Chris Basham

[Bergen Blade]

First of all, let's agree on his position. I don't know why people are comparing him to MIchael Doyle. He's taken over Connor Coady's role in a 4-5-1 formation that has one central midfielder, Reed yesterday, sitting deeper than the other two. The other two are Basham and Scougall, to the right and left of Reed.



Basham and Scougall are being urged to go forward and beyond Higdon up front. Both are supposed to make off the ball runs into the box. Scougall with his good pace and ball control is encouraged to run on the ball, while Basham is first and foremost supposed to get into the box to use his physique and height to get on the end of crosses and any dropping ball.

Basham did get into the box loads of times, especially first half, and also got back defensively. In terms of miles covered and work rate, he did what I expected from him, although Bristol City having three centre halves made it difficult to actually get on to balls in the box.

On the ball he was rather poor. His touch is not the best, you can see the difference between him and the likes of Reed and Scougall whose first touch is excellent and allows them to just pass it on with their second touch. Basham looks more clumsy and often needs an extra touch. This lead to him losing possession a few times, and it's why people have, quite rightly, given him poor ratings, it wasn't his game.

We need to keep assessing if he is right for Coady's role. I think he will get a few goals, but it remains to be seen if his ability on the ball is good enough for such an attacking position.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Basham looks fine to me. I thought Scougall struggle to get into the game yesterday and although Reed is a talented lad, he has no physical presence at all. Basham had a lot to do defensively as a result so didn't have much opportunity to impress. He did ok for me though.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Basham looks fine to me. I thought Scougall struggle to get into the game yesterday and although Reed is a talented lad, he has no physical presence at all. Basham had a lot to do defensively as a result so didn't have much opportunity to impress. He did ok for me though.

If you look at the highlights, and look for Basham, you'll see that he's made it into the box for all our shown chances. I think this is why he's given such an attacking role, Clough wants him to be in the box when our crosses are coming in.

 

[Foxy]

If you look at the highlights, and look for Basham, you'll see that he's made it into the box for all our shown chances. I think this is why he's given such an attacking role, Clough wants him to be in the box when our crosses are coming in.

And why at 20/1 he was a decent shout

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

If you look at the highlights, and look for Basham, you'll see that he's made it into the box for all our shown chances. I think this is why he's given such an attacking role, Clough wants him to be in the box when our crosses are coming in.

It makes sense given his height and that he doesn't seem shy to have a shot. I'm happy if he's being utilised that way but it supports my preference to have Doyle playing in midfield with him, sitting deeper.

If Basham is going to play higher up the pitch we need better defensive cover than Scougall and Reed.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

I think before the emergence of reed, basham was earmarked for the Doyle role and Wallace for the coady (more box to box) role.

 

[Darthblade]

The thing I like about Michael Doyle (apart from my lovely avatar ), is that even when he doesn't play, he draws comment from some and gets talked about generally.
In DarthBlade's case I've no doubt he features on the back of his shithouse door, complete with dart holes in his face

You couldn't be further from the truth. I think he's a great guy, nice chap, does loads of stuff off the field for the Club etc. But he's totally ineffective ON the field and has been for over 12 months, despite the slight improvement from March to May he was still the weak link ON the pitch.

I'm simply being practical really ....... he won't be offered a new contract, will probably leave in January if a second division Club offer him a 2 year deal so we should be moving forward. We have multiple options in midfield, none of which will be improved by recalling Doyle.
UTB & FTP

 

[Darthblade]

It makes sense given his height and that he doesn't seem shy to have a shot. I'm happy if he's being utilised that way but it supports my preference to have Doyle playing in midfield with him, sitting deeper.

If Basham is going to play higher up the pitch we need better defensive cover than Scougall and Reed.

Agreed here ...... we cannot afford the luxury od more than 1 of Reed / Scougal / Baxter in the side at the same time, we need better defensive cover in the midfield but Doyle is not that man. He cannot keep up with play to make the tackles etc.
UTB & FTP

 

[OllyBlade]

First of all, let's agree on his position. I don't know why people are comparing him to MIchael Doyle. He's taken over Connor Coady's role in a 4-5-1 formation that has one central midfielder, Reed yesterday, sitting deeper than the other two. The other two are Basham and Scougall, to the right and left of Reed.

