Morgan and Reid

[Blade58]

I'm not posting this as my own post, hence the link! E89 is a recognised ITK poster. I'm just spreading the word!

Personally, I believe E89 is a player. He's been around for a few years so is 1 of the old heads in the squad (probably Stephen Quinn at an educated guess)

I don't think it's a player imo. I'm more inclined to think it's a fan who may know a player.

As for it being Stephen Quinn.......................naaaaahhhh, there's no irish brogue in his writings!

 

[Robbie]

In modern football the top centre-backs are tall, powerful and athletic. The vast majority ate at least 6ft 2 and many, like Samba, Knight, Hangeland, Huth, Shawcross, Wood to name but a few, even bigger.

Noz is a comparative Pygmy. We are being left behind in so many areas.

Shawcross is only 6ft, but yeah I get your point.

Although, powerful and athletic? Morgan fits that bill.

Nosworthy is down as being 6ft, same as Jagielka, Gallas, Vermaelen, Upson, Carragher etc.

 

[Pinchy]

Trust your eyes Robbie! He's not! Morgan was down as 5-11 at Barnsley when we bought him. You only have to observe set pieces to realise that opposition 'big 'uns' tower above Morgan and Noz. Coventry had about 5 as big as Bartley, who is the only one we've 'got' of the right specification.

Our former semi-pro, non-league, reserve goalie often said he wanted much more height, power and athleticism in the team. It was one of his very few sensible observations. He did nothing about it, of course.

Look at Arsenal: the best footballers in the land but not short of power and pace. Chelsea are athletic giants.

P.S. If Shawcross is only 6 foot then Norgan and Noz are about 5-9 and I'm Ronnie Corbett!

 

[Revolution]

Our former semi-pro, non-league, reserve goalie often said he wanted much more height, power and athleticism in the team. It was one of his very few sensible observations. He did nothing about it, of course.

Of course. Quite the opposite - he wilfully created the smallest midfield trio in the Division by signing Britton and at the same time extending the contracts of both Montgomery and Quinn.

 

[Mousey]

Trust your eyes Robbie! He's not! Morgan was down as 5-11 at Barnsley when we bought him. You only have to observe set pieces to realise that opposition 'big 'uns' tower above Morgan and Noz. Coventry had about 5 as big as Bartley, who is the only one we've 'got' of the right specification.

Our former semi-pro, non-league, reserve goalie often said he wanted much more height, power and athleticism in the team. It was one of his very few sensible observations. He did nothing about it, of course.

Look at Arsenal: the best footballers in the land but not short of power and pace. Chelsea are athletic giants.

P.S. If Shawcross is only 6 foot then Norgan and Noz are about 5-9 and I'm Ronnie Corbett!

So you wouldn't pick Fabio Cannavaro because he's only 5'7"?

 

[Revolution]

So you wouldn't pick Fabio Cannavaro because he's only 5'7"?

Strawman alert.

I think the point is that if you have poor quality players it helps if a few of them are big, as a team of rubbish midgets will get stuffed on a regular basis.

 

[Mousey]

Strawman alert.

I think the point is that if you have poor quality players it helps if a few of them are big, as a team of rubbish midgets will get stuffed on a regular basis.

How is it a 'strawman alert'? Whatever the hell that is anyway.

Players can be good or bad and size isn't exactly a factor in it.

How tall was Jow Shaw? Deemed one of our best ever centre backs.

p.s. Is it so hard to use the 'Reply With Quote' button?

 

[Bergen Blade]

Shawcross is 6'3 according to most sources. Morgan is said to be 6'1, and having stood next to him on a photo I think that's about right, maybe a centimeter smaller. Jags is 5'11, though his timing and jumping is superb.

I also think lack of height has been a problem for us for years, and it sometimes limits the selection options that we have. When aiming to get the balance just right it's an important thing to consider.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

Shawcross is 6'3 according to most sources. Morgan is said to be 6'1, and having stood next to him on a photo I think that's about right, maybe a centimeter smaller. Jags is 5'11, though his timing and jumping is superb.

I also think lack of height has been a problem for us for years, and it sometimes limits the selection options that we have. When aiming to get the balance just right it's an important thing to consider.

