mikejh45 Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 There's been a lot of discussions on here about who should start out of the 5 options we have but I'm thinking more of a pairing. An objective view of each choice: Byrne - experienced, leader, slow, uncompromising. Tarkowski - excellent at set pieces and bringing the ball out, slow, still has an error in his game either by poor positional sense or over confidence but getting better, future leader. Mellor - excellent as cover but just not a CH. Belezika - quick, brave, no footballing skills. Eddie - tall, largely invisible. Whatever pairing we pick is a gamble, whether it be lack of pace or lack of experience. I know I'm going to risk the wrath of some on here by benching Tarky but I would go for Byrne and Belezika to give us experience and some pace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvlatic Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Why not give Will Haining a call! currently without a club i think - bit of cover and will add depth to a very inexperienced back line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BP1960 Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 (edited) Pity we didn't sign Joey Jones, who looked so good on trial against Manchester City, you never know though if he doesn't catch at Yeovil LJs s dad may loan him out to the Latics. Edited July 30, 2013 by BP1960 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShakerT Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Anything like last season it will be ~ Mvoto and anyone else that wasnt crocked. Mvoto's gone so its a centre half pairing of unijured and uninjured for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slider1 Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 I'd play Mellor and Tarky. Ok Mellor has been a bit of a worry during preseason, but if LJ sees him as our eventual ball playing centre back then he will only improve the more matches he plays. We play a high defensive line so playing Byrne their who has no pace might be just as suicidal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue_Guru Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 I'd play Mellor and Tarky. Ok Mellor has been a bit of a worry during preseason, but if LJ sees him as our eventual ball playing centre back then he will only improve the more matches he plays. We play a high defensive line so playing Byrne their who has no pace might be just as suicidal. This to a degree... It all depends what tactics LJ decides to play at Stevenage. I would be surprised if he deviates much from the last 2 pre season games with a high line with Mellor and Tarky. Even if he does bring in an additional CB before Saturday I have a feeling he will go with Mellor and Tarky this week as he seems the type to make people earn their place... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BP1960 Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Anyone fancy a pairing of Belezika and Eddie ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al_bro Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Everyone knows how Stevenage will play. Long ball for quick forwards to chase. So it's got to be Tarky and Mellor. If we can play it out of defence we should have a lot of possession with them hoofing it back to us all the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBosch Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Pity we didn't sign Joey Jones . I'd forgotten about him. He was looking for another footballing centre half from the off it seems. This makes me think Mellor will start on Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_ragg1984 Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Mellor isn't a centre half, so shouldn't be played there if we have other, better options. Which we do. Byrne should play at the back with Tarkowski. We have a young team, and we could do with the experience. He might be slow, but he can make up for that with his positional sense. I hope we will be signing someone better though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeslover Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Byrne should play at the back with Tarkowski. We have a young team, and we could do with the experience. He might be slow, but he can make up for that with his positional sense.Yes, he will know he needs to be 10 yards deeper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorrro Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Has he forewarned Mrs Byrne? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue91 Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 I think a lot of people are being a bit harsh on mellor at centre back. I think if you take away that mistake on saturday, he has had a good pre- season at centre back. Obviously not always against quality opposition, but i think he could be great after a few games there and he gets to know the position better. After all, after his great performances towards the end of last season, i think he definately deserves his place, whatever the position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaskedOwl Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Mellor couldn't even nail down a regular spot in the first team last season. Why on earth make him first choice CB? Play him at left back and shift Grounds to CB if we have to. Tarky/Byrne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slider1 Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 I think a lot of people are being a bit harsh on mellor at centre back. I think if you take away that mistake on saturday, he has had a good pre- season at centre back. Obviously not always against quality opposition, but i think he could be great after a few games there and he gets to know the position better. After all, after his great performances towards the end of last season, i think he definately deserves his place, whatever the position. Even though I would still play him as centre back in the hope he improves, having watched him against Accrington he's an accident waiting to happen. His positioning was shocking and on two occasions in the first half he got on the wrong side of the striker and only a last ditch tackle prevented them having a 1v1 opportunity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bozzy108 Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 It's gotta be Mellor and Tarky, Mellor has a football brain so will at least learn the position, what's Byrne gonna do, learn to run quicker and learn to stop lumping the ball in to the corners.....no chance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue91 Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 It's gotta be Mellor and Tarky, Mellor has a football brain so will at least learn the position, what's Byrne gonna do, learn to run quicker and learn to stop lumping the ball in to the corners.....no chance. Thats my point aswell. If we had the money to bring in a decent centre half it would solve all problems.... but we dont. Instead we have to use what we have got and mellor is the best we have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hands on Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 As the idea is to score more rather than concede less goals than the opposition it is going to be Tarky and Mellor. People are going to get rather excited when things go wrong but I believe this is a team in the making for next year and LJ has to play players with potential over those with experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaskedOwl Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 It's gotta be Mellor and Tarky, Mellor has a football brain so will at least learn the position, what's Byrne gonna do, learn to run quicker and learn to stop lumping the ball in to the corners.....no chance. we all want an experienced cb to sign yet fans are willing to leave out the most experienced defender. eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorrro Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 As the idea is to score more rather than concede less goals than the opposition Not sure if serious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bozzy108 Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 (edited) we all want an experienced cb to sign yet fans are willing to leave out the most experienced defender. eh? Getting an experienced defender isn't the opinion shared by everyone though, just like the opinion that we "needed" an experienced manager. It's new ideas that are needed at latics instead of the same old rubbish. We've gone for experience before, same ideas recycled, lets go for youth and new ideas for a change, just as we have with appointing a young hungry manager. Mellors the man for me, good on the ball, intelligent as a footballer and ready and able to better the team. P.S. I've never rated Byrne Edited July 31, 2013 by bozzy108 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bozzy108 Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 (edited) Mellors gonna be a great player for us. Edited July 31, 2013 by bozzy108 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lags Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Getting an experienced defender isn't the opinion shared by everyone though, just like the opinion that we "needed" an experienced manager. It's new ideas that are needed at latics instead of the same old rubbish. We've gone for experience before, same ideas recycled, lets go for youth and new ideas for a change, just as we have with appointing a young hungry manager. Mellors the man for me, good on the ball, intelligent as a footballer and ready and able to better the team. P.S. I've never rated Byrne Dickov like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slider1 Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 As much as I like Byrne I'm not sure if he fits LJ's style of play, that's why Mellor has had as much game time as he's had. Mellor is a worry and if possible I'd eventually like us to sign a footballing centre back that has a bit of pace if that means an unproven loan from a higher division then so be it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBosch Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 What's wrong with Byrne?! He played 40 games last season, well. Vital that we keep him for me. Getting rid would make Byrne to LJ what Gregan was to Dickov. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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