Which of our players would we miss the most if they were injured?

[coaxingstar71]

Yes, it's the boring international break and the news from Norwich is they have lost Timm Klose to injury, following other injuries to key players.

Who would we miss the most if they got injured? Until I went to the Blackburn cup game, I would have said Dean Henderson, but Moore had such a good game, I'm not so sure. We also have the unknown talents of Verrips too.

My view is that the players that we'd miss the most are JOC, Enda and Ollie Norwood.

JOC is still our only specialist left-sided CB, although Enda has played there, Kean Bryan has been unconvincing there and seems a little injury prone himself. I suppose we may have to resort to moving Egan, Basham, Jags or Stearman there to cover.

I think Osborn is supposed to be Enda's back up, however Enda has been absolutely class and I don't see Osborn as being anywhere near his level.

I don't think we have another player that can do what Ollie does, so if he got injured, I think it would alter the way we play. Hopefully not like the situation we had when Coutts was injured and we never really found anyone that could replicate what he did.

Anyone agree or have any differing views?

 

[sufc323]

Enda

 

[sitwell]

Ollie Norwood ,our best player and most under rated by some. We would struggle to replace him as have Brighton ,and Fulham. There is a reason he is captain ,and he rarely even misses cup games.

 

[MoSF94]

Agreed with your picks of JOC, Enda and Norwood, but I'd add Baldock - he's started the season really strongly, and I'm not too convinced Freeman will make the step up, though would be happy to be proven wrong!

 

[GrayBlade]

We’re really tempting the footballing gods with this thread.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Has to be Henderson, we've poor cover at this level.

Cover weak for centre backs but not as bad.

Loads of options upfield.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

We have a squad

 

[coaxingstar71]

We’re really tempting the footballing gods with this thread.

I thought of that and did hesitate before posting!

 

[guancheblade]

Has to be Henderson, we've poor cover at this level.

Cover weak for centre backs but not as bad.

Loads of options upfield.

Verrips comes very highly thought of. Let's wait and see.

 

[elgoog44]

I think one of the biggest problems with the way we play is finding players that could play that way right away, take for example if we lost Bash or JOC, then in January you start the hunt for a Right footed and left footed Centre back, now you say to them its OK you can bomb up the wing and don't worry about, the Centre back looks at CW...


"I can't go Bombing up front what about at the back?" "Don't worry the mids will cover for you"

not many if any CB's play like that and getting there head around how to play like that is going to be a challenge, when Bash or JOC don't play we seem to lose a good portion of our fluidity and play.

If you look at their heat maps for any of the last few seasons, the most noticeable things is that it is very rare they are in the natural Centre back position and this way as been learned over seasons and not something a newbie would be able to come in and replicate.

So with Injuries to either Bash, JOC or either wing backs or Norwood could really hurt us, the system works when all parties know what they are doing, I think we struggle when we use players that are not used to the system or how to play like CW and AK would like them to.

Our defensive cover would need a change to the system, as neither Stearman or Jags could play the marauding CB role, if you use Edna in place of JOC, you lose the threat down the left hand side as again Ben Osborn is new to the system, would he work better as the cover for JOC? again I would have to say not, his height and that it would be a square peg in a round hole would make me say it would not work well.

I am sure CW and AK have back up plans if players get injured or fatigued during the season, but the defence would be my first course for concern for any Injuries.

 

[Melbourne Blade]

I'd say baldock. Enda amazing but as op said Osborn apparent cover. Don't fancy k freeman tbh. Verrips or Moore for Hendo.

 

[AWetFlannel]

JOC without a doubt.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Ollie Norwood ,our best player and most under rated by some. We would struggle to replace him as have Brighton ,and Fulham. There is a reason he is captain ,and he rarely even misses cup games.

Agree, he’d be the one most difficult to replace and would have the biggest effect on how we operate.

It’s not that he’s this great all round midfield player and I still doubt he’d get in the midfield of other PL teams.
Remember he wasn’t a regular starter at either Brighton and Fulham.
During the Brighton promotion season Norwood started 16 games and was sub for 17 games.
During Fulham’s promotion season Norwood started 22 games (almost all them before Xmas) and was sub for 14 games (latter part of the season)

However we use his skills perfectly by giving him this “quarterback role”, so in our team he looks like a top quality midfielder.
Love his humble, respectful, mature team focused attitude too, no wonder he’s captain.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

I've been a big soccer fan all my life, but due to work, living abroad and the like, I've missed a few matches. I've been really annoyed I can't get tickets this season to Liverpool at home due these fascist points rules.
But the player I'd miss most if anything should ever happen to him would be Paul Coutts.

 

[I should coco]

But the player I'd miss most if anything should ever happen to him would be Paul Coutts.

We'd struggle without Woody and I don't thnk Ted Hemsley gets the credit he's due. Now the cricket season is nearly over, he should be back soon and really stiffen up that left hand side.

 

[coaxingstar71]

That Billy Gillespie is pivotal to the team and Tunny on the left..........

 

[8lade]

William Sharp, without him we never score.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

On current form I'd go with Enda .

