So if he couldn't get another championship gig then it's not just our club who passed on offering a championship contract. Greaves was more productive in the final 3rd and more defensively sound than Elder. Stats back it up. He was on a free FFS! If a Championship club wanted him, they'd have got him. It's that simple! Great signing for a club wanting to get out of L1. Not so much for a club wanting to get in the mix in the championship.
So a CB covering at LB because he was left fooled & could run with the ball like Harry Maguire did when he was here, was better than an actual LB who could put a better cross in to the box. Greaves was shoe horned in to keep him happy, possibly terms of contract, who knows, but McC took his place quite easily & now everyone‘a making out like we’re losing a great defender. He’s decent in his position, covered LB when needed, but when Elder was fit, Greaves should have been either CB or bench. Rosie didn’t want to bench him, so kept him at LB, which, IMO, cost us a couple of results. I can’t remember the games, but he wasn’t great at LB in a few of them, when Elder came on, we looked a lot better. Anyway, all irrelevant, Elder’s gone & it looks like Greaves is going to sit on the bench somewhere for a few million, if the team buying is PL it’s a pittance, but for us it’s huge.
Elder played pretty much half the season at lb and Greaves the other. Elder got 3 assists from crosses. Greaves got 2 assists and 4 goals mostly from left back. Our defensive record improved also when the switch was made. What does that tell you? As well as the fact a championship club wouldn't offer terms to match a L1 club at the prime of his career? Even the Aussie National side are taking a pass. They wouldn't if they thought he was promotion quality. Football is full of opinions and you're entitled to yours, but ultimately if he was championship standard he'd still be in the championship. If he was International standard he'd be playing regularly for his country and if he was top 6 quality then either we would have retained him or ****ing Middlesborough would have signed him!
I’ve said numerous times, he’s decent, I’ve also said he’s improved under Rosie, regarding grabbing at corners. Prior to Rosie coming in, he was a penalty waiting to happen. He’s got a lot to learn, as you say, he’s 22, now he’s cutting out the grabbing, but he still does it & he’s better at hiding it, before he was clumsy & open about it. That was when he was eligible for the U21’s, he wasn’t even close back then, & I have no idea who the England U21 CB’s were back then.
I agree on some points, but Elder got injured & Greaves was shoe horned in to cover, in some games he was great, in others Elder came on & showed how to be a short arse LB who’s not in the same position as a tall CB covering at LB & getting forward like Greaves did to score the odd goal or 2.
Greaves' goals mainly came from set pieces didn't they? Can't recall many if any from open play that he scored by virtue of playing at LB.
His assists certainly didn't, and I'm sure at least 1 of the goals didn't either. Still. Greaves contributed more in the final 3rd. Dawson played him there first. How many assists and goals at CH under Shota? Remind me?
Elder never really let us down, but he was never really consistent championship quality either. Dynamite in L1 though so that's where he is. At a decent club too, historically. He'll probably come back up with them but then find the same problem he's had here. Elder is just limited at this level in ways Greaves simply isn't, which is why young Jacob will move higher. We now need to sign a LB who will play the equivalent role that Callum did in our league 1 side, for the Championship. And let's just wish Elder well. Remember him as a good servant of the club. What's wrong with that? I will certainly applaud him when he comes back to the Circle.
You mentioned Aussie Nationals, I assumed you meant the national league but I see you've edited to mean the national side. They're passing because they are focusing on younger players than Elder, it's not a reflection on his quality.
I thought the bit about being 'International class' adequately set the context. Obviously it didn't. Honestly I wouldn't have complained if he'd stayed another year, but you've also got to consider Elder, at the age he's at probably wants longer term security than we would be willing to offer.
The Criticism of Greaves really does baffle me. He’s obviously gonna be a top centre half, of which most of them don’t mature til 25/26, or even later. He’s left footed, tall and already played a huge number league games at his age. Alright he has a few weakness which can easily be ironed out with time and simply bulking up. He’s worth 10 million easily in todays market and it will be hugely frustrating if we replace him with highly paid flops like we did with much of the KLP money.
The 'flops' that didn't have to rely on points deductions to stay out of a relegation fight you mean?
I always liked Elder for being an excellent professional , always seemed to work hard and at times was decent going going forward especially in L1 IMO there lies the problem, he was not as effective in the C’ship, his touch wasn’t quite good enough, if you want to retain posession and take pressure off then Greaves ability with the ball was way superior . MO mentioned stats about crosses I think, but in one of the last home games both him and Coyle managed to get in good crossing positions and both over hit crosses under no pressure . I’d I had had doubts for Elder that would have mad my mind up at his age.. I feel the same way about Coyle but he is stronger defensively than Elder and appears to be a ‘good’ captain so they’ve kept him , surprising to me to get 3 years however .
Fair points, and well put, however, he must have mates/friends from his time at Forest. Plus he'd be nearer to his home town. Northampton for family etc...That matters as well. Plus the likes of Beverley etc have some decent schools. But yes, I see where your coming from....btw thats a pun! I think Karl Darlow has one son aged about 1 year old, so schools are not high on the list. As an aside did you ever go and watch Fulham when they played RL at Craven Cottage? Just that I recall the BBC interviewing a Hull lad who lived in west London about bringing RL to the capital. It wasn't you was it?
I loved Elder. Rated him highly as a wing back. Not sure why he was let go. I assumed he was homesick for Ozz, but ends up at Derby!!!
He’s worth 10 million easily in todays market and it will be hugely frustrating if we replace him with highly paid flops like we did with much of the KLP money. This
