Unless we have a decent defence we will have to employ the 'Newcastle tactic' to win games, and that only works when you have an exceptionally proficient attacking unit.
Ultimately, their defence still cost them the number one spot - so it only still works up to a point!
We all want to see a goalfest with nice football, but if every time we score, we concede, we will still have an unsuccessful season.
I like Solly too but fear he is just too small for professional football in the lower leagues. Not his fault but there it is.
Sorry grumps but that's absolute rubbish. At 5'9, he's the same height as Perry who played at CB and made a pretty good career out of it too.Height is not important as a full back. I played for 20 years as a left back and my mate who played RB was only 5'2 yet one of the best and most consistant at that level. Chris powell is only 2 inches taller than Solly. What do we want then 6ft+ across the back four?
Solly will be fine. Have to remember last season was the closest he's got to getting a run in the team - with a run of games he will keep getting better. Not even made 15 starts for us yet. He's never even been out on loan, probably because by the time he was old enough he was good enough to be back up for the first team.
Alan wright remember him, fine full back who was quite small but excellent In every game I ever saw him play in, a full back rely's on positioning and his ability to read the winger, height invariably is not the most important asset,
We are also not talking about a player who is 4ft nowt, solly is an average height fella,
If thats the case, i hope that we all get behind him. It's amazing what it can do for a players confidence when he's not getting booed by his own fans.
Francis is a man to watch according to Eddie Youds if I recall an interview he gave a few weeks back. I don't get some of the abuse aimed at him on here.
Sorry grumps but that's absolute rubbish. At 5'9, he's the same height as Perry who played at CB and made a pretty good career out of it too.Height is not important as a full back.
Take your point and I am not trying to rubbish a good young player.
We just looked so vulnerable from set pieces and aerial assaults last season and he did get bashed about a bit.
I'm expecting at least one of the booboy targets from last year to have a blinder of a season this year. Probably more likely to be Benson than Francis, but we'll see...
Francis had no pre-season last year so was always playing catchup. I think he'll be better this season.
I'm expecting at least one of the booboy targets from last year to have a blinder of a season this year. Probably more likely to be Benson than Francis, but we'll see...
Francis had no pre-season last year so was always playing catchup. I think he'll be better this season.
Pre-season has nothing to do with not being able to defend or pass.
I'm expecting at least one of the booboy targets from last year to have a blinder of a season this year. Probably more likely to be Benson than Francis, but we'll see...
Francis had no pre-season last year so was always playing catchup. I think he'll be better this season.
Pre-season has nothing to do with not being able to defend or pass.
Good point, i'm trying to look for positves but clutching straws.
If Solly's 5'9" then I'm a Dutchman. 5'7" more like it. Doesn't need to be any taller than that for a full back though anyway - Alan Wright was outstanding for Villa for years and he was only 5'4"
If we could move Francis and McOxo on we would. Dont think either will feature in CPs plans. Wouldnt be surprised is McOxo has been told as much. If we get further cover in at right back Francis will be told the same.
If Solly's 5'9" then I'm a Dutchman. 5'7" more like it. Doesn't need to be any taller than that for a full back though anyway - Alan Wright was outstanding for Villa for years and he was only 5'4"
Players are a lot taller now.
But I like Solly, smaller players need to develop other skills to compete and things like reading the game and anticipating are equally important. At the other end of the park Darren Bent was not the tallest of strikers, yet he scored quite a few goals with his head. For Germany Miroslav Klose has virtually no physical presence, but the number of goals he too has scored with headers is phenomenal. Heading a football isn't just about being 6ft plus but timing your run and jump.
If Solly's 5'9" then I'm a Dutchman. 5'7" more like it. Doesn't need to be any taller than that for a full back though anyway - Alan Wright was outstanding for Villa for years and he was only 5'4"
Yes, but he rather more the exception that proves the rule - how many other players have had a successful career at full back and been that short?
