Basham - What position should he play next season?

[Sothall_Blade]

Central Defence - Pair him with a good strong partner and he has all the attributes to be one of the best central defenders in this league. Tall, good in the air, decent pace, comfortable on the ball and able to bring it out of defence and open up the play. But would we get more out him in central midfield?

Central Midfield - He had some excellent games in central midfield towards the end of last season, providing the strength and height we were otherwise lacking. However, he doesn't look like a natural goalscorer and if we were to sign other big, strong central midfielders who could also provide regular goals, would he better utilised in central defence?

Utility Player - There is no doubt that he can fulfil both roles to a good standard in this division. Should he continue to be utilised in which ever position he's needed most in a particular match. Or would it be better all round for him to tie down one position and only play the other in an emergency?

 

[davidpinder]

He's a central midfielder play him there simple as that.

 

[Kian_barlow00]

He always played well at centre mid. I have never rated him at centre back!

 

[itsinyerblood]

Let's see how Wallace performs before consigning Basham to a specific role. I also fall into the trap of forgetting about Cuvelier, silly really as I think he could have an impact as a midfielder. We definitely need one, ideally two, decent center halves, the sort of no-nonsense, uncompromising defenders we've desperately missed. It's pointless looking to blood a youngster in this position, we need battle hardened defenders who'll take no prisoners.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Central Defence - Pair him with a good strong partner and he has all the attributes to be one of the best central defenders in this league. Tall, good in the air, decent pace, comfortable on the ball and able to bring it out of defence and open up the play. But would we get more out him in central midfield?

Central Midfield - He had some excellent games in central midfield towards the end of last season, providing the strength and height we were otherwise lacking. However, he doesn't look like a natural goalscorer and if we were to sign other big, strong central midfielders who could also provide regular goals, would he better utilised in central defence?

Utility Player - There is no doubt that he can fulfil both roles to a good standard in this division. Should he continue to be utilised in which ever position he's needed most in a particular match. Or would it be better all round for him to tie down one position and only play the other in an emergency?

If he needs to play CH then Adkins can fuck off and we'll get another one in who knows what he's doing.

 

[BushBlade]

Centre mid, in a three as the holding midfielder or as one of the two in a 4231.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

We definitely need one, ideally two, decent center halves, the sort of no-nonsense, uncompromising defenders we've desperately missed. It's pointless looking to blood a youngster in this position, we need battle hardened defenders who'll take no prisoners.

Agree with this, especially if we are going to play attacking full-backs (one of the few things we were quite good at, on and off, last year).

If he needs to play CH then Adkins can fuck off and we'll get another one in who knows what he's doing.

Also agree with this

All that said, he had a run of games last season where he was a popular choice for MOM at centre half, several weeks running. His heading is poor for a CH, and he never really looks as physically robust as you might want, but his "positional" is usually excellent, and there were times last year when his bringing-the-ball-forward / distribution looked positively Rio Ferdinandesque. It would have been interesting to see him play with a Harry M who had another year under his belt (a year of football, that is, not a year of splinters in his arse and tickets to Blades away games).

 

[DronnieBlade]

Dependent on recruitment, and his ability to play both roles, he might just find his arse warming the bench quite a bit next term.

UTB

 

[Barney]

CM every day of the week.

Dependent on recruitment, and his ability to play both roles, he might just find his arse warming the bench quite a bit next term.

UTB

Really?

 

[pommpey]

Centre mid

Buy some fucking decent centre backs you cunts.

pommpey

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

Centre mid, in a three as the holding midfielder or as one of the two in a 4231.

I'm sure we've done this previously, but you really think we need 2 in front of the defence in league one?
What I saw last season was that most teams sit back against us and are cautious not to over commit.

No problems with him having a deeper role, but not one of a two holding.

 

[Slug]

Central Midfield - He had some excellent games in central midfield towards the end of last season, providing the strength and height we were otherwise lacking. However, he doesn't look like a natural goalscorer and if we were to sign other big, strong central midfielders who could also provide regular goals, would he better utilised in central defence?

I think if they worked on his finishing during pre season then he could get plenty of goals from midfield. Last season he got in to some great positions but lacked the composure to finish them off but he seemed to have the knack of getting in to the positions to have a goal scoring chance more or less every game. Working on finishing is much easier than trying to teach someone how to be in the right positions to score.

 

[BushBlade]

I'm sure we've done this previously, but you really think we need 2 in front of the defence in league one?
What I saw last season was that most teams sit back against us and are cautious not to over commit.

No problems with him having a deeper role, but not one of a two holding.

You don't have a holding two. It's high line, high press and the two have to cover a lot of ground.

The defence is almost on the half way line and all the players in front of them press and close down, starting with the strikers, so you've got two 'waves' of pressing, the basic idea being the strikers force the defenders to hit hurried passes into the midfield, making it easier for the second 'wave' to dispossess or force the midfield to knock it backwards or sideways.

Like any system that is essentially a five man midfield, it's about movement, and like any system, the positions are for when you don't have the ball.

 

[Lane Ender]

He always played well at centre mid. I have never rated him at centre back!

He might do better at CH if he had a decent player at the side of him and not such as the walking disaster Mceverly

 

[Ginger Gnome]

Although he's a good centre back, we should bring in a couple of players that specialise in playing there, so he's strictly back up for that position. In midfield it depends on the formation we use, the first half of the first leg v Swindon showed how good he can be in a midfield 3, but in the second leg he was worse than Coutts and always looks a bit lost and hopeless in a midfield 2.

So if we're playing 4-3-3/4-5-1/3-5-2, he should be one of the 3 centre mids. If we're playing 4-4-2, he shouldn't be on the pitch (barring injuries/suspensions at centre back)

 

[blader]

Basham is an excellent utility player and just what a squad needs. He can fill in 2/3 positions when we're short, but wouldn't use him as a first choice in any position.

