J'OC

[Superbladesman7]

Posted about this lad a while back, but not fully familiar with how to recover it so apologies for starting a new one.

Firstly great performance yesterday, many of us were saying the game after our first defeat would be critical to see how we can handle it. Question answered emphatically, we bounced back in style and on a day where results went for us. Feeling more confident by the week, that midfield 3 is simply outstanding when it clicks.

To the title though, I am so glad Jack is back in the team for one reason or another. To me out of the 3 at the back he just oozes class. He's really agressive in winning his headers and tackles as he should be, but on the ball he keeps showing he can spray it around a bit too with great confidence. Last few games I've seen him knock some beauties across the pitch in coutts/fleck esque style.

Think when all are available, our best back 3 should be: J'OC, Wright, Ebanks-Landell.
But Basham in fairness is no problem at the minute.

UTB

 

[JohnDenver]

Posted about this lad a while back, but not fully familiar with how to recover it so apologies for starting a new one.

Given how few posts you have made one easy way is to click on your username and then on the Postings tab.

Tada!

But on topic - O'Connell is a really promising player. He needs to work on cutting out mistakes and tightening up defensively, but he could certainly develop into a good Championship player.

 

[Tyler Durden]

He worries me to be honest. Shakey and not particularly dependable, and has a very annoying habit of knocking the ball back to the goalkeeper for no good reason whatsoever.
Freeman and EEL were the primary reason for the clean sheet yesterday in my view. And they needed to be, with our best defender being out.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

What was interesting about JOC was our corners.

After his goal v Bolton last week, at our first corner yesterday he went far post and it made me a bit cross.

Next two corners he hit the near post and almost scored a similar goal. Hitting the near post from corners seems to be a game plan - think we might see a few more goals from him - got real spring to get up. We also seem to have better delivery from corners now - remember it a few years back.......dire, absolutely dire, so well done the coaching staff.

UTB

 

[mancunianblade]

If we keep EEL a back 3 of EEL Wright and JOC would be a great championship back line. JOC needs Wright alongside him to help him develop.having too many players in form for the positions available is a great problem to have it for me Bastan loses out. From a players POV being a Utility player is never a good thing

 

[Surrey Blade]

I think he shows a lot of promise and looks a confident player, but he can switch off at times. It was his poor pass that led to the Coutts booking yesterday.

 

[Bladey McBladeface]

I like O'Connell and I think he will develop into a really good Championship player eventually.

He's very strong in the air, firm in the tackle, but he can play a decent pass too. As mentioned already, he's a big threat from corners - especially when he's regularly 33/1 first goal!

If all of our defenders are fit then I would drop Basham, just because I think Wright gives us better balance... but I do like Basham and he played well yesterday.

We've conceded quite a few goals for a promotion pushing team, but I suspect that's more down to the system and style we are playing than anything else. We've chosen to attack teams so now and again we will get exposed and I'm fine with that.

 

[sheffielder]

Horses for courses for me. Basham when we want someone to join in midfield now and again, and can also bring the ball out releasing Duffy further forward and Wright when things are going to be tight and we need some organisation at the back

 

[JohnDenver]

I like O'Connell and I think he will develop into a really good Championship player eventually.

He's very strong in the air, firm in the tackle, but he can play a decent pass too. As mentioned already, he's a big threat from corners - especially when he's regularly 33/1 first goal!

If all of our defenders are fit then I would drop Basham, just because I think Wright gives us better balance... but I do like Basham and he played well yesterday.

We've conceded quite a few goals for a promotion pushing team, but I suspect that's more down to the system and style we are playing than anything else. We've chosen to attack teams so now and again we will get exposed and I'm fine with that.

I think Wilder likes Basham in the back three because it means we can bring the ball out from both sides of the defence. In that system it's vital, especially at home, when we're faced with teams who just defend en masse.

 

[finlaytheblade]

I think Wilder likes Basham in the back three because it means we can bring the ball out from both sides of the defence. In that system it's vital, especially at home, when we're faced with teams who just defend en masse.

Basham will be one of the first names on the team sheet,what he lacks in technic he makes up for with
100% effort every game win or lose.
If we do go up maybe it will be different as his all round flexibility will be needed but he probably won't be good enough to nail down a position.His work rate is tremendous and he is a player I admire very much.He has spent most of his career in the top two divisions so maybe he can prove me and others wrong,I hope so anyway.

 

[RealMcCoy]

He worries me to be honest. Shakey and not particularly dependable, and has a very annoying habit of knocking the ball back to the goalkeeper for no good reason whatsoever.
Freeman and EEL were the primary reason for the clean sheet yesterday in my view. And they needed to be, with our best defender being out.

I thought Wright was on the bench yesterday?
Which begs the question as to why Wilder didn't start him or give him at least some game time if he's coming back. It would be a nice place to be if we were happy to see any 3 of those 4 start - which is what I think Wilder is looking to achieve by giving them all opportunities to play and develop relationships.

 

[Tyler Durden]

I thought Wright was on the bench yesterday?
Which begs the question as to why Wilder didn't start him or give him at least some game time if he's coming back. It would be a nice place to be if we were happy to see any 3 of those 4 start - which is what I think Wilder is looking to achieve by giving them all opportunities to play and develop relationships.

He was on the bench, but I think it was pretty much to make up the numbers. I think I read somewhere that Wilder didn't think he was fit for any action yet. I could be wrong though.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Agree with OP.

JOC is, by a large margin, our best defender.

UTB

 

[Slim Man]

JOC is our best defender. Wright is our best organiser.

How anyone doesn't rate either of them is beyond me.

 

[s4-blade]

With JOC and, hopefully, EEL, we've got two young developing prospects with huge potential, an already growing partnership and some experience at a higher level. Wright is crucial as the organiser and the glue that holds the defence together however, I feel he'll need to be replaced when promotion is achieved as I'm not sure he, at this stage of his career, can make the leap up in quality (although many were saying hat this year).

But what has happened to James Wilson? I thought he was unlucky to be dropped as he was consistent the best performer in the back line before EEL and wright came into the side and has seemed to drop off the face of the earth since.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

I'm a Basham basher usually,but i thought he had a tremedous game yesterday.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

As I've said on another thread, along with Moore he's our best player and clearly a Championship (top half) calibre player.

 

[itsinyerblood]

He was on the bench, but I think it was pretty much to make up the numbers. I think I read somewhere that Wilder didn't think he was fit for any action yet. I could be wrong though.

I'm not having that. You, wrong?!? A wrongster? Not havin' it, in this life or the next........and yes, that's exactly why Wilder chose to leave Wright on the bench, which should provide an answer to any lack of belief in what we can achieve. Moore's a good 'un, and I imagine that he and the defence are working well as a unit.

Apart from that, good cheer young Blade,

On behalf of that very small cabal of senior cunt Blades who love a gripe UTB