I`d love to be wrong about this but nothing I saw at the end of last season struck me that said Bland could command a central midfield role - especially in a midfield 3. As I say I hope I`m wrong.
That is one of the most magnificent twistings of the truth I’ve ever seen! Or at the very least a very interesting interpretation! How many of those interceptions and tackles were due to him not being in the right position in the first place? Connell’s worth was his positional discipline, graft, work off the ball. Russell has none of that. Connell’s worst performances last season were when he was asked to be more progressive and box to box, getting caught out of position. The number of tackles blocks and interceptions is one measure - but it doesn’t take into account the off the ball work, covering the easy forward ball for the opposition, offering no progressive pass - and forcing them to turn around or play sideways/backwards. It is that what was missed in any game Connell didn’t play, and that is what we will miss next season should he leave; Bland I haven’t seen enough of to draw final conclusions but nobody else has that in their locker. Certainly not Jon Russell. It’s not his game at all. He should be utilised further up the field, as we’ve seen. Though I suspect at least two of he, Phillips and DKD will be sold.
Well Neerav did tell the whole world in his car crash interview that we would need to sell, instead of keeping his cards close to his chest it's made it impossible to bargain
I'm not sure it's possible to deduct who was at blame for him being caught out of position. Could be the coaches instructions, the clarity of the instructions, Connell's failure to listen to the instructions or the fact the rest of the team was crap. It could also be that he didn't actually have positional discipline.
Unfortunately he was a shadow of his former self and getting worse since his first season, if Wycombe have signed first year Connell then they've got a bargain, if they've signed last years Connell we've had their pants down.
The stats on Russell are a fantastic example of why so many stats are useless. Russell can't defend, he's useless at it. A genuine liability when played in a defensive position. Anyone can see that. And yet these are the stats.
Who cares what the fee is. It won't be reinvested in someone of similar or greater quality, it just means a few rich divvys will have to borrow less of their Dad/husbands money, and the team continues to get shitter. Struggling to see how anyone can be "pleased" with that.
If it was the Luca under Duff season they have stolen him. On his last 2 seasons it's good buiseness for BFC. I felt that he as been disappointing over the last 2 seasons. Never been the same player since his illness. Good luck to the lad wish him well. Players come and go all the time at BFC. Disappointed he is with one of our rivals. But not gutted he is going. Especially 1.3 million to cover the losses.