The Lack of Ekotto - is it all that bad?

[Stoof]

I disagree further. I think Redknapp is the reason Bale cuts in.

I agree with the rest of your post, but I've seen Redknapp and Jordan out of their seats yelling at him to stay left - which just must mean he wants to get involved. Which is great because he's not hiding, but is bad because it's not just about him.

That's it for me, anyway. I think Redknapp probably has said on occasion, have a cheeky drift in - as he did so devastatingly at Norwich - but I think he's got a bit carried away ol' Baler. And it's no surprise how the second goal materialised last night.

Bale, left, running, cross, goal. Lovely. Jibbly.

 

[RichieS]

I agree with the rest of your post, but I've seen Redknapp and Jordan out of their seats yelling at him to stay left - which just must mean he wants to get involved. Which is great because he's not hiding, but is bad because it's not just about him.

That's it for me, anyway. I think Redknapp probably has said on occasion, have a cheeky drift in - as he did so devastatingly at Norwich - but I think he's got a bit carried away ol' Baler. And it's no surprise how the second goal materialised last night.

Bale, left, running, cross, goal. Lovely. Jibbly.

Ah, fair enough, I'd never noticed that. I was just going off the Harry quotes from a few weeks back where it seemed like he was trying to encourage Bale to try and be (greasy) Ronaldo.

 

[Blake Griffin]

i love benny, i just wish he cuts down on hoofing the ball up.

Rose rarely does that and that's what i like about Rose, he's keeping possesion of the ball.

this is interesting considering many criticise benny for keeping the ball rather than booting it. seems he can't win.

 

[EJWTartanSpur]

Ekotto took a few seasons of playing week in and out, to slowly improve and get to where he is today. Its amazing to me that some would write off Rose so quickly, who is no further behind Ekotto, than BAE was 3 years ago.

 

[Stoof]

Ekotto took a few seasons of playing week in and out, to slowly improve and get to where he is today. Its amazing to me that some would write off Rose so quickly, who is no further behind Ekotto, than BAE was 3 years ago.

I don't think you could ever say his improvement was slow, in fact his graph is very odd. From his disappearance from the team having been nothing short of average to his reappearance as genuinely quality, I'd say that's a bit unfair. He's got even better in the last couple of years. But when he came back into the fold, I can remember the reaction being "where the hell has this guy been?".

I don't think people are writing him off, I think people are just calming people down who are starting to believe he's capable of giving Benny a run for the first team which, quite frankly, he isn't.

 

[Blake Griffin]

i don't get how you can go on about benny's attacking play causing bale to drift inside and then suggest we should sign leighton baines??

 

[EJWTartanSpur]

@ Stoof

I agree with most of what you are saying, but I'm not referring to those who are cooling down that he is giving Ekotto a run for his place in the team. More the likes of 'Rose is shit' and 'Rose is a Championship left midfielder, shoe horned into a PL let back slot'. Rose has always been a potential left back to me, he simply has never quite had the pace or trickery to be a PL left winger, and never will. That doesn't mean his description should be a Championship left winger, though, because he has always had some good qualities that showed the beginnings of what could be a very useful fullback, and thats where his future has always pointed to, to me.

Ekotto simply started to improve steadily and surely from the point he re-appeared and played every week. The more game time he had, the more he grew into the role, became less prone to lapses in concentration, improved his positioning. Look at the Rose from the last four games of last season - to me there isn't much difference between those performances, and the ones of BAE when he very first re-appeared for us.

Yes, Rose has looked a bit shaky these last two games, but he hasn't had the benefit of being afforded consistency in getting used to a PL pace.

 

[brasil_spur]

I'm sorry but am I misreading here, you're saying BAE is more attacking than Rose?! Look at the game v Blackburn and you see Rose ahead of Bale in much of our play.


Also, I rarely ever see BAE take players on like Walker does, Walker is a far more attacking fullback, so we should drop him to stop Lennon going infield right?

You seem to be confused. Bale isn't moving in field because of BAE pushing up. BAE is pushing up BECAUSE of Bale moving infield, as there is space for him to exploit.

