we want to compete with the better sides .

 

[Cerberus Blade]

He's got age on his side. He could yet develop into a top defender at this level

And George Long will come good too eh?

Those that have had a chance to impress and leave us with doubt are not the way forward.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

When he came in early last season he was the right man in the right place at the right time for us made an immediate impact .Since Maguire left and after some more than questionable performances by our men between the sticks we always struggled with a side with a big target man or set piece team. EEL came in and aswell as his defensive attributes contributed a lot at the other end to yes me fell out of the starting 11 in last 3 months of season but I think some of the critism is a little harsh .
Do I think he could still do a job in the championship.. yes in a back 3 like last season depending who his partners are and if we are gonna add another one to compete in there .
I think the same can be said for Basham ,even though he's more the sweeper than the ball winner , he looks the part in 3 CH line up , but more than a few times in last 3 years when he's played CH in a back 4 he didn't look the same player and got caught out positionally on more than few occasions , in his defence that may have been covering others .
I think Wilder will continue with 352 & see how we fair against sides that are gonna be a bit more tactically astute , if we ended up going 442 to make us a bit more compact then I think we'd def need a better quality CH than what we have at the minute if we want to compete with the better sides .

Sorry mate but "in his defence..." nothing really. He was woeful in his positioning and slow to react. Look back at some of the goals we conceded. There's no one else to blame for his own errors.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Hit and miss at L1 level = poor at championship level IMO.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Sorry mate but "in his defence..." nothing really. He was woeful in his positioning and slow to react. Look back at some of the goals we conceded. There's no one else to blame for his own errors.

i
I'd tend to agree with you CB on that score , he has a tendency to drift positionally I think sometimes he slips into midfield mode, great when you want somebody showing for the ball when playing from the back , but first and foremost a defenders job is to defend . I'm not gonna crucify though mate when in previous seasons he's had Long & Howard behind him and McEverley ,Edgar & Collins as partners plus and other makeshift ones . With 2 other CH in there with you it covers a lot of the space that a front 2 will look for for but as I said in flat back 4 totally different ball game , you need to be equally adept to both attacking the ball & sweeping behind if it's the other CH going to win it & I don't think either him or EEL have both qualities in that formation .

 

[loyalblade95]

if wilder is confident in his abilities then sign him don't forget up until Christmas he was playing at RCB where he looked very comfortable and dominant in the air but after Christmas he was playing in the middle of the back 3 instead of wright where he didn't look as comfortable yes he made mistakes but so did o'connell and basham and even wright did sometimes but i don't see people on here criticizing them (not saying you should do it btw) this lad did a job for us this season he lost his place in the team through injury and never got it back because basham was in brilliant form so he wasn't gonna get back in the team after that he deserves a chance to prove himself at a higher level for us

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

Sorry 95,I'm not stalking you but on what possible grounds does EEL deserve diddly squat with us. Wolves clearly agree with me.

 

[I should coco]

Hit and miss at L1 level = poor at championship level IMO.

Bruce, you may well be right but he is still youngish and may well step up and surprise people.

He wouldn't be my first choice either but some people are writing him off before they've even given him a chance to step up. I know we aren't a player experience charity, but please bear in mind quite a few of our players may not hit the ground running.

Take Coutts for example. I have no fears he will look comfortable in the Championship given time, but he hasn't played there since late 2014 and even he may look a bit rusty to start.