Match Thread Port Vale (H) @ 15:00 19th March

Yes has been said MH has lost all 3 home games, but to be realistic Mansfield are a good side and murdered us with Trumans set up, Swindon we arguably should have won deffo good for a draw, and Port Vale were simply so much better than us all over the park and in particular in strength, I don't have a problem with accepting that sometimes the opposition is just a better team like Saturday.

 

Er, actually they make the same point that I have. He's not a great CB - and that's simply because it's not his position. You're busy judging him on a position he's 'filling in' for - due to us having no other options. Credit to him, for not been a total disaster every match.

He would, however, make a great "water carrier" - because that's the role he's played at the two clubs he helped get out of the division. Remember, the most recent promotion was only last season and he's only 30, so I can't see how he's become unplayable, for L2 level, in less than a year

And we badly need a 'water carrier' - we had no defensive minded midfielders playing on Saturday and we wonder why Port Vale at times ran riot.

Your sarcasm just makes you look a bit silly. I've never said he's our "most important asset". I've said that he's a player that we throw away at our peril.

 

The problem is, when he’s played in midfield, he’s looked poor. Slow, immobile and clunky. He’s actually played better at CB, which is a problem as we signed him to be the CM enforcer we were missing and our defence badly needed an injection of pace when Canavan - who ran through treacle - moved on in January.

What Saturday showed us is that we need mobility in midfield. Delfounso surely won’t be played their again. We need players to get us up the pitch.

Dare I say this, as they both frustrate, but we ARE a better team with Watt and Gillead in it. They can get us forward.

 

Of course you'll say that "most vital player" is not the same as "most important asset"

But, setting aside the semantics, it reads as though you're saying the same thing....

 

The biggest problem Songo'o seems to have is a lack of composure passing the ball. Sometimes he just panics and kicks it. He needs to calm down more but he seems to lack confidence in his own passing abilities. Paudie is the same. If Hughes wants to pass more then we need one of the centre backs to be a better passer.

 

I think it goes without saying 2 quality CBs are needed regardless, if Paudie stays and he proves to MH he's good enough for the starting 11 then that's good enough for me.

 

There were scouts from Wednesday watching Paudie. He’s had a reputation since he was at Leeds and isn’t afraid of putting himself about.

I don’t think the question is should we offer him a contract and see if he can do enough to keep his place, its more a case of ‘will a better team cement their interest and offer him a deal’? Same with Watt.

 

Good luck to him! A footballer's career is short. He's too inconsistent for me.

 

No BOTH centre backs have to be better passers of the ball.

 

Why, McArdle wasn't a good passer.

FGR have one very good centre back in terms of on-the-ball ability, and that's Baily Cargill.

There's no question that playing a quality centre back with quality on the ball alongside Paudie would be good enough at this level.

 

Songo'o has come out and rubbished suggestions he will follow Adams back to Morecambe.

He said he wants to stay here and play under Hughes for as long as possible

 

I think Paudie has done ok this season apart from the odd blip. Although it’s not much to compare against, I’d say he’s been our best centre half f this season. Songo’O has also done well but mainly because he’s got himself out of a hole.

 

Oh come on Jon it wasn’t Parky’s philosophy to play the ball across the back.
Remember the phrase we often used “ get some snow on it”?
The fact he wasn’t a good passer didn’t matter in the style of play we used in that era.

 

I just don't think we need to be an all out passing side at this level. You need physicality too

The last centre back we had that was neat and tidy was NKP and he was very weak.

Better to have a balance I think

 

I agree Jon.

I'd rather have a no nonsense defender who might not be the best on the ground but is good in the air amd brave in the tackle.

 

And quick

 

I hope that we try to improve options for the other 3 positions in our back 4 before we start to worry about upgrading on Paudie.

 

I don’t think anyone thinks we should be an all out passing side, aka tippy-tappy football, rather having players who can actually pass a ball without giving it to the opposition more times than giving it to ourselves. Paudie scares the crap out of me when he thinks about it….. When he actually does it I close my eyes. Let’s be honest, it’s basic stuff for a pro footballer?

A blend yes, I totally agree.

 

Yeah I saw the story in T & A day after I’d posted. He has a good attitude, its not an issue for me if he stays, but wouldn’t surprise if Hughes wanted a better footballer. He’s got a few months to win Hughes over now I guess!

 

Is there a point to your luminous pink highlighting? I see Songo, got yet another MOM. I was a bit surprised as I thought no-one was outstanding, but all 11 were good.