Fonda
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Post by Fonda on Mar 23, 2009 13:27:21 GMT
Might I point you towards Greavies blog tonight for a further insight about how he feels about centre halves. He was clearly extremely pleased to have Toddy back (on and off the pitch) - perhaps far moreso than any concern over losing Steve Woods - for whom he simply offered the nomal adios platitudes in his earlier post. With Toddy there clearly seems more genuine concern/relief/approval/pleasure. Do you think it's possible that has something to do with Toddy having overcome a very serious illness in the recent past, as much as his footballing ability? Football is pretty insignificant when compared to that kind of battle after-all. Just to speculate further, anyone else find it slightly strange that Manse hasn't featured in the starting 11 since Woodsie departed? It was obvious from their on-field banter that the two of them are pretty close. And Manse has been a virtual ever-present in the last couple of seasons. Could be pure coincidence i suppose. |
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merse
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Post by merse on Mar 23, 2009 14:45:49 GMT
Just to speculate further, anyone else find it slightly strange that Manse hasn't featured in the starting 11 since Woodsie departed?  In a nutshell Fonda, NO! ..................but if you look on "another site" you'll find a lot of rather juvenile posters hawking such rubbish. Ever considered that Mansell was starting to make a few costly mistakes as regards basic defending that might well be subconscious due to "fatigue/staleness" ? Last season you were advocating using the FULL SQUAD regardless of the inadequacies of some of the fringe players, now there are no such weaknesses you react to the use of the squad with conspiracy theories that are at best dreamed up in the back of the Travel Club coach on the motorway and at worst yet another example of looking for the negative rather than the positive. How long before a "Woods for Manager" campaign?  |
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Fonda
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Post by Fonda on Mar 23, 2009 14:57:54 GMT
I'm sure that, as ever Merse, you are correct.
And yes, i have long since advocated the use of the full squad, to alleviate tiredness and to keep the squad players match-fit.
What i've never advocated though (unless you'd care to prove me wrong), is the resting/dropping of players when there is no adequate replacement within the squad. Robbo is an excellent centre-back, but he'll never look comfortable at right-back however much he's played there.
I've seen suggestion Robbo played there to add to our attacking potency from dead-balls?! Since when has that been the primary concern of the defence? Robbo should have been in the side - alongside Toddy or Hodges in the centre of the defence.
I'm sure what you say is accurate. Manse has been 'rested'. Despite not having been 'rested' once in the last 2 seasons. When exactly did he appear 'fatigued' to you?
Like i said, pure coincidence i'm sure.
By the way, if he has indeed been 'rested', and you fully support that decision, does it follow you think i was right to advocate such use of the sqaud all that time ago? Because i'm struggling to recall you saying so.
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merse
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Post by merse on Mar 23, 2009 15:23:09 GMT
What I've never advocated though (unless you'd care to prove me wrong), is the resting/dropping of players when there is no adequate replacement within the squad. Robbo is an excellent centre-back, but he'll never look comfortable at right-back however much he's played there. I've seen suggestion Robbo played there to add to our attacking potency from dead-balls?! I'm sure what you say is accurate. Manse has been 'rested'. Despite not having been 'rested' once in the last 2 seasons. When exactly did he appear 'fatigued' to you? By the way, if he has indeed been 'rested', and you fully support that decision, does it follow you think i was right to advocate such a move all that time ago? I'm sure Robbo at fullback offers another towering defender to defend re-starts rather than attack them, that certainly IS the main function of a defender. I didn't say Mansell "appeared" fatigued, I said his errors lately might have been construed the result of that by the manager. You most certainly NOT right to advocate the over use of Benyon last season, nor Stevens and certainly not Danny Feckin' Wring as you did. The first two are still developing as players whilst the third is best forgotten about, for instance just where is he now? Nicholson was rested at the start of the season and it wasn't such a big deal despite the usual suspects reading it as a portent of his imminent departure and as you say, Mansell has had a break for nearly two years so one right now won't do him any harm. I'm sure lessons have been taken on board from last season's end of campaign staleness and every effort being made to ensure we enter the play offs or challenge for the title in the best condition (mentally and physically) possible. |