I think some fall into the trap of comparing Basham to the rest of our squad, rather than the teams at the top. He is short at both CB and CM compares to those at The top 4 last season, and therefore we should be aiming to recruit better players than Basham at both CB and CM. great utility player and Mr.reliavle but isn't good enough in a title winning side in either positive for me.

 

[BushBlade]

He might do better at CH if he had a decent player at the side of him and not such as the walking disaster Mceverly

Shouldn't have to though. It shouldn't be beyond us to sign some proper central defenders.

Unless we have an injury crisis I don't want to see either of those two in central defence.

If we're going to play our way out of the league (and I hope we are), we're going to have to commit men forwards and leave the defence exposed at times. You need centre halfs who can deal with being one on one, on occasion; who can make the right decisions under pressure. And ones who eat up aerial balls, either hoofs down the middle or crosses.

That's the solid base we need to play attractive football.

 

[Flatulent_Bob]

You don't have a holding two. It's high line, high press and the two have to cover a lot of ground.

The defence is almost on the half way line and all the players in front of them press and close down, starting with the strikers, so you've got two 'waves' of pressing, the basic idea being the strikers force the defenders to hit hurried passes into the midfield, making it easier for the second 'wave' to dispossess or force the midfield to knock it backwards or sideways.

Like any system that is essentially a five man midfield, it's about movement, and like any system, the positions are for when you don't have the ball.

Thanks for the reply, we'd need more bloody pace in our back four to play anywhere near the halfway line

 

[DronnieBlade]

Basham is an excellent utility player and just what a squad needs. He can fill in 2/3 positions when we're short, but wouldn't use him as a first choice in any position.

I think some fall into the trap of comparing Basham to the rest of our squad, rather than the teams at the top. He is short at both CB and CM compares to those at The top 4 last season, and therefore we should be aiming to recruit better players than Basham at both CB and CM. great utility player and Mr.reliavle but isn't good enough in a title winning side in either positive for me.

This.

UTB

 

[BushBlade]

Thanks for the reply, we'd need more bloody pace in our back four to play anywhere near the halfway line

Oh definitely Bob but afaic, we haven't got a back four. That gives NA his own clean slate to build a new defence to suit how he wants to play.

I suspect with the players we've got he'll probably go for one holding midfielder, one link and one attacking midfielder and allow the full backs to push on, because they're better going forwards than defending. Have Bash sat in front of two new CH's.

 

[Lane Ender]

Shouldn't have to though. It shouldn't be beyond us to sign some proper central defenders.

Unless we have an injury crisis I don't want to see either of those two in central defence.

If we're going to play our way out of the league (and I hope we are), we're going to have to commit men forwards and leave the defence exposed at times. You need centre halfs who can deal with being one on one, on occasion; who can make the right decisions under pressure. And ones who eat up aerial balls, either hoofs down the middle or crosses.

That's the solid base we need to play attractive football.

I totally agree with you Basham is a midfielder end of but he can be used if need be.
Dont want to go down last seasons CH situation it cost us promotion and Clough his job

 

[jt64]

Centre mid, in a three as the holding midfielder or as one of the two in a 4231.

Pretty much this, obviously reliant on getting new centre backs in but think that's just a matter of time

 

[Dec]

I think some fall into the trap of thinking we can sign a whole new 11. Basham is easily good enough to be part of a promotion winning team and is our most complete midfielder. Only thing he really lacks is that finishing touch for when he finds himself in a scoring position.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I'm one of the three above who voted "central defence".

I'm gobsmacked at the result of the poll.I don't see a midfielder in there at all but a really competent central defender at this level and probably at a higher level.

Midfielder? Not good enough positionally, I think he'd need a disciplined player alongside him. Average touch on the ball, slow reactions in the final third and "slow feet" in tight situations. Snatches at chances both headers and shots. On the plus side he has an immense "engine" and is game as they come, tackles hard but sometimes without control and will get sent off a few times, uses his height to good effect in midfield and has "presence".

Of course I must be wrong in the face of such a poll result and I'm interested to watch him there next season with an open mind. Trouble is I don't think the new manager will see a midfielder in there either.

 

[pommpey]

Basham is an excellent utility player and just what a squad needs. He can fill in 2/3 positions when we're short, but wouldn't use him as a first choice in any position.

I think some fall into the trap of comparing Basham to the rest of our squad, rather than the teams at the top. He is short at both CB and CM compares to those at The top 4 last season, and therefore we should be aiming to recruit better players than Basham at both CB and CM. great utility player and Mr.reliavle but isn't good enough in a title winning side in either positive for me.

True, but if there's any in our squad who 'deserves a second chance', it is Basham. I think he does has capability and if played in centre mid with a far better player than Doyle and with more experience and capability than Reed or Wallace then we could see the playmaker we need in him, along with a bit of robustness in the tackle. Our definite stayers are indeed Basham, Murphy, Brayford and Done with the possibles as Flynn, Reed, Harris, Freeman and possibly Howard (if we are struggling). Anything outside of that 'spine' is disposable and that leaves massive gaps where we need reinforcing and upgrading.

pommpey

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Centre mid. Thread closed.

 

[Stretch]

Bash as the holding CM alongside a fit James Wallace would be one of the best mid fields in the league.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Bash as the holding CM alongside a fit James Wallace would be one of the best mid fields in the league.

Where he plays , depends on who we sign , and who is fit.

UTB

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

The bench....

 

[awblade]

Play players in their favoured positions and we will look a much more balanced side. I hate all this playing players out of position crap