A comparison with the team of 07/08 Thought I would do a comparison of our team from this point in our promotion season. (Scunthorpe Away) and see how we look compared to then (for completeness I have included subs and manager) Boaz Myhill V Basso Bo was one of our best keepers in the last 20 years and is still consistently doing well for Birmingham in Europe and in the league. Basso is a quality keeper in the twilight of his career. Made some excellent saves this season to ensure the points come back to the KC. However I am going for youth over experience and Myhill wins this one. Sam Ricketts V Liam Rosenior A tricky comparison, Liam has proved his is more than capable in this division but one of Phil Brownâs failures was his inability to retain the services of Sam Ricketts. Ricketts although dogged by injury since his move to Bolton was more than comfortable in the premiership and should have been retained. Ricketts wins this round also. Wayne Brown V James Chester Wayne was a rock for the tigers in the Championship and his partnership with Turner helped deliver our playoff spot and ultimately promotion. Chester has been the rock of our defence this term forming the stronger half of a partnership with Jack Hobbs this season. Chester wins this round as his form and ability show under the right stewardship he can become a top class centre half. Michael Turner V Jack Hobbs Turner proved to be a solid centre half in the Championship and took the step up in pace to the Premier League in his stride. He not only put his body on the line during our first season he also pitched in with some important goals too. Hobbs has had a shaky start to the season but has improved his performances which reflected in him achieving a place on the Championship Team of the week following the Derby match. Still comparing them both I would go for Turner. He was more consistant at this level and made the step up with ease. He is also evidence in the case for the ineptitude of our management during our second Premier League season. He was classed as the family silver and was sold for nothing more than scrap. Damien Delaney V Joe Dudgeon Delaney had a solid time with the tigers and in this comparison was playing out of his favoured position. He made a solid contribution to the tigers gaining back to back promotions but really found his level in the Championship. Joe comes from good stock at Man Utd and has so far proven himself to be quite capable at left back. Dudgeon gets the nod over Delaney here. Stephen McPhee (Dawson 84) V Robert Koren Stephen McPhee went from prolific goal scorer to zero at the tigers and depending where you get your information this was following personal issues as well as career threatening injuries. Koren has been Mr Consistant in the last 12 months. He manages to get through games without really seeming to break sweat but always manages to make key contributions to positive results. Koren for me wins this duel. A small note on the sub back in 07/08. Many thought Andy Dawson was reaching the end of his career during this season but arguably he has his best season in a Tigers shirt the following year in the Premier League. Very good addition to todayâs squad and I can think of few better for young Joe Dudgeon to learn his trade from. Dean Marney V Corry Evans Marney was a signing that was supposed to push the team on to the next level and despite his lack of accuracy in his shooting managed to do this quite well. Corry Evans has shown glimpses of his ability but will need to work hard to surpass the achievements of Marney, which said I think he has more natural ability. Evans wins. Ian Ashbee [captain] V Paul McKenna (Cairney 88), Ian Ashbee is the greatest captain this club has had in my life time, McKenna is arguably no better although having seen Paul play this season I think we may have made the correct decision in moving on Ashbee to pastures new. It could have been done with more dignity and respect for his achievements but what is done is done. Based on them both today, I would pitch for McKenna. Tom Cairney has blown hot and cold this season, but I think he will come good over the season. Putting him against the subs on offer from back in 07/08 I think we are the stronger for him being in the team. Bryan Hughes V Cameron Stewart (Brady 62), Hughes was brought in by Phil Brown to do a job and he did it, he added much need experience to a team that was not used to playing at the sharp end of the Championship. Cameron Stewart and Brady have both shown that they are comfortable playing at the sharp end following their schooling at Old Trafford. Stewart and Brady win this round. Fraizer Campbell (Folan 79) V Aaron Mclean Fraizer Campbell will always be remembered for 3 things in my folklore of the tigers. 1, his debut against Barnsley, 2, that pass at Wembley and 3, his dicking around when we wanted to sign him. Despite these 3 points the lad has talent and while they both have similar amounts of work rate Fraizer pips Aaron on ability. Folan has every attribute as a player which should make him a star, it just didnât all come together and he has probably found his feet in the MLS. Dean Windass (Garcia 67) V Matty Fryatt Deano proved that you are never too old to come back to your home town club. He made the fairytale happen at Wembley and will always be remembered for that goal. Ability wise Deano and Matty are not to dissimilar in my mind although Deano is probably the more technically strong, although I would probably pitch for Matty. Garcia is coming back from a horrible injury and it will be interesting to see how he gets on this season. He is a worthy addition to the first team squad and I feel we are the stronger from him being here to help on the likes of Stewart, Brady etc. Manager Brown V Barmby Phil Brown will always be remembered as the manager who awoke the sleeping giant, he took a failing team put together by Phil Parkinson and made them work as a unit. He also embarrassed the club with his antics at Manchester City 12 months after the Scunthorpe match and failed to retain the services of players such as Sam Ricketts. Barmby is new to management but he knows how the club works. He was by all accounts instrumental in the ousting of Phil Parkinson and has given his all for the team since he came home. Picking between the two is quite hard because statistically Browny wins but reputation wise I think Barmby takes the title and I think we can achieve more under Nick than we did with Phil. So my ideal team based on the comparison would be Myhill Ricketts Chester Turner Dudgeon Koren McKenna Evans Stewart Campbell Fryatt Subs Basso Brady Garcia Dawson Cairney Manager, Nick Barmby
i dont think many will agree with you about ricketts/rosenoir, but i do, both good, but ricketts had greater quality in the final 3rd and could put a dangerous cross in got to be ashbee over mckenna tho, maybe it was time to move ash on, who knows, but if comparing the 2 teams, you have to go on him in 08 , when he definately still had it. no place for windass at least on the bench?
