We nearly signed McFadzean and did sign Flint. How glad I am that we recruited Aden. Both are big strong lads, neither will ever win the most talented footballer of the year. However the biggest difference between them is that McFadzean is a cheat who will never be able to stop using the the dark arts while Aden Flint is an honest pro who gives of his best even if sometimes that is not good enough. Aden is a credit to Bristol City and I salute him.
Don't get the criticism Flint has got this season. Along with Smith he's been one of our most consistent performers. He's had a few bad games but that's when the whole team have played bad. He never gets done for pace as he's always in the right positions and apart from Donaldson the other week I can't think of one striker that got the better of him in the air. Along with Baker in a back 4 he looks incredible, everything that gets knocked into that box gets knocked straight back out. Flint IS a championship player, if you can't see that then God help you.
Before Flint upset them by telling the Swindon fans he left them to go to a club with ambition, Swindon fans would have said exactly the same thing. Good, honest pro who puts in a shift. Better in the air than with his feet - but his feet aren't bad though!!! Highest scoring defender in British football last season. Higher than the likes of Terry for example - without taking a penalty even.
Flint doesn't want to be captain, when one of Smith and Wilbs was off the field and the other went off injured Flint refused to take the arm band and passesd it to Pack. Some players don't want it and rapidly go down hill with i, Fontaine anybody?
He is the closest to the great Shuan Taylor,funny both came from Swindon. Regards Flint and Mac,Flint is better. Infact on the championship last night he was touted as the best ball winning centre half in the championship.
Weren't you calling for him to be dropped earlier in the season and saying he wasn't up to the level??
He has raised his game, and great credit for that. He is one of the first names on my sheet on current performances.
I love the bloke, didn't think i'd get another favourite after R Marv left but Flinty stepped up. Even named my dog after him please log in to view this image
After a shaky start, Aden Flint as been fantastic, a class defender & a huge problem for other teams at set pieces, almost unstopable & with more goals to come from him this season.
If the various managers didn't stick by a player with such obvious qualities and we left it to the likes of you to make such stupid decisions he wouldn't have been able to turn his form around and become a first name on the team sheet would he!
So Flints early season form which was to say the least questionable and gave many of us concerns. Was that acceptable of course not. Having said that apart from three or four players the team has been poor most of the season. For me the only players that have produced consistant performances over the season have been smith,ayling,baker. Big improvers have been flint,pack,freeman. Great signings in o'donall,Goulbourne,Tomlin vastly improved us and this will keep us up.
I wouldn't say his early season form was a "concern" in fact, like I've said above, he has been consistent all season, even when Cotterill was here he was still playing good, just the formation from the manager was letting him down. We were set up to be offensive rather than defensive, the back 5 were told to push up and when ever we lost the ball and got hit on the counter we got done. This wasn't Flints fault, he did everything he had to well. So not to sure where this concern about his early season form has come from? He's been playing like he has in the last couple of games all season. Also no coincidence since Aylings been out things have turned around. Isn't the greatest defender, very good on the ball and great taking it forward, but when we're up against it he's a bit of a weak link. I'll be glad when he's back mind you, as it will be interesting to see how he gets on at RB. Think he'll do well there but would hate to see him in the middle of a back 4 and hopefully never will we have to see him in a back 3, just doesn't work at this level with a team fresh from league 1.
Big Aden had a very good game at MK McFadzean always looks like he has a mistake in him. Mind you he's not helped by Karl Robinson's obsession with playing the ball from the back (and some on here thought Cotts was intransigent)
Your comments show how we all see different things. IMO Ayling has been our poorest defender because he goes walkabout too often. Good going forward but not my idea of a solid defender.
