More than acceptable I think. Let's hope all the praise will encourage him to continue in that role; he could resurrect the the goalscoring tradition of our central defenders from corners and from (his own speciality) free kicks.
It was very noticeable how much Sido's presence enabled Harriman to get forward and, on at least one occasion, cover for JJ.
As good as Sido has been over the last three games, it has been magnified by how poor Muller and WDH have been.
It signifys how it appears Mr Ainsworth has lost confidence in the pair of them, that again we had no central defender or anyone who vaguely resembles one on the bench.
With Pierre's ankle causing his a lot of problems in recent months, i wonder who would have filled his boots, if he had to go off ? Bean,Hayes,Thommo ??????
Shame we have pretty much stumbled on this formation very late on in our season but if we can win the last two we could still have an outside chance of the play-offs. Sido is a very good centre back and should have been used in that position quite a few weeks ago.
It would be a real shame if we do miss out on the play-offs, as we definitately have the squad in place to justify a play-off spot.
With a bit of good business in the summer, we could end up with a real strong squad. Maybe look to replace; WDH, Southwell, Muller, Hayes and the Watford loanee. Try our utmost to hang onto Pierre and get Blackman back for another season.
@DevC said:
hard not to conclude that both WDH and MM are currently injured.
If you'd seen WDH play in the flesh it's pretty easy to conclude he's fit but had been been dropped from the squad and maybe league football altogether.
Muller's injury record suggests he's likely to be injured, but he was clearly even less favoured by GA so who knows.
Without making any comment on the Knobheads latest fall guy's recent playing performance, it would seem to me extremely unlikely that GA would not find a place for at least one specialist defender amongst his seven substitutes if available.
Surely if they were fit one of them would be on the bench. What would happen if Pierre was injured or Jombati sent off? Got to be worth including WDH (who I've seen play very well) in the squad as cover rather than, say, Southwell - the third choice central striker on the bench behind Thompson and Hayes.
@Blue_since_1990, strange wording there. If we win both games we'll have an AMAZING chance of the playoffs.
We're 1 point behind pal! and only 3 behind 5th!
It's not at all inconceivable that 5th place could be reigned in, but we certainly need to win 2.
A win and a draw, or one win, and then i'd say we had an "outside chance"
@DevC said:
Without making any comment on the Knobheads latest fall guy's recent playing performance, it would seem to me extremely unlikely that GA would not find a place for at least one specialist defender amongst his seven substitutes if available.
Maybe he'd rather put Bean/Gape/Wood at full back ,move JJ to CB and keep more forward thinking options on his bench. I'd genuinely be tempted to do that depending on how JJs done there in training. If a manager doesn't trust a player then he can't really pick them.
Hopefully Muller will be back fit and on the bench Saturday.
@username, surely you recognise that a centre back at league 2 has to be a lot better than JJ in the air?
Sido is pretty strong there, while JJ comes into the "good aerially for a full back" category.
@Malone said:
username, surely you recognise that a centre back at league 2 has to be a lot better than JJ in the air?
Sido is pretty strong there, while JJ comes into the "good aerially for a full back" category.
Yeah I agree he's not good enough aerially to play there every week, or even as a first choice backup, and I'd be more worried if he was paired with Sido and not the dominant Pierre. His positioning, general awareness and touch somewhat make up for that... Enough for me to be a make shift centre back for a couple of games, and certainly ahead of a non league quality player. We're not exactly flush with choices !
Malone - both Stevenage and Blackpool have winnable fixtures. Exeter have the toughest run in. All three have better goal-diff. Therefore AMAZING may just be overstating the scenario.
We seem to have lost our very own @RichardDeHavilland since Will was dropped / injured. Maybe he could update us on Will's status? A cynic might think the brother's disappearance suggests an outside chance Will has been let go early to give him more time to find a new club.
Is my memory deceiving me, or when Muller was still injured was GA and a few players suggesting he was one of the best CBs they'd ever seen at this level?
@Blue_since_1990 , do pour some more drink into that half empty cup pal.
We have a really good chance, and if we win two and don't get into the playoffs, I will personally send your choice of gasroom legend round to your place to wipe your shoes.
Comments
Hopefully Sido won't get any silly ideas and do a Sandell'.
A Sido and Stewart partnership would be acceptable if big Aaron goes.
Manys the time a player starts in one position and moves successfully to another anyone remember Paul Hyde up front born for it he was
More than acceptable I think. Let's hope all the praise will encourage him to continue in that role; he could resurrect the the goalscoring tradition of our central defenders from corners and from (his own speciality) free kicks.
