Crainie

[Edinblade]

Does anyone else agree, we look a better team when Crainie plays. If everyone is fit I would move Bash into mid field and play Crainie, especially away from home.
The next 6 games are not about style or pretty football, they are 6 cup finals we’ll need to scrap every minute to win any of them, and we need to win them all.

 

[BanbridgeBlade]

If Joc is out it’s Egan, Bash & Cranie for me.

 

[ben1987]

I wouldn’t move Bash into midfield.

For me we are worse when we don’t have someone behind the front two. When Duffy plays well we play well. We create very little with the flat 3 in the middle as the gap between the midfield and strikers just gets too big and they get isolated up there.

Crainie has been excellent so far and there could be arguments that he should play ahead of Bash. He is better defensively and goes forward with a calm confidence. He doesn’t bring the team the same energy and run through walls mentality as Bash though.

It’s a tough one as they both deserve the same shirt.

 

[mattbianco1]

Under no circumstances should Basham be in midfield.

Yes he scored the goal at Leeds but we lost all fluidity in midfield. We were crying for Coutts that day as we really were getting overrun.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Everyone he’s played the lads been class , nice bit of business by Wilder & Mitchell as free transfers go

 

[blademark]

Has Cranie conceded a goal yet
I really like him by the way. He has surprising quality about him. Just shows how wrong I was when we signed him.

 

[Grappler]

As soon as Cranie was brought pitch side, my heart lifted, solid pro.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Sure, if you drop Bash as he can’t play in midfield. It’s either/or for me.

 

[ucandomagic]

Cranie also got us the win at the Hawthorns with an outstanding bit of skill.

When JOC is out we are far better with him on the field than with Dowell or Johnson pretending to be wing backs.

Magic signing

 

[JayGreen17]

Does anyone else agree, we look a better team when Crainie plays. If everyone is fit I would move Bash into mid field and play Crainie, especially away from home.
The next 6 games are not about style or pretty football, they are 6 cup finals we’ll need to scrap every minute to win any of them, and we need to win them all.

Bash in midfield.... are you kidding! Who do you Drop? Bash at this level in mid is a no go I’m afraid, for all his endeavours he’s not up to it.

 

[Antonb]

i agree, away from home cranie should play. We are more solid at the back

 

[Davalon]

We're lucky to have top pros like Cranie and Stearman in reserve

 

[orlandoblade]

The only thing i don't like about Crainie is his age ! If he was 24 or 25 what a player we could have to develop. Thing is then he likely wouldn't have been on a free.

Definitely worth a contract extensive for my money

 

[Ricky]

At least it looks like Wilder's learned that Cranie at LCB is far preferable to Johnson at LWB.

No idea why he couldn't have already known that and not wasted 3 points last week, but it could still be an important lesson for remaining games.

 

[Chali 2na]

Does anyone else agree, we look a better team when Crainie plays. If everyone is fit I would move Bash into mid field and play Crainie, especially away from home.
The next 6 games are not about style or pretty football, they are 6 cup finals we’ll need to scrap every minute to win any of them, and we need to win them all.

Who drops out of the midfield in place of Basham?

 

[EddieColquhoun]

Has Cranie conceded a goal yet
I really like him by the way. He has surprising quality about him. Just shows how wrong I was when we signed him.

We were 3-0 up at Villa when Crainie came on as sub.
The serial moaners on here were very critical of Wilder.
We then went 7 games without conceding until last week, when the same people were criticising Wilder, but this time for not bringing Crainie on.

 

[Fanny magnet]

We were 3-0 up at Villa when Crainie came on as sub.
The serial moaners on here were very critical of Wilder.
We then went 7 games without conceding until last week, when the same people were criticising Wilder, but this time for not bringing Crainie on.

Wasn't the criticism for taking madine off rather than replacing him with crainie?

 

[Inter_blade83]

Crainie > Basham

 

[spongebobblade]

Bash in midfield.... are you kidding! Who do you Drop? Bash at this level in mid is a no go I’m afraid, for all his endeavours he’s not up to it.

I wouldn’t say he’s not up to it. The Leeds game proved that but generally speaking we have better options and permutations for a midfield three

 

[Hamburg Blade]

Does anyone else agree, we look a better team when Crainie plays. If everyone is fit I would move Bash into mid field and play Crainie, especially away from home.
The next 6 games are not about style or pretty football, they are 6 cup finals we’ll need to scrap every minute to win any of them, and we need to win them all.

