Have been trying to hide from the over-excited Fox cubs for a few minutes so locked myself away and thought I'd research how the different pairings have fared during this frustrating season, especially in the light of some very soft goals conceded. The stats are as follows:
Mills-Bamba: 14 games (W6 D4 L4), 22 points, scored 18 conceded 13.
Bamba-SSL: 6 games (W1 D1 L4), 4 points, scored 7 conceded 11.
Mills-SSL: 2 games (W1 D1 L0), 4 points, scored 4, conceded 1.
This strongly suggests that we are much better when Mills is playing. I know Mills has his critics, but what do you make of this? Not sure what it says about the other two, except that when they play together we do badly. Personally I would love to see Tunch back in action............
Best centre back pairing
posted on 20/12/11
Stats or no stats, I personally think Mills is by far our best defender.
St L is ok at this level but nothing more.
I can't work Bamba out but if Tunchev is genuinely 98% fit, i'd drop Bamba. Too much of a liability an bad influence on the full backs and his partner for me.
posted on 21/12/11
I too think that it is time to give Tunch his chance. He is (was?) a better player than any our present three CBs. I'd pair him with Mills first, and if that didn't convince, and he hasn't lost it, with SSL. Sol's too much of a maverick to be fully reliable, exceptional though he can be in bursts.
posted on 21/12/11
I too think Tunchev is a very good defender, but wonder if we, me included, are perhaps looking through rose tinted spectacles to a certain extent by stating he is is or was a better player than our current crop - I mean we did only see him at League One level, or is this irrelevant?
posted on 21/12/11
No, not irrelevant, you could be right, KTF. But what I most recall is his positional sense, and his solid but safe tackling. Maybe those things hold good at the higher level.
posted on 21/12/11
I hope so.
The one thing I remember about Tunch is that he rarely had to pull off those recovery tackles that Bamba produces, which are crowd pleasers but often as a result of bad positioning.
He was often in the correct position in the first instance, which can sometimes go unnoticed with a defender and appear as if the opponents have just played a bad ball.
I guess as much as Bamba has that natural flair, Tunchev has/had a natural sense of knowing where to be at the right time.
posted on 21/12/11
I posted yesterday that I was not convinced by the SSL/Bamba pairing so it is very interesting to see this backed up by the stats - relegation rather than promotion form!
I would also be very happy to see Tunch given a go, preferably with Mills.
Otherwise Mills/Bamba.
posted on 21/12/11
I admit its an interesting one for me, if I was asked whos my favorite player in the current squad I'll say Bamba. If asked my oppinions on SSL I'll say delighted we have him, admired him since his PNE days and think hes still got it.
But if asked my favorite CB pairing - I will say Im very eager to see Mills and Tunch given a go for a few games atleast as I believe they could complement each other perfectly and potentially be our most effective pairing.
I also dont agree with Bamba in a DM position.
posted on 21/12/11
My Favorite centre back pairing two of them works best
posted on 21/12/11
Is this monstrously deep, Nev, or did you accidentally omit some words?
Or perhaps I am just being slow....
posted on 21/12/11
RAF it was like a joke but not so funny!