Article in The Athletic

Add Beagrie to that. First season he was sent out on loan.

 

I had to stop reading when you described Songo as our "most vital player". It's complete nonsense and I'm convinced you were chuckling to yourself as you wrote it.

 

vincelot was a fantastic centre half for us and also a midget (calm down fordy)

 

In.my case I'd think every Bradford City fan hoped I'd not be paying up, you win some you lose some.
But I do get your point .

 

• Carles Puyol (5ft10) One of Spain's best ever. ...
• Fabio Cannavaro (5ft9) Just another player on the coveted list of legendary Italian central defenders. ...
• Franco Baresi (5ft9) ...
• Ronald Koeman (5ft11) ...
• Franz Beckenbauer (5ft11) ...
• Frank de Boer (5ft11) ...
• Ivan Cordoba (5ft8) ...
• Bobby Moore (5ft10)

Heading a football is all about timing , leap and most importantly desire.

 

I knew when I posted that people would find lots of examples of small centre halves, and I was thinking about Cannavaro myself. These players were strong men, however, and very athletic and I'm afraid Reece isn't. And League 2 is a different world from the lofty heights where most of those mentioned performed. I actually know one of Reece's best friends and I'll see if I can find out what his thoughts are for the future.

 

It's funny, because just a couple of days ago, we came across an old Mini when walking in Tallinn with my son and Mrs. Old Mini's are not very common here, and they were laughing at the size of it. I told them the story of a footballer, Duncan McKenzie, who used to be able to jump over them from a standing start. Great strength and leap in his legs he must have had. I Googled, and he's 5'8 in height. As mentioned above, there's a lot of centre halves who aren't the tallest, but won the ball in the air due to their power and positioning. Staunton isn't one of those. Neither is Songo'o. Vincelot was. I think if Staunton doesn't get a run out in the final few games, Hughes must think it's time for him to move on.

 

Name me another defensive midfielder that we have at the club, who's had two promotions from this division - one of them less than a year ago.

Or are defensive midfielders not needed any more?

Strange because that's how lots of clubs have got promoted from this division and it's noticeable that we haven't had a decent one, since the brilliant Josh Cullen. Which just happens to be our last successful season.

Not saying Songo is Cullen, before you start!!

 

They don’t get loaned to League 2 either generally, do they, the good ones? Mason Mount went on loan to Derby, Liverpool loaned Harvey Elliott to Blackburn. Can’t remember any Man Utd youngsters coming this far down the ladder.

we might get a few scrawny kids from the u17s or 18s but I don’t think top clubs will want to loan their good prospects to play in this physical league. It’ll be the kids they’ve given up on.

We can use Hughes as a magnet but personally I think his influence will come into play when a seasoned league 1/2 lad has a choice of three clubs, on similar money, and they think ‘yeah, I quite fancy playing for M Hughes over A N Other’.

 

It will be interesting to see if Hughes moves him back into midfield next season. Weird one Songo'o, he only starting playing DM in 2019 when Plymouth had a load of midfield injures at once. Had an in and out season at Scunny then a cracker at Morecambe. He's been a CB far longer than a DM but has undoubtedly had better success in the past at DM.

Having looked at him, it looks like it would be a disaster but Oscar Threlkeld played DM pretty much time he put his boots on for the 3 years before signing for City. Looks to have had a handful of games at RB for Salford but other than that, he hasn't played full back since the 17/18 season until DA brought him here. It all depends on the shape for next season. Seems to like a 4231 so far but is that just because thats the only shape this lot can fit into? If we have a clear out, it's anyones guess.

 

Had a similar discussion at the weekend at VP. The big clubs dont tend to bother sending anyone this low down, if they do it's usually a keeper. Where as there might be a few lads who he had on the books at Stoke, Fulham or Southampton who weren't breaking in, late teens to early 20s who are now playing L1 football or in Scotland, something like that who might fancy joining up with Hughes again.

I know it's a huge stretch, like top end stretch, but look at Saido Berahino now at Sheff Weds. Hughes gave him his start and arguably best run of his career, he's floated about since and now in L1, hasn't really found his feet. He's scored in 4 of the 23 appearances at that level, he did get a hat trick recently, but thats not a great return for a team that should be challenging. His goals came against Doncaster, Shrewsbury, Lincoln and Cambridge, all teams that have struggled this year. His contract is up in June and rumoured to be on £4K a week at Sheff Weds, but he wont get that money again if clubs at that level have seen him this season. Like i say, pie in the sky type reach, but if his form is middling still for the rest of the season and Hughes puts in the call, players like that might want to re-connect with Hughes.

Or like you say, some blokes who have been around L1/L2 for a good few years now who fancy a playing for a former PL boss and a name like Hughes. I saw in an article the other day, this summer has the most expiring contracts in EFL history, as most players during the start of the pandemic season behind closed doors signed no more than a 2 year deal, as the EFL were bringing in caps or squad limit spaces and weren't offering long term deals. So in theory, the market has never been bigger for Hughes to work his magic.

 

With regards to Songo'o if he's here next season then despite this season not looking good enough I don't think it's the end of the world as he would make an acceptable versatile squad player, and tbf to guy whether he is good enough or not no one can deny the guy gives his all which is all he can do. If we can assemble a much higher standard of attacking players for next season then you generally see that makes the defensive players look much better as it eases the constant bombardment they've received this season.

 

Oh for another Nathan Doyle. Strong in the tackle and read the game really well, providing so much protection to the back four. But also could put his foot on the ball, and ping a great pass too. When you have a player like that in the holding role it gives you so many more options going forward because you know the protective role is covered.

 

The Doyle Jones axis was a thing of beauty compared to some of the weak arse pairings we've had to endure since. to go from players like Doyle, Jones and Cullen in the middle of the park to the crap we've got now is honestly heart breaking at times

 

It's interesting reading about Threlkeld being a DM rather than a RB, cos I'm pretty sure that Doyle started at RB for us when he came on loan from. I remember at the time thinking he was head and shoulders above a lot of other players in the division (I think he was selected for England U19s either just before, or early on when joining us) and you could tell he had a real future in the game. Not sure when he made the switch from RB to DM, possibly Barnsley - I don't think it was us who switched his position.

 

I don't know either. But he had definitely already made the switch to DM before his second spell here.

 

Neither was Vincelot

 

See what happens in the summer. Both Paudie and Reece could benefit from a more experienced centre back with them.
The summer could also be an opportunity for Reece to add. A bit more bulk which may help

 

I'm afraid I disagree with you with with that assessment. I do think we need a Plan B for Cook as a lone striker and a viable 2 striker partnership if we want a Plan C but if you look at the array talent we've got in attacking midfield we're going to have to shell out a fortune if we want a "much higher standard" and that money would have a much greater impact if it's spent on some quality holding midfield options and upgrading the defence.

 

See post #126.