Stevens called up

[Trafford]

Great for him that he's been recognised but I can't help questioning the quality of Ireland's other left backs for him to have been called up based on this season's performances. Always works hard but regularly caught out when defending and has lost confidence attacking.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Great for him that he's been recognised but I can't help questioning the quality of Northern Ireland's other left backs for him to have been called up based on this season's performances. Always works hard but regularly caught out when defending and has lost confidence attacking.

He didn't have a good game on Tuesday either but had two men against him almost every time, sometimes three while Fleck ambled around and O'Connell looked like a rabbit in the headlights.

 

[Houso]

Great for him that he's been recognised but I can't help questioning the quality of Northern Ireland's other left backs for him to have been called up based on this season's performances. Always works hard but regularly caught out when defending and has lost confidence attacking.

I know there's no hard border yet, but I mean come on...

 

[Pierre's PC]

This is definitely an S2 thread

 

[itsinyerblood]

He didn't have a good game on Tuesday either but had two men against him almost every time, sometimes three while Fleck ambled around and O'Connell looked like a rabbit in the headlights.

And it's those small, but vital details that enable the reader to have a true understanding of a player's form. Reading some of the comments about Stevens, there's never any attempt to paint a fuller picture of what's happening around him.

 

[Trafford]

I know there's no hard border yet, but I mean come on...

Thanks for the heads up, must take more care when posting.....

 

[Silent Blade]

Great for him that he's been recognised but I can't help questioning the quality of Ireland's other left backs for him to have been called up based on this season's performances. Always works hard but regularly caught out when defending and has lost confidence attacking.

Republic of Ireland

 

[SwissBlade]

Great for him that he's been recognised but I can't help questioning the quality of Ireland's other left backs for him to have been called up based on this season's performances. Always works hard but regularly caught out when defending and has lost confidence attacking.

Considering the way he was hyped by many of our fans before we signed him, i don't think he's given us enough going forward to justify Lafferty not really getting a look in.

He's a good player, he's a wing back not a left back, but i agree, NI must be short in that area

 

[kop_blade9]

He didn't have a good game on Tuesday either but had two men against him almost every time, sometimes three while Fleck ambled around and O'Connell looked like a rabbit in the headlights.

Disagree
Stevens was beaten too many times so he swapped positions with O'Connell when they attacked down the left who then put up a more robust defence

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Great for him that he's been recognised but I can't help questioning the quality of Ireland's other left backs for him to have been called up based on this season's performances. Always works hard but regularly caught out when defending and has lost confidence attacking.

Can we make it a permanent transfer?

 

[Sean Thornton]

Disagree
Stevens was beaten too many times so he swapped positions with O'Connell when they attacked down the left who then put up a more robust defence

Players tend to get beaten in the circumstances he found himself under. O'Connell stood off him giving Ojo the room to attack the area. The switch - and how long did it take for that to happen - allowed J O'C to press because he'd actually got someone backing him up which generally made Ojo back up and pass the ball towards the edge of the penalty area rather than going for a clear run at the goal line.

 

[Paulus]

So, we have a guy who gets called up for his country. No congratulations or pleasure to be taken in his recognition (apart from OP) but posts deriding the achievement, the standard of the competition and even getting his country wrong. Jeez

 

[raimond]

I do feel a bit sorry for him to be honest. He isn't that great defensively and he loses it in decent positions sometimes, and aye absolutely, he's been low on confidence. I think he's looked a bit more himself recently though and I don't think he really gets cut much slack. He's okay, I think we could do with someone better but he's not a shining weakness or owt.

I don't mind Lafferty, he's wholehearted and he can put very decent balls in too (amongst some shite) and he's better defensively than Stevens but he's not really a natural fullback let alone wingback is he? Isn't this one of them where someone suddenly enhances their reputation by not playing?

 

[kop_blade9]

Players tend to get beaten in the circumstances he found himself under. O'Connell stood off him giving Ojo the room to attack the area. The switch - and how long did it take for that to happen - allowed J O'C to press because he'd actually got someone backing him up which generally made Ojo back up and pass the ball towards the edge of the penalty area rather than going for a clear run at the goal line.

Stevens got turned inside out 2 or 3 times. He could not cope.
After that they swapped for every attack down the left O'Connell would go out and Stevens went to centre back position

 

[raul]

He didn't have a good game on Tuesday either but had two men against him almost every time, sometimes three while Fleck ambled around and O'Connell looked like a rabbit in the headlights.

The Fleck thing has been at the back of my mind since Bellend Road, but I suppose if he gets out there quickly there's a big hole in the middle if the oppos are quick and/or have a CH who can step up and overload. One of the weaknesses of 3-5-2 unless you're on top and I wonder if it's time to go the more traditional 4-4-2 given we've slowed down as a team, particularly away from home?

 

[Sean Thornton]

Stevens got turned inside out 2 or 3 times. He could not cope.
After that they swapped for every attack down the left O'Connell would go out and Stevens went to centre back position

Did you actually read what I posted?

 

[dublin 10 blade]

Typical anti Irish racist behavior

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Did you actually read what I posted?

Something about farms?

 

[I should coco]

Typical anti Irish racist behavior

We can't even put up the 'No dogs, blacks or Irish' signs on the Lane any more.

Apparently dogs are one of our major supporter groups and are counted in the attendance. Not sure what happens though if the dog is also black and/or Irish.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Something about farms?

Get off my land.

 

[Pierre's PC]

We can't even put up the 'No dogs, blacks or Irish' signs on the Lane any more.

Apparently dogs are one of our major supporter groups and are counted in the attendance. Not sure what happens though if the dog is also black and/or Irish.

What about cats FFS

 

[KoppedOff]

Well done to him, and any other of our players getting international recognition, either full or at u23, u18 level. Its a good acheivement for them personally.

But ultimately, I would rather they all had a week off because I want them at 100% for United, not risking injury and travelling around with Ireland, Wales U23 or England youths, none of whom I care a monkeys about.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

GLTTL.

 

[dc_blade]

Well done, Enda Stevens. He was vital to our good run of form at the start of the season. Since then, like a lot of our players, he's had ups and downs. He had a rotten run of form but before Fulham I felt he was starting to find his feet again. Important to keep in mind that he's making the step up to Championship level from League Two.

I think we will want competition for him next season if Wilder really doesn't rate Lafferty any more but I reckon Stevens still has a part to play.

 

[dublin 10 blade]

Don’t worry lads see that billy boy Norden Ireland manager is at it as well .
Slagging off the Irish manager for only targeting “ Catholics “ to play for the republic
of Ireland from the underage level ( easy fellas )

Typical of my country of birth when will the oppression ever end

 

[nopigfansintown]

Excellent player who seems to be massively underrated by many Blades fans. There are few left wing backs anywhere near his level in this league.Oh and GLTTL

 

[fireblade]

Typical anti Irish racist behavior

Just wait till Ricky Holmes gets wind of it
Pleased for you Enda.

 

[Fanny magnet]

Nick Montgomery would have got 50 caps for Ireland

 

[Pedro Verde]

Potatoes Potatoes Potatoes

 

[sitwell]

He didn't have a good game on Tuesday either but had two men against him almost every time, sometimes three while Fleck ambled around and O'Connell looked like a rabbit in the headlights.

No it was all Evans fault ,didn't you read Deadbats report ,Fleck can do no wrong ..ever.