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Fonda
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Post by Fonda on Mar 23, 2009 15:33:04 GMT
I'm sure Robbo at fullback offers another towering defender to defend re-starts rather than attack them, that certainly IS the main function of a defender. I didn't say Mansell "appeared" fatigued, I said his errors lately might have been construed the result of that by the manager. You most certainly NOT right to advocate the over use of Benyon last season, nor Stevens and certainly not Danny Feckin' Wring as you did. The first two are still developing as players whilst the third is best forgetting about, for instance just where is he now? Nicholson was rested at the start of the season and it wasn't such a big deal despite then usual suspects reading it as a portent of his imminent departure and as you say, Mansell has had a break for nearly two years so one right now won't do him any harm. I'm sure lessons have been taken on board from last season's end of campaign staleness and every effort being made to ensure we enter the play offs or challenge for the title in the best condition (mentally and physically) possible. I did think Danny Wring had something to offer. But would concede that judging by his current status, there is something within his make-up stopping him from fulfilling his potential - he wouldn't be the first for whom that is true. Perhaps he's not as dedicated as others? I don't know. I maintain he has the ability. I've never been a huge advocate of Danny Stevens, so i'm not sure where that suggestion has come from. Benyon is a clinical finisher, and nothing i've witnessed this season leads me to believe my assessment of his quality was wrong. What have you seen that proves otherwise? Nicho wasn't 'rested' at the start of the season. Bucks was trying to make use of one of his (likely expensive) summer aquisitions. Had Hodges performed there, Nicho wouldn't have got a look-in this season. I suppose either Robbo has suddenly become a more competent right-back than he was at this time last year, or Bucks has just seen the benefits of a degree of squad rotation. Greavsie next...? |
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merse
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Post by merse on Mar 23, 2009 16:03:36 GMT
Benyon is a clinical finisher, and nothing i've witnessed this season leads me to believe my assessment of his quality was wrong. What have you seen that proves otherwise? Nicho wasn't 'rested' at the start of the season. Bucks was trying to make use of one of his (likely expensive) summer aquisitions. Had Hodges performed there, Nicho wouldn't have got a look-in this season. Whilst I'm surprised that the manager has felt able to give Benyon so long to come up to standard, the player certainly has potential and that precious ability to sniff chances. His all round play last season precluded his regular use but his undoubted hard work and the patience of the coaching staff has paid dividends. Of course Nicho was rested, he'd just completed an ever present season followed by an international summer tour..............he needed one, he needed to sharpen up and he needed the stimulus of a rival for his position. A player like Nico with his regular assists record will never be dispensible..................well not in the BSP anyway! |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Mar 23, 2009 17:58:30 GMT
Fonda how dare you post I'm sure that, as ever Merse, you are correct. I spend half my time on here trying to prove he is not  For what it is worth, I was told Mansell had been dropped as he was unhappy that Woods was moved on(mind you he is still at the club and has not as yet excepted a pay-off, as he may choose to try and go out on loan). I do not know if that is true, but if it was a case he was being rested, then the last two games would have been a perfect time to do that. Barrow at home was a game we would have expected to win and then playing a team who has not scored at home since last October was surely another one, where we would not have expected to be troubled at the back. That turned out not to be the case on Saturday and it did sound as if he were not defending too well at times, so Mansell must start our next game for me. Jmgull felt that having Robertson, Hodges and Todd in the side, gave us a bigger threat in the opponents box, but I have to agree with enzo when he says If you pick defenders on the basis of their goal scoring ability then, over the course of a season you will have lost more goals than you gain. If you have defenders who can pose an extra threat at corners and set pieces, then that will be a big bonus, but the first and most important job they have to do is defend. If it was a case that Bucks wanted that extra threat and don't forget Ellis is good in the air, then why have we not been playing Hodges, Robertson and Ellis as our main defenders. I still believe we will miss Woods at the back, but fully agree that the team still look fresh unlike this time last season and that fact alone may play a big part in us going up. |
