Two starts under Nathan Jones are (so far) his best two performances in a long time.
He’s playing like someone who’s had Nathan Jones in his ear telling him to ‘curb stomp these fools’. Because I’ve seen an authoritative side of his game since Friday that I had been wanting to see the last 12 months he’s been here.
Two starts under Nathan Jones are (so far) his best two performances in a long time.
He’s playing like someone who’s had Nathan Jones in his ear telling him to ‘curb stomp these fools’. Because I’ve seen an authoritative side of his game since Friday that I had been wanting to see the last 12 months he’s been here.
Always thought he’d be best in the middle of a back 3 tbf. Suits his quality on the ball and lack of pace
Two starts under Nathan Jones are (so far) his best two performances in a long time.
He’s playing like someone who’s had Nathan Jones in his ear telling him to ‘curb stomp these fools’. Because I’ve seen an authoritative side of his game since Friday that I had been wanting to see the last 12 months he’s been here.
You've forgotten that he was one of only a couple who held their heads up during our winter horror run (as player marks would demonstrate), it isn't like him being good has come from nowhere
I like him, he's also useful for Ness/younger CB's to have around as demonstrated in that game. Definitely best suited to being in the middle of a back 3 and with the right runners his long balls will cause trouble for most sides in the division. Think he's worth sticking with, REG to his right and Gillesphey to his left with Small and Ramsay should be good enough to challenge near the top
Not a bad game, and probably the best player in a shoddy side today, but still not imposing enough. Not happy with any of our current centre backs. Would genuinely scrap them all but unfortunately keep the ones on contracts.
Not a bad game, and probably the best player in a shoddy side today, but still not imposing enough. Not happy with any of our current centre backs. Would genuinely scrap them all but unfortunately keep the ones on contracts.
Come on fella! We kept a clean sheet for only the second time since Oct!! Can’t hammer the CBs after that.
The likes of REG, Hec & Lloyd Jones would make a good back three…..problem this year is I don’t think we’ve ever had them all on the pitch at the same time.
Fantastic one-on-one defender and really good reader of the game (for the level). Much of his distribution was him trying the killer pass when it wasn't really, or when he didn't quite have the ability to get it right. This resulted in a few great interceptions where he stepped up off the defensive line/where he won the ball one-on-one, but had the ball, and played a loose one away trying to set up what would be a good counter, but with the very low-percentage option.
If he won it and looked for the simple rather than killer ball - to, say, Dobson or Coventry or whoever would be ten yards in front of him - most of the time, I would be very happy.
Not a bad game, and probably the best player in a shoddy side today, but still not imposing enough. Not happy with any of our current centre backs. Would genuinely scrap them all but unfortunately keep the ones on contracts.
Come on fella! We kept a clean sheet for only the second time since Oct!! Can’t hammer the CBs after that.
The likes of REG, Hec & Lloyd Jones would make a good back three…..problem this year is I don’t think we’ve ever had them all on the pitch at the same time.
Would like to see REG, Hector and Gillesphey next week, think that’s our best back 3 and they haven’t played together yet I don’t think
Fantastic one-on-one defender and really good reader of the game (for the level). Much of his distribution was him trying the killer pass when it wasn't really, or when he didn't quite have the ability to get it right. This resulted in a few great interceptions where he stepped up off the defensive line/where he won the ball one-on-one, but had the ball, and played a loose one away trying to set up what would be a good counter, but with the very low-percentage option.
If he won it and looked for the simple rather than killer ball - to, say, Dobson or Coventry or whoever would be ten yards in front of him - most of the time, I would be very happy.
I think that’s the problem with Hector sometimes, he often loses it when playing the simple ball and his success rate is pretty similar when hitting the more difficult long passes
Fantastic one-on-one defender and really good reader of the game (for the level). Much of his distribution was him trying the killer pass when it wasn't really, or when he didn't quite have the ability to get it right. This resulted in a few great interceptions where he stepped up off the defensive line/where he won the ball one-on-one, but had the ball, and played a loose one away trying to set up what would be a good counter, but with the very low-percentage option.
If he won it and looked for the simple rather than killer ball - to, say, Dobson or Coventry or whoever would be ten yards in front of him - most of the time, I would be very happy.
Though the killer ball always looks rubbish if nobody makes a run.
Anyone else be our clear best player two games in a row and they'd be getting hyped. Instead all the talk is 'only playing well to get a contract'. The disrespect this man gets is insane
Anyone else be our clear best player two games in a row and they'd be getting hyped. Instead all the talk is 'only playing well to get a contract'. The disrespect this man gets is insane
If you ignore the first month of the season, he’d probably be 2nd in POTS behind May
But even then he hasn’t defended like he has the last 2 games yet this season so something has clearly changed, probably the role of middle centre back and having a competent manager. Plus an important one, not putting him in the team until he was fully fit
Great performance today credit where credit's due, maybe he's another one of our under-performers enjoying a new lease of life under the Nathan Jones effect or maybe he's the new Adam Matthews playing for a new contract who knows?
Does he get into either of the recent promotion teams? No, but performances like today help his case for another year's extension.
Not a bad game, and probably the best player in a shoddy side today, but still not imposing enough. Not happy with any of our current centre backs. Would genuinely scrap them all but unfortunately keep the ones on contracts.
Come on fella! We kept a clean sheet for only the second time since Oct!! Can’t hammer the CBs after that.
The likes of REG, Hec & Lloyd Jones would make a good back three…..problem this year is I don’t think we’ve ever had them all on the pitch at the same time.
