Most influential Central defender this season.

[Fulwood Blade]

We need a none Ched thread...............

We've had mainly four central defenders coming and going all season, but who in your opinion has been the most influential?

It's a simple 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th of the regular incumbents. Use whatever criteria you want - pace, power, strength, heading, bravery, reading of the game, goals....etc etc. Qualify your choices/positions if you want.

Basham, EEL,Wright and JOC..............

UTB

 

[Tunstall Fred]

Magic,Gold

Bash Silver

Unbeaten and Tank,Bronze

Barely a cigarette paper between all 4,

 

[1066blade]

You just had to go and spoil it by mentioning HIS name in your first line...

 

[Ricky]

1. Wright
1. O'Connell
1. Basham
2. Ebanks-Landell

 

[coolhandluke]

We need a none Ched thread...............

We've had mainly four central defenders coming and going all season, but who in your opinion has been the most influential?

It's a simple 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th of the regular incumbents. Use whatever criteria you want - pace, power, strength, heading, bravery, reading of the game, goals....etc etc. Qualify your choices/positions if you want.

Basham, EEL,Wright and JOC..............

UTB

Now that is a tough one .

For me , Basham , Wright , JOC and EEL in that order .

Bashambauer has been immense this season

 

[McGrath]

Wilson, because he got the show finally on the road against Oxford.

 

[71Blade]

O'Connell most improved cracking 1st season cant wait to see how he does in the Championship

Basham hardest working and worth his shirt every week gives everything i want to see from a Blades player

Wright most influential for me reminds me of Paul McGrath reads the game very very well great orgsniser and great header of the ball

UTB

 

[Tyler Durden]

Wright obviously.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Tricky one that . IMO individually just average league 1 players .

Collectively . Great understanding and compliment each other , as it should be , therefore all equal in the influential stakes .

How many of that 4 will be regulars next season is the big question and dilemma for them individually .

 

[Ricky]

IMO individually just average league 1 players .

Your average L1 defender can't do half of what Basham and O'Connell can do.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

Very tough. And different characters have been immense at different points of the season. Jake Wright Invincible being superbly consistent throughout though. But each of them heroes, each of them leaders.

As regards influentialness (or however you'd describe it) though, I'd go: 1. Basham, 2. O'Connell, 3. Wright, 4. Ebanks.

 

[coolhandluke]

Tricky one that . IMO individually just average league 1 players .

Collectively . Great understanding and compliment each other , as it should be , therefore all equal in the influential stakes .

How many of that 4 will be regulars next season is the big question and dilemma for them individually .

That's a tad contentious Bos . I like your style .

I think Bash and JOC will be fine . EEL struggles apparently . Jake Wright has never played there but who knows with him , he'd never played in League 1 either and he didn't do too badly did he .

 

[Esablade]

Very tough. And different characters have been immense at different points of the season. Jake Wright Invincible being superbly consistent throughout though. But each of them heroes, each of them leaders.

But, as regards influentialness (or however you'd describe it), I'd go: 1. Basham, 2. O'Connell, 3. Wright, 4. Ebanks.

Was about to post something very similar, though I'd probably go Wright for the leadership qualities/influence.

 

[Sestanovich]

EEL by a few inches.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

That's a tad contentious Bos . I like your style .

I think Bash and JOC will be fine . EEL struggles apparently . Jake Wright has never played there but who knows with him , he'd never played in League 1 either and he didn't do too badly did he .

Thinking about it . Should Moore get a mention . Has he instigated the biggest influence . Again it's all down to opinions , but things are good whichever way you look at it .

 

[Esablade]

Thinking about it . Should Moore get a mention . Has he instigated the biggest influence . Again it's all down to opinions , but things are good whichever way you look at it .

At centre half?
Certainly

 

[SteveBlade]

All have been between good and amazing all season, bar EEL who had a dodgy patch.

Wright for how consistently solid we look with him in the team, has to be him.

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

At centre half?
Certainly

Shot me Sen in foot with that one trying to be a smart arse on all things back four .

 

[blade67]

Weight - goals against with him in the team is totally awesome.

O'Connell - terrific signing. A top all round defender.

Basham - right side of a three looks his best position

EEL - great start, and helped get the great run going, rightly lost his place to Bash in the end but still improving.

Wilson - hardly got a look in but hasn't done badly when played

 

[Silent Blade]

EEL by a few inches.

Best tackle?

 

[LenTednTony]

In 1st position - JOC reliable since the pen. An amazingly good ball playing centre back.

In 1st position - Bash so hard working, reliable and versatile.

In 1st position - Wright reads the game so well and is a fantastic leader.

In 2nd position - EEL by a gnats cod. Had a strong early part of the season but a slight wobble after Jan that led to him struggling to get in the side.

A great set of centre backs. If EEL doesn't stay however, we will need a quality centre back bringing in. This will up the quality and may mean that one of them is a bench warmer.

UTB

 

[ShefRedandWhite]

In terms of influence then hands down it's Wright. We were very shakey without him, then he comes in, steadies the ship and the others start looking classy. Then this carries over to even when he's not playing.

THAT'S influence.

1. Wright
2. Bash
3. JOC
4. EEL

Bash also deserves a shout out for making me eat my words. I said at the beginning of the season he's a tryer but not good enough and we should have got rid. Thank God I'm not the gaffer!

