http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature/_/id/1156182/uersfeld:-a-story-of-shattered-dreams#?cc=5739 Would this guy be worth getting on a free for 2 years? Good pedigree.
Must admit I like the sound of a 6'5" defender, particularly with the way our lot have been playing lately. Thing is we've got Chico, Williams, Bartley, Tate and Monk so Laudrup may feel all slots are taken. But as much as we wouldn't know if this guy is up to this level we do know that Tate and Monk are not. Both are capable defenders but also have a tendency to switch off more than once during a game. The way things are going you can add Williams to that list so maybe an email to the Club is called for.
IPSWICH Town will not offer recent German triallist Kevin Pezzoni a permanent deal at the club. The 6ft 5in centre-back spent three days on trial with the Blues last week having been released by recently-relegated Bundesliga club FC Köln this summer. Paul Jewell said he had spoken to the player’s father and was planning on speaking to his agent during his Thursday press conference and he will confirm that the 23-year-old defender did not do enough during his three training sessions to earn the offer of a permanent deal..
Do we? Tate's started what? Two or three games? And was our best player in the last one. Not quite sure how you can state definitively that we know he's not up to it based on less time than it takes to watch the LOTR films back to back.
What a curious analogy. Tate has played more than a few games since our promotion, though his accident shortened his season. Monk has too. I lost count of the number of goals we conceded last season from mistakes from one or the other. Monk's positional sense is excellent but he lacks pace. Tate backs away and allows attackers space. He was at it again on Saturday, even though I'm happy to concede that he had a decent game overall against an ordinary Villa side. Backing off is absolutely fatal at this level, particularly against the better teams. The fact that Bartley is our second choice CB (and he is) tells you something. So yes, I've seen enough thanks. But I'm not "saying definitively". It's only an opinion. If Tate has a run of games and loses these tendencies, playing a few blinders in the process I'll be delighted.
Tate backs away and allows attackers space because he's smart enough to realise that if he gets too tight and is turned then he hasn't got the pace to catch back up. Better to stay on your feet and channel them instead. Rather than a weakness in his game, it's actually a demonstration of one of his strengths: his footballing brain. This is remeniscent of the time when people lambasted the way he played against Kebe in the playoff final, when in reality he handled him perfectly. You are correct in saying Monk isn't up to it however. It's a fact that Bartley is our second choice CB is it? I must have missed that press release.
Monk was supposed to be off to Bristol but he didn't go for whatever reason, musty. A thrifty club like ours won't spend £1M on a defender if he's third choice, LR - but we'll see. Let's see how the season develops and who is called in when Williams or Chico is out. We'll revisit this again at that time. You're right on 'channelling' attackers at least in principle. He doesn't. He allows attackers to advance then get past him. Or are you watching someone else.
Fine thanks, musty but we do worry about him. He keeps himself fit and works hard (he's a chiropractor). Long hours but the pay's good. Lots of unemployed graduates over here. Enjoy the weather. Showery here as usual but should be a fine sunny day for the game on Saturday.
I completely agree Williams and Chico are the incumbents but I sincerely believe that Tate provides adequate cover at CB and I wouldn't bat an eyelid any time he's selected to start. My GF's is from Brauweiler, near Koln, and her Dad is a mental FC Koln supporter/fanatic. Coincidentally, he was on the phone earlier to her so I asked him about Pezzoni. He's supported FC Koln all his life so he's a little Partisan After coughing up a kidney through laughing to hard he said "Pezzoni biss uns auf den arsch" roughly translates to Pezzoni bit us in the arse. His view is, and, according to him the view of all of FC Koln fans, that Pezzoni took money for nothing. In the press and Media Pezzoni consistently blamed, players or coaches or team selection for poor results while never taking personal responsibility for his own poor form. He went on to say that "Pezonni was lazy on the pitch, never got stuck in, was weak in the air, pulled out of every 50-50, walked about the pitch waving his arms like a mad man, showed no enthusiasm for the game he was in and let FC Koln down every minute he played". The FC Koln fans really hated him and apparently the fan who punched him, allegedly himself ducked a punch thrown by Pezzoni who, allegedly, tried to hit the fan in front of the fans family. They were arguing because the fan had his daughter on his shoulder obstructing Pezzonis' view of a street folk dance festival which was part of a Carnival. Allegedly the incident had nothing to do with football. Take this bit with a pinch of salt though as FC Koln fans are all angels aren't they? This was the apparent catalyst for Pezzonis release and it was not by mutual consent. The club felt he'd brought them into dissrepute so they effectuvly sacked him, allegedly. So with all this behind Pezzoni you'd expect him to come out blazing at Ipswich wouldn't you, new start and all. But no, he didn't perform or simply, couldn't be arsed sounds right.