Thats a massive over estimation. Shawcross has never been 6'3" not a chance! Morgan is about 6'0" having stood next to him. Jagielka is also about 6'0" - ive met him as well and as I'm about 5'11" myself they must both be over the 6'0" mark because they're taller than me.

If you're clever and athletic the height is no disadvantage. I played centre back for a number of years and did it well against bigger blokes. Height isnt everything, it just helps sometimes.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Thats a massive over estimation. Shawcross has never been 6'3" not a chance! Morgan is about 6'0" having stood next to him. Jagielka is also about 6'0" - ive met him as well and as I'm about 5'11" myself they must both be over the 6'0" mark because they're taller than me.

If you're clever and athletic the height is no disadvantage. I played centre back for a number of years and did it well against bigger blokes. Height isnt everything, it just helps sometimes.

Shawcross stood next to Adebayor (also 6'3) here, looks similarish?

 

[Highbury_Blade]

p.s. Is it so hard to use the 'Reply With Quote' button?

I got your netiquette right here buddy

 

[Oreyt]

Shawcross stood next to Adebayor (also 6'3) here, looks similarish?

Shawcross is stood on Nasri though.

 

[raul]

If he wasn't, presumably he'd be picking his team mates' nose instead of poking his eye out?

 

[Revolution]

How is it a 'strawman alert'? Whatever the hell that is anyway.

You create a strawman when you purport to reply to what someone has said, but in actuality put words in their mouth or twist the meaning.

Pinchy never said he'd not pick any smaller players, as you implied from your question. He said you need some power and pace in a team. Of course he'd pick Canavarro or Joe Shaw if they were available, but they aren't. We play in a very physical league and we have a physically weak side, and none of the smaller players are good enough to compensate for the general lack of height. What's so hard to understand about that?

p.s. Is it so hard to use the 'Reply With Quote' button?

Yes.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

Shawcross stood next to Adebayor (also 6'3) here, looks similarish?

They do there but Adebayor is leaning back which makes a significant difference. You would have to stand them straight and next to each other to have a better idea.

To be fair Bergen I cant confirm what height Shawcross is and he could be that tall for all I know. The times ive seen him though I really do doubt it. I know a lad who's about that tall and I would be amazed if Shawcross measured up to him.

 

[Mousey]

He was wearing stilettos though!

 

[Bergen Blade]

They do there but Adebayor is leaning back which makes a significant difference. You would have to stand them straight and next to each other to have a better idea.

To be fair Bergen I cant confirm what height Shawcross is and he could be that tall for all I know. The times ive seen him though I really do doubt it. I know a lad who's about that tall and I would be amazed if Shawcross measured up to him.

Stood next to a few more six footers here and towers above them...

 

[Zlatan]

Shawcross is easily 6'3! I don't understand why people are even arguing the fact.

 

[Grecian2000]

Am I the only one that's slightly worried about Bergs' extensive Shawcross picture collection?

PS. I'm guessing the ref hasn't just awarded Stoke a penalty in that last porno pic.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

Stood next to a few more six footers here and towers above them...

Fookin ell he's a brute! Fair play Bergen, I think you're right. Surprises me a lot as he looks deceptively average in size when ive seen him on telly. Then again I dont watch Stoke very often as I had enough of the ball disappearing off camera at Bramall Lane last season.

I'll bow down to your better judgment on this one

 

[Pinchy]

Actually it was my better judgement first, thank you very much!:hello:

SCB,

I don't doubt that timing and anticipation can make up for a lack of height. Like you seem to have, I played football at a decent level [with semi-pros, though I was not good enough for £20 in my boots myself]. I was decent in the air for someone of 5'9" but very rarely won a ball against the six-footers who were also decent in the air. You have to compare like with like.

Please don't think I value height, power and pace over talent. Far from it. But, as Bergen would say, you have to have a balance. Just looking at one of the pictures from his extensive 'Shawcross' collection, our whole team combined couldn't match the power and athleticism of the handful of Stoke powerhouses on display.

People put forward the likes of Lowton as a potential centre-back. Have another look at that photo and think again. As the song goes 'You're having a laugh!'

 

[raul]

Am I the only one that's slightly worried about Bergs' extensive Shawcross picture collection?