Back end of the season though. I just think they're very ordinary when you compare them to the likes of Bauer or Morrison.
I just wouldn't be confident going into next season if that was our options is all. I think if we want to win this league, which should be our only target, we need better. None of them get in any of the current top4/5s sides I don't believe, and the league isn't going to get any weaker next season.
Easily MoM today. As for his distribution it was mainly fine. Sometimes he forced it a bit, but so did everyone else as our movement and passing as a team was very poor (and well defended by a very well organised Stevenage)
As for who to keep out of Hector, Thomas and Ness, I imagine wages will be a factor.
Easily MoM today. As for his distribution it was mainly fine. Sometimes he forced it a bit, but so did everyone else as our movement and passing as a team was very poor (and well defended by a very well organised Stevenage)
As for who to keep out of Hector, Thomas and Ness, I imagine wages will be a factor.
Ness is young, huge potential and I’d definitely keep him. Depending who else we sign maybe a League Two loan but I like him. Can’t keep Hector and Thomas and if both left it wouldn’t bother me but if one were to stay it’ll be Hector for me if only for the fact he can pass the ball, a lot of the time actually to a team mate, unlike Thomas who has trouble passing water.
Easily MoM today. As for his distribution it was mainly fine. Sometimes he forced it a bit, but so did everyone else as our movement and passing as a team was very poor (and well defended by a very well organised Stevenage)
As for who to keep out of Hector, Thomas and Ness, I imagine wages will be a factor.
Ness is young, huge potential and I’d definitely keep him. Depending who else we sign maybe a League Two loan but I like him. Can’t keep Hector and Thomas and if both left it wouldn’t bother me but if one were to stay it’ll be Hector for me if only for the fact he can pass the ball, a lot of the time actually to a team mate, unlike Thomas who has trouble passing water.
Yes he's rusty, but Ness wasn't great today, being especially weak in the air.
Have always liked Hector, but I think these last two games have been his best for us I think. In a back three he perhaps feels comfortable stepping forward to make interceptions, knowing there's cover. He made four or five in the first twenty minutes today, and he provided the only moments of quality in the game, with the possible exception of Small getting the better of a pretty decent right back a few times. One fairly simple short pass went astray in the first half, and there was a massive groan from the crowd, which shows he hasn't yet won everyone over. I'd like to see him alongside Jones again, as the latter is so dominant in the air - we could have done with him today for sure. REG is slightly better than Gillesphey, on recent form, but neither are all that convincing. Not sure who I'd keep out of the centre backs, but if Hector keeps playing like this you can't let him go, surely. (Getting into Leuth territory here, but one or two trying to mark him down on the Players Marks thread clearly weren't judging him on today's performance). Is Jones injured, or does NJ not fancy him? Hope it's not the latter. Same applies to Wickham. He looked very good, but we haven't seen him since. Jones' lack of transparency about injuries is beginning to get annoying if I'm honest, although I'm sure he must have his reasons.
Good game and a massive improvement on the last few appearances I remember, always liked him but never got carried away with the "too good for league one" bollocks as he has had plenty of off games at this level, theres no denying that when he's on his game he's a step above in our backline though.
Would happily keep him on over Thomas, and sign another that would be a nailed on starter leaving Jones/ Gillesphey/ Hector vying for the third and bench spot. Would even go all Leuth and use him as a bit of CDM cover and then nickname him the league one Alou Diarra.
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Hector been our best player again, like he was on Friday. Someone’s playing for a new contract!
He’s playing like someone who’s had Nathan Jones in his ear telling him to ‘curb stomp these fools’. Because I’ve seen an authoritative side of his game since Friday that I had been wanting to see the last 12 months he’s been here.
The likes of REG, Hec & Lloyd Jones would make a good back three…..problem this year is I don’t think we’ve ever had them all on the pitch at the same time.
If he won it and looked for the simple rather than killer ball - to, say, Dobson or Coventry or whoever would be ten yards in front of him - most of the time, I would be very happy.
But even then he hasn’t defended like he has the last 2 games yet this season so something has clearly changed, probably the role of middle centre back and having a competent manager. Plus an important one, not putting him in the team until he was fully fit
Does he get into either of the recent promotion teams? No, but performances like today help his case for another year's extension.
I just wouldn't be confident going into next season if that was our options is all. I think if we want to win this league, which should be our only target, we need better. None of them get in any of the current top4/5s sides I don't believe, and the league isn't going to get any weaker next season.
As for who to keep out of Hector, Thomas and Ness, I imagine wages will be a factor.
I'd like to see him alongside Jones again, as the latter is so dominant in the air - we could have done with him today for sure. REG is slightly better than Gillesphey, on recent form, but neither are all that convincing. Not sure who I'd keep out of the centre backs, but if Hector keeps playing like this you can't let him go, surely. (Getting into Leuth territory here, but one or two trying to mark him down on the Players Marks thread clearly weren't judging him on today's performance).
Is Jones injured, or does NJ not fancy him? Hope it's not the latter.
Same applies to Wickham. He looked very good, but we haven't seen him since.
Jones' lack of transparency about injuries is beginning to get annoying if I'm honest, although I'm sure he must have his reasons.
Would happily keep him on over Thomas, and sign another that would be a nailed on starter leaving Jones/ Gillesphey/ Hector vying for the third and bench spot. Would even go all Leuth and use him as a bit of CDM cover and then nickname him the league one Alou Diarra.