Pathetic excuse for a footballer his away from the ball all game kept trying to run with it and somehow getting caught by howson the slowest player in the league
He has the heart of a lion compared with some players I've seen here over the years. I haven't been too impressed with what I've seen on the pitch nor with Williams but I've seen afar worse. No need for the name calling either.
How on earth would you describe someone like Jacob Mellis - if you use that for Gardener Wasnt at Boro - but the times I have seen him play I'd never have used that description - seems a bit harsh
I tuned in to Radio Dee Darr commentary for about 6 or 7 mins during the second half yesterday. During that time the commentator mentioned Williams name about 5 times and each time it went ‘Williams has the ball, oh and that’s a terrible ball’ replace the word terrible for shocking, poor and disappointing, and that was the pattern for those few minutes. I switched off.
He's had a few good games, a few bad ones, and a lot of indifferent ones. I wouldn't be looking to sign him, but I'd play him at the moment because the form of Williams, in my opinion, is even worse and we need someone of their ilk in midfield. I'd prefer someone better or at least more consistent but we don't have anyone. I don't know if Mallan is any good at this level, I haven't seen enough of him, but at least his set pieces create chances, so it would be those two in the middle for me at the moment. The attacking midfielder of the three, if we continue to play this formation, would go to... I don't know, Potts I suppose. He put in a lot of effort the last time I saw us at home and provided a great assist for McBurnie in the Birmingham victory. It's not a midfield I'm happy with but it's what we've got. I've gone from thinking Gardner was crap, to actually quite good, back to sort of meh. But I've never thought he was gutless.
No surprise but even with Williams I couldn't describe him as gutless he is quite effective at breaking play up. But at times his distribution is poor and 99% of the time the balls he is playing are traveling 6yards backward or sideways.
I watched the game yesterday mate, I've not missed a game for months. Williams is playing ****, granted, but he's still been miles better than Gardner. At the moment I don't rate either of them highly, and wouldn't sign either of them, but Gardner is pinching a living at the moment. At least Williams tries to get involved and is trying to get forward. Gardner is just sat in midfield trying not to get the ball. I bet Williams touched the ball 50 times yesterday and Gardner no more than 20. Like I said I don't really rate either of them on current form, but the vitriol towards Williams when his partner is far worse is beyond belief.
Gardner had three great games for us where he got rave reviews. Joe Williams was suspended at the time. Confidence? I don't think so.
Williams disrupts the entire midfield though .it's as though nobody can play with him. Gardner has been ***** with Williams but excellent without. Moncur has been ***** with Williams but when he was suspended moncur got good reviews and was putting himself about.
I don't disagree, he played well for 2 weeks. Before and after he's been ****, but that can't be blamed on Williams. Its a coincidence. Williams doesn't make him hide, or not put a tackle in. Williams doesn't make him stop running. When all said and done Gardner is pants. Villa fans said the same. Remember this is a lad who's probably commanding £10-20k a week on his contract from Villa, he should be able to play with whoever we choose to play him with, he's not a young kid anymore. I do however know you don't like Williams, so its going to be hard to change your opinion. I know I'd much rather have a lad who puts a tackle in, who wants to be on the ball, who is trying to drive us forward, even if he does misplace a pass or 2 along the way than someone who doesn't work hard, doesn't want the ball and equally gives it away when he does pass it.
You say I don't like Williams but I actually do, I like his workrate and think that he is a slight improvement on players we have had in the same position in the past but the problem is I like him on his own, certainly not with Gardner as they just can't play together and I'm also worried that for whatever reason he doesn't fit with any of the other players we have in central midfield.
100% agree with that. I think it needs to be one of either Williams or Gardner until the end of the season, not both.