What do we do about Flint

[Guest Acton Red]

So well loved by many fans and so talented in so many ways, but can we really persist with him for now? Or does LJ stick with him and bring him through this to make him and us stronger? Maybe that is why he started with 3 at the back to have Ekstrand next to him to get him through the ordeal he seems to be having?

[MrBibs]

I thought he had a great game today (apart from that howler)

[Numero Uno]

I think today proved that three at the back doesn't suit us. We looked far more in control when we went 4-4-2 and, to be fair, a number of Frank's saves came when we went gung ho to rescue a point and had four including Flint up front!!

[Numero Uno]

On the goal, of course Flint should have headed it away.....but did he get a shout of any description from Frank?

[screech]

He was very good today apart from one error that cost us a goal. Shame that's all people will talk about.

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

On the goal, of course Flint should have headed it away.....but did he get a shout of any description from Frank?

Does he need it? Never play a blind header back, ever. 

Personally he has to be dropped for me, else ROD can feel particularly aggrieved.  Notwithstanding how well FF did today, take Flint out of the equation and ROD might not have conceded 4 of his last 5, and for FF if you take take Flint out he might be staring at two clean sheets but for his mistake for the second  

I love FLint as much as the rest and rate him too, but he's just not quite there at the moment. I'd be inclined to play him through it, but he's really pushing patience with someone like Ekstrand on the bench. 

The worry with Flint is under SOD he was mistake after mistake after mistake after mistake. It did take him being dropped and a long spell on the sidelines to come back strong. I'm just a bit concerned the same extended break may be needed. 

Then again, part of me wonders if he needs a managers LOVE like SC gave him. It's clear from the ITK's on here LJ needs some convincing. I'm wondering if, just if, it's not the marriage for them, as it clearly wasn't with SOD who didn't rate him. 

[Unan]

5 minutes ago, screech said:

He was very good today apart from one error that cost us a goal. Shame that's all people will talk about.

Only 2 moments in the game effected the score line, of course people are going to talk about that.

[Numero Uno]

1 minute ago, 29AR said:

Does he need it? Never play a blind header back, ever. 

Personally it has to be dropped for me, else ROD can feel particularly aggrieved.  Notwithstanding how well FF did today, take Flint out of the equation and ROD might not have conceded 4 of his last 5, and for FF take Flint out he might be staring a blank. 

I love FLint as much as the rest and rate him too, but he's just not quite there at the moment. I'd be inclined to play him through it, but he's really pushing patience with someone like Ekstrand on the bench. 

The worry with Flint is under SOD he was mistake after mistake after mistake after mistake. It did take him being dropped and a long spell on the sidelines to come back strong. I'm just a bit concerned the same extended break may be needed. 

Where I agree with you is that if you get no shout from the keeper then you head it away and ask questions later. But I would still want my keeper to be communicating in that situation if I was a Manager.

[screech]

1 minute ago, Griffin said:

Only 2 moments in the game effected the score line, of course people are going to talk about that.

99% of his performance was good, why don't we talk about that instead.

[Numero Uno]

1 minute ago, JamesBCFC said:

There was no need of a shout from Frankie, the ball didn't have enough pace for Fielding to have to shout for it, where he was Flint should have only been thinking of heading the ball away from goal, he was far too far out so be heading back to the box from there, let alone with a little flick.

Responsibility for the goal is solely on Flint, with some credit to Anya for reading the attempt at a header back.

I agree Flint is 100% at fault for the goal whichever way you look at it. But if Frank could see that Anya was making that run then a shout of "away" wouldn't have gone amiss.

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Numero Uno said:

Where I agree with you is that if you get no shout from the keeper then you head it away and ask questions later. But I would still want my keeper to be communicating in that situation if I was a Manager.

I do, but I want the keeper and the defender to always in that situation to be 'bang it forward'. If it comes back then the attack, then midfield, then defence, the goalkeeper have questions to answer. To do what Flint did will 1 time in 100 result in suicide, but they are unnecessary odds. 

