I've been saying for around 18 months now Nigel a compete waste of time playing centre mid. You could argue he's a waste of time as a footballer but that would be slightly harsh. He's quick, he can harass people well and stick a challenge in if the opposition player is devoid of any courage or skill; beyond that he's useless.
Not sure if his future is as a full back or even right mid? But as a central midfield player, he's a joke. Said it so many times, his touch isn't bad but he has to position himself facing the ball and NEVER takes it on the half turn opening himself up to drive forwards he traps the ball under his feet, then moves himself around it, like a child when they first learn to play football. If he doesn't get tackled or just save time and pass it to the opposition he has a dirty little habit of giving it to someone else who is under monstrous pressure by one or even two men and invariably they then lose the ball. Funny thing is, the other players must notice this. Surely in training they notice he can't do anything with it?
He breaks up our attack play just as much as he may break up the oppositions. I am not a fan. I'd say get rid but then we'd only have two fit first team centre mids. Whether he needs a move to spark his career back on track, or maybe a permanent conversion to a full back, I just cannot see him being a success at Aston Villa. I think he'll b gone within 12 months.
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Good stuff tonight!
Kids look very good, top attitude.
I worry about our ball retention still. Now, this is pre-season and we were playing a very good side but still I want us to keep the ball to give ourselves a rest almost. We defend for long periods, looking fairly comfortable, then break very quickly and its all rush rush, very exciting tomfoolery. Whilst that is sometimes the right thing to do in that circumstance, and it does suit our style of play, if we don't score off the attack, or win some sort of set piece up the other end we lose the ball and are then subjected to another 3 or 4 mins of defending outside our own box! Just a little thing I'd noticed about our play. We need a top midfielder coming in with Barry's ball retention qualities to try to move on in this department from last year, not in a month of Sundays can I see this happening sadly.