BensGrandad
New member
The Large One said:Rents is FAR to inexperienced still at present. As I said earlier, to only have Rents and Cobbs (the latter being quite away off joining up with the first-team squad according to someone at the club) leaves the left-back slot hopelessly under-covered. Playing Joel Lynch at left-back is a tragic waste of his excellent talents in the centre of defence.
Incidentally, giving Butters another year is the most obvious shoe-in of a decision Wilkins would have to consider. Effectively, Lynch is the one to make the tackles, do the work and bully the forwards. Butters' role is to mop up - something he does very effectively. I'm over-simplifying, but you see what I mean. What I think Richie was commenting on was what he felt Butters should have been doing, even though what he was really commenting on was Lynch's job. The job for the pair of them was made much easier towards the end of the season with Bertin playing just in front of them so well.
However, Bertin's apparent lack of form for the last three or four games was, for me, down to the fact that he was doing both his job and the role Hammond would have fulfilled, but which was not done so effectively by El-Abd. El-Abd's role next season ought to be what Bertin's role is now - assuming Bertin buggers off.
Next season, I am very much look forward to the central midfield pairing of Hammond and Reid. Assuming they can play somewhere near their best, it should be quite good.
That's one way I see things panning out.
Doctor please help I am agreeing with TLO.
Both Rents and Cobb are not quite ready to be classed as the No 1 left back.
Mayo on most occassions is acceptable but not bad enough to make the signing of a left back a priority.
Butters will continue to educate and bring on Lynch and may even be pushed to hold his place by Hinshlewood, fingers crossed, and in whatever capacity will aid our defence and improve the players around him.
Reid coming back will aid the midfield either with or without Bertin.
The one signing I would make is Steve Fletcher from Bournemouth, although 34 years old he is an experienced workhorse target man that we need to bring out the best in our other young strikers.
Savage holds the ball up well but for me he holds it up for too long and allows defenders to get back.