He's been quite outstanding in the matches so far and long may that continue .

 

[Antonb]

Throw Egan in there as well .

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

I think one of the biggest problems with the way we play is finding players that could play that way right away, take for example if we lost Bash or JOC, then in January you start the hunt for a Right footed and left footed Centre back, now you say to them its OK you can bomb up the wing and don't worry about, the Centre back looks at CW...


"I can't go Bombing up front what about at the back?" "Don't worry the mids will cover for you"

not many if any CB's play like that and getting there head around how to play like that is going to be a challenge, when Bash or JOC don't play we seem to lose a good portion of our fluidity and play.

If you look at their heat maps for any of the last few seasons, the most noticeable things is that it is very rare they are in the natural Centre back position and this way as been learned over seasons and not something a newbie would be able to come in and replicate.

So with Injuries to either Bash, JOC or either wing backs or Norwood could really hurt us, the system works when all parties know what they are doing, I think we struggle when we use players that are not used to the system or how to play like CW and AK would like them to.

Our defensive cover would need a change to the system, as neither Stearman or Jags could play the marauding CB role, if you use Edna in place of JOC, you lose the threat down the left hand side as again Ben Osborn is new to the system, would he work better as the cover for JOC? again I would have to say not, his height and that it would be a square peg in a round hole would make me say it would not work well.

I am sure CW and AK have back up plans if players get injured or fatigued during the season, but the defence would be my first course for concern for any Injuries.

Cranie did a fab job in place of Basham last season.

 

[You Fill Up My Senses]

Got to be Egan. Stearman scares me to death and im not sure jags can cut it anymore over ninety minutes.

 

[TaipeiBlade]

Our centrebacks

Jags is old, Bryan is shit, Stearman is shit

Gotta sign one in Jan

 

[Dellas Cowboys]

Norwood

 

[DronnieBlade]

Egan for me.

UTB

 

[Adiroy]

Our 2 full backs.. dont think their replacements are anywhere near same level.

Also think we have missed Fleck, had to play a different way to compensate!

 

[BladeTillIDie]

You have to say any of the back 3. I think Freeman and Osborn could fill in ok at wing backs but the 3 cbs are a worry.

Basham/Jagielka
Egan/Stearman
JOC/Bryan

 

[Harry's Game]

Norwood

Although you will get those that will argue that black is white on this issue.

 

[Torrix1889]

Not that I want it to happen of course but I would be very interested to see what we would do if we were without Norwood for a period of games...as well as his attacking play defensively he often drops back whilst Bash & JOC maraud forwards and I am not sure we have anyone who could come in and do both. Besic is very defensive and from his time at Everton and Boro didn't seem to get forward that much and Ravel would be the opposite, although Wilder has said he can play a deep lying midfield role......would be an interesting one for sure!

 

[Swannyblade]

Not that I want it to happen of course but I would be very interested to see what we would do if we were without Norwood for a period of games...as well as his attacking play defensively he often drops back whilst Bash & JOC maraud forwards and I am not sure we have anyone who could come in and do both. Besic is very defensive and from his time at Everton and Boro didn't seem to get forward that much and Ravel would be the opposite, although Wilder has said he can play a deep lying midfield role......would be an interesting one for sure!

Agreed, Norwood for me. The upgrade from Lee Evans to Ollie made a huge difference at the start of last season and allowed us to switch from a flat midfield three to Norwood in the deep lying role.
Based on reputations alone, it would appear that Besic could cover the defensive duties of the role and Ravel may be able to step up as playmaker. However, whether either could perform both aspects to the same standard as Norwood, I'm very doubtful. He also always shows for the ball, even when not at his best and this is crucial to our style of play. Add to this, his awareness of when to drop back and assist Egan when JOC and Bash have wandered forwards.
You only need to look at the impact the loss of Coutts had to see how important that position is to us. Ollie is a much better player than Coutts.

 

[BushBlade]

Agreed, Norwood for me. The upgrade from Lee Evans to Ollie made a huge difference at the start of last season and allowed us to switch from a flat midfield three to Norwood in the deep lying role.
Based on reputations alone, it would appear that Besic could cover the defensive duties of the role and Ravel may be able to step up as playmaker. However, whether either could perform both aspects to the same standard as Norwood, I'm very doubtful. He also always shows for the ball, even when not at his best and this is crucial to our style of play. Add to this, his awareness of when to drop back and assist Egan when JOC and Bash have wandered forwards.
You only need to look at the impact the loss of Coutts had to see how important that position is to us. Ollie is a much better player than Coutts.

I’m not convinced he’s better than Coutts was pre injury. I think that if Coutts hadn’t broken his leg (assuming we didn’t go up first season) we’d have been just as good with him in the side as we were with Norwood.

It’s difficult to say who’s the most important now. We haven’t seen what Jags would be like in Egan’s role or if anyone else can do Norwood’s role, yet. I remember a similar thread last season and some, quite rightly, said we’d be in trouble if we lost JOC or Bash but as it turned out, we coped with both.

But if I had to make a choice, I’d still say Egan or Norwood. And if it has to be just one, Egan.