Ling: You are all wrong, solid 7 yesterday as always.

[The Mindsweep]

People on here seem to delight in singling out a player and framing any debate or ratings to suit there own agenda. Sam Ling is not flashy and not a maurauding full back like some, but a reliable solid right back. His positional sense is excellent for his level but of course nowhere near what you would expect from someone at the top level. The full back position is the one area, apart from the goalkeeper, where mistakes are easy for the uninitiated to spot and I feel that is the reason he is criticised by some.

When you look at Judd, he bombs forward far more that Ling but without thinking of what is around him. This means the centre backs or midfielder have to adjust there positions more and inturn this will leave gaps for the other team to exploit. Brophy likes to bomb forward as well, but picks his moments so it doesn't leave the team exposed.

I feel Embleton has got the balance right with one of our full backs more defensively minded, with the other given more licence to move forward.

[tuffers#1]

Great post mindsweep .
This will make the eating of cereals interesting

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

People on here seem to delight in singling out a player and framing any debate or ratings to suit there own agenda. Sam Ling is not flashy and not a maurauding full back like some, but a reliable solid right back. His positional sense is excellent for his level but of course nowhere near what you would expect from someone at the top level. The full back position is the one area, apart from the goalkeeper, where mistakes are easy for the uninitiated to spot and I feel that is the reason he is criticised by some.

When you look at Judd, he bombs forward far more that Ling but without thinking of what is around him. This means the centre backs or midfielder have to adjust there positions more and inturn this will leave gaps for the other team to exploit. Brophy likes to bomb forward as well, but picks his moments so it doesn't leave the team exposed.

I feel Embleton has got the balance right with one of our full backs more defensively minded, with the other given more licence to move forward.

Embleton knows the balance isnt right which is why he’s bought in Thomas.

It’s a shame Lings positional sense left him yesterday for their goal.

[tuffers#1]

People on here seem to delight in singling out a player and framing any debate or ratings to suit there own agenda. Sam Ling is not flashy and not a maurauding full back like some, but a reliable solid right back. His positional sense is excellent for his level but of course nowhere near what you would expect from someone at the top level. The full back position is the one area, apart from the goalkeeper, where mistakes are easy for the uninitiated to spot and I feel that is the reason he is criticised by some.

When you look at Judd, he bombs forward far more that Ling but without thinking of what is around him. This means the centre backs or midfielder have to adjust there positions more and inturn this will leave gaps for the other team to exploit. Brophy likes to bomb forward as well, but picks his moments so it doesn't leave the team exposed.

I feel Embleton has got the balance right with one of our full backs more defensively minded, with the other given more licence to move forward.

Embleton knows the balance isnt right which is why he’s bought in Thomas.

It’s a shame Lings positional sense left him yesterday for their goal.

He missed a 50/50 ball for the goal on the half way line .
Stop being a broken record reDo , you used to be so much better than that !

[BiggsyMalone]

People on here seem to delight in singling out a player and framing any debate or ratings to suit there own agenda. Sam Ling is not flashy and not a maurauding full back like some, but a reliable solid right back. His positional sense is excellent for his level but of course nowhere near what you would expect from someone at the top level. The full back position is the one area, apart from the goalkeeper, where mistakes are easy for the uninitiated to spot and I feel that is the reason he is criticised by some.

When you look at Judd, he bombs forward far more that Ling but without thinking of what is around him. This means the centre backs or midfielder have to adjust there positions more and inturn this will leave gaps for the other team to exploit. Brophy likes to bomb forward as well, but picks his moments so it doesn't leave the team exposed.

I feel Embleton has got the balance right with one of our full backs more defensively minded, with the other given more licence to move forward.

This is absolute bollocks. His positional sense is awful. He gets caught out of position all the time. As for Judd bombing on, lets remember the last couple of years when multiple times in a match, Marvin would have to cover Ling at right back because he was the other side of the half way line when the other team had the ball on the break and had no pace or desire to get back.

I’m all for hearing the case as to why he would be better to keep for back up but let’s not rewrite history and make Ling out to be a lot better than he is based on 1 f*cking game.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

People on here seem to delight in singling out a player and framing any debate or ratings to suit there own agenda. Sam Ling is not flashy and not a maurauding full back like some, but a reliable solid right back. His positional sense is excellent for his level but of course nowhere near what you would expect from someone at the top level. The full back position is the one area, apart from the goalkeeper, where mistakes are easy for the uninitiated to spot and I feel that is the reason he is criticised by some.

When you look at Judd, he bombs forward far more that Ling but without thinking of what is around him. This means the centre backs or midfielder have to adjust there positions more and inturn this will leave gaps for the other team to exploit. Brophy likes to bomb forward as well, but picks his moments so it doesn't leave the team exposed.