I agree with most of this, except for the manager choice, which is quite frankly, ridiculous. Also McKenna over Ash? Really? EDIT: I know you did it because you probably wanted both in the team (so would I), but Chester vs. Turner would have been a more interesting comparison.
I wouldn't put Ricketts ahead of Rosenior or Mckenna ahead of Ashbee. Barmby has only been manager for one game so it's unfair to compare him to Brownie on the basis of one game. We can look at the manager one at the end of the season, and indeeed the the team as a whole.
This is a good post, it's kind of refreshing to see you've gone with some of the old team when most people (myself included) would plump for the current players. Probably agree about Ricketts/Rosey too. Both great players but Ricketts was amazing the promotion season and was one of the few fullbacks I've seen in ages who can cross properly.
Would I have Barmby now or have Brownie back... no question - we'll take Barmby... But you can't compare a complete unknown quantity for the Brown of 2007/8. Brown has to win hands down, or none of your other selections make any sense. Campbell over Mclean? How when Campbell has been out injured for as long as he has. I agree, I'd take 2007 Campbell over 2011 Mclean... but then you would surely have to take 2007 Brown over 2011 Barmby?
Comparing them at this point is pointless, as we've not done anything yet. You can't just look at results and form guides from past seasons and plot the future. We should treasure the fact the 2007/ 08 lads went up and gave the best they did in the first season up there. We could bollocks up this promising start. Footballs unpredictable, enjoy the rollercoaster.
How has Dawson appeared on the bench when Delaney, despite being sold in the January was used as the left back for 08 in the comparison?
Boaz Myhill V Basso Sam Ricketts V Liam Rosenior Wayne Brown V James Chester Michael Turner V Jack Hobbs Damien Delaney V Joe Dudgeon Stephen McPhee (Dawson 84) V Robert Koren Dean Marney V Corry Evans Ian Ashbee [captain] V Paul McKenna (Cairney 88), Bryan Hughes V Cameron Stewart (Brady 62), Fraizer Campbell (Folan 79) V Aaron Mclean Dean Windass (Garcia 67) V Matty Fryatt Manager Brown V Barmby So my ideal team based on the comparison would be Basso Rosenior Chester Turner Dudgeon Koren Ashbee Evans Stewart Campbell Windass Playing 4 - 4- 3 could be interesting: Deano with Campbell and Stewart! Difficult decision over Rosenior/Ricketts Campbell and Windass would have scored bucketloads with these other players behind them! Ashbee would have the youngsters working their socks off. You can't really compare with NB with PB yet. He's only had one game. I've a feeling that NB might become a major part of this clubs history in years to come. Fingers crossed!
Myhill, Rosenoir, Chester, Turner, Dawson, Koren, Brady, Ashbee, Stewart, Deano, Campbell. Bench: Basso, Hobbs, Dudgeon, Marney, Mc Kenna Fryatt, Mc Lean. Manager: Phil Barmby Pearson a bit of all!
I compared them at this point in the season as neither have achieved yet. But I am enjoying the rollercoaster. I see the appointment of Barmby as a total unknown but I like it. Unlike when we sacked Browny. I knew despite the good results and the final performance against Arsenal without him we were worse off for the run in. Maybe he was told he was off at the end of the season and decided to go straight away. Only Phil Brown and Adam Pearson know the answer to that. Comparing both Brown and Barmby is a bit of a stretch and I know that if I had been on Mars since May 2008 until last week I would go for Brown. Hindsight sometimes gets in the way of the facts I suppose.
I really don't see how AT THIS STAGE anyone can prefer Nick Barmby over Phil Brown. Windass and Campbell was a magical thing and something we lack today. Chester and Turner rival Jobson and Skipper as my All-Time favourte defenders. Stewart is an absolute must in any side and it really is a toss-up between Basso and Myhill but I'd tend to go for Myhil because he played more games for us. Rosenior is a better defender than Ricketts and I would go for Dawson ahead of Dudgeon at this stage even though if Dudge continues to learn at his present rate he will end up as the best left back to have worn the amber and black. Ashbee is a shoe-in as is Koren only on the left do I have a problem assuming Koren goes central. Left wing is the only problem area in both sides if you assume Brady cannot take part in this.
Barmby over Brown? Incomparable at this stage.. We might have won against Derby if I was in charge! They were extremely poor. I don't want to take anything away from NB but let's calm it down! Brown was our best ever manager, regardless of his 3rd full season in charge.
Haven't you answered yourself there? Basso Ricketts Chester Turner Dudgeon Garcia Ashbee Koren Stewart Campbell Windass Basso seems to have no weaknesses whereas for every great save Myhill made there was always an incident of being lobbed on his line or something daft like that. Ricketts shades it over Rosenior for his attacking quality and delivery. Chester and Turner are obvious. Dudgeon IMO is one of our best players at the moment and certainly most under-rated, wins it all night long against Dawson who despite what he's done for the club has always frustrated me as a player. Ash and Koren have little competition in the middle, although I did rate Marney that season. Stewart and Garcia again have little competition and for all the hard work Fryatt and McLean get through their quality just isn't the same as Campbell and Windass.
the 2007/08 squad had experience, heart and desire to get to the PL. the 2011/12 squad has heart and desire and far more talent to get to the PL. so does talent outway experience or vice versa ?
