[JonB]

frearsghost, on 17 April 2014 - 09:39 AM, said:

Well you've not see the same games as me and, perhaps, the majority. Apart from being caught out at Southend I can't recall these 'poor' games you claim he's had. In fact until his injury he was one of my considerations for 'Player of the Year' insomuch that he gets on with the job quietly, without fuss and has contributed an enormous amount to our early season success, including assisting the goal and scoring the penalty at Oldham that sent us to Wembley.

I've witnessed some outstanding performances from him with very few errors. Talbot is the ultimate quality professional who will walk League 1. Darikwa needs to push on and bring some consistency to his game.

I like Drew as much as the next person but he will struggle as a full back in League 1 much like he did last time around mainly because he isnt really a defender and the better players in League 1 catch him out whereas in League 2 his mobility gets him out of trouble a lot of the time.

This said Darikwa at full back isnt the answer either.

This post has been edited by JonB: 17 April 2014 - 09:42 AM

[BlueRover52]

frearsghost, on 17 April 2014 - 09:39 AM, said:

Well you've not see the same games as me and, perhaps, the majority. Apart from being caught out at Southend I can't recall these 'poor' games you claim he's had. In fact until his injury he was one of my considerations for 'Player of the Year' insomuch that he gets on with the job quietly, without fuss and has contributed an enormous amount to our early season success, including assisting the goal and scoring the penalty at Oldham that sent us to Wembley.

I've witnessed some outstanding performances from him with very few errors. Talbot is the ultimate quality professional who will walk League 1. Darikwa needs to push on and bring some consistency to his game.

Agree.Drew,although not perfect, is the better defender and passer of the two.Tendi has more pace but very inconsistent.

[Goku]

I'm not sure Tendayi has more pace, Drew is no slouch and his speed often makes up for his defensive positioning (which isn't terrible but you can tell he isn't a natural defender).

[frearsghost]

JonB, on 17 April 2014 - 09:41 AM, said:

I like Drew as much as the next person but he will struggle as a full back in League 1 much like he did last time around mainly because he isnt really a defender and the better players in League 1 catch him out whereas in League 2 his mobility gets him out of trouble a lot of the time.

This said Darikwa at full back isnt the answer either.

How many games do you need to play at right back to be called a defender? He's been playing there for nearly four seasons. It's all about opinions of course and for me, Drew Talbot is a League One player all day long. We've been a poorer team since his injury and his overlapping down the right has been sorely missed.

This post has been edited by frearsghost: 17 April 2014 - 10:03 AM

[frearsghost]

Goku, on 17 April 2014 - 09:52 AM, said:

I'm not sure Tendayi has more pace, Drew is no slouch and his speed often makes up for his defensive positioning (which isn't terrible but you can tell he isn't a natural defender).

Ever thought of joining the Diplomatic Service?

This post has been edited by frearsghost: 17 April 2014 - 10:02 AM

[JonB]

frearsghost, on 17 April 2014 - 10:00 AM, said:

How many games do you need to play at right back to be called a defender? He's been playing there for nearly four seasons. It's all about opinions of course and for me, Drew Talbot is a League One player all day long. We've been a poorer team since his injury and his overlapping down the right has been sorely missed.

He may have played there for years but he isnt naturally a defender and this shows. On occasion he mays wrong decisions or stands in the wrong place but most of the time against lesser quality in League 2 his pace and general mobility gets him out of the problem a lot of the time. In league one against better players he gets caught out. I agree we've missed him since he was out but thats mainly down to having to play another winger as a full back and not having a proper right back at the club!

[calvin plummers socks]

Goku, on 17 April 2014 - 09:52 AM, said:

I'm not sure Tendayi has more pace, Drew is no slouch and his speed often makes up for his defensive positioning (which isn't terrible but you can tell he isn't a natural defender).

I agree- Darikwa is not at all quick- Drew is!
White and bald does not mean he is slow- young and black does not mean he's fast;-)

I was at an academy last week and one of the coaches when a triallist turns up said I bet he's fast-he's big and black (he was as fast as Neil Trotman.....)

[JonB]

calvin plummers socks, on 17 April 2014 - 10:19 AM, said:

White and bald does not mean he is slow- young and black does not mean he's fast;-)

And lo and behold Drew can jump as well!

[Goku]

frearsghost, on 17 April 2014 - 10:02 AM, said:

Ever thought of joining the Diplomatic Service?

I've thought about it but didn't really come to a conclusion one way or the other

[frearsghost]

JonB, on 17 April 2014 - 10:05 AM, said:

He may have played there for years but he isnt naturally a defender and this shows. On occasion he mays wrong decisions or stands in the wrong place but most of the time against lesser quality in League 2 his pace and general mobility gets him out of the problem a lot of the time. In league one against better players he gets caught out. I agree we've missed him since he was out but thats mainly down to having to play another winger as a full back and not having a proper right back at the club!

So Talbot stands in the wrong place? I think your credibility is on the line here. I presume Cooper Evatt and Humphreys do stand in the right place. How annoying it must be for them.

