I've heard he has been managing niggling back problems for a few years now and hasn't really been at 100% fitness during that time. The mooted move to CB was to help manage the issues as the pounding up and down the wing has been an aggravating factor. It isn't really a surprise, he's a big lad to put those miles in. I doubt he will be a nailed on regular again and certainly not at LB, great squad player though and we should be looking to move him into the coaching setup.
Dont see any logic in writing off Bola just yet. Yes he not set the world alight but i really do think his issue is confidence and not ability from what i seen as he looks comfortable on the ball, can get forward well n has pace which is important. More than happy to have him n Coulson as the 2 left backs.
N have i missed something regarding Friend n retirement? He has just turned 32 n this is first time he had long lay off i can remember. Would love to keep him n for him to become a CB on that left side of central defence / cover for left back in an emergency. I still think he has 2 sea
Fry has been in and around the first team for about 4 years, but he started this season with maybe only 30 starts as a CB, and another 20 at RB.
He has hit a bit of second season syndrome, in a struggling team, asked to play on the left of a back 3, even though he is right footed, and after having no preseason and a major operation.
It would be silly to give him up as a dud right now, he will come back stronger again. Ideally, with our squad I would have him centrally behind Ayala and Friend. Those two attack the ball and he sweeps up.
Tbh I dont think Friend has been right since the premier league season. Out of our players that got promoted I thought he would be one who could step up given he was arguably the best left back in championship. He just hasnt seemed right since an injury he got at the start of that season. Whether hes been playing with an injury or just age now getting the better of him he has never played like he did in our promotion year.
Farcical again. I honestly think they need to redefine offside as clear daylight between the attacker and defender. That way it removes the obscurity of what has happened with VAR this season.
Over the last 5 games we actually have the best form in the league (joint with shef wed and brentford). We just need to break the 'away hoodoo'. It would be very middlesbroughy for us to win tomorrow.
Sam Cosgrove - Not happening unless lower fee or accept installments.
We're trying hard for Jack Clarke on loan but Fulham and Brentford also interested.
Most of our window depends on if we can ship out a big earner or receive a good transfer fee.
Expect loans with just potentially 1 permanent transfer which I am hearing could be Lyndon Dykes from Livingston.
We are trying hard for Gibson on loan.
The title race was virtually over months ago, but 13 points clear now.
Traore is brilliant, always a bit depressing to see him smashing it though. If only Downing's free kick had went in rather than hit the crossbar.
he's only just turned 32.. he's got 2 years left in him at a decent level if he moves to CB imo
George and Shotton are both suffering from the same (or related) injuries from last season. IMO they likely kept playing due to pressure from Pulis..
When looking at how we have performed and how we have improved we need to look at the 4 phases of play.
1) Without the ball. We have really improved in this, other than the Leeds match. We look organised and strong in the middle. Pears is pretty unflappable, Howson, Ayala and Fry look strong, even though Fry isn't playing at his best. We still have Shotton and Friend to return also
2) With the ball, this is the area that most fans expected us to be strong this year, playing an expansive and attacking game. But we just don't have the players to do this. Since Woodgate became mo
I could be wrong, but I think the second yellow was so soft that the referee knew exactly what he was doing when he did it.
No chance he'd have given a yellow card for such a minor incident if he'd thought it was leading to a red card.
Very lucky considering Martinez got two yellows but got away with it due to the penalties not being regarded as the same game, which doesn't really make sense to me
Yeah, I get that.
Like last night, Real Madrid were played off the park by Man City but have scraped through to a major semi-final because City couldn't finish and they've scrapped away goals.
Tonight, Aston Villa were lucky to beat Lille on penalties, who were much the better team on the night.
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