[Robbored]

5 minutes ago, screech said:

He was very good today apart from one error that cost us a goal. Shame that's all people will talk about.

He defended well enough today but his error is the third or fourth in the last three games. All players make mistakes but to make so many is a worry to some fans. That's what the complaints are about.

[EnclosureSurge]

Poor old Flinty. I'm a big fan, as I think I may have pointed out. He did lots right today - for those of you not there, all the usual stuff - but got that header horribly wrong having got the exact same back-header right a few minutes before. Was he at fault for the goal? Yes, probably. Did he do much else wrong? No, not really. But, on balance, these past 8 days he is not looking the solid centre-half he has been for 26 months. There were shades of us looking like L1 O'Driscoll at times today (and remember we had Frank, Little, Reid, Pack, Flint, Wilbs, Freeman, Bryan on the pitch - what a L1 bunch!) but we took a point off Derby (who seem to be sinking like a stone).

Overall, given Ekstrand's lack of fitness, I'm not sure it's worth dropping Flinty just yet. he is the type who could work through this. that said, O'Donnell seems to have been dropped for one mistake, so are there double standards at play? Who bloody knows. 

But Flinty had better sort it out, for sure, or else some of us - me, primarily- are gonna look prize turkeys.

Come on Flinty, lad!

[Barrs Court Red]

Depends where his head is. As we saw with Fontaine, leaving an out of form CB in the firing line can have disastrous consequences.

[Taylor10]

People are getting far too carried away with this. Absolutely no way he should be dropped. He was very good today apart from the mistake.

Not sure in anyone was listening to 'Ian' on radio Bristol after the match? Wasn't even at the game yet was calling for Flint to be dropped. Pretty embarrassing to make those comments and that type of thing doesn't help. I always thought some of his opinions were a little bit....well different shall we say, but today was ridiculous. Flint plays all day long for me.

[Numero Uno]

1 minute ago, JamesBCFC said:

Because that 1% cost us 2 points?

He shouldn't have been thinking of doing that header to start with, not from his position.

Agree, but our keeper still needs to be a mouthy barsteward though!!! Belts and braces and all that!!

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, screech said:

He was very good today apart from one error that cost us a goal. Shame that's all people will talk about.

But that's all it takes and what is the tally in the last three games, particularly when ROD gets dropped. 

Like I said above, Flint has spells of incomprehensible mistakes. I think he's entering that and needs a rest. Hurts to say because I really rate him as a CB, but he needs out of the firing line and to regroup. It's reminiscent of watching his first season here. Deja vu in the extreme. 

[screech]

1 minute ago, JamesBCFC said:

Because that 1% cost us 2 points?

 

It never cost us two points, that's not true at all.

It's a team game, win, lose or draw, mistakes will always be made, 99% of his game was good.

If he was having a Liam Fontaine period where his confidence was completely shot, I would say drop him, but he's still a very good defender.

[GrahamC]

Having now seen Ekstrand play I completely understand why LJ is keeping faith with Flint.

I know he has been out of first team football for 18 months but boy did he look well off the pace.

Anytime anyone ran at him he was in trouble and well before half time he appeared to be labouring badly when running.

On that evidence and bearing in mind that Flint was very good, (one mistake excepted) we need to keep him in the side.

[Numero Uno]

1 minute ago, GrahamC said:

Having now seen Ekstrand play I completely understand why LJ is keeping faith with Flint.

I know he has been out of first team football for 18 months but boy did he look well off the pace.

Anytime anyone ran at him he was in trouble and well before half time he appeared to be labouring badly when running.

On that evidence and bearing in mind that Flint was very good, (one mistake excepted) we need to keep him in the side.

