Robbored Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 I must have seen dozens of centre backs playing for City over almost 50 years and I'm struggling to remember many who could actually bring the ball out of defence. Merrick was one and Caulker another but I can't think of many others. Most had inflated opinions of their ability to accurately pass 50 odd yards yet persisted in trying it. Millen was just like that and tonight Flint wellies 4 long passes to absolutely no-one in a red shirt all the first half. I don't recal Brighton playing any long balls all game. My question is why do they do it? My theory is that they lack that one ingredient that sorts solid enough centre backs from those quality ones and that is "footballing intelligence". Virtually all PL CBs have it in abundance and that's what makes them PL players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChippenhamRed Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Ayling's only been out for a few weeks and it's like you've forgotten he exists. He is great at bringing the ball out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Youngish Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Ayling? Williams? We have two in our squad right now, and Flint is usually a decent passer. Quiet down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordy62 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 3 minutes ago, ChippenhamRed said: Ayling's only been out for a few weeks and it's like you've forgotten he exists. He is great at bringing the ball out. I think you've undersold him there too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin1988 Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 3 minutes ago, Youngish said: Ayling? Williams? We have two in our squad right now, and Flint is usually a decent passer. Quiet down. Ayling. Yes. Williams. Yes. Flint? God no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Dazzler Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Keith Curle and Norman Hunter come to mind. I also recall Jamie McCombe driving through the centre from box to box, possibly on his debut, only did it once though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One BCFC Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Louis Carey could play a bit I thought as he did play Right back a fair bit at City aswell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbored Posted February 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Ayling is not a standard CB in my view. Defender for sure but not the typical CB I'm referring to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
And Its Smith Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Matt Bryant could play Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lrrr Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 7 minutes ago, Youngish said: Ayling? Williams? We have two in our squad right now, and Flint is usually a decent passer. Quiet down. Flint is definitely not a decent passer of a ball when it has to travel more than 10 yards, people criticise Pack for long balls, but compared to Flint Marlon is world class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roe Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Brighton didn't do it because not once did their centre backs even try to play football. They did their jobs and that's partly why they kept a clean sheet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChippenhamRed Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 4 minutes ago, Robbored said: Ayling is not a standard CB in my view. Defender for sure but not the typical CB I'm referring to. So you ask for CBs who could bring the ball out, I give you one who played CB for the entire of last season, but somehow he doesn't count?! No wonder you can't think of any! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lrrr Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 5 minutes ago, ChippenhamRed said: So you ask for CBs who could bring the ball out, I give you one who played CB for the entire of last season, but somehow he doesn't count?! No wonder you can't think of any! Could be that Ayling has traditionally been a right back and therefore used to carrying the ball out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_BCFC Posted February 23, 2016 Report Share Posted February 23, 2016 Ayling can carry it out but I wouldn't say any of our defenders can hit a decent long pass (well not often anyway). No one will ever beat the pinpoint accuracy of Tony Butler's pass in the lead up to us scoring at Hartlepool in the first leg away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-Robbo Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Golborne took the ball forward on at least three occasions tonight. He had an examplary game on a night when many of our players were well below par. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BS4 on Tour... Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Rob Newman and Mark Shail could play with the ball at their feet.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbored Posted February 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 7 minutes ago, BS4 on Tour... said: Rob Newman and Mark Shail could play with the ball at their feet.... Yeah, Newman was decent enough but Shail was a very average defender. He didn't lump it that often tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Dawe Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 I wonder how often Preston's defenders are bringing the ball out from defence this season? Must be taking the shine off their season a bit if they're not managing this often enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Thought Brighton did it well, didn't give our cb's any time on the ball and they ended up hitting many aimless long balls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
formerly known as ivan Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 The long balls are a concern and last night they were absolutely shocking. Firstly, Freeman is not going to win anything in the air. Secondly, even if Kodjia won any of the balls aimed to him, no one is running in behind for him to flick it onto. Last night is wasn't just Flint's poor attempts at a long ball, Pack was unusually of target most the night as well. Put it down to a tired performance off the back of Saturday's game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Orns Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Anyone remember Glenn Humphries against Huddersfield 89ish? Went on a rampage, and the ball just seemed to stick to his foot, to be fair I don't many HT players got in his way for fear of being trampled. As I recall I think we were 3 or 4 up at the time and the whole crowd just came to life and the run just kept going Loved that bloke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Isewater Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 2 hours ago, JonDolman said: I have never really been too bothered about ball playing centre backs. A lot of them are dodgy at the most important thing which is defending. And I can't really think of many big, dominating centre backs in the championship that are also really good passers of the ball. Maybe that Boro defender who is probably the best in the division. But generally, I think Flint does okay. Vilmos Sebok is the best I have seen down here, but blimey he really could not defend. Sebok was very underated here ,he could dribble the ball out or hit long accurate passes all day long. Top player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedM Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 8 hours ago, Red-Robbo said: Golborne took the ball forward on at least three occasions tonight. He had an examplary game on a night when many of our players were well below par. Really looking forward to when we have Golbourne on one side and Ayling on the other. As for Flint, he has his moments but I thought he was getting increasingly frustrated last night and booting the ball more to reflect this than anything else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin1988 Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 Golbourne was excellent last night against a tricky customer in Knockeart. Offered plenty of support going forward too, crossing needs a bit of work but was my MOTM for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimplyRed Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 I have always said that the main difference between top players and average ones is not primarily about ability, but speed of thought, composure and pace. I think most professional players have a pretty comprehensive range of skills, but some cannot apply it quickly enough or with the pace that allows them composure to be accurate. Your average long ball centre back plays long balls because he cannot think quickly enough, or by physical speed, to use it in a useful way so he panics (lack of composure) and lumps it. In lower league games, this is adequate because it removes the immediate danger, which is all the defender wants to do (and is usually instructed to do). In top games, the tempo of the game is higher and more is demanded and so players who make it in the top flight are quick thinkers, pacey and calm under pressure. Barcelona is a prime example of a team of quick thinking, pacey players who use that to control the game for long periods with quick accurate passing. Most teams cannot get near them. My opinion, anyway! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-Robbo Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 46 minutes ago, RedM said: Really looking forward to when we have Golbourne on one side and Ayling on the other. As for Flint, he has his moments but I thought he was getting increasingly frustrated last night and booting the ball more to reflect this than anything else. Felt sorry for Aden. Was doing the work of three men. He looked shot by the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 2 hours ago, Red-Robbo said: Felt sorry for Aden. Was doing the work of three men. He looked shot by the end. apart from his passing,i thought he did really well doing his job and covering Zac aswell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red-Robbo Posted February 24, 2016 Report Share Posted February 24, 2016 1 minute ago, redsquirrel said: apart from his passing,i thought he did really well doing his job and covering Zac aswell And Pearce too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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