Basham Defence or Midfield?

[Woodwardfan]

ermm.I don't think so - Basham and CD in the same sentence - I don't think so...anyway, Alco's taught me well

Now if we had a really sensible OP about "who do we fancy in the JTW at CD" or "If we could sign just ONE player in the JTW, then where would it be" would be more interesting than going over old ground of Basham at the back.

I totally accept your point last season that Basham at the back was reasonable considering we didn't have anyone else suitable. Clough created his own downfall with those decisions.

But Basham now? - daft idea and to change a winning formula - madness.....even if it is boring and sleep inducing.

UTB

It's not just your view, it;s all these "F.F.S's" and "words fail me". Debate and opinions are good news, not all these histrionics. the O.P. is a valid O.P.

 

[Woodwardfan]

It's not just your view, it;s all these "F.F.S's" and "words fail me". Debate and opinions are good news, not all these histrionics. the O.P. is a valid O.P.

I should explain my concerns a little more. I think it is important that members volunteer O.P's. It's the lifeblood of debate.

In the past week you lamblasted a new member and accused him of being a "troll" and the like, for what I thought was a fair O.P. In this thread you had a go, almost hysterically, at this O.P.

It's not good.

As one who offers debating topics by O.P. from time to time, I am sensitive to the value of them.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

It's not just your view, it;s all these "F.F.S's" and "words fail me". Debate and opinions are good news, not all these histrionics. the O.P. is a valid O.P.

Agreed. It was a perfectly reasonable OP.

 

[Hartley Hare]

It seems to me that we have recently set-up with a very defensively minded mid-field. No creativity at all.

The supply to Sharp, Done and Sammon as a result has been very limited. Coutts and Woolford are not pacey/tricksey type wingers. We miss Murphy or his like badly.

The boring midfield has shored up the defence. If I thought we could carry on with boring 1-0 wins I would take it for now, just to get back into contention. We need to be in the top 4/5 by mid Feb to stake a realistic claim for promotion.

If we can get Burn in at centre half to partner Edgar with Brayford and Harris we have the makings of a defence you would think would do well in L1.

We need to replace Murphy and also find an attacking, strong midfielder to play with either Hammond, Coutts or Basham.

1 x Burn / new centre half.
1 x Murphy replacement.
1 x Premiership loan attacking/creative midfielder?

Sell/move on Alcock, Scougall, Woolford, Salmon, Higdon, and if I could remember some of our other bit part players I would ship them out as well.

We also need a settled side once JTW is over. New players have to hit the ground running which has not happened for a long-time with recent signings.

HH

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Collins, McEveley and Kieran Wallace are the three who are naturally left sided in the squad.

Naturally left-sided Neill Collins surely isn't. He's simply the most comfortable of our right-footed central defenders as the left of the two.

 

[Balham]

Naturally left-sided Neill Collins surely isn't. He's simply the most comfortable of our right-footed central defenders as the left of the two.

I'm not saying that he's left footed, more that he's mute comfortable on the left. It's an odd one admittedly but he played in the left of Maguire too.

I think we'd both agree that he's not left footed. I don't think he's particularly right footed either though...

 

[Hartley Hare]

I think we'd both agree that he's not left footed. I don't think he's particularly right footed either though...

If I understand correctly, your basically saying he can't kick the ball with either foot?

Interesting conclusion, worthy of further consideration.

HH

 

[Woodwardfan]

If I understand correctly, your basically saying he can't kick the ball with either foot?

Interesting conclusion, worthy of further consideration.

HH

He can kick it fairly well with boot feet, not very well though. However he wins headers for fun and scores goals ( 12 in 166 games for us). He is also an experienced defender, not a playmaker ( too often judged on his passing)!!

 

[Hartley Hare]

Experienced defenders are not usually associated with so many gaffs.

HH

 

[1danewhitehouse]

The problem is, as noted above, neither Edgar nor Basham can play as the left sided centre half. It sounds ridiculous but it's true: defenders prefer one side. Collins, McEveley and Kieran Wallace are the three who are naturally left sided in the squad; Basham, Edgar and Kennedy are naturally right sided.

Shopping list for January item 1: a dominant left sided centre half.

Collins is a right sided centre half who has done a job as a left sided centre half for around 5 years now. Something people fail to take into account when mullering him for his crapness.

 

[Bladesman]

I would say he is better in defence.

Although ideally only as cover as id prefer us to sign another first team centre back.