Anyone else not really understanding what the Dicker hype is all about?

[SittingbourneSeagull]

News flash- We are an average league one side. These are the players we can attract/afford at the moment.

And before you accuse me of it, I am not happy with being an average League One side, but they are the circumstances, so I can either be a moaning git like some posters on here and moan my life away, or be realistic. Things will improve, but it will take time.

 

[HP Seagull]

Haha, Crofts is "excellent"? Tell me another one! He runs around a lot, he makes the occasional tackle and not a lot else. He doesn't run with the ball, he doesn't shoot, he doesn't get forward, he doesn't make any good passes, he's not an exceptionally tough player. Just a league one/two jack of all trades, master of none. Nowhere even vaguely close to being good enough for a team with any ambition of the championship. He doesn't embarrass himself, I'll admit that, but he doesn't bring anything to the party either.

Just give it up mate. Please! I think you probably just enjoy stirring up a bit of debate, which is fair enough, and I would imagine even you must realise that Cofts is now a vital part of our side, just as much as Dicker.

In League 1, TO HAVE ANY AMBITION OF GETTING OUT OF IT, you need a battler in the midfield such as Crofts. Most if not all of the criticisms you level at Crofts; that he doesn't get forward, doesn't shoot, doesn't pass, are wrong and can probably even be aimed more at Dicker.

 

[SittingbourneSeagull]

We spent £1.5 million this summer - did you miss that?! We may be a (below) average team, but these are NOT the best we can afford. Maybe in days gone by, but right now bearing in mind how much cash we've thrown at wingers/strikers/defenders I'd have thought a £250k-ish investment in a leader in the middle of the park would be the most important money we could have spent.

How much did Dicker cost, thought he was our leader in the middle.

 

[Withdean Wanderer]

Oh behave, don't make out I'm going over the top when Dicker IS all those things you've listed. He's a quality defensive midfielder at this level - end of story. Crofts - attacking? Feel free to name me all those great attacking moves he's been part of then..... Facts are the only thing you might consider a "strength" (and only on a very good day) is his tackling, which makes him a defensive player. And Dicker is much better at it. Hence we need to dump Crofts and get someone with an eye for a creative pass. Thornhill was meant to be that man but he's been shit too. What is it with us and rubbish midfielders?

You've highlighted the problem there with the words "quality defensive midfielder at this level".

No, he's not. Because he does next to f*** all defending. Look closely, and you'll see the defence have clearly had it drummed into them to make sure they stop the aimless hoofing, and give it to Dicker, who in turn generally feeds it to one of the other 3 midfielders. That's all he does. He doesn't do any of the defensive work, and that's the problem. He's got the ability to do the attacking play, but he just doesnt get forward either. Anyone who thinks he's a defensive midfielder isn't watching the game properly - I made a point of noting Dicker's game yesterday and he won one tackle. For a central midfielder, that's pretty poor really.

Crofts trys to play a sort of "Gerrard role", getting back to do defensive work and bombing forward when opportunity arises. Problem is, his ability is limited in the final third.

For me, either Dicker's ability needs to be made use of going forward, or we need to bring a new attacking midfielder in for one of them to play alongside, because aside from a few runs from Crofts per game, there's bugger all in the final third.

 

[SittingbourneSeagull]

You've highlighted the problem there with the words "quality defensive midfielder at this level".

No, he's not. Because he does next to f*** all defending. Look closely, and you'll see the defence have clearly had it drummed into them to make sure they stop the aimless hoofing, and give it to Dicker, who in turn generally feeds it to one of the other 3 midfielders. That's all he does. He doesn't do any of the defensive work, and that's the problem. He's got the ability to do the attacking play, but he just doesnt get forward either. Anyone who thinks he's a defensive midfielder isn't watching the game properly - I made a point of noting Dicker's game yesterday and he won one tackle. For a central midfielder, that's pretty poor really.

Crofts trys to play a sort of "Gerrard role", getting back to do defensive work and bombing forward when opportunity arises. Problem is, his ability is limited in the final third.

For me, either Dicker's ability needs to be made use of going forward, or we need to bring a new attacking midfielder in for one of them to play alongside, because aside from a few runs from Crofts per game, there's bugger all in the final third.

I agree to an extent. Yesterday we were exposed several times having lost the ball in midfield. Hartlepool broke at pace and in numbers and our midfield were usually trailing behind them, leaving the defence unprotected. We could really do with a Bertain/Racon type midfielder who can tackle and is happy to sit in front of the defence.

 

[Chicken Runner61]

I agree to an extent. Yesterday we were exposed several times having lost the ball in midfield. Hartlepool broke at pace and in numbers and our midfield were usually trailing behind them, leaving the defence unprotected. We could really do with a Bertain/Racon type midfielder who can tackle and is happy to sit in front of the defence.

With our defence would you be really happy sitting in front

 

[SittingbourneSeagull]

Dicker is about 22 year old. Crofts is about 27 and has played far more games than Dicker. Crofts clearly should be the leader but he couldn't lead me to a bath with Michel Kuipers and Lewis Hamilton lying naked inside and shouting my name. Dicker is, for me, the perfect "second" midfielder. If we had the leader/creative type who could dominate the game then Dicker's neat play would look even better. Asking Dicker to do it ALL is unfair because as good as he is he's not a 'run the game' player. We should invest in someone to partner him - Richard Carpenter style.



When did age have any relevance when discussing ability.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

Crofts "bombs forward" and gets involved in the action? No, watch him, he really doesn't. Dicker CARRIES Crofts because Crofts is just so off the pace it's unreal. The number of times he actually touches the ball is pathetic.

QUOTE]

I think what we need to remember about CB is that after one game (yes one game) he had decided that Crofts wasn't good enough to play for Brighton. Therefore he has to continue this risible charade of attacking Crofts regardless the same way he is stuck with defending Michel "shot stopper , crap at everything else" Kuipers.

 

[Silent Bob]

I think looking at simple goals and assists for players doesn't really tell the whole story. I'd also dispute that Dicker only won one tackle yesterday but, not having a time machine there's no way to prove that, people see what they see, besides which I'd argue that is not the primary reason he's in the team. Gary Dicker makes us play. It's that simple. He is by far the best and most intelligent passer of the ball at the club now, or for many years. The players can give him the ball and he will put it on a sixpence for someone in a good position. Bennett got two assists yesterday, and generally played very well, because he's quality, but how many times was it a great Dicker pass that set him off? Loads. We've got some good forward players but if you've got a midfield of Navarro and Crofts they're not going to see enough of the ball in the right places to make any impact. Dicker is crucial to our team.