Johnson talked after about sticking Ekstrand in the U23's for a couple of games to get him back up to speed. Sounds like a plan to me. 18 months is a hell of a long time not to play matches. No surprise at all that he looked rusty. Just hope that one or two of our less educated supporters haven't written him off already.

[Goatersfloater]

Support him! 

[Charlie BCFC]

5 minutes ago, Goatersfloater said:

Support him! 

Exactly 

[Thatwasclose]

Bench him

Derby were never going to score today and a mistake like that at this level should warrant a stint on the bench.

 

[Robbored]

14 minutes ago, Barrs Court Red said:

Depends where his head is. As we saw with Fontaine, leaving an out of form CB in the firing line can have disastrous consequences.

It can indeed but removing said player can also have disastrous consequences. 

Who'd be a manager eh? 

[Meh]

I had previously asked for Ekstrand to come in but seeing him today I would suggest he is a few weeks off so we should keep going with Flint and let him work through it in the league games as he is still our warrior and leader at the back and his head is not dropping.

I would like to see him sitting out on Tuesday though as a perfect chance to let Moore have a go - even if only for a half - the only fit squad player who has not had any minutes I believe?!

[Coombsy]

Support him  I spoke to him after the game and you can tell how much pain he was in he only made one mistake today and yes they scored from it but the lad really cares we need to all support him 

[RedM]

Keep him in, for every error he got ten times as many right. We have had a tough few games with a team that are still gelling. Let them gel rather than churning them up again. Flint will be his biggest critic, let him deal with himself rather than us all getting on his back. If we show we don't want him there will be many teams who would take him like a shot. 

[The Bard]

17 minutes ago, GrahamC said:

Having now seen Ekstrand play I completely understand why LJ is keeping faith with Flint.

I know he has been out of first team football for 18 months but boy did he look well off the pace.

Anytime anyone ran at him he was in trouble and well before half time he appeared to be labouring badly when running.

On that evidence and bearing in mind that Flint was very good, (one mistake excepted) we need to keep him in the side.

Agree.  When I saw their left side was Anya and one of the Olson twins against Ekstrand and Little I feared the worst.    If we were going to play 3 5 2, I think it should be Mary Tyler Moore at RCB. 

[Shtanley]

Change back to 4 at the back he'll eventually get back to normal. He played fine today just 1 silly mistake. 

[cidercity1987]

Support him absolutely but bench him also.

 

4 mistakes leading to goals in 3 games is at least 3 too many.

[Guest]

47 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

Support him absolutely but bench him also.

 

4 mistakes leading to goals in 3 games is at least 3 too many.

Precisely this. We've tried playing him through a bad patch before - it resulted in many being available to drive him here there or anywhere during a window. The lad needs a rest, mentally if not physically. It's a no brainer for me. Bench all day long. 

[exAtyeoMax]

1 hour ago, Coombsy said:

Support him  I spoke to him after the game and you can tell how much pain he was in he only made one mistake today and yes they scored from it but the lad really cares we need to all support him 

Aw Flinty! 

 

[Robin 101]

We all know Flinty has a couple of fatal mistakes a season in him and unfortunately this season they've all come ato once. I personally have seen enough in the last couple of years to trust him to bounce back. Amazing how 2 bad mistakes in 30 or 40 games means some people want one of our best players dropped but each to their own I suppose

 

[famouslastword]

Let him play through this bad spell. He's been solid at the back for the past couple of seasons. Can't just chuck people under the bus every time they make a mistake. Granted he's made 3 or 4 in the last 3 games. But He will be hurting more than anyone else today. He needs to pick himself up. Fight through it and all this will be a huge learning curve, of which I believe will make him a better player. 

[Full nelson]

1 hour ago, screech said:

He was very good today apart from one error that cost us a goal. Shame that's all people will talk about.

Shame that he's paid to stop the opposition from scoring!! Shame he's cost us 3 goals in 3 games, he'll be alright once he gets a new gf. 

