Giddings

Sadly we won't get to sing the 'We buy any car' jig anymore.

" I just sold my caarrr, to Kasper Lo pa taa!!. "

 

My opinion. Lopata will be a big miss and will thrive at his next club.
He should have been established at the back now and the only conversation we should be having is around him being the next player to leave for big bucks.

 

Depends who plays in the middle. Pines obviously brings his size, MdG has the ability to step up and play the ball out, or McCart who has the most experience and has probably been the best defensively.

 

Yeah. It should be Lopata instead of Williams in a back three with De Gevigney and Mccart.

 

The problem with that back 3 though is that it's woefully slow. We've struggled with pace all season at the back, and to take Williams out for Lopata only worsens that problem. Pines and Earl apparently have a bit of pace about them which obviously helps, and might mean Williams goes back to wing back (though if we let Lopata leave, who knows). Personally, I don't see an issue with Lopata going out on loan. He'll get experience, and then we might get to see him a bit better next season.

 

I don't buy the pace bit. Granted, you need to be quick when you constantly need to get back to recover a mistake; Kaspar didn't make enough errors that needed recovery.
Why we think we need pace going forward is beyond me because all the back three do is tap it sideways until they hit an imaginary line just before halfway when there is a sudden halt.

 

We've conceded a lot of chances this season from the back 3 being beaten in a foot race. Granted, it's mainly Shepherd and De Gevigney, but it's a clear weakness. I heard recently that our underlying numbers point to a side that concedes far too many chances, and doesn't create enough, and generally the reason for a team to still be performing well given that is usually down to a good goalkeeper and prolific goalscorer.

 

Any team with even a modicum of pace would destroy that back 3.

 

Hmmm, I agree he was probably our best defender early on and since his injury I've only seen him once at Port Vale but on that day he looked like he was running in treacle. The most telling thing was when Uche Ikpeazu knocked the ball past and exposed him down the sides a couple of times. Game time will benefit him imo.

 

Rock and hard place.
I agree game time will benefit him but would prefer it with us.
It's Shep who needs minutes down the pyramid.

 

I see Pritchard has left Sunderland for Birmingham so does that open the way for Styles to go up there as his replacement?

 

Collins was a CB. He ought to know if Lopata can perform to the standard needed.

 

I don't see the point of letting Styles go out on loan. We need cash to buy someone to replace him. Our midfield against Exeter, minus Kane and Connell, was woeful.

 

Just chip the ball in behind the those 3 for your speedy forward and we would be more holey than a tramps pants.

 

You don’t see why pace is needed in defence?.....strange

 

If he’s not gonna be playing regular in second half for us, it makes sense to me for him to go out and play regular ready for us for next season.

 

If we're not going to play Lopata and the manager feels we have signed better quality at this moment in time it makes sense to let him go and get some game time.

 

Chron said. A significant loan fee if he ends up at Sunderland. With a buy clause in the summer.
That we can use towards any signings.

 

Lopata strikes me as one who wants to be playing. He wasn't getting game time with the blunts so we ended up with him if Collins won't play him best thing is to go on loan.

 

Their fans will be mightily disappointed if so. Styles is definitely no Pritchard.....