poolseasider
Well-known member
With Ekipeteta and Husband back from injury on the bench Monday, saying everyone is fit and on form in training who would you pick?
Turton Ballard Gretarsson Garbutt
Turton Ballard Gretarsson Garbutt
Have to agree for the Lincoln game, however I would sub Turton for Gabriel for the game after.With Ekipeteta and Husband back from injury on the bench Monday, saying everyone is fit and on form in training who would you pick?
Turton Ballard Gretarsson Garbutt
Not really for one specific game but your best back four of choice and Ekpiteta would miss out by a whisker.Have to agree for the Lincoln game, however I would sub Turton for Gabriel for the game after.
Fwiw -I find it quite amazing that whichever your favoured 4 are, the remaining 4 make up a pretty decent unit.
Not many teams can say that.
My choice too. Keep Marv ‘til we’re sure he’s 100%.Fwiw -
Gabriel Ballard Greta Garbutt
Throuble with your lineup means Ballard playing on the left of the 2 centre backs , I know he played their previously but better to have a natural left footer eg Gretarsson.Gabriel Ekpiteta Ballard Garbutt
I really can’t pick between Ballard and Gretarsson though.
Funny thing Husband similar always seems to worm his way back in and after a shaky start he's been brilliant.Turton (arguably) has been our most consistent player this season!
Some still dont appear to rate him?
Hmmm?
It’s not that I don’t rate him, I just think Gabriel offers more offensively, and I suppose in my head I prefer to think of us as an attacking set-up.Turton (arguably) has been our most consistent player this season!
Some still dont appear to rate him?
Hmmm?
Shouldn’t that still work with Gabriel AND Garbutt playing?I like the system of playing one attacking full back and one defensive, like Critchley has been doing.
It means you’ve always got a license to go forward whilst still having 3 at the back. That said, it’s either:
Garbutt Grettarsson Ekpiteta Turton
or
Husband Grettarsson Ekpiteta Gabriel
I certainly don't agree with your comment about Critch not rating Gretarsson. If you'd said the same about Thorniley then I might have agreed with you.It’s funny isn’t it, I think gretarsson is brilliant as do most of our fans but I get the impression Critchley doesn’t rate him, always seems the first to get axed from the team. Think if it was a one off play off final he’d go with Ballard and Expiteta even though you’d lose the balance in the team and as good as they both are I personally don’t think either are as good as Gretarsson.
This is such a myth tbh.Throuble with your lineup means Ballard playing on the left of the 2 centre backs , I know he played their previously but better to have a natural left footer eg Gretarsson.
Throuble with your lineup means Ballard playing on the left of the 2 centre backs , I know he played their previously but better to have a natural left footer eg Gretarsson.
This is such a myth tbh.
Our best back four is Gabriel Ballard Gretarrson Garbutt. It doesn't mean we don't have strong other line ups that I'd be happy with.
What you're saying is fine, but the notion you must have right foot left foot for balance is rubbish.Depends how you're talking. Defensively he could probably do just as solid a job either side of the pairing.
But when Grét is pinging them across field and also getting assists, you'd prefer him in that position to better utilise that strength of his and open up more of the pitch for him when on the ball. Same way you do if you have a true ball-playing CB.
For me Ballard is a bit better but Marv is our player so with how fragile Dan is will come into the side at some point.So many people leaving Ekpiteta out of their selection.
He’s hands down the best defender at the club and needs to be the third name on the team sheet (behind Jerry and Maxwell) when he’s fit.
What you're saying is fine, but the notion you must have right foot left foot for balance is rubbish.
If you want a left back that can ping it 50/60 yards then sure, but we aren't doing that anymore are we? We went through spells of doing it for CJ to run onto it.
That would eventually be my preferred option, but for now let’s bring Marv back gently, so for the next game or 2 replace him with the Viking. Also Harsh on Turton and Thornley who have been great, but if everyone is available that would be my back 4.Gabriel Ekpiteta Ballard Garbutt
That's exactly how Ollie said he made our heroes playShouldn’t that still work with Gabriel AND Garbutt playing?
It’s down to the full backs to recognise their oppo is on a jaunt, and hold his own defensive position.
He literally isn't hands down the best defender at the club. Ballard is absolutely fantastic. He's great and a good player. He's just not better than Ballard.So many people leaving Ekpiteta out of their selection.
He’s hands down the best defender at the club and needs to be the third name on the team sheet (behind Jerry and Maxwell) when he’s fit.
yeah, i thought this thread was all about who we would have if all players were fit.That would eventually be my preferred option, but for now let’s bring Marv back gently, so for the next game or 2 replace him with the Viking. Also Harsh on Turton and Thornley who have been great, but if everyone is available that would be my back 4.
Respectfully disagree.He literally isn't hands down the best defender at the club. Ballard is absolutely fantastic. He's great and a good player. He's just not better than Ballard.
Each to their own. One plays for Arsenal and Northern Ireland and one plays for Blackpool. We can disagree, but hands down the best centre back is a bit ridiculous. I bet we have more PPG with Ballard than Marv. I love Marv the same mind. No vendetta.Respectfully disagree.
In my eyes, Ballard is an Evatt style defender - good in the air and strong in a tackle but Ekpiteta is more of a modern day centre back, with passing ability and ability to recover with pace.
Hensh, I somehow don't think NC will follow that rule. There will be changes against Lincoln C.Call me old fashioned, well at 68, I suppose I am. I have always believed that you should never tinker with the starting lineup of a winning side, and that the rest of the squad will never be unhappy when they don't play, so long as The Mighty Pool keep winning. Inevitably, injuries and suspensions create opportunities for other players coming in, and it's then up to the 11 on the pitch to keep winning so that they stay in the side.
It isn't rocket science.
I think it depends what Critchley wants the team to do. Gretarsson is the better, classier defender but Thornily does progress the play better through the centre of the pitch.I must admit that I feel bad for Thorniley. He’s proven himself to be a solid (if unspectacular) CB at this level and could probably do a job a division up. Unfortunately for him with Ballard, Marv and Grettarson we have 3 spectacular CB’s who will play regularly at Championship level or higher in the next couple of years and hopefully for at least 2 of them it’s with us.
Actually Thorniley has sprayed some great long passes out to that right wing at times. Surprisingly good.Yeah, I agree on the balance of things tbh, as mentioned. Maybe caught in between two points there!
And we're not relying on that, thankfully, but Grétarsson has a quality pass in his locker which we've seen over the past couple of appearances that do a bit more than just wishfully lumping it up to CJ, i.e. the assist to Jerry against Swindon. Keeping him at LCB will be more of a factor because of this IMO
Both good defenders but I'm not convinced that Ekpiteta has more passing ability than Ballard.Respectfully disagree.
In my eyes, Ballard is an Evatt style defender - good in the air and strong in a tackle but Ekpiteta is more of a modern day centre back, with passing ability and ability to recover with pace.
That said, i think you need a combination of both in a team.
Not wanting to criticize any of our defenders they have all had good seasons but this thing about Garbutt and Gabriel not being as good defensively is something I don't see.It is a difficult choice, but I’m going to go with ,
Turton, Ballard, The Viking , Husband. Like I said ,it’s not an easy choice, I rate Big Marv highly but I only want him in the team if he’s 100% fit. I like Thorniley, but Grettarsson just edges it.Gabriel and Garbutt are not the best defensively but I would have no qualms pitching them in at any point.