John Brayford

[1danewhitehouse]

With our central defence as poor as it is and Freeman being our star performer (certainly out of the back 5), when the bear returns, what are the odds of him being deployed as a centre half again?

I think it’d be a shame because for me he is the best right back in the division but if he was fit now and I had to name a team for Saturday, I would have to seriously consider playing him there to make the side as strong as possible.

Same goes for the likes of Adams and Done. I think both are best up front but given how poor Woolford has been and the fact we have Sharp, Sammon, McNulty, Higdon, Diego etc it seems likely that their game time will be on the wing.

It’s a shame our squad is so imbalanced. It clearly contains good players but the only way to get many of them into the team is to play square pegs in round holes. Presents quite a dilemma for Adkins.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

With our central defence as poor as it is and Freeman being our star performer (certainly out of the back 5), when the bear returns, what are the odds of him being deployed as a centre half again?

I think it’d be a shame because for me he is the best right back in the division but if he was fit now and I had to name a team for Saturday, I would have to seriously consider playing him there to make the side as strong as possible.

Same goes for the likes of Adams and Done. I think both are best up front but given how poor Woolford has been and the fact we have Sharp, Sammon, McNulty, Higdon, Diego etc it seems likely that their game time will be on the wing.

It’s a shame our squad is so imbalanced. It clearly contains good players but the only way to get many of them into the team is to play square pegs in round holes. Presents quite a dilemma for Adkins.

There are certainly dilemmas for Adkins and am sure if Brayford was currently available then the requirement would be to steady the ship, hopefully said ship will be on an even keel towards the promised land by the time The Beard to Be Feared is back. I think the criticism of Woolford is a little premature just yet, he's only had two games so far.

 

[Esablade]

RB for me.
He brings a lot more to team in terms of attacking quality...letting the oppo worry about the beard marauding down the wing will do far more to help our beleaguered centre back's than playing him there...

 

[Superblades]

RB for me. It's a shame Flynn is injured at the minute, he found his place in the team last year when we played him at RB & JCR in front of him.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

That season we had him on loan, he was a cut above the rest that this league had to offer. It's as simple as that DW. If you're going to spend a chunk on a top notch RB, play him at RB. I'd look at accomodating Freeman elsewhere. LB for the timebeing, whilst Harris is out? Right Mid even, possibly? He's certainly not reluctant to take on his man and have a pop at goal, that could work? Failing that, let the two fight it out for the shirt at RB, it can only benefit us!

 

[Foxy]

Wondered the same myself, we'll find out very shortly though

 

[Bladesman]

Wondered the same myself, we'll find out very shortly though

He going to be back playing soon?

 

[Foxy]

He going to be back playing soon?

Sooner rather than later yeah.

 

[Bladesman]

Sooner rather than later yeah.

Does he still have his beard?

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Do we have a back five? Collins has been doing fine. Edgar should fit in well. The Beard to be Feared will be marauding up and down the touchlines of Division 3.

UTMB

 

[James Boreman]

I'd put him at centre back, don't think he offers more than Freeman at RB. May as well squeeze two of our best players into the defence.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Think my wording was poor re Woolford HillMorton. I just meant if his poor start continues. I've not written him of at all yet and am hopeful he will improve.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Agree with the likes of Kozzy that he would be most effective at RB, I just wonder if we take the approach of "put your best players in their best positions" over "play your best players and position them as necessary".

 

[Barney]

He just isn't a centre back in my opinion. He's best running up and down the flanks, he does that brilliantly. Although I think we over-payed for him, he's one of our best players and the sooner he comes back the better.

Does anyone know roughly when he's expected to be back?

 

[bartman]

With our central defence as poor as it is and Freeman being our star performer (certainly out of the back 5), when the bear returns, what are the odds of him being deployed as a centre half again?

I think it’d be a shame because for me he is the best right back in the division but if he was fit now and I had to name a team for Saturday, I would have to seriously consider playing him there to make the side as strong as possible.

Same goes for the likes of Adams and Done. I think both are best up front but given how poor Woolford has been and the fact we have Sharp, Sammon, McNulty, Higdon, Diego etc it seems likely that their game time will be on the wing.

It’s a shame our squad is so imbalanced. It clearly contains good players but the only way to get many of them into the team is to play square pegs in round holes. Presents quite a dilemma for Adkins.

I think he is a better centre half than Collins and McEverley so until we get another centre half in I would play him there. Ideally thou, despite Freeman's form, JB should be right back

 

[Kenilworth]

When the bear returns

Bloody Hell!

Has he got more hairy since he's been our injured?

 

[Balham]

Brayford at right back with Freeman or Flynn right midfield for me; as either of those could fill in when the Beard overlaps: the Brayford/Freeman combinatino worked well against Coventry last season.

 

[Smirth]

Freeman needs to play as he's at a critical point in his career whereby if he doesn't get game time he will struggle to fulfill his potential.
At 23 he can no longer be considered a youngster really and needs first team football.

It's a tough one because since Brayford returned he's been underwhelming, even when played at RB. Freeman was better at RB than Brayford last season and has started better there this season. I would be tempted to play him at RM ahead of Brayford. I recall one game last season where that was the case and the two linked up really well IMO. Freeman has a better delivery than Brayford and is more of a goal scoring threat as he can strike the ball so well. Brayford is best for his directness when dribbling which frightens opposing players. The two could combine very well for us.

