An article that doesn't mention Columba

We should have let Sunderland have skd so hecould leave bwfc with dignity

An article that doesn't mention Columba
by LeighWanderer (U4061)
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By the way if you're wondering who Columba is ... its Owen Coyles middle name. Owen Columba Coyle!
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Liar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good article though.

The problem is that people grossly oversimplify everything when complaining about footballers.

HH's post above is a perfect example. He was smiling at full time at a game against his former club and his loyalty is still a talking point weeks later.

I've never come across a lazy defensive player in all my time watching BWFC. Lazy players don't make it as defenders at an elite level. There's a whole world of difference between being caught out of position frequently and failing to track back and actually being lazy. It's ridiculous. It gets so you can't have a sensible conversation with anyone about different players.

The other thing is that people have short memories. Knight has been immense in a number of recent games, but it's as though those games didn't take place. Criticise him for being inconsistent by all means, but to say he has been terrible all season, or since we've signed him, it's just not true.

I sometimes wonder why I spend time on these forums, you can't have a sensible discussion a lot of the time, it's all egos, short memories and axes to grind.

My perso al opinion is that Knight is lazy Largehat. Alot of the time I get the impression he cannot be bothered to do something because he is not committed to the cause.

Look at Cahill against West Brom, Thomas broke the poor offside trap and was 1on1 with jussi, 3 defenders stood with their arms up hoping the offside flag would save them, whereas Cahill bust a gut to try and cut him off.

Knight may have had a good ge here and there, but he has commitment and effort issues, because it's never 100% all of the time, much less, I felt that was obvious.

Such as with the Surman goal against Us, Mears got across and blocked the shot, Knight made no attempt to get to the ball, get a block in, put him off, he just stood there, arms at his side, watching, and offered no reaction, just watched. That's not commitment. I dont see that in Knight and i cannot suggest when i have. Commitment is Cahill busting a gut, even when there's only a 10% chance he can stop it. Even against Arsenal, Knight had an extremely poor first half, 2nd half was better, including a great tackle on Walcott.. But he's missing both ability and the right attitude 100% of the time.

I have no issue with the examples they use, and I have to give you a lot of credit for backing up your point with concrete specifics.

Maybe we are describing the same thing - but I wouldn't use the term laziness, ever. Slow reactions or poor reading of the game, maybe. In my last post I used the terms poor positional sense and failing to track back. But Zat Knight is an elite athlete. Maybe a couple of years past his physical prime, but I honestly think if he were genuinely lazy, he simply wouldn't be playing at this level, and would never have earned an England cap.

Robinson has a different problem. He's never been lazy, he has just always been very average technically, but he has reached a point in his career where determination and effort can no longer cover up for that lack of ability. Only a very select number of players, who are exceptional in terms of both technical ability and have worked extremely hard to look after their bodies, can perform into and past their mid-30s at this level.

Look at Kevin Davies. He turned his career and attitude to hard work around when he joined us, but prior to that he was knocking about with Page 3 girls and Sam Allardyce said he was "living the life of a 1980s footballer" - and now it has caught up with him.

Personally, I feel that Knight can be inconsistent, I think he needs someone challenging for his spot for him to be at his best. Look at when Wheater came last season, Knight went on a fantastic run of form

Hopefully, Ream at the very least can give him the competition I feel he needs.

The problem knight has is that the inability of the six in front of him to keep the ball means that he is under sustained pressure most games which eventually means a mistake can happen and often shows up your weaknesses.

Cahill himself responded to a question about his ability at the top level after bwfc conceded so many with a similar answer that he could only kick and head it out so much before one went in.

I do agree with Cahill's point there, but I think individuals in the defence lack of nous and constantly levering it back to th opposition rather than a pass to a team mate but be an underlying factor in the constant pressure.

But I agree Largehat, we're probably talking about the same thing, but I used the term lazy purely because when I watch him and see him I constantly think, that's just Lazy knight. But I agree that the term is wrong but mean the same as you. All round I think he's a bad player, he has good games, but too often he makes vital mistakes which cost us.

i think the only good centre back we have at the club is ricketts [ hopefully ream will be ] but both knight and wheater need cover, thats why they look much better in a 451 line up

Since Robbo's not been able to smash into challenges the way he normally has done - in fear of over zealous refs - his form has dipped even way below that of when he arrived.

SKD's problem is sadly that age has crept up with him, and he's now only effective against defenders who don't like an aerial battle.

As for Knight, he needs his defensive partner to be vocal with him. Get his confidence up. 1 even minor mistake and he has a tendency to go completely to pot.