Whilst I agree that Crainie is a good solid player for us, I don't understand your last sentence. If the way to win matches is to "scrap every minute" and not to play with style or "pretty" football, then why haven't we been doing it all season? And if we're got to 2nd with "style and pretty football", why on earth would we stop doing that and change for the run in?
It's this fundamental belief that grit, fight, determination and lumping it into the box is the way to win football matches and neat, stylish passing football is some kind of luxurious entertainment that doesn't win matches which leaves me baffled. Surely Wilder has proved it isn't true.

 

[sheffielder]

At least it looks like Wilder's learned that Cranie at LCB is far preferable to Johnson at LWB.

No idea why he couldn't have already known that and not wasted 3 points last week, but it could still be an important lesson for remaining games.

Judging by the substitutes made yesterday, the lesson has already been learnt

 

[Trigger Blade]

Bash in midfield.... are you kidding! Who do you Drop? Bash at this level in mid is a no go I’m afraid, for all his endeavours he’s not up to it.

I agree with that, but it’s a real Bash conundrum. Yesterday, despite being a CB, he still did some really impressive surges through midfield (described by Deadbat as gallops, a perfect description). He doesn’t have pace but still causes havoc and gets up when he falls over and carries on.

At the opposite end of the scale, he attempted a two yard pass to Norwood and completely mishit it. If Norwood hadn’t been in touching distance, he’d have given it away.

For me, he’s the heartbeat of the team.

 

[Eddiecolquhounsleg]

Does anyone else agree, we look a better team when Crainie plays. If everyone is fit I would move Bash into mid field and play Crainie, especially away from home.
The next 6 games are not about style or pretty football, they are 6 cup finals we’ll need to scrap every minute to win any of them, and we need to win them all.

Although I agree with the sentiments should this post be moved to the 'Cliche Corner' thread?

 

[bromtom]

Crainie > Basham

Cranie > Crainie

 

[Pinchy]

I wouldn’t move Bash into midfield.

For me we are worse when we don’t have someone behind the front two. When Duffy plays well we play well. We create very little with the flat 3 in the middle as the gap between the midfield and strikers just gets too big and they get isolated up there.

Crainie has been excellent so far and there could be arguments that he should play ahead of Bash. He is better defensively and goes forward with a calm confidence. He doesn’t bring the team the same energy and run through walls mentality as Bash though.

It’s a tough one as they both deserve the same shirt.

I don’t think either Duffy or Fleck played well at Preston. Both gave the ball away too easily and too often. No shortage of effort or commitment but both can do better than that.

 

[Pinchy]

Does anyone else agree, we look a better team when Crainie plays. If everyone is fit I would move Bash into mid field and play Crainie, especially away from home.
The next 6 games are not about style or pretty football, they are 6 cup finals we’ll need to scrap every minute to win any of them, and we need to win them all.

We need to do all that, I agree, but the better and more stylish our football, the more likely we are to win. Let’s not forget what got us where we are.
️

 

[ben1987]

I don’t think either Duffy or Fleck played well at Preston. Both gave the ball away too easily and too often. No shortage of effort or commitment but both can do better than that.

I didn’t say they did. But over the last 3 seasons I think our best performances have come when Duffy has played behind the front 2 and had one of his good games.
Fleck has blown hot and cold this season but I’d still rather have him in midfield than Bash ply there.
Preston wasn’t our best most fluid performance full stop. It was a well earned, hard fought and professional 3 points.

 

[Akinbiyi]

We were 3-0 up at Villa when Crainie came on as sub.
The serial moaners on here were very critical of Wilder.
We then went 7 games without conceding until last week, when the same people were criticising Wilder, but this time for not bringing Crainie on.

They only slated the negativity of the sub at 3-0. Rightfully so. Invited pressure on.

 

[nopigfansintown]

It's not as simple a question as it first appears. It depends on the ftness of O'Connell; whether Dowell is capable of playing two games in a row at LWB (a much more physically demanding position than his usual role). Also, if Duffy has two games in a row in him so soon after injury: Dowell will be a consideration for the Duffy role if not. Theres also the factor of balance which Wilder seldom jettisons. Left footers on the left; right footers on the right.

 

[EddieColquhoun]

They only slated the negativity of the sub at 3-0. Rightfully so. Invited pressure on.

Cranie replaced Dowell at Villa and yesterday. The cry babies weren't moaning yesterday.