I like Solly and think he has potential, but it would be silly to suggest that teams won't see his height as a potential weakness and try to isolate him a against a big man a stick crosses onto his post. It's up to Solly to prove he's got enough about him to deal with that - you don;t have to be dominant in the air, just have the nouce to know how to position yourself so you 'do enough' to put strikers off. I'm quite happy with the idea that Solly is going into the season as first choice, but I haven't seen enough to be convinced by him yet so I;d be happier if we had another option should it not work out, plus he's been injured a fair amount in his fledgling career.
Francis may improve with some guidance from Powell, but frankly I don't see anyone knocking his overly casual nature out him and unless that happens he'll remain error prone and we'd be better served by someone else. That said, if it's a choice of keep Francis and get a quick centre back or ditch Francis and do without the centre back we should definitely keep Francis.
According to Deadred Solly is 5'8'' because he was the same height as me when I met him as a guest of the match sponsors against Bournemouth in the first home game last year when he was voted man of the match. Size at full back is not so crucial as the central defenders and there are numerous exceptions to the height rule. However those of you with coaching badges will be familiar with the SWIVEL (no rude remarks please) system whereby whichever wing you are being attacked from the opposite full back tucks in and becomes a makeshift central defender and height is obviously important but not the be all and end all. As BFR points out its also about timing and the spring of your jump. Francis has the height but never seems to want to win a header. I am sure we all remeber RadostinKishishev when he first came to us and Curbs played him at right back. He got mugged off nearly every time with a deep cross to the far post because he wasnt that tall and heading wasn't his strong point hence the opposition played on that. Eventually found his niche in midfield but at full back he was a liability. IMHO Solly gets in there and makes up for his lack of height with his positional play spring in his jump and timing. Here endeth the lesson on full back play!
You can do without height at full back if you are still strong physically. I like Solly, but I do worry about him physically at the back stick dealing with crosses.
Too late now Off it he's back in training why don't you take Francis or Mcoxo instead it won't make much difference to them. Then again I expect you like to enjoy yourself.
Comments
Very much agree with you, Grumpy.
Unless we have a decent defence we will have to employ the 'Newcastle tactic' to win games, and that only works when you have an exceptionally proficient attacking unit.
Ultimately, their defence still cost them the number one spot - so it only still works up to a point!
We all want to see a goalfest with nice football, but if every time we score, we concede, we will still have an unsuccessful season.
We can only hope that as a defender himself SCP is saving the best till last.
I like Solly too but fear he is just too small for professional football in the lower leagues. Not his fault but there it is.
We are also not talking about a player who is 4ft nowt, solly is an average height fella,
Sorry grumps but that's absolute rubbish. At 5'9, he's the same height as Perry who played at CB and made a pretty good career out of it too.Height is not important as a full back.
Take your point and I am not trying to rubbish a good young player.
We just looked so vulnerable from set pieces and aerial assaults last season and he did get bashed about a bit.
Reading between the lines, considering we had a bid for magnus rejected earlier in the summer, perhaps we moved on to second choice Taylor.
Pre-season has nothing to do with not being able to defend or pass.
Players are a lot taller now.
But I like Solly, smaller players need to develop other skills to compete and things like reading the game and anticipating are equally important. At the other end of the park Darren Bent was not the tallest of strikers, yet he scored quite a few goals with his head. For Germany Miroslav Klose has virtually no physical presence, but the number of goals he too has scored with headers is phenomenal. Heading a football isn't just about being 6ft plus but timing your run and jump.
I like Solly and think he has potential, but it would be silly to suggest that teams won't see his height as a potential weakness and try to isolate him a against a big man a stick crosses onto his post. It's up to Solly to prove he's got enough about him to deal with that - you don;t have to be dominant in the air, just have the nouce to know how to position yourself so you 'do enough' to put strikers off. I'm quite happy with the idea that Solly is going into the season as first choice, but I haven't seen enough to be convinced by him yet so I;d be happier if we had another option should it not work out, plus he's been injured a fair amount in his fledgling career.
Francis may improve with some guidance from Powell, but frankly I don't see anyone knocking his overly casual nature out him and unless that happens he'll remain error prone and we'd be better served by someone else. That said, if it's a choice of keep Francis and get a quick centre back or ditch Francis and do without the centre back we should definitely keep Francis.