[Unan]

1 hour ago, screech said:

99% of his performance was good, why don't we talk about that instead.

Because that doesn't matter if he does the other 1%.

[exAtyeoMax]

 

[Thatwasclose]

13 minutes ago, famouslastword said:

Let him play through this bad spell. He's been solid at the back for the past couple of seasons. Can't just chuck people under the bus every time they make a mistake. Granted he's made 3 or 4 in the last 3 games. But He will be hurting more than anyone else today. He needs to pick himself up. Fight through it and all this will be a huge learning curve, of which I believe will make him a better player. 

Eh I don't think anyone was solid at the back considering how many we shipped in.  

 

[Silvio Dante]

My biggest issue with AF at the moment isn't the errors - that will happen, irrespective of how good the player. My issue is the nature of the errors. Take out any fault for Sheffield Weds, then the 3 goals are all from communication errors with goalkeepers he has played with for some time. What has happened to cause this? 

If it was Taylor Moore/Ekstrand making the errors, I'd get it as they don't have an understanding as yet with ROD or Frank. Aden does. I can only think he feels as a senior pro in a young side he has to take more on and is struggling with that and making bad decisions by trying to do too much.

Or he's lost it/never had it/is ****. Your choice...

[Lanterne Rouge]

1 minute ago, Silvio Dante said:

My biggest issue with AF at the moment isn't the errors - that will happen, irrespective of how good the player. My issue is the nature of the errors. Take out any fault for Sheffield Weds, then the 3 goals are all from communication errors with goalkeepers he has played with for some time. What has happened to cause this? 

If it was Taylor Moore/Ekstrand making the errors, I'd get it as they don't have an understanding as yet with ROD or Frank. Aden does. I can only think he feels as a senior pro in a young side he has to take more on and is struggling with that and making bad decisions by trying to do too much.

Or he's lost it/never had it/is ****. Your choice...

Certainly the own goal at Rotherham was a result of trying too hard IMO but let`s not forget he did exactly the same at home to Villa and it stopped us from going two down.

I really don`t know what`s going on in his head but I don`t think he`ll wilt under the pressure a la Liam Fontaine.

[Bristol Rob]

I say we throw him to the Lions. 

Historically we have collectively destroyed many a good defender by being unforgiving and expecting world class performances week in, week out.

Dyche and Fontaine are two that spring to mind.

Players who have have a couple of bad games and then the 'people' have decided that regardless of how well they might have done previously have no place in this squad, let alone first team.

Let's be honest, with Little only filling in for Matthews, there is scant pickings for the boo-boys, so let's destroy the career of a man who has on countless occasions put his body/head/face and gonads on the line for the club.

One of the players we were most happy about keeping in the transfer window? Nah. Let's level his career.

Of course, the other option is to be supportive, recognise that he might have things away from football that have taken a small percentage of his concentration and have contributed to a couple of less than perfect games and add to that the new partner he has in the middle of a defensive line. But that just isn't the way the vocal ones work. Far better to get on his back. 

I know myself, that on those rare occasions I make a small mistake in work, nothing would give me the confidence more than to have loads of people having a go at me.

 

[Between heaven and hell]

We do nothing, he's still in credit.

You could see he was hurting today so encourage not criticise.

Our man Flint will come through this

[Drew Peacock]

18 minutes ago, Bristol Rob said:

I say we throw him to the Lions. 

Historically we have collectively destroyed many a good defender by being unforgiving and expecting world class performances week in, week out.

Dyche and Fontaine are two that spring to mind.

Players who have have a couple of bad games and then the 'people' have decided that regardless of how well they might have done previously have no place in this squad, let alone first team.

Let's be honest, with Little only filling in for Matthews, there is scant pickings for the boo-boys, so let's destroy the career of a man who has on countless occasions put his body/head/face and gonads on the line for the club.

One of the players we were most happy about keeping in the transfer window? Nah. Let's level his career.

