agree with all of this. Could be Ballard getting a rest. I know he’s proven he’s “back” but I’d argue it might be sensible to rest him considering he really shouldn’t have played 90 mins in all these games. Likewise Batth really doesn’t need to be rushed. So Batth may miss out purely by the fact that we want to make sure he’s 100% before getting him back in.
Fwiw I think Ballard and Batth could well be the best defensive partnership in this division, so the fact O’Nien is even in the discussion is ****ing incredible. And deservedly.
But Trent's best in the world. Scousers say so so defending can’t be that important!!! I like both players. Hume is in good form so dropping him would be very harsh
Hume will be with us going forward Gooch won't O9 will be our back up for anywhere in the back four We are evolving into a much better team and unfortunately this means even players we like will be put on the bench and some even transferred at end of season. It's a position we have been crying out for in decades.
O/9 might eventually replace Evans in mid field, just a hunch mind , but he has all the qualities to succeed there imo despite the rashness he showed when he was last tried in that role, if I remember Kevin Ball was the same at first but then formed a great partnership with Bracewell in a midfield 2 that never looked back, in football you just never know.
He played the midfield spoiler in the play off final and got it spot on, that reaction of his to a strong challenge late in the game typifies the lad. Whether or not his passing game is good enough in a tight midfield is open to argument, but his long passing from defence is usually spot on. I said on the match thread there's not many defenders could have scored that goal, he's got a bit of everything which might just be to his detriment.
Personally hope to not see 09 in CM again. Really isn't suited. That was at league one level. Some quality players on this league who run in and behind , past the CM line. 09 excells when it's all in front of him, using his combativeness to sniff it out. Harder to do on CM and awareness needs to be top tier. Also don't think he is clean enough on the ball. Just more suited to defensive areas where he can see, from a distance, the phase and syle of play.
To be fair a lot of people were insistent that O'Nien wasn't good enough for league one never mind being one of our best players in the championship. He's capable of a surprise or two for people who write him off in various ways.
It's unbelievable, isn't it . . . . from some saying that he was 'rubbish' to being, undoubtedly, one of the best players in the world
Thing is though..Wright gets burned for pace. Blackpool was a prime example where he gave away an innocuous looking ball in the centre circle and Blackpool ripped him a new one. Have to agree with you that in the right games he has done well. To allow Wright to play we need Ballard AND Evans to pull us out the **** when he is left standing
Batth back in training. Does he partner Ballard with O’Nien moving over to RB? We’ve certainly got plenty of options. Hume has played well in recent weeks, he’d be unlucky to drop out.
Not for me, hume n gooch are better RBs than onien. Oniens best position is cb but i wont be surprised if hes used as a lb this weekend. We dont need to rush baath back tbf so id happily have this as my back 4 for swansea Hume ballard onien gooch would me my choice