It was very noticeable how much Sido's presence enabled Harriman to get forward and, on at least one occasion, cover for JJ.
As good as Sido has been over the last three games, it has been magnified by how poor Muller and WDH have been.
It signifys how it appears Mr Ainsworth has lost confidence in the pair of them, that again we had no central defender or anyone who vaguely resembles one on the bench.
With Pierre's ankle causing his a lot of problems in recent months, i wonder who would have filled his boots, if he had to go off ? Bean,Hayes,Thommo ??????
hard not to conclude that both WDH and MM are currently injured.
Shame we have pretty much stumbled on this formation very late on in our season but if we can win the last two we could still have an outside chance of the play-offs. Sido is a very good centre back and should have been used in that position quite a few weeks ago.
It would be a real shame if we do miss out on the play-offs, as we definitately have the squad in place to justify a play-off spot.
With a bit of good business in the summer, we could end up with a real strong squad. Maybe look to replace; WDH, Southwell, Muller, Hayes and the Watford loanee. Try our utmost to hang onto Pierre and get Blackman back for another season.
If you'd seen WDH play in the flesh it's pretty easy to conclude he's fit but had been been dropped from the squad and maybe league football altogether.
Muller's injury record suggests he's likely to be injured, but he was clearly even less favoured by GA so who knows.
Without making any comment on the Knobheads latest fall guy's recent playing performance, it would seem to me extremely unlikely that GA would not find a place for at least one specialist defender amongst his seven substitutes if available.
Surely if they were fit one of them would be on the bench. What would happen if Pierre was injured or Jombati sent off? Got to be worth including WDH (who I've seen play very well) in the squad as cover rather than, say, Southwell - the third choice central striker on the bench behind Thompson and Hayes.
Muller and WDH are not Stewart and Pierre...or even Sido...but they are not as bad as all that (In my opinion).
@Blue_since_1990, strange wording there. If we win both games we'll have an AMAZING chance of the playoffs.
We're 1 point behind pal! and only 3 behind 5th!
It's not at all inconceivable that 5th place could be reigned in, but we certainly need to win 2.
A win and a draw, or one win, and then i'd say we had an "outside chance"
And no-one upset about a bad run would want to play us in the semis either...not with our dark arts anti-football
Betfair are offering odds of 3/1 for the playoffs, and 10/1 for promotion.
My estimate is something like 5/1 for the playoffs and 20/1 for promotion.
Maybe he'd rather put Bean/Gape/Wood at full back ,move JJ to CB and keep more forward thinking options on his bench. I'd genuinely be tempted to do that depending on how JJs done there in training. If a manager doesn't trust a player then he can't really pick them.
Hopefully Muller will be back fit and on the bench Saturday.
Each to their own, Mr Username. Pretty sure GA would not be thinking the same way however.
If Sido can do it, I'd back JJ to as well, he's a class defender and is good enough in the air to cope IMO.
I'd rather a round peg in a square hole if the peg is decent quality.
Thank goodness you are not the manager, Mr username.
Because I'd rather not play a player I don't trust to do a competent job over one I do?
You've not even seen him play....
@username, surely you recognise that a centre back at league 2 has to be a lot better than JJ in the air?
Sido is pretty strong there, while JJ comes into the "good aerially for a full back" category.
Yeah I agree he's not good enough aerially to play there every week, or even as a first choice backup, and I'd be more worried if he was paired with Sido and not the dominant Pierre. His positioning, general awareness and touch somewhat make up for that... Enough for me to be a make shift centre back for a couple of games, and certainly ahead of a non league quality player. We're not exactly flush with choices !
Bean must be pencilled in as the emergency replacement centre back in the current squad I'd have thought.
Agree with @Chris (possibly for the first time), that Bean was the "emergency" choice the last couple of games.
Malone - both Stevenage and Blackpool have winnable fixtures. Exeter have the toughest run in. All three have better goal-diff. Therefore AMAZING may just be overstating the scenario.
We seem to have lost our very own @RichardDeHavilland since Will was dropped / injured. Maybe he could update us on Will's status? A cynic might think the brother's disappearance suggests an outside chance Will has been let go early to give him more time to find a new club.
I think that is more likely to be the case with Muller.
How long do they each have left on their contracts?
Muller was at the game Saturday sat alongside Anthony Stewart.
Is my memory deceiving me, or when Muller was still injured was GA and a few players suggesting he was one of the best CBs they'd ever seen at this level?
@Blue_since_1990 , do pour some more drink into that half empty cup pal.
We have a really good chance, and if we win two and don't get into the playoffs, I will personally send your choice of gasroom legend round to your place to wipe your shoes.