Sam Stubbs

Over Crichlow today Dave. It’s good to have the competition across the back two.

Kelly , Romy, Stubbs, Odusina and Platt. No one in the DiV has that amount of cover ?

 

I definitley think

I pretty much agree with this, as I think the best combo would be Rom and Stubbs, but if you factor in Platt/Stubbs are ours and in Roms absence they have paired up well so rightly deserve to keep their places.

 

I agree Crichlow and Stubbs would be our best combination. Platt has done ok but we should play our best possible centre half pairing unless injury intervenes. For me this means Crichlow and Stubbs.

 

This centre half issue, is a nice problem to have compared to this time last season. LOL!!

 

Rom/Stubbs for sure I would normally always think like this too also, and even though I've never really been a huge fan of Platt and always have had him down as one of those acceptable affordable players you need to have at this level capable of filling in gaps around the few quality players you need and can afford. But I now do think we have to give credit/reward where it's due and stick to something that's been successful of late. So for that reason I'd leave it as Platt and Stubbs, although having said that I often wonder which of our current crop of players could handle L1 should we get there and imo one player who I think would struggle is Platt, but the difference I see this season with our squad is that If we do get promoted and the management team identify any of our players who wouldn't be up to the step up then I think we have a squad of players who would all be wanted by lots of L2 clubs, so we wouldn't be stuck with anyone I don't think.

 

Exeter, Port Vale and Bristol Rovers are all showing that survival is possible if you have a sensible structure in place, i.e. instead of the Forest Green 'let's just get promoted!!' one.

Ironically, I think the squad would be fine in L1 - but could easily still miss out on promotion.

 

Totally agree I think we'd fair far better in L1 than L2 as not many teams would turn up to park a bus, the point I was trying to make though was I don't see us being stuck with any of our under contract players that our management want to move on, where as in previous years I could be wrong but I'm sure we regularly end up having to pay various players off etc.

 

To keep it on topic about Stubbs, the lad sees everything in front of him. He also manages the backline well and is calm with the ball at feet. He could play next to Zesh Rehman and make him look solid

 

I don’t think pace is so much of a problem Dave tbh. Crichlow is no Linford Christie either. I believe it’s less of a problem because we don’t defend “ up the pitch” and as a result , less susceptible to the long ball over the top. Remember the crazy defending we got up to with Adams , Canavan repeatedly caught on the halfway line…. Thankfully those days are long gone.

As someone said earlier defending isn’t our problem, no matter the middle two, rather more chances at t’other end would be nice?

 

I think we pick horses for courses moving forwards. Rom and Stubbs are comfortable in the ball. Platt is stronger in the air.
If we’re at Jaime with the emphasis on us breaking down teams then I would lean to the former. mid we are playing against a big forrad then Platts strength in the air should be used.
we could play 3 at the back and with one less defensive midfielder in some games. Clayton or Smallwood not both.

 

I posted similar with regards our CD situation would Critchlow walk straight back into the starting 11 (I personally thought he would) but fair play to Hughes he's stook with Platt & Stubbs possibly with one eye on next season when we may not have Critchlow.

 

That's a fair enough call Kevin but defending deep also means our midfield has to drop deep (unless we go longer) and that has a knock on effect to the front 3 which probably goes some way to explaining why, at home especially, we struggle to get enough men into the attacking 3rd often enough.

 

Stubbs is a very astute bit of business by the club.
Solid leadership at the back,great to watch.

 

Agree for sure.It’s a balance.

 

Bloody hell, you must set a high bar. Critchlow is the Des Walker of L2 - he's seriously quick for a L2 centre back. His pace has got us out of trouble on numerous occasions this season.

I'd love to see us give 352/3412 a go at home - Stubbs right, Platt middle, Critch left. Get the fullbacks further forward to get balls in the box. Clayton and one of Gilliead or Smallwood sitting. Walker behind the front two.

 

Agree, but I'd have Stubbs in the middle to organize the other two

 

Possibly. I had Stubbs in the middle because of his strength in the air.

 

You think he’s quick Offy? Funny how we see it differently.

 

Crichlow wins a lot of headers when he plays.

Quality all-round defender.

 

We have one of the best defences in the league and it shows in the options we have at centre half so I'm not overly fussed who Hughes goes for from a defensive point of view.

But I wonder if it's the other end of the field where Hughes is seeing the benefit of playing Platt & Stubbs. We don't tend to look that threatening from corners or set pieces but that has improved in the last few games where Stubbs has played. The goal at Doncaster showed how committed he is and Cook doesn't score that goal without Stubbs' involvement. Hopefully more to come with that.