View attachment 9126

Basham and Scougall are being urged to go forward and beyond Higdon up front. Both are supposed to make off the ball runs into the box. Scougall with his good pace and ball control is encouraged to run on the ball, while Basham is first and foremost supposed to get into the box to use his physique and height to get on the end of crosses and any dropping ball.

Basham did get into the box loads of times, especially first half, and also got back defensively. In terms of miles covered and work rate, he did what I expected from him, although Bristol City having three centre halves made it difficult to actually get on to balls in the box.

On the ball he was rather poor. His touch is not the best, you can see the difference between him and the likes of Reed and Scougall whose first touch is excellent and allows them to just pass it on with their second touch. Basham looks more clumsy and often needs an extra touch. This lead to him losing possession a few times, and it's why people have, quite rightly, given him poor ratings, it wasn't his game.

We need to keep assessing if he is right for Coady's role. I think he will get a few goals, but it remains to be seen if his ability on the ball is good enough for such an attacking position.

Maybe we should have held fire on signing him and then we could have actually had Coady in the Coady role

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

we need better defensive cover in the midfield but Doyle is not that man. He cannot keep up with play to make the tackles

I think he's fine in that role and I don't think we have anyone better. I was quite critical of Doyle in the past but I really thought he stepped up in the last few months of last season and led the side well. Doesn't deserve to be left out just yet imo.

 

[Bergen Blade]

It makes sense given his height and that he doesn't seem shy to have a shot. I'm happy if he's being utilised that way but it supports my preference to have Doyle playing in midfield with him, sitting deeper.

If Basham is going to play higher up the pitch we need better defensive cover than Scougall and Reed.

I heard Clough blamed Scougall for the second goal. I think Reed was impressive overall and should be a star, but why was he so high up the pitch when they hit that long diagonal ball? Normally he, the holding midfielder, should be positioned just in front of the centre halves, which would have enabled him to put a challenge in on Elliott (red circle).

 

[O Fletch]

I was watching basham, his role to me seemed to be and instruction to stick to luke freeman like glue. So much so basham barely touched the ball

 

[LSF]

You couldn't be further from the truth. I think he's a great guy, nice chap, does loads of stuff off the field for the Club etc. But he's totally ineffective ON the field and has been for over 12 months, despite the slight improvement from March to May he was still the weak link ON the pitch.

I'm simply being practical really ....... he won't be offered a new contract, will probably leave in January if a second division Club offer him a 2 year deal so we should be moving forward. We have multiple options in midfield, none of which will be improved by recalling Doyle.
UTB & FTP

I understand its nothing personal with Doyle but as much as I respect your right to opinion, I always think you are overly harsh on his abilities. If he was that shite, he'd have been Meadowhall Sunday league ten years ago.

 

[wizadry]

Why isn't Basham playing the defensive part of the trio and push reed up the pitch,its a no brainer to me,then when or if Wallace comes back,him and Basham can share the defensive duties.

For me,Cloughy's tactics on saturday were baffling to say the least,i thought he got the midfield 3 wrong,the defence wrong,and should have took Higdon off after 55 mins, apart from that, everything else was fine

Another thing that baffles me is when some of our fans stick up for the likes of Doyle and Porter who certainly have limited ability,yet we have a player,in Basham,who on his debut has a bad day at the office(not the only one mind)gets slaughtered straight away,it really begs belief.

 

[super_pig]

Another thing that baffles me is when some of our fans stick up for the likes of Doyle and Porter who certainly have limited ability,yet we have a player,in Basham,who on his debut has a bad day at the office(not the only one mind)gets slaughtered straight away,it really begs belief.

heh. me an'all.. limited ability players have a tendency to become cult figures at our club.. not mentioning any names.. it is like people feel sorry for them .. bless 'em.

 

[Bladesway]

Why isn't Basham playing the defensive part of the trio and push reed up the pitch,its a no brainer to me,then when or if Wallace comes back,him and Basham can share the defensive duties.

