McEveley v Peterborough

[Cyprus Blade]

Joe Shaw was 5' 8"

When Joe Shaw played although he was classed as short for a CH then he was still above average height. In 1954 a typical British male was just over 5ft 7in tall, weighed 11st 6lbs and had a chest of 37 inches and a waist of 34 inches. He wore size seven shoes, had a collar size of 14. (Think Alcock and you get a good idea of Shaw's height and build). Over the past 60 years the shape has changed significantly. Today, the average man is 5ft 10in, weighs 12st 6lbs and has a chest of 42in and a waist of 37in. He wears size nine shoes, has a collar size of 16.

The key point for me about Kennedy is "Can he play two matches a week for a season with his knees?" - the evidence suggests not.

 

[Fiery Blade]

When Joe Shaw played although he was classed as short for a CH then he was still above average height. In 1954 a typical British male was just over 5ft 7in tall, weighed 11st 6lbs and had a chest of 37 inches and a waist of 34 inches. He wore size seven shoes, had a collar size of 14. (Think Alcock and you get a good idea of Shaw's height and build). Over the past 60 years the shape has changed significantly. Today, the average man is 5ft 10in, weighs 12st 6lbs and has a chest of 42in and a waist of 37in. He wears size nine shoes, has a collar size of 16.

The key point for me about Kennedy is "Can he play two matches a week for a season with his knees?" - the evidence suggests not.

I am not the average man of today it appears !!!!
As regards Kennedy - he will struggle to get 10 games a season never mind 2 games a week with his knees !

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Oh for crying out loud.

If there are 2 centre halves who are more or less of the same ability, I will pick the taller one, because that makes it easier to mark people at set pieces or score goals.

If the shorter one is the much better player, I would choose him.

I'll say it one more time and leave it at that: this confuses height and ability. If you're not marking properly at corners it's bc you're not good enough, not because you're not tall enough.

If Adkins had scouted a one-legged centre back and he was good enough he'd be playing, regardless of how may legs he'd got.

I'm going to retreat from this part of the thread now.

UTMB

 

[Bladesince59]

This is the ideal centre half to me.

One player should be to head everything, kick everything that moves, challenge for everything and when it possession of the ball ensure it gets shifted to a position where the danger from the opposition is removed. Also the ability to put a reducer on to an opponent without giving away a foul and drawing censure from the referee is also to be desired.

Out of all the occupants last season, Terry Kennedy came the closest to being the perfect match to all this criteria.

Like Harry ?

 

[BushBlade]

I'll say it one more time and leave it at that: this confuses height and ability. If you're not marking properly at corners it's bc you're not good enough, not because you're not tall enough.

If Adkins had scouted a one-legged centre back and he was good enough he'd be playing, regardless of how may legs he'd got.

I'm going to retreat from this part of the thread now.

UTMB

Dudley Moore sketch?

 

[oldblade]

Bergen Blade has analysed McEveley's performance against Peterborough. This is what he came up with. (I hope he doesn't mind me nicking it.) It surprised me.

Again I think McEveley's mistakes gets noticed more than other's, not sure why. There were quite a few times where we gave away possession dangerously, many players were guilty in this respect. McEveley was as well, on 34 minutes. It led to a free kick. Just before half time he also lost a header.

In the second half I noticed the one time he sliced a clearance up in the air, then headed it away. Bit later he tried an easy ball to K.Wallace which went out for a throw in. On 24 minutes he went for a header that he should have left for Baxter. Five minutes before the end he lost another challenge, which lead to a shot over.

Otherwise he was ok. He usually passes well, even when under pressure. 6/10

Peterborough's biggest chances - their goal when Freeman was unable to stop the tricky scorer and Edgar, our second defender, didn't help him. They had a free header from a free kick. On the stroke of half time Edgar back heeled a shot to their forward who had only the keeper to beat 6 yards out. Howard made a great save when a deep cross found their right winger (should Adams have tracked back, or K.Wallace moved over sooner?). James Wallace gave them a golden chance right before the final whistle when he chose not to clear.

I also want a new centre half as I think a stronger, more commanding type, maybe quicker as well, will give us more than McEveley and Collins' composure and experience. But there's a reason why Adkins has shown quite a bit of faith in both and let's be fair and objective when analysing their performances.

Like I said a surprise, but on the part of those of us (me included) who thought he had a poor game it may be confirmation bias at work ie you see what you're looking for and not what actually happened.

I think people do see what happened, but only the bits that confirm an opinion of a player that they already hold. In true Nelsonesque fashion ('I see no ships') the bits that contradict that opinion go unnoticed. God only knows why, but Michael Tonge suffered from this type of bias week in, week out. However, that's another story..........

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

Dudley Moore sketch?

Wasn't thinking of anything in particular - but you have reminded me of this

 

[BushBlade]