The alternative is to play Freeman at LB which I'm not that keen on because I think LB's need to be naturally left footed. You can get away with wingers playing on opposing wings because so often nowadays they are encouraged to cut in and shoot, but not full backs IMO.

 

[sheffielder]

Let's play him where he made a name for himself. He isn't a centre half, where as Basham on the other hand.

Pegs and holes etc;

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Just staggers me that we KEEP discussing square pegs in round holes - it is what you see in Graves Park, not in a professional football team.

UTB

 

[Fiery Blade]

There are certainly dilemmas for Adkins and am sure if Brayford was currently available then the requirement would be to steady the ship, hopefully said ship will be on an even keel towards the promised land by the time The Beard to Be Feared is back. I think the criticism of Woolford is a little premature just yet, he's only had two games so far.

You have far more faith than me Hillmorton Blade !
However once Brayford is fit he could play either Right Back or if our current situation continues Centre Back - He is better than the current incumbents in both positions !
As for Woolford I don't particular rate him and don't believe he will get much better ! He looked woeful in the match v Newcastle and apparently has fared little better in all his outings since then ! Normally there is some signs of a footballer - With Woolford I have not seen any to date!

 

[1danewhitehouse]

But fulwood, the reason for the question is that the round hole (centre half) is likely to be filled by either a good square peg or a poor/average round peg. The question is, which is the more acceptable?

 

[Fulwood Blade]

But fulwood, the reason for the question is that the round hole (centre half) is likely to be filled by either a good square peg or a poor/average round peg. The question is, which is the more acceptable?

We all saw the damage Brayford can do at RB.
I personally do not rate Freeman as a RB - he can't defend - great moving forward, but the pre-requisite is to defend and Brayford has played full back all the time. All footballers would play anywhere to get a game and Brayford filled in at CH as Clough had made such a pigs ear of the CH situation - one that Adkins has inherited and is attempting to change. Edgars arrival is hopefully the end for any square peg/round hole situation.

UTB

 

[Bladesman]

I'd put him at centre back, don't think he offers more than Freeman at RB. May as well squeeze two of our best players into the defence.

It's one reason we have such a problem with the back 4 playing players out of position.

Brayford is the best RB in the league.

 

[BushBlade]

It's one reason we have such a problem with the back 4 playing players out of position.

Brayford is the best RB in the league.

Agree. Unless Freeman has improved dramatically since last season I can't understand why anyone would say he's as good as Brayford.
If he learns to mark properly and challenge for headers with enough gusto to put his man off, even if he doesn't win the ball, then he may yet be as good. At the moment, I don't believe he is.

 

[itsinyerblood]

We all saw the damage Brayford can do at RB.
I personally do not rate Freeman as a RB - he can't defend - great moving forward, but the pre-requisite is to defend and Brayford has played full back all the time. All footballers would play anywhere to get a game and Brayford filled in at CH as Clough had made such a pigs ear of the CH situation - one that Adkins has inherited and is attempting to change. Edgars arrival is hopefully the end for any square peg/round hole situation.

UTB

Agree with most of your comments FB, but even Brayford had moments where his defensive capabilities weren't all they should have been. Yes, the guy is an exceptionally rounded player, his attacking attributes are first rate, and his positional play is as good as anyone's at this level. But until JB returns we'll have to settle for Freeman or whoever Adkins considers to be the right man for the job of right back.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Agree with most of your comments FB, but even Brayford had moments where his defensive capabilities weren't all they should have been. Yes, the guy is an exceptionally rounded player, his attacking attributes are first rate, and his positional play is as good as anyone's at this level. But until JB returns we'll have to settle for Freeman or whoever Adkins considers to be the right man for the job of right back.

yes agree with you too - but to add, Brayford appears to have a bit pf pace and whilst no one is as quick as Kyle Walker, pace can get you out of issues when a mistake is made.

As for Freeman - ok, accepted he likes to get forward - perhaps he should concentrate more on the defensive side. He has great technique as has been demonstrated - but our biggest issue at present is the defence. If we don't do some work on the training ground there will be more Gillinghams.

UTB

 

[HillmortonBlade]

You have far more faith than me Hillmorton Blade !

I doubt that is the case Fiery Blade, note my use of "hopefully"... After many years of following the Blades I live in hope, not expectation... I shall probably have to downgrade that level in time...

But I stand by my point that it is too early to decide upon Woolford just yet

 

[itsinyerblood]

yes agree with you too - but to add, Brayford appears to have a bit pf pace and whilst no one is as quick as Kyle Walker, pace can get you out of issues when a mistake is made.

UTB

Ah, now we're onto the nuanced essentials - yes, pace is a must in any team wishing to go onto bigger and better things. Same applies to guile, a quality in short supply, but if you have a player(s) with guile you have that edge that can turn a game in an instant.

I don't think Brayford appears to have pace, I think he possesses this, and he knows how to make it work to the team's advantage. We all know what he brings to the team, a player like JB needs equally decent players around him, that's the only way we'll create a team that will compete at a higher level.

 

[Pedro Verde]

Why would you play your best RB at CB
I know it was done last season because Kennedy got injured
Freeman can play LB or wide right if he has to play
I really dont know why we are discussing this as Brayford is months away from playing
in the first team by then we may have a solid settled CB partnership