Of course, the other option is to be supportive, recognise that he might have things away from football that have taken a small percentage of his concentration and have contributed to a couple of less than perfect games and add to that the new partner he has in the middle of a defensive line. But that just isn't the way the vocal ones work. Far better to get on his back. 

I know myself, that on those rare occasions I make a small mistake in work, nothing would give me the confidence more than to have loads of people having a go at me.

 

Small mistake?

[Bristol Rob]

8 minutes ago, Drew Peacock said:

Small mistake?

Probably. I'm in drink. You'll have to be specific!

[BRISTOL86]

2 hours ago, screech said:

99% of his performance was good, why don't we talk about that instead.

Because the 1% cost us a goal? It's a perfectly reasonable talking point. 

[Guest]

37 minutes ago, Bristol Rob said:

I say we throw him to the Lions. 

Historically we have collectively destroyed many a good defender by being unforgiving and expecting world class performances week in, week out.

Dyche and Fontaine are two that spring to mind.

Players who have have a couple of bad games and then the 'people' have decided that regardless of how well they might have done previously have no place in this squad, let alone first team.

Let's be honest, with Little only filling in for Matthews, there is scant pickings for the boo-boys, so let's destroy the career of a man who has on countless occasions put his body/head/face and gonads on the line for the club.

One of the players we were most happy about keeping in the transfer window? Nah. Let's level his career.

Of course, the other option is to be supportive, recognise that he might have things away from football that have taken a small percentage of his concentration and have contributed to a couple of less than perfect games and add to that the new partner he has in the middle of a defensive line. But that just isn't the way the vocal ones work. Far better to get on his back. 

I know myself, that on those rare occasions I make a small mistake in work, nothing would give me the confidence more than to have loads of people having a go at me.

 

Think you're being a bit harsh there. Remember under SOD Flint was out of form for about 6 months and many were saying they'd drive him here there and everywhere because he was crap. Since then a spell outside the first team and a rebuild in his belief and he didn't look back.

The last three games leave me wondering whether he's better off with the same 'breather' to recharge himself. He's been our talisman for a while now and plays full blooded.

For me it looks like that period is taking its toll. His mind and decision making is just a bit jaded and I think he'd benefit from an extended spell out and come back the colossus we know he can be. 

If we did learn anything from Fontaine it must be get him out of the firing line, fast. Especially when you've spent a couple of mill on a replacement and an international to boot. 

[hertsexile]

2 hours ago, Neo said:

I had previously asked for Ekstrand to come in but seeing him today I would suggest he is a few weeks off so we should keep going with Flint and let him work through it in the league games as he is still our warrior and leader at the back and his head is not dropping.

I would like to see him sitting out on Tuesday though as a perfect chance to let Moore have a go - even if only for a half - the only fit squad player who has not had any minutes I believe?!

I agree it would be good from Flint to sit out the cup game giving Moore a run out. It may also help him re focus for the Saturday encounter. Yes the goal was a real howler but showed how much it hurt in rest of performance. Great to see Tomlin hugging Flint after wilbs scored 

[hertsexile]

2 hours ago, Neo said:

I had previously asked for Ekstrand to come in but seeing him today I would suggest he is a few weeks off so we should keep going with Flint and let him work through it in the league games as he is still our warrior and leader at the back and his head is not dropping.

I would like to see him sitting out on Tuesday though as a perfect chance to let Moore have a go - even if only for a half - the only fit squad player who has not had any minutes I believe?!

I agree it would be good from Flint to sit out the cup game giving Moore a run out. It may also help him re focus for the Saturday encounter. Yes the goal was a real howler but showed how much it hurt in rest of performance. Great to see Tomlin hugging Flint after wilbs scored 

[Davefevs]

2 hours ago, Numero Uno said:

Johnson talked after about sticking Ekstrand in the U23's for a couple of games to get him back up to speed. Sounds like a plan to me. 18 months is a hell of a long time not to play matches. No surprise at all that he looked rusty. Just hope that one or two of our less educated supporters haven't written him off already.

