John Egan

[nopigfansintown]

You need to take into consideration what his instructions are from Wilder and Knill. We are already an adventurous side with attacking defenders maybe they want at least one of the back line to put defensive duties above everything else?

Forwards are given a bit of latitude to make it up as they go along but defenders need to stick to the plan and perhaps that's what he's doing.

If I could give this ten likes I would. The centre of the threes job is to head and kick the ball and pass it to the deepest midfielder, or his right sided/left sided centre backs.Occasionally he will play a longer ball out to the wing backs, a big bonus. It is an extremely difficult position because the right sided and left sided centre backs carry the ball forward and leave exploitable holes above and beyond those normally left by a conventional back three (spaces in the inside left and right channels). The player who plays this position for United therefore has to be an excellent reader of the game, as he essentially has to rotate with the other members of the back three when they are caught upfield. He's the player who can see the full picture. That's the reason why United looked good with Wright in the team - his reading of the game. That despite him lacking qualities others had, in every other facet of the game. The great thing for us is Egan is still at an age (26) in which this facet of his game should develop further.

 

[coaxingstar71]

I have to say that after a slowish start - Egan has slotted into the middle of the defence very well and seems to read and cut out balls into the box very comfortably.

An excellent piece of business by CW.

I think he maybe has a goal in him too - wouldn't it be great if we could recreate those great days of Eddie Colquhoun nodding in those brilliant corners by Woody?

Two corner OGs are a start I suppose ...

He opened his account for us against Norwich.

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

Agree with OP, after watching him against Boro second game of the season I was worried he would struggle against 'taller' opponents, but since this game he's had the majority of the taller lads in his pocket......especially Fletcher.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Didn’t want to start a new thread, but Egan was immense today. He doesn’t grab the headlines in a more obvious way such as the divisions top scorer, but for me, he is just as important.

Inspired signature this one Tufty.

UTB

 

[Rodley]

Baldock brilliant today.

 

[Iceybabey]

Loved it when he smashed through Brereton first half to win a header. Morganesque.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Got booked, shock. He was awesome today and didn’t put a boot out of place. The idiot booking him shows how well he played as anyone putting in a tackle got booked.

 

[Fanny magnet]

Didn't really see what the booking was for looked like nothing but I thought he was going to get red

 

[Bannerman]

Didn't really see what the booking was for looked like nothing but I thought he was going to get red

Same here, it looked like nothing much but the way the ref was performing I thought he might give a red.

Bloody Premiership refs, when I was told before the game he was one I knew it'd turn daft. The yellow card for Basham was utter stupidity in two different ways, number one it was an excellent full blooded tackle aimed at - and succeeding in - winning the ball, secondly, that early in the game left him with little option but to start waving cards about left right and centre.

The only thing is that two crap refs in two consecutive home games have resulted in pissing the crowd off that much that we've created an atmosphere that's helped drive the team to succeed.
Torn between not having to endure that level of incompetence again and wanting them to send us a few more numpties to get us going!

 

[Jon P]

Brentford defender Chris Mepham off to Bournemouth for £15m. No idea but is he £11m better than Egan? If there’s any comparison between the two defenders sounds like we got Egan on the cheap!?

 

[nopigfansintown]

Brentford defender Chris Mepham off to Bournemouth for £15m. No idea but is he £11m better than Egan? If there’s any comparison between the two defenders sounds like we got Egan on the cheap!?

The answer is no; nor is he 3.5 million better than he who must not be named.It'll be interesting to see how much they get for Maupay and who they buy with the proceeds.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Brentford defender Chris Mepham off to Bournemouth for £15m. No idea but is he £11m better than Egan? If there’s any comparison between the two defenders sounds like we got Egan on the cheap!?

At the time of the sales he was.
Egan was 4th choice defender at Brentford and would have been used as back up like Stearman is for us.
At the time we paid a fair price because he wasn’t that rated and not really needed at Brentford.
Of course Wilder has made sure Egan fits into our system. So it does now look like we got a bargain.

Mepham is 1st choice striker and one of the highest scorers in the league this season. He’s also still young and will probably improve. He’s currently very highly rated and Brentford would prefer to keep him, hence the big fee.

 

[SittingontheBall]

At the time of the sales he was.
Egan was 4th choice defender at Brentford and would have been used as back up like Stearman is for us.
At the time we paid a fair price because he wasn’t that rated and not really needed at Brentford.
Of course Wilder has made sure Egan fits into our system. So it does now look like we got a bargain.

Mepham is 1st choice striker and one of the highest scorers in the league this season. He’s also still young and will probably improve. He’s currently very highly rated and Brentford would prefer to keep him, hence the big fee.

Think you’re mixing up Mepham and Maupay.

 

[Chali 2na]

I think Egan has strengthened us and is a good signing. I just think he could be a bit more offensive on the ball at times. There are occasions when he could advance forward with the ball in possession but he opts for the safe option and takes play back. That’s all I’m saying!

I know I'm a bit late to the party, but often defenders shift the ball sideways to gradually move play over, creating space on the opposite flank. Or to create space at the other end of the pitch, by luring the opposition closer.

It a a feature of most of the best footballing teams.

Brentford defender Chris Mepham off to Bournemouth for £15m. No idea but is he £11m better than Egan? If there’s any comparison between the two defenders sounds like we got Egan on the cheap!?

The difference on price is more down to age and nationality, one would suspect.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Think you’re mixing up Mepham and Maupay.

Ahhh both begin with M, have 2 syllables and a similar number of letters......just ignore me ha ha

 

[Sheffsteel]

I think Egan has strengthened us and is a good signing. I just think he could be a bit more offensive on the ball at times. There are occasions when he could advance forward with the ball in possession but he opts for the safe option and takes play back. That’s all I’m saying!

I think it’s probably a lot to do with the Brentford fans observations that Egan isn’t the greatest (most comfortable) on the ball.
That’s his weakness, he’s no Harry Maguire and why we managed to get him for mere 4 million.

However Wilder obviously knows about Egan’s weakness and it’s being worked on in training
But the general instruction for Egan is “don’t play the ball out of defence, just pass it to Norwood”, who has a great 1st touch so can receive a pass even when he’s semi marked up. Norwood always makes sure he’s close making himself available to Egan.

 

[Slugger]

Great article about him here:

http://punditarena.com/football/ois...d-sunderland-struggles-being-his-fathers-son/

Hard for people outside Ireland to realise just how well-renowned his father was over here.

 

[Bladesman]

 

[blademark]

Legend in the making.

 

[Treeton Blade]

Best performance in a Blades shirt Saturday, immense.

 

[JackSUFC]

He’s quality. One of the best in the Championship last season and has made the step up to the PL look easy so far. We really did have Brentford’s pants down.

 

[blademark]

Best performance in a Blades shirt Saturday, immense.

That is the exact word that Charlie Nicholas used on Saturday soccer. He said something like 'the most impressive display I've ever seen from someone I don't know about'. He also raved about the back 3 in general. Another convert.

 

[wizadry]

Best performance in a Blades shirt Saturday, immense.

Honestly, I can’t stress how much this post will be underrated, he was stupendous on Saturday and has been an unbelievable signing by Wilder.

 

[Valleyblade]

When you go to a pub in Ireland, you have to have a song...

Utterly brilliant display on Saturday. Will be captain, and penned his own kop anthem, which he released on the internet, without making himself look a dick.

The epitome of what has been the best part of the wilder era, the connection between fans, players, and manager.

Mind boggling to imagine that after the lap of dishonor.