PS. I'm guessing the ref hasn't just awarded Stoke a penalty in that last porno pic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3YUlcyPXLo

 

[Pinchy]

If he wasn't, presumably he'd be picking his team mates' nose instead of poking his eye out?

And making said team-mate [Higginbottom?] cry like a baby!

---------- Post added at 01:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:53 PM ----------

Stood next to a few more six footers here and towers above them...

I hadn't previously realised that James Beattie has three arms, one of them black. Remarkable.

 

[SteelCity Blade]

Actually it was my better judgement first, thank you very much!:hello:

SCB,

I don't doubt that timing and anticipation can make up for a lack of height. Like you seem to have, I played football at a decent level [with semi-pros, though I was not good enough for £20 in my boots myself]. I was decent in the air for someone of 5'9" but very rarely won a ball against the six-footers who were also decent in the air. You have to compare like with like.

Please don't think I value height, power and pace over talent. Far from it. But, as Bergen would say, you have to have a balance. Just looking at one of the pictures from his extensive 'Shawcross' collection, our whole team combined couldn't match the power and athleticism of the handful of Stoke powerhouses on display.

People put forward the likes of Lowton as a potential centre-back. Have another look at that photo and think again. As the song goes 'You're having a laugh!'

Fair enough on the first point it was a good call.

My playing background is quite similar to yours I would imagine. I played most of the time as a centre mid but played centre back for a couple of years as my manager at the time reckoned I had decent pace and was good in the air. I have occasionally been used as an auxiliary centre half ever since.

I never found my height a problem against anyone. Being just shy of 6'0" doesnt make me really short I know, but I can recall getting the better of many bigger centre forwards on umpteen occasions. I remember one guy who must have been 6'3 - 6'4 (he had a good 4 inches on me at least) and I dominated him from start to finish. I cant remember losing one header to him.

Don't get me wrong, ive come up against some really athletic bigger guys who gave me a 50/50 battle and it was probably honours even.....but if you're smart and use your aggression wisely there is no reason for size to be an issue IMO. Look at Alan Shearer, he was never the biggest but usually out-muscled whoever he played against.

 

[Blade58]

Going back to the Reid injury rumour, someone else on BM posting that he has tweaked, his hamstring, but not too bad and maybe ok for Saturday.

Fingers crossed then!

 

[CopenhagenBlade]

Fookin ell he's a brute! Fair play Bergen, I think you're right. Surprises me a lot as he looks deceptively average in size when ive seen him on telly. Then again I dont watch Stoke very often as I had enough of the ball disappearing off camera at Bramall Lane last season.

I'll bow down to your better judgment on this one

I feel a bit of a hypocrite here as I would love to see the Blades play Barcelonaesque football but I actually quite enjoy watching Stoke, especially at home. Great atmosphere in the ground and loads of goalmouth action. They have a couple of lively wingers in Pennant and Etherington and give all the big boys a run for the money. Stoke have the long ball system and they are very good at playing it a bit like Bassett was and KB wasn't. Thinking about this it was probably because Harry didn't have any pretentions about being anything that he wasn't whereas KB wanted to be something that he wasn't and ended up being nothing.

 

[Grecian2000]

KB wanted to be something that he wasn't and ended up being nothing.

A quite excellent description.

Going back to Reids injury. I hope it is extremely trivial because, despite earlier comments on this thread that he's only here for a month and so we won't miss him, I think he could be very important for our season if he can play to the standards we know he is capable of in the next 4 weeks.
Morgan is a loss but has been poor, Reid has the potential to kick start the season.

Any more samples from your Shawcross portfolio Bergers?

 

[Pinchy]

I have. This chap is Sure Cross!

 

[IOM Blade]

Surely the official site wouldn't be daft enough to post quote form Britton this morning, saying how Reid's quality will help us over the next few weeks, if they know Reid won't be playing for a while............?

 

[Bergen Blade]

Any more samples from your Shawcross portfolio Bergers?

No, but it is probably relevant to this thread that I played against the guy to the left in the image below in my youth. He's 6'8, has scored 12 goals in the Norwegian Premiership this season and has played Champions League football against Real Madrid. I beat him in the air every time.