Brian Howard

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crucialkneeligaman

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Just signed for Eastleigh. Another lad who joined with a justified big reputation (think Britton), who as soon as they arrived suffered the curse of the red & white shirt. Perhaps with the right man at the helm we could have built our team around these lads. Shame.
 



crucialkneeligaman said:
Just signed for Eastleigh. Another lad who joined with a justified big reputation (think Britton), who as soon as they arrived suffered the curse of the red & white shirt. Perhaps with the right man at the helm we could have built our team around these lads. Shame.
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I don't think we've actually tried to build a team around anybody since Warnock was here
 
He had a purple patch, making a name off a goal against Liverpool and a decent run of form.

He was fantastic at hiding and marking himself out of games, while people made excuses that we "hoofed over his head".

Two things I'll remember fondly, his goal at Reading and The One 's hatred of him :D
 
He was another of those who have flattered to deceive. Neat and tidy on the ball with a decent pass on him - but only if the ball was played to him in space. Never busted a gut to challenge or receive a ball, often went missing (notably in the play off final) and ultimately a waste of money. Did we make the most of him? Probably not at the time but when you look where he has gone since, he has hardly set teams alight.
 
Tripped in the area at Wembley but Dean did his usual job on United.
 
Ahh, Fordy. Only bothered when we were on TV, and one of the many occupants of the Bobby Ford/Jamie Hoyland midfield black hole, currently occupied by Scoogs.
 
Not sure I'd say Britton suffered the curse of the shirt so much as the curse of the manager. He never hid but clearly had no chance under Blackwell and Adams. Both those managers had zero interest in a small, deep-lying, ball-retaining midfielder. Blackwell went on record saying he'd use him in a more advanced role but what made him think that would work god only knows...

As for Howard, Foxy summed him up. Slow, uncommitted and unwilling to get involved. He preferred spectating.
 
Foxy said:
He had a purple patch, making a name off a goal against Liverpool and a decent run of form.

He was fantastic at hiding and marking himself out of games, while people made excuses that we "hoofed over his head".

Two things I'll remember fondly, his goal at Reading and The One 's hatred of him :D
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Your right Foxy, seems like his better days were at Barnsley. I remember being chuffed when we signed him but overall disappointed with his performances for us.
 
crucialkneeligaman said:
overall disappointed with his performances for us.
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I know it's only Jan5 but as understatements go that could easily have sealed the award for 2015 right there.

For "disappointed" could I possibly suggest "head explodingly furious with the lethargic twat"?

Anyone know the whereabouts of Ashley Ward just to take my mind off it?
 



He was often seen cutting off the player with the balls option by hiding behind an opponent and then looking at his team mate with a "Why didn't you pass it" look.
 
JohnDenver said:
Not sure I'd say Britton suffered the curse of the shirt so much as the curse of the manager. He never hid but clearly had no chance under Blackwell and Adams. Both those managers had zero interest in a small, deep-lying, ball-retaining midfielder. Blackwell went on record saying he'd use him in a more advanced role but what made him think that would work god only knows...

As for Howard, Foxy summed him up. Slow, uncommitted and unwilling to get involved. He preferred spectating.
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Blackwell only managed him for 2 games so not sure he can shoulder much responsibility.
 
CarlingBlade said:
Blackwell only managed him for 2 games so not sure he can shoulder much responsibility.
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Fair point. I just wonder what on earth Blackwell had in mind when he bought him. Nothing in his previous managerial career suggested it was a good fit.
 
I remember him scoring against Reading and doing this daft 'invisible man' thing as a celebration, waving his hand in front of his face.
 
JohnDenver said:
Not sure I'd say Britton suffered the curse of the shirt so much as the curse of the manager. He never hid but clearly had no chance under Blackwell and Adams. Both those managers had zero interest in a small, deep-lying, ball-retaining midfielder. Blackwell went on record saying he'd use him in a more advanced role but what made him think that would work god only knows...

As for Howard, Foxy summed him up. Slow, uncommitted and unwilling to get involved. He preferred spectating.
Click to expand...

Britton picks up loose balls and passes it short, often sideways and backwards to teammates, who then starts going forward. With us he played thirty yards further up, picked up loose balls and then passed it backwards to Nick Montgomery.
 
Bergen Blade said:
Britton picks up loose balls and passes it short, often sideways and backwards to teammates, who then starts going forward. With us he played thirty yards further up, picked up loose balls and then passed it backwards to Nick Montgomery.
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Indeed. At his most useful he picks up the ball in front of the back four, often in tight situations, and moves it on to players in space. It allows passing moves to build and other players to receive the ball in positions where they can play to their own strengths.

Stuart McCall used to do a similar job for us, and I hoped Britton would do the same. Unfortunately he wasn't used correctly. I think he's a superb footballer wasted and then discarded by inferior SUFC managers.
 
He was really good at pointing to other people to pass the ball too when we were in possession, and finding the largest opposition player to hide behind.

He's one person I would happily allow on here should he ever Google his own name for a full and frank discussion.
 



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