Very informative interview on BBCRB.  Said JE had looked really good in the small-sided stuff, so he must see a player in him.  Having snapped my ACL, I never played again without it in the back of my mind.  He did look fine on the ball, but his reactions were off...and that's what 18 months out will result in.  Time to judge will be when he's played 5 or 6 games.  LJ made the right decision at half-time, but I hope we see some more of JE.

[Robbored]

2 hours ago, Coombsy said:

Support him  I spoke to him after the game and you can tell how much pain he was in he only made one mistake today and yes they scored from it but the lad really cares we need to all support him 

Of course he cares, they all do they're professionals ffs! and should take pride in what they do.

Its not so much about Flint as a person - he's top bloke. Its  about him recently making errors that have resulted I goals conceded. 

The question is - what does LJ do? Does he rest Flint for the cup match this week? If he does rest him, what would that do to Flints current fragile confidence? 

 

[Nogbad the Bad]

35 minutes ago, 29AR said:

Think you're being a bit harsh there. Remember under SOD Flint was out of form for about 6 months and many were saying they'd drive him here there and everywhere because he was crap. Since then a spell outside the first team and a rebuild in his belief and he's didn't look back.

The last three games leave me wondering whether he's better off with the same 'breather' to recharge himself. He's been our talisman for a while now and plays full blooded.

For me it looks like that period is taking its toll. His mind and decision making is just a bit jaded and I think he'd benefit from an extended spell out and come back the colossus we know he can be. 

Unless I'm mistaken the only 'breather' or 'spell out of the first team' Flint has had followed the season ending knee injury at Shrewsbury in March 2014 which caused him to miss the last 12 matches, having already made 43 apps. that first season in League and Cups.

At the time of the injury he'd long since played himself into form ( and favour with the fans) and was standing out as one of our most consistent players, as well as one of the most committed.

Since then he's been more or less ever present for the following 2 seasons and the current one, amassing 114 apps, and barely missing a match.

You said in post #6, 'It did take him being dropped and a long spell on the sidelines to come back strong.'

I can't remember that happening. Can you enlighten me please?

[shelts]

I'm not sure what we do with the lad but I'm sure the gaffa will stick with him and he will play through this blip and be a better player for it. He leads so well and for me is our most important player. 

[Silvio Dante]

If it's up to me, I'd rest him Tuesday. No other reason that Moore needs a game, as does Ekstrand. If we work on the basis he's trying too hard then dropping him for any other reason than rotation will exaggerate that on return. I'm of the mind his head is not right currently, but think psychology and good management can solve that. Give him a rest, but for the right reason 

[Red-Robbo]

I tell you what, he'll never head a ball backwards for the rest of his career I reckon .

Give him a night off in the Cup - see what Moore can do - and maybe bring him back for the league fixture. 

[Phileas Fogg]

6 hours ago, Taylor10 said:

People are getting far too carried away with this. Absolutely no way he should be dropped. He was very good today apart from the mistake.

Not sure in anyone was listening to 'Ian' on radio Bristol after the match? Wasn't even at the game yet was calling for Flint to be dropped. Pretty embarrassing to make those comments and that type of thing doesn't help. I always thought some of his opinions were a little bit....well different shall we say, but today was ridiculous. Flint plays all day long for me.

If that's who I'm thinking of he's a well known bullsh*tter on other city forums and on twitter. Has some bizarre opinions and appears to search 'bristol city' so he can give his 2p to all and sundry who tweet those words.

[RedM]

9 hours ago, Robbored said:

 

The question is - what does LJ do? Does he rest Flint for the cup match this week? If he does rest him, what would that do to Flints current fragile confidence? 

 

I don't think his confidence is fragile, more that he is frustrated with himself and how games have gone. This is getting to him perhaps, not the belief that he can't do his job.