 

[Cerberus Blade]

If you'd said, "defender" I'd have picked Jack O Connell. I think he's been absolutely outstanding and is the best centre-half at the club. But your question is specifically asking about centre backs and influence - and O' Connell hasn't really played as a centre back - he's played left back. So I'm giving you a different answer. Of those who have played as a traditional centre back, i.e. Wright, EEL and Basham (rarely), then it has to be Wright for me. First few games I didn't really notice him do anything - he was just..."steady". So I started watching him closely and it's his positioning and reading of the game that impresses me. Plus, for a bloke who isn't so tall he does ever so well winning the ball in the air - and he's always giving his team mates instructions on what to do. That, to me, is answering your question about "influence".

I have to admit I'm not a big fan of EEL. Nice kid I'm sure. Great in the dressing room...yes I hear he is. But I don't care about any of that. I think he's too error prone - in particular he gets himself out of position too often and is easily done for pace. He'll be toast in the Championship and I think we need to let him go and get another central defender in that has some pace about him. A bit like when we had Killgallon in the team. You need one bloke to step forward and head everything (like Morgan did) and another who can just hang back for the second ball and have the pace to chase strikers down if they get through (like Killgallon did). For me, EEL can't do that job and I don't think he's as good as O' Connell in the air or on the ground - and he lacks the composure of Jake Wright.

I'd make O' Connell my first choice centre back next season and look to get a defender with some pace alongside him because I think we may need that.

 

[S64 Blade]

Got to be Wright. Influential both in his leadership and support to the other centre halves and of course, his unbeaten record. Can't remember him having a bad game for us.

 

[coaxingstar71]

What a pleasure to discuss our CB's credentials after last season. Edgar, Collins, Baptiste (although he wasn't too bad).

For me it's O'Connell. He impressed me the first time I saw him and he just gets better. Strong in the tackle, good in the air, not slow and he can play. Good crosser of a ball for a big man too, could easily become a quality left back. Future captain.

However can't fault Wright. Ditto what other posters have said about his positioning, his influence and organisation. Interesting to see whether he will be retained which may depend on whether Wilder sees him as first team or a bit-part player next season. Personally I think he could still play an important role because he doesn't rely on his pace but if we do sign a quality CB, then you could see Wright would be the one to miss out. Must mention his unbeaten record too, outstanding.

Basham has proved me wrong. I posted around November time that I didn't think he was worth a first team place but ok to come off the bench as at that point, I didn't think he was a good enough CB or midfielder to displace anyone. However, he's been the first name on the team sheet in recent months. Absolutely immense, he's become decisive where he was hesitant before.

I don't think we'll try to sign EEL and I'm not sure we'd even have the opportunity. I think we forget how important he was to us for quite a while. Seemed to drop off when he signed a new contract at Wolves and then he's been in and out, in part due to Basham's form. Does the simple things well, winning headers and he's won some fantastic tackles, however he's clumsy on the ball and is prone to the odd mistake.

Feel a bit sorry for Wilson, he was part of a misfiring side for those first few games, but I don't think he played badly himself and scored that important winner for us at home to Oxford, perhaps one of the most important goals of the season.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

If you'd said, "defender" I'd have picked Jack O Connell.

The thread was specifically aimed at the Central 3.

Didn't want wing backs/full backs/ goal keepers to be in the mix.

Think in reflection it's been a tough call - mine is Wright in terms of influence. He was just what JOC needed after his shaky start and I am sure Bash has benefited. If you watch Wright closely, he is always talking and organising or pointing. Generally a 2 touch footballer. Why he hasn't played at a higher level earlier in his career is a bit of a mystery.

UTB

 

[AWetFlannel]

1. Basham
2. O'Connell
3. Wright
4. EEL

 

[Delboyscap]

Got to be Wright surely? Mentored the others through games, unbeaten, and possibly one of the keys in the morale of the dressing room. Wilder produced a masterstroke bringing Wright in, possibly brought in for the dressing room harmony, but proved a great signing on the pitch too!!

 

[finlaytheblade]

O'Connell most improved cracking 1st season cant wait to see how he does in the Championship

Basham hardest working and worth his shirt every week gives everything i want to see from a Blades player

Wright most influential for me reminds me of Paul McGrath reads the game very very well great orgsniser and great header of the ball

UTB

O,Connell reminds me of Jags for the same attrbutes maybe lacks Jags pace but the rest is all there,going to be a big player

 

[Grizzly blade]

What's interesting is how all 4 have impacted at different over the season.

Early doors when we were bottom of the league, JOC was a bit of a worry and the arrival alongside him of Wright and EEL was instrumental in the turn around as much as the arrival of Coutts and a fit Fleck in midfield. The thought of EEL not playing was unthinkable.

Then, after losing his place Bash really upped his game and pushed EEL out of the side. He just never stops going, and is a real asset carrying the ball forwards. The way he bullies opponents without being dirty too has been a joy to watch.
JOC has then also raised his game to a whole different level for the last 4 months, and as a defender has barely put a foot wrong. He just defends properly, and is half useful going forwards too.

But, for me....none of the above would be possible without Wright. He's the captain of the ship, the talker, the organiser, the talisman. He set things rolling and although he will be the first to admit he's not the most technically gifted he just keeps it simple, does his job and makes little fuss. It's not good luck that we haven't lost a game with him in the side.
What would finish things off would be a goal in front of the kop. Because even though I think he will be an asset next season, I see him losing his place.