Don't you think if that was true it would have been sorted out on the training ground after four years. I can't recall Cook saying this was a problem. Maybe you should contact Cooky and tell him the problem? His reply would be interesting. Perhaps you should attend training and take Drew by the arm and gently move him a yard this way or a yard that way when he's defending. Or it might help if you took a tape measure and made marks on the pitch indicating the exact place where defenders should be standing. As a betting man I'll give you good odds they'll tell you where to go. These examples may sound absurd but they may go some way in demonstrating how absurd your judgement of Drew's game is; a judgement strong in myth and shared by two or three others, but lacking in real perception. As a player judgement it must rank down there as one of the most fatuous ever.

This will be the last time I discuss this 'doesn't know where to stand' nonsense. Others must take up the cudgel if they so wish.

This post has been edited by frearsghost: 17 April 2014 - 11:40 AM

[BurySpireite]

frearsghost, on 17 April 2014 - 11:35 AM, said:

So Talbot stands in the wrong place? I think your credibility is on the line here. I presume Cooper Evatt and Humphreys do stand in the right place. How annoying it must be for them.

Don't you think if that was true it would have been sorted out on the training ground after four years. I can't recall Cook saying this was a problem. Maybe you should contact Cooky and tell him the problem? His reply would be interesting. Perhaps you should attend training and take Drew by the arm and gently move him a yard this way or a yard that way when he's defending. Or it might help if you took a tape measure and made marks on the pitch indicating the exact place where defenders should be standing. As a betting man I'll give you good odds they'll tell you where to go. These examples may sound absurd but they may go some way in demonstrating how absurd your judgement of Drew's game is; a judgement strong in myth and shared by two or three others, but lacking in real perception. As a player judgement it must rank down there as one of the most fatuous ever.

This will be the last time I discuss this 'doesn't know where to stand' nonsense. Others must take up the cudgel if they so wish.

Wow, that's some comment you've written there! I think it's just a matter of him being caught playing a little deep or caught too high up the pitch once or twice when he was needed elsewhere... No need to bring down the mighty wrath of satan.

[JonB]

frearsghost, on 17 April 2014 - 11:35 AM, said:

So Talbot stands in the wrong place? I think your credibility is on the line here. I presume Cooper Evatt and Humphreys do stand in the right place. How annoying it must be for them.

Don't you think if that was true it would have been sorted out on the training ground after four years. I can't recall Cook saying this was a problem. Maybe you should contact Cooky and tell him the problem? His reply would be interesting. Perhaps you should attend training and take Drew by the arm and gently move him a yard this way or a yard that way when he's defending. Or it might help if you took a tape measure and made marks on the pitch indicating the exact place where defenders should be standing. As a betting man I'll give you good odds they'll tell you where to go. These examples may sound absurd but they may go some way in demonstrating how absurd your judgement of Drew's game is; a judgement strong in myth and shared by two or three others, but lacking in real perception. As a player judgement it must rank down there as one of the most fatuous ever.

This will be the last time I discuss this 'doesn't know where to stand' nonsense. Others must take up the cudgel if they so wish.

Just talking from a point of view of playing as a defender and being coached as one for nigh on 30 years...not saying he constantly stands not in the right back position but in terms that he sometimes takes up the wrong starting position because he doesnt naturally think as a defender. I think you are going down the line that i am rubbishing Talbot when its anything but just constructive criticism that saw him caught out in League 1 a lot last time around. His overall decision making at times isnt that of a defender so goes into areas that he probably shouldnt and most of the time in this league where he has played the majority of his full back career he is able to get out of jail with his pace or general mobility. Its ok saying it can be coached on the training pitch and to an extent it will be but folk playing out of their natural positions will still do things at times that can expose them. Compare Drew with someone like Jack Hunt who was a natural full back in that he was excellent going forward like Drew but was better defensively...something proved by his onward career path thats seen him get to a prem club.

I dont think Cook etc see it as a major issue in this league as that back Drew to get himself out of the issue the majority of the time in games but i wouldnt be surprised to see a more natural right full back come into the club over the summer even if they start the season behind Talbot initially.

Seeing as you mention Evatt i'll use him as an example...not the quickest but by being in the right starting position and\or making the right decisions he is a very accomplished defender and did it at Prem level.

[dtp]

frearsghost, on 17 April 2014 - 09:39 AM, said:

Well you've not see the same games as me and, perhaps, the majority. Apart from being caught out at Southend I can't recall these 'poor' games you claim he's had. In fact until his injury he was one of my considerations for 'Player of the Year' insomuch that he gets on with the job quietly, without fuss and has contributed an enormous amount to our early season success, including assisting the goal and scoring the penalty at Oldham that sent us to Wembley.

I've witnessed some outstanding performances from him with very few errors. Talbot is the ultimate quality professional who will walk League 1. Darikwa needs to push on and bring some consistency to his game.

Brian, I never questioned Talbot's professionalism but I think his injuries have impacted on his form this season. An on form Drew would normally be in my team but I do feel apart from the opening ten games, or so, the level of his performances dropped compared to his usual standards. I go to very few away games so cannot comment on the game at Southend but, at home, against them Straker murdered him.

I agree Tendayi needs to push on. I thought he might do that this season in midfield having scored 5 goals before having to step back (to pardon the pun) and play out of position to cover for Drew's long absence. I don't think any other player has been asked to fill in for so long all season but since doing this far more goals have been conceded from the left-hand side of our defence than from the right.