Marc Laird

[Yorkshire Blue]

Laird's previous 4 were 7 points from 4 games, so no his last 4 appearances were not as good as the last 4.

Cheltenham - draw
Chesterfield - win
Torquay - loss
Wimbledon - win

We were beating Cheltenham whilst he was on the pitch. He was subbed on 73 minutes for Clifford and they equalised.

 

[Pubey]

Why Freddy? Corr set up two goals as a sub yesterday

 

[davewebbsbrain]

We were beating Cheltenham whilst he was on the pitch. He was subbed on 73 minutes for Clifford and they equalised.

So are you saying Clifford is worse than laird because of this? It's a team game and unless a player puts into his own net or is specifically at fault for a goal, then the team concedes. Comparing how many points a team has won with a certain player on or off the pitch is a flawed argument.

Laird and Clifford are totally different players that can't really be compared. I really like Laird and he does some very good work but I think Clifford is the better player who can play at a higher level

 

[chapperzUK]

We were beating Cheltenham whilst he was on the pitch. He was subbed on 73 minutes for Clifford and they equalised.

My mistake, but we were also poor in that game too. We were also winning when Laird came on in the Wimbledon game, so can hardly credit the win to him.

Going on the last 4 games he has started (York, Cheltenham, Chesterfield and Torquay) we only played well in one of those games which was Chesterfield IMO. Yet you still use the arguement that we were poor without him in the last few games, yet with him we were poor against York, Cheltenham and Torquay.

Leonard and Atkinson are the 2 midfielders that are key for us and the final spot is between Laird, Timlin and Clifford.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

My mistake, but we were also poor in that game too. We were also winning when Laird came on in the Wimbledon game, so can hardly credit the win to him.

Going on the last 4 games he has started (York, Cheltenham, Chesterfield and Torquay) we only played well in one of those games which was Chesterfield IMO. Yet you still use the arguement that we were poor without him in the last few games, yet with him we were poor against York, Cheltenham and Torquay.

Leonard and Atkinson are the 2 midfielders that are key for us and the final spot is between Laird, Timlin and Clifford.

Yeah, I wasn't counting Wimbledon as he only played 8 minutes. His appearance before that was Pompey when we played great once he'd come as a sub (and we won) and before that York when we won again.

Against York and Cheltenham we may not have been playing well, but we were winning and I don't recall that we were getting outplayed. In those circumstances I'm less concerned about freshening things up then when we are losing like Pompey at home, Accrington or struggling to break down 10 men at Wimbledon.

I don't think Atkinson is key. I think he is very useful because of his versatility across the midfield and has played well so I've no problem with him being in the side but I think he's replaceable. He certainly doesn't dictate play like Leonard does or attempt the passes that Timlin does.

 

[chapperzUK]

Atkinson has played a lot of games so far this season and I thought his performance against Portsmouth was one of the main reasons we won. He might not be as key as Leonard, but he is still an important player to have.

He has only missed 4 games this season and we have lost 3 of them.

He came on when we went down to 10 men, so we had to change the system there and so you can't put the turn around solely on Laird's introduction.

 

[IloveShrimp]

Ok for my two penneth, I say that the best midfield for home games does not include Laird. Imo he is too negative a thinker and makes too many sideways or backwards passes which slows play down. I also think that he and Atkinson are too similar to play in the same side and that Atkinson is the better player.

I think that Clifford was proffered yesterday because we were going for the win rather than holding on for the draw and Clifford is a more a positive thinker.

 

[silentshrimper]

I would love to see him start with Timlin in the middle with Atkinson going out to the wing and Streaker dropped.

If we stay with this formation then yeah I would be happy with that! Very intelligent team.

Clifford has the potential to be as good as laird... I think brown was correct to bring Clifford on, lots of energy which is what the team needed.

Laird has been unfortunate to have so many injuries with us so far, plus we have other capable midfielders.

 

[Thundersley Blue]

I agree, even assuming Brown now benches 4-3-3 at home, there still isn't a place for Laird in the starting line at the moment. Leonard is the key is the key player, Atkinson is a must, Hurst has to start in a 4 man midfield and at present Timlin's work rate would be sorely missed. Laird's chance will come again and is good enough to make the most of it.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Clifford is a combative midfielder, Laird is tenacious. We needed to wrestle control back which had been slipping, Clifford was the right option at that time for me.

 

[Pubey]

Clifford is a combative midfielder, Laird is tenacious. We needed to wrestle control back which had been slipping, Clifford was the right option at that time for me.

What's the difference between combative and tenacious?

 

[MrB]

Spelling..

 

[OldBlueLady]

What's the difference between combative and tenacious?

It's that battling tendency that makes the difference, and I'm sure you know full well the difference...
combative - ready or inclined to fight, pugnacious
tenacious - stubborn, persistent or obstinate

 

[Pubey]

It's that battling tendency that makes the difference, and I'm sure you know full well the difference...
combative - ready or inclined to fight, pugnacious
tenacious - stubborn, persistent or obstinate

I don't think there's a great deal between those two terms.

From the very little I've seen of Clifford and Laird, I'd say the former is positive, tough but slightly aimless. He reminds me of an early Macca (which is good). The latter is gritty, intelligent and more cautious.

I'd like to see Laird get back into the team, and at the moment Clifford feels like a bit of a luxury.

I wonder if Brown will change things on Sat. An interesting problem.

 

[Thundersley Blue]

Despite what he may hint at, I don't think Brown will change the team too much. Will probably start 4-4-2 and go for it. There is a full week until the next game.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

What's the difference between combative and tenacious?

There hasn't been a TV series or film called Combative D

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

Can't see the issue. Sorry!

Surely setting up the midfield is about getting the balance right within our team .... and the balance with our own formation and nullifying (if that is a word) the opposition. Each of our midfielders offers something different and over the course of 46 league games (plus cup games) each will get their chance(s).

The 2 midfielders below par at the moment are Strakes and (dare I say it) Hurst who is a little "off colour".

 

[Shrimper2thecore]

We took 7 points from 3 tough Xmas games.

Brown is right.

End.

 

[WESTY_SUFC]

Anymore complaints Yorkshire Blue?

I make it roughly..

Brown 10
YorkshireBlue 0

 

[OldBlueLady]

Clifford was the right one to start today.