Rose needs more chances, I'm happy with him being a back-up left back tbh, what's the point in getting rid and paying for a left back who will want to left in a season or two as he gets no games. I actually think he should be used as an attacking sub by Redknapp, as he does tend to push take players on a lot more than Rose. I think it was against Stevenage where I was impressed with how often he beat the fullback and managed to get a cross in.

I think we must be watching different teams as this isn't what i see at all.

 

[Yid121]

I think we must be watching different teams as this isn't what i see at all.

You genuinely believe BAE is more attacking than Walker?!?!

 

[Krafty]

Rose has done well, and he is type of backup we should be aiming to have outside a core 16-18 - young, a little raw, determined, willing to listen.

He isn't as technically gifted as Benny, but he is a lot more physical. His crossing can leave a lot to be desired, but he's unlikely to get caught over-playing.

He puts in the effort and seems to be improving with each game he plays.

I think sometimes some fans expect too much. If a player gets injured they expect his replacement to be just as good - 'we should have two top players for every position' - when the reality is that doesn't work. We could probably do with a more experienced backup, and I'd say Naughton is higher up the pecking order than Rose, but Naughton needed to play games because he is at that stage of his development where he either needs to be playing games or be sold, Rose is a step or two behind and I wouldn't be surprised if Naughton is the back up next season and Rose plays on loan.

 

[leffe186]

Probably not as well as he'd do at right back, which is Naughton's natural position.

I know, yet I'd still rather see him tried there, which makes clear how I rate Rose.

 

[Teddy Klinsmann]

I'd love us to sign Baines!

 

[THOWIG]

Taylor has impressed me.

 

[nightgoat]

Can anyone who thinks Rose is of no use whatsoever to our team, even as a back up, point to any instance where he has been directly responsible for a goal conceded? I know he's never had a huge amount of game time, but still, I can't think of any.

 

[Misfit]

Can anyone who thinks Rose is of no use whatsoever to our team, even as a back up, point to any instance where he has been directly responsible for a goal conceded? I know he's never had a huge amount of game time, but still, I can't think of any.

Yeah but his touch isn't on a par with that of Zidane.

Rose = shithouse.

 

[nightgoat]

Get rid, then.

 

[Stavrogin]

I agree with the rest of your post, but I've seen Redknapp and Jordan out of their seats yelling at him to stay left - which just must mean he wants to get involved. Which is great because he's not hiding, but is bad because it's not just about him.

That's it for me, anyway. I think Redknapp probably has said on occasion, have a cheeky drift in - as he did so devastatingly at Norwich - but I think he's got a bit carried away ol' Baler. And it's no surprise how the second goal materialised last night.

Bale, left, running, cross, goal. Lovely. Jibbly.

It's a tough one. Because, like little Aaron Lennon, Bale can get shut out by an conscientious or WICKED COOL opposition - so if there's no joy to be had down the left, drifting about can be (more) effective. Also, swapping wings with Lennon can be profitable (I don't know whether they do this of their own volition though).

So maybe it's a question of judgement (impatience). He's only young, he's probably still a bit green in terms of positional sense.

It's probably no coincidence that players like Messi and Ronaldo became more central as they got better - staying out wide can leave you marginalised from time to time.

 

[Eric_s]

i don't get how you can go on about benny's attacking play causing bale to drift inside and then suggest we should sign leighton baines??

This. Baines strength is also in his ability to join in attacks constantly.

 

[punky]

I do like Rose and think he's the future along with Townsend for our left hand side. He needs to get games so especially with Harry's lack of rotation it's great to see Benny making way temporarily.

Of course he's going to make mistakes, he's young and still learning, but i've seen enough to know there is a decent player there.

 

[Zammo]

There's no chance we'll be getting Baines. Everton have turned down numerous bids for him some of which have been very large.
He's their best player and has recently signed a new contract.
Personally I would have liked Enrique, but I can't think of too many better LB's than Benny.
At the end of the day it's a hugely troubling position for clubs to successfully fill. Who's was the last LB that we had that was better than Benny? Lee? Not for me.