As for resting him, yes fine if done so with others, as others have said it's a possibility that Joe and Tammy might need time even if their injuries aren't as bad as they looked. LJ will no doubt discuss with Flint, I doubt if Flint will want to step aside so a good manager will make the right decision for him.

[Drew Peacock]

9 hours ago, Bristol Rob said:

Probably. I'm in drink. You'll have to be specific!

Giving away goals are not small mistakes. Goals are very hard earned. If at work you had made the number and scale of mistakes that Flint has, you would be on a final warning,  not having an encouraging cuddle.

Unless you worked for the council,  probably.

[brizzlelou]

Not one for claiming to be ITK but, and I'm awaiting slating, I was at a 40th last night with someone who is very well known by fans and close to the club who did say that west brom bid 4.2 million on transfer deadline day and it was turned down. Apparently he's been a right moody bugger since. Not one for gossip and sure I will get called all the names under the sun but it does make sense. He's not been the same player the last few weeks and maybe a rejected move to the premier league has turned his head slightly. If it is the case and he has his head elsewhere then maybe a spell on the bench would benefit us and him?

[ashton_fan]

We haven't got a match fit replacement for Flint so no chance of him being dropped (apart from maybe Cup game). With ROD it was different since we had suitable replacement in Frankie

[funky monkey]

The way I see it is.....your Mrs cheats on you once...you let it slide....she does it a second time your starting to doubt her commitment a bit.....third time your getting really worried especially when she does it twice in 90 mins.....but four bloody times it taking the piss....and this is definitely the time to drop.....drop the camera and join in, life's to short!

[Taylor10]

6 hours ago, Phileas Fogg said:

If that's who I'm thinking of he's a well known bullsh*tter on other city forums and on twitter. Has some bizarre opinions and appears to search 'bristol city' so he can give his 2p to all and sundry who tweet those words.

It's the bloke who's on radio Bristol every single week. I just found it a bit bizarre how you can ring up and call for a player to be dropped when you didn't even see how well he played? Bloke just sounds like a bit of an idiot.

Why is he even on air if he's away anyway!? Have a day off fella!!

[spudski]

I think you have to look at the 'situation' with a wider perspective.

If you are a central defender or goalkeeper, a slight error can cost you a goal as you are most often the last line of defence.

Those errors get magnified and sometimes taken out of proportion.

For example...99% of Flints game has been good. He's been solid and done what's expected of him.

Look at it from another angle...do we have a thread asking 'What are we going to do with Tomlin?' For many of his games this season, he's been ineffective and like yesterday, made loads of errors, losing the ball to the opposition cheaply...through HIS misjudgements. The big difference being, he has other players that can mop up his mistakes or they are often not in dangerous areas. Not a dig at Tomlin...but using it as an example of perspective.

Because Flints 'Errors' have lead to goals, it's not his ability you have to worry about, but his state of mind. You only have to see what happened to Fontaine.

I'd be showing Aden on his App all the positive things he's done in match's, get him to focus his mindset on those and keep practicing the basics in training.

He's good at the basics...just do the basics Aden...let Hordur or Elstrund be the skilful CB's.

Worth noting also, we as fans don't get to hear the communication on the pitch. I'd love to know what was being said when these 'errors' have occurred. Is Aden getting calls from others of 'clear it'...'Keepers' etc or not? Communication is massive on the pitch and something I often look for.

[Alessandro]

34 minutes ago, brizzlelou said:

Not one for claiming to be ITK but, and I'm awaiting slating, I was at a 40th last night with someone who is very well known by fans and close to the club who did say that west brom bid 4.2 million on transfer deadline day and it was turned down. Apparently he's been a right moody bugger since. Not one for gossip and sure I will get called all the names under the sun but it does make sense. He's not been the same player the last few weeks and maybe a rejected move to the premier league has turned his head slightly. If it is the case and he has his head elsewhere then maybe a spell on the bench would benefit us and him?