For me,Cloughy's tactics on saturday were baffling to say the least,i thought he got the midfield 3 wrong,the defence wrong,and should have took Higdon off after 55 mins, apart from that, everything else was fine

Another thing that baffles me is when some of our fans stick up for the likes of Doyle and Porter who certainly have limited ability,yet we have a player,in Basham,who on his debut has a bad day at the office(not the only one mind)gets slaughtered straight away,it really begs belief.

Because the first 2 you mention weren't on the pitch so some fans have to sling shit at someone. How could they leave the match without having picked out this seasons rubbing rag?

 

[stannyblade]

Why isn't Basham playing the defensive part of the trio and push reed up the pitch,its a no brainer to me,then when or if Wallace comes back,him and Basham can share the defensive duties.

For me,Cloughy's tactics on saturday were baffling to say the least,i thought he got the midfield 3 wrong,the defence wrong,and should have took Higdon off after 55 mins, apart from that, everything else was fine

Another thing that baffles me is when some of our fans stick up for the likes of Doyle and Porter who certainly have limited ability,yet we have a player,in Basham,who on his debut has a bad day at the office(not the only one mind)gets slaughtered straight away,it really begs belief.

Why is Basham playing at all? He is shit

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

I think before the emergence of reed, basham was earmarked for the Doyle role and Wallace for the coady (more box to box) role.

Yep, Basham was more defensive at Blackpool and that's what I think most expected, just shows what we know

He adds height in the middle which we have been lacking for years and early signs are that he can do the box to box role so as you say, Reed throws a spanner in the works IF Wallace ever gets fit. Basham will also be wary of Reed and his lack of experience so will doubtless be 'looking after' him at times rather than maybe just concentrating on his own job.

 

[FMBlade1]

I imagine he will become the scapegoat. I myself was slagging him off a lot yesterday.

Not at all singling anyone out, but WOW how things have changed!

No one could have predicted this

He is of course now our longest serving player, and an instrumental one at that.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Basham must think he’s living the dream.

A player who, at best was average league 1 standard playing in a mid table league 1 team
3 years later, he’s one of the better players in the Championship playing in a team deservedly Premier League bound.
Seems impossible but Chris Wilder has this rare ability to make the impossible seem possible.

 

[Bladesman]

Seems like a pointless signing at this moment in time.

I would still rather see Wallace and Doyle before him in midfield.

I forgot to mention that instead of him being in midfield he should play as a centre back.

 

[Stevo]

What happens to him now, not sure when his contract is up, surely worth having him for the next 2 years at least, he's earned a crack at the big time, and without wanting to wind the clock on and be negative, if we are only in the prem for 1 season, which I genuinely belive we won't be, he would be an asset again(if fitness levels are kept as they are)

 

[Stevo]

BTW my player of the season is between him and Stevens

 

[diode_blade]

lets not have a player of the season, just a team of the season...

 

[Davalon]

Bash will always be a Blades legend to me.

Different kind of player but in years to come he'll probably be an Ian Bryson type in terms of what he achieved for us without the external plaudits.

 

[Niceguyeddie]

Can never understand why people make him out to be some kind of Nick Montgomery type who is only in the team for his work rate, he's a good footballer and plays a key role at right centre back he defends well and attacks well ,id's good on the ball has pace and reads the game well

Think he is the only player in our side to have played in the premierleague as well so he has experience too

 

[BladeInIreland]

Can never understand why people make him out to be some kind of Nick Montgomery type who is only in the team for his work rate, he's a good footballer and plays a key role at right centre back he defends well and attacks well ,id's good on the ball has pace and reads the game well

Think he is the only player in our side to have played in the premierleague as well so he has experience too

To be fair his game has come on a lot, he hasn’t always been as good as he is now. He was the stand out weak link but has really improved on the ball. Great coaching from the management team and a testament to Bashams character that he made that spot his own.

 

[FMBlade1]

Judge after 10 games not after one.

Absolutely.

Where we were.... where we are now...

 

[FMBlade1]

WHAT

THE

ACTUAL

****

?

 

[TJB.]

WHAT

THE

ACTUAL

****

?

Just pointed it out on Twitter.

There was a moment in the first half where Bash matched Aubameyang for pace. He chased him down proper. I'd love to see a clip of it again.

I can't imagine how hard it is to find that extra gear to keep up with the best in the world as an athlete. But he did it.

Legend. Nothing more, nothing less.