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merse
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Post by merse on Mar 23, 2009 18:31:44 GMT
Fonda how dare you post I'm sure that, as ever Merse, you are correct. I spend half my time on here trying to prove he is not Well I'm not so serious about myself to believe that Dave, so I don't see why you should be! I don't give a monkeys whether or not Mansell is upset about Woods leaving, as long as he does his job out there on the training ground and on the pitch if selected, that's the professionalism we are looking for. I've known players who have been "sharing a wife", players who don't speak to one another, players who owed hundreds of pounds to team mates and players who have accused team mates of theft all manage (and "no" not necessarily at Plainmoor!) to put aside their animosity for one another to put on a professional performance that satisfied their manager, the fans and their team mates. That's what professionalism is..................doing one's best in the circumstances, and it's the least we expect of our players. Whilst one cannot expect ALL the players to get on with ALL the others, no-one can deny that OUR club displays a remarkable example of team spirit and will to succeed out there on the pitch. |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Apr 3, 2009 18:18:01 GMT
Sorry Chris Hayes in posting on this thread again, but I'm surprised no one else has updated it.
Woods has accepted a financial settlement and terminated his contract with the club, as he has said he does not wish to go out on loan,to avoid the risk of picking up an injury which might affect his prospects of a permanent move during the summer.
Good luck Steve and I think many will be voting for you as the player of the season, if they do I hope it is only because they believe you were and not because you have left, under what some may say was a cloud.
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Apr 14, 2009 12:04:28 GMT
I see that Steve Woods is leading the voting (at the moment) for Player of the Season (source - official site).
The reason that Tim Sills hasn't scored over the last two games is, he got my vote or as it's known 'The Kiss of Death'
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Post by jmgull on Apr 14, 2009 15:07:28 GMT
...Yep i voted Sillsy as well.
Really would be an embarrasing kick in the nuts for the management if Woods wins...
8 years or not.....how does a "reasonable" centre half win p.o.t.y when he will only have played about half the matches this season.
...These kind of awards should either be taken seriously or not bothered with and shouldn't be used as a stick to beat the management with.
a complete joke if he wins....
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Post by ospelgull on Apr 14, 2009 15:54:40 GMT
a complete joke if he wins.... Who, the competition itself or the fans who voted for Woods?  Woods has been a good servant, nothing more and nothing less. I'm going for Sills or Hargreaves. Both have been irreplaceable this season. |
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merse
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Post by merse on Apr 14, 2009 16:04:30 GMT
8 years or not.....how does a "reasonable" centre half win p.o.t.y when he will only have played about half the matches this season. ...These kind of awards should either be taken seriously or not bothered with and shouldn't be used as a stick to beat the management with. a complete joke if he wins.... That's why I've NEVER voted in them Justin, just to listen to some of the crap one hears at games leads me to despair of any sensible result arising out of an annual farce that has categorically been rigged in the past. There have been a few "winners" who have been the absolute last player the manager himself would have put forward over the years, and a few who have actively been disposed of by their bosses. I'm not tarring EVERY winner with the same brush, but there's been far too many over the years for the annual award not to be severely tarnished. |
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Fonda
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Post by Fonda on Apr 14, 2009 17:16:04 GMT
Steve Woods certainly should not recieve any kind of 'sympathy vote'. And of course nobody should be so flippant as to vote for him as a means to have a dig at the decision to release him. But the fact is, he was an integral part of the side and it's quite reasonable to think people might want to vote for him for that reason alone. The fact he's left now shouldn't deter people from voting for him. If anyone thinks he was the most important member of the team this season, he should be awarded that recognition - and i'm sure the rest of the squad would agree with that. He was in my own 'top 3'.
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Post by jimd on Apr 14, 2009 17:34:21 GMT
Who cares if it is the last player the manager would put forward.
Its a fans vote not a management vote.
People will vote for their favorite player not the managers preferred player.
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