Our Championship Rivals

Victoria Swan

Key Player
Back to @Behindthegoal's question and @CroJack's appraisal. I don't think Naughton is good enough (gives the ball away too much and tends to fade at the end of games but we could platoon him for a quarter season with Latibeaudiere) nor is Bidwell (not enough technical ability or speed as a Premier League wing back) and Woodman is definitely not good enough (remove that ? next to his name @CroJack!). Otherwise I largely agree with the appraisal. THE most important player to retain will require us to really spend big and we should - buy GUEHI! If we can do with Morris what we did with Lowe we might find we have our Premier League #9 already in house.
 

Jackflash

Midfield General
Staff member
Back to @Behindthegoal's question and @CroJack's appraisal. I don't think Naughton is good enough (gives the ball away too much and tends to fade at the end of games but we could platoon him for a quarter season with Latibeaudiere) nor is Bidwell (not enough technical ability or speed as a Premier League wing back) and Woodman is definitely not good enough (remove that ? next to his name @CroJack!). Otherwise I largely agree with the appraisal. THE most important player to retain will require us to really spend big and we should - buy GUEHI! If we can do with Morris what we did with Lowe we might find we have our Premier League #9 already in house.
I think Bidwell has played a big part in where we are in the league, responsible for our last three points, imo. among the best crossers of the ball we've ever had. Fail to see what technical ability he's fails at. Any wingback needs a good overlapping partner. Taylor, as bad as he was on times, complimented Sinclair down the left, they had a great understanding between them.
 

Victoria Swan

Key Player
Fail to see what technical ability he's fails at.
I agree he has delivered some excellent crosses but he doesn't have the intricate footwork to weave into the box or take him down the tightrope of the sideline to the byline and deliver the cutback pass. Also, too often he fails to trap the ball dead with a pass from the back line, letting the opposition defender in to steal the ball.
 

Jackflash

Midfield General
Staff member
Can't say I've noticed his inability to kill a ball from a pass, plus how often is that necessary, as I pointed out progress down the line is normally achieved by overlapping.
 

CroJack

Key Player
Bidwell has most assists so far. Seven assists, more precisely. He is an excellent crosser and a fighter. He often throws his body on the line to block opposition shots, and he blocks many crosses. He wins many aerial duels, and more and more cuts inside and shoots. We play with wing-backs because we want assists from crosses, and our wing-backs have more than half of all our assists this season. We've got our Andy Robinson and Alexander-Arnold in the Championship. He is not perfect, but I wouldn't change him for any other wing-back in the league, apart from Roberts.

Screenshot 2021-02-18 at 21.12.15.png
 

CroJack

Key Player
I agree he has delivered some excellent crosses but he doesn't have the intricate footwork to weave into the box or take him down the tightrope of the sideline to the byline and deliver the cutback pass. Also, too often he fails to trap the ball dead with a pass from the back line, letting the opposition defender in to steal the ball.
You are right about his technical abilities. He is not a dribbler, but he is a specialist. And a damn good one. Just imagine how many of his perfect crosses would be converted into goals if we had Llorente as our striker?
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
Bidwell is a WB not a winger. He is not going to be beating defenders with trickery or balls out speed (although it might from time to time). He doesn't have a right foot that he's demonstrated, so he's not going to cut inside and drill one

Similarly, Roberts is a WB not a winger. He is also not going to be beating defenders trickery or balls out speed (although it might from time to time). Roberts does have something of a left foot and has scored a number of goals with it - he's not shy at all at having a go.

Roberts is also a tad more "nuts" than Bidwell as demonstrated in the Forest game with his goal.

Bidwell does have the balance, composure, control and technical ability to ping a cross under most circumstances. He finds his target - more than can be said for many. Bidwell is our assist leader with 7; Roberts second with 5. Bidwell has scored 1; Roberts 3.

I don't think we can ask for more from either Bidwell or Roberts. Since arriving Bidwell has become a very, very solid player; and is every much an athlete as is Roberts. Bidwell does a tremendous amount of work.

Looking back over the last 10 years we have played many LBs and only one LWB (Bidwell) - not the same position at all. I would rate our LBs/LWBs in order as: Davies; Bidwell; Kingsley; Taylor. But, frankly I don't think Davies does anything more / better than Bidwell.

I haven't included Jazz in that list, but he was also IMHO a respectable FB (not a WB since he only played in a back 4).
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
Bidwell has most assists so far. Seven assists, more precisely. He is an excellent crosser and a fighter. He often throws his body on the line to block opposition shots, and he blocks many crosses. He wins many aerial duels, and more and more cuts inside and shoots. We play with wing-backs because we want assists from crosses, and our wing-backs have more than half of all our assists this season. We've got our Andy Robinson and Alexander-Arnold in the Championship. He is not perfect, but I wouldn't change him for any other wing-back in the league, apart from Roberts.

That's an interesting table .... tells a story ... no Lowe. Why? Why hasn't Lowe created at least one goal for a team mate? I find that odd.
 

IanABS94

Key Player
That's an interesting table .... tells a story ... no Lowe. Why? Why hasn't Lowe created at least one goal for a team mate? I find that odd.
Lowe has not created a goal yet this season which when I think about it doesn't surprise me. Lowe is a very one dimensional player; he's got some pace and until recently was finishing well. He has a decent ability of being in the right position to finish off chances but otherwise he doesn't offer much. He doesn't link up play very well, not someone who will drop deep to help build up the play nor does he really create opportunities for others.

Not a bad Championship player but I feel like Morris can offer more overall than Lowe can. Lowe has the fitness right now though over Morris so it will be interesting to see how the run in looks when Morris gains full fitness.
 

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Derby had a goal disallowed for a so-called foul on that over protected species the keeper. Pundits agreed that it was no foul and that the goal should have stood. Fcuking typical!! Refs will do us even when we're not frigging playing. :mad:
 
Top Bottom