Bertin on trial at.....

[BensGrandad]

I think that El Abd or Fraser will be able to play the role of defensive midfielder shielding the back four sufficiently for us this season. My concern is more about who will provide the creativity to enable Forster to score the goals. Hammon, Reid, Cox, Robinson?

 

[Beach Hut]

Also El Abd feigns injury so badly he will receive red cards at some point

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Neither El Abd nor Fraser has the touch or control to play in midfield. They may be disruptive and may sometimes get the ball - but when the ball goes to them it will be 50:50 whether we retain possesion.

 

[y2dave]

Neither El Abd nor Fraser has the touch or control to play in midfield. They may be disruptive and may sometimes get the ball - but when the ball goes to them it will be 50:50 whether we retain possesion.

Disagree with you on El-Abd, from what i've seen he does have composure and skill on the ball. He certainly looked an effective midfielder in some of our best performances last season. Sort certain aspects of his attitude and he should do very well for us at this level.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Disagree with you on El-Abd, from what i've seen he does have composure and skill on the ball. He certainly looked an effective midfielder in some of our best performances last season. Sort certain aspects of his attitude and he should do very well for us at this level.

I hope you are right. To me he has the look of fear when in possession. It does not have to be a problem at this level if his fellow midfield work hard to be available, but the temptation can be to launch it.

I like Fraser - I like his energy and commitment. But watching him in the warm-ups at the end of last season when they were passing the ball around was a bit alarming. Gattings control was very good in comparison.

 

[Silent Bob]

If he thinks a trial at Luton is a step up, then f*** him, I don't want the fella.

I doubt it's that, more likely the French club he was with didn't take him...

 

[SNOOBS]

El Abd is not, and never will be, a midfielder. He lacks the awareness, speed of thought, pace, and most of all skill to play in a midfield role. I quite like him as a defender, and would keep him on that basis, but never as a midfielder. We desperately need a new signing here.

Thats a little harsh, especially as a holding midfielder doesn't necessarily need great pace and that I think a defender needs more pace. Look at some of the top DM's, Makelele, Gilberto, Mascharaeno, Gattuso, none of them have great pace. One thing El-abd does have in common with those is he would never bottle a challenge, he rarely gives the ball away and plays it simple.

 

[Easy 10]

Not bothered reading this whole thread, but my two penneth.

Bertin wasnt a bad player, and it would have been preferable to retain him. But I just don\'t think he was as good as many are making out. He was a steady, competent defensive midfielder, fairly tidy. But lets not go overboard, he wasn\'t exactly a lynchpin of the team was he. I\'ve seen El-Abd stand out more in that role on occasion (and I can\'t STAND him now). Bertin was ok, but he\'s far from the irreplacable driving force of the team some people seem to have had him pegged as. I think half the time nowadays we\'re so overjoyed at seeing a new player in the team whos actually started shaving, we\'re quick to bestow far too much credence to anyone even semi-decent. Lets not forget, since the turn of the year we have were absolute TOILET last season with him in the side. Now that wasnt not Bertins fault obviously, but hes hardly an essential cog gone missing now is he.

 

[Giraffe]

I heard he was signing for Ipswich?

 

[B.W.]

I think that El Abd or Fraser will be able to play the role of defensive midfielder shielding the back four sufficiently for us this season. My concern is more about who will provide the creativity to enable Forster to score the goals. Hammon, Reid, Cox, Robinson?

Fraser, maybe... El-Abd never...

 

[NMH]

el-Abd is one of our best players, fact, end of, cackbadger and fixtures.

 

[Scotty Mac]

el-abd is NOT a central midfield player. him playing in that role last season was more out of desparation than anything else

hisb est performances last season came early on when he was playing at the back - he will not get in ahead of whing this time though, and certainly not ahead of lynch, butters or a fit hinshlewood

if he gets fit, i would like to see hinshlewood in that role. he wins the ball as el abd does, but he has so much more composure, better distribution and better positioning

 

[andybaha]

Fraser needs to be given a chance in central midfield, not shoved out on the wing which is clearly not his position. He has played a couple of friendlies in the centre of defense. I wonder if this to sharpen his defensive midfield qualities.

 

[BensGrandad]

Nobody is expecting El Abd to play as a normal central midfielder but to play 10 yards in front of the back four, which I am sure that he could do admirably. He can tackle, he is reasonable in the air and he plays simple balls to others so where is the problem.

Hinsh could do the same job but will his knees stand up to it.

 

[Silent Bob]

hisb est performances last season came early on when he was playing at the back - he will not get in ahead of whing this time though, and certainly not ahead of lynch, butters or a fit hinshlewood

Did they?
I seem to recall a mistake against Brentford costing us three points, and him getting sent off at Forest.

El-Abd is a useful utility player, he's an ok rightback but he can't go forward, he's an ok centreback but isn't actually that great in the air and gets caught out positionally,he's an ok defensive midfielder but not great on the ball or positionally, and will get booked a lot.
He's useful backup in all those positions but that's what he should be, backup, we need someone better for all of them (as we do in CB and RB).

 

[Barrel of Fun]

El-Abd cost us two points vs Brentford I think. Henderson may also have been to blame though as there seemed to be some hesitation on both parts.

I think Fraser can do a decent job in the centre in front of the back four. He can certainly break up play and is tireless.

 

[Stoaty Ferret]

http://www.luton.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=75376

Looks like Bertin failed to impress at Luton.

 

[Yorkie]

http://www.luton.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=75376

Looks like Bertin failed to impress at Luton.

I wonder if he has been a silly boy, turning us down because he felt he could do better and now can't find anywhere.
The grass isn't greener.

 

[ditchy]

I wonder if he has been a silly boy, turning us down because he felt he could do better and now can't find anywhere.
The grass isn't greener.

If Dw liked him why not just say .. "ok you looked elsewhere now come back here " or do you think pride may get in the way from both parties !

 

[Yorkie]

If Dw liked him why not just say .. "ok you looked elsewhere now come back here " or do you think pride may get in the way from both parties !

Who knows?