I might believe this to be the case if you take out his reactions to his mistakes.

Everyone makes mistakes, but he didn't sulk, it was obvious from his body language after Rotherham he was gutted and furthermore the reaction to our equaliser yesterday. Couple that with the fact he stayed behind yesterday to applaud all four corners of the ground doesn't sound like the actions of a sulking player looking for a move.

[brizzlelou]

15 minutes ago, Alessandro said:

I might believe this to be the case if you take out his reactions to his mistakes.

Everyone makes mistakes, but he didn't sulk, it was obvious from his body language after Rotherham he was gutted and furthermore the reaction to our equaliser yesterday. Couple that with the fact he stayed behind yesterday to applaud all four corners of the ground doesn't sound like the actions of a sulking player looking for a move.

I love Flint and hope what I heard is pure bullshit for things like this alone. 

[HoldenBall]

Was watching him before the game, when they do that small passing routine with the bibs on Flint kept misplacing passes and looked visibly frustrated, his heads gone IMO. LJ got it right post match comments saying he needs to go back to the basics, and he'll have all week to work on that.

He needs taking out the limelight or we could have another Fontaine situations on our hands. We bought a fantastic young centre back for a 7 figure fee, if he does well against Fulham on Wednesday if he plays then I think he should replace Flint.

[screech]

11 hours ago, BRISTOL86 said:

Because the 1% cost us a goal? It's a perfectly reasonable talking point. 

I would hope that the club and fans were a lot better than that to be fair.

A player that has made a few mistakes in the last few games, but the vast majority of his game is still very good.

If we are to drop someone who has been a stand out player for us the past few seasons, is the best in that position in our squad then we need our heads examining.

 

[Flagon]

It would be easy to drop him if we had fully fit Championship ready players to step in. Ekstrand is still getting fitness up and Moore is untried. Both would represent a risk of sorts. Ekstrand could be very important to us this season so to push him too quickly could be detrimental to his fitness long term. Moore looks like he could be a really astute signing and could be another Abraham and take to it perfectly. But remember how quickly Vyner was written off by some when he came in at tail end of last season and made a couple of mistakes.

Dropping ROD was slightly easier with a proven fit Fielding waiting.

[chinapig]

1 hour ago, brizzlelou said:

Not one for claiming to be ITK but, and I'm awaiting slating, I was at a 40th last night with someone who is very well known by fans and close to the club who did say that west brom bid 4.2 million on transfer deadline day and it was turned down. Apparently he's been a right moody bugger since. Not one for gossip and sure I will get called all the names under the sun but it does make sense. He's not been the same player the last few weeks and maybe a rejected move to the premier league has turned his head slightly. If it is the case and he has his head elsewhere then maybe a spell on the bench would benefit us and him?

The last thing WBA need is another centre half! All the evidence was that they were after attacking players so I take this with a pinch of salt. Plus MA recently said that Kodjia apart - and Ayling and Williams for whom we invited bids - there were no offers for any of our players. Given how up front he has been since the window closed I'm inclined to believe him.

[Lanterne Rouge]

21 minutes ago, chinapig said:

The last thing WBA need is another centre half! All the evidence was that they were after attacking players so I take this with a pinch of salt. Plus MA recently said that Kodjia apart - and Ayling and Williams for whom we invited bids - there were no offers for any of our players. Given how up front he has been since the window closed I'm inclined to believe him.

I tend to agree. If MA wanted to talk things up he could have easily said `We had a seven figure bid for one of our players from a premier league club on deadline day but turned it down`. It would make him look like the club mean business in the eyes of the fans so what`s to lose?

[cidered abroad]

Aden Flint can play through this. He's a big man in more ways than one.

By all means rest him on Tuesday to give Moore his first game but if we had a whole squad that made only one mistake per player per game then we'd be in the Champions League and top of the Prem.