I feel Embleton has got the balance right with one of our full backs more defensively minded, with the other given more licence to move forward.

Embleton knows the balance isnt right which is why he’s bought in Thomas.

It’s a shame Lings positional sense left him yesterday for their goal.

He missed a 50/50 ball for the goal on the half way line .
Stop being a broken record reDo , you used to be so much better than that !

Did you not see the goal yesterday?

[BiggsyMalone]

Embleton knows the balance isnt right which is why he’s bought in Thomas.

It’s a shame Lings positional sense left him yesterday for their goal.

He missed a 50/50 ball for the goal on the half way line .
Stop being a broken record reDo , you used to be so much better than that !

Did you not see the goal yesterday?

I just watched the goal and its exactly what I said in my post. Ling gets caught out going for a ball on the halfway line, leaving his man unmarked behind him. He doesn’t win the ball and Coulson has to come across to cover. He barely breaks a sweat trying to get back in and help.

[waigO]

Not usually one to single players out but Ling was barely adequate in the National League so we shouldn’t be surprised he looks well out of his depth at League 2 level. He is the weakest link in the team defensively and he was caught out of position countless times yesterday including for the goal. It’s clear that teams are targeting attacks down that side. It’s good to see that we’ve brought in a new signing to cover the position and hopefully he is up to it. How long will Ross wait though to throw him in?

[tuffers#1]

Embleton knows the balance isnt right which is why he’s bought in Thomas.

It’s a shame Lings positional sense left him yesterday for their goal.

He missed a 50/50 ball for the goal on the half way line .
Stop being a broken record reDo , you used to be so much better than that !

Did you not see the goal yesterday?

Yes ive seen the highlights .
It looks like we played a ball forward from our central defence towards ling who missed a 50/50 ball , he then went 10 yards passed the player he lost the 50/50 with, & ran back as quickly as Coulson did, who was covering him .
The gap between himself & coulson remained pretty much the same .


Did you see his sublime lobbed pass with his instep towards Johnson ? Quality .

Glad i could help .

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Haven’t watched the highlights yet.

All I’ll say is, I’m not gonna bang on about Ling this season - there’s no point, most people know and those who don’t won’t be turned by facts.

Teams will pick him out as the weak link and throw everything down our right. He’ll continue to look out of his depth (which he is) and slowly get replaced by Thomas or Judd and that will be that.

Will try not to ‘single him out’ again after this.

[tuffers#1]

Haven’t watched the highlights yet.

All I’ll say is, I’m not gonna bang on about Ling this season - there’s no point, most people know and those who don’t won’t be turned by facts.

Teams will pick him out as the weak link and throw everything down our right. He’ll continue to look out of his depth (which he is) and slowly get replaced by Thomas or Judd and that will be that.

Will try not to ‘single him out’ again after this.

You can always single out Judd & Thomas if & when they get exposed , just for journalistic balance Wummy .

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Haven’t watched the highlights yet.

All I’ll say is, I’m not gonna bang on about Ling this season - there’s no point, most people know and those who don’t won’t be turned by facts.

Teams will pick him out as the weak link and throw everything down our right. He’ll continue to look out of his depth (which he is) and slowly get replaced by Thomas or Judd and that will be that.

Will try not to ‘single him out’ again after this.

You can always single out Judd & Thomas if & when they get exposed , just for journalistic balance Wummy .

Of course, I will.

[tuffers#1]

Haven’t watched the highlights yet.

All I’ll say is, I’m not gonna bang on about Ling this season - there’s no point, most people know and those who don’t won’t be turned by facts.

Teams will pick him out as the weak link and throw everything down our right. He’ll continue to look out of his depth (which he is) and slowly get replaced by Thomas or Judd and that will be that.

Will try not to ‘single him out’ again after this.

You can always single out Judd & Thomas if & when they get exposed , just for journalistic balance Wummy .

Of course, I will.

Good Lad

[The Mindsweep]

Plenty of "Agenda Warriors" up and about this morning I see.

[tuffers#1]

Plenty of "Agenda Warriors" up and about this morning I see.

Indeed , I notice not many saw that you mentioned Juddy positively ,
Especially with regards to team balance .
WIth a deadly virus around, driving players into the
ground week in week out is not acceptable ,
A Squad with a great balance will have the chance to do good things .

Lets see if we indeed are a good squad with balance come next april/May .
Up the O's

[Fanny]

The amount of attention Sam Ling gets on this board is just bizarre.

[PoundhillO]

People on here seem to delight in singling out a player and framing any debate or ratings to suit there own agenda. Sam Ling is not flashy and not a maurauding full back like some, but a reliable solid right back. His positional sense is excellent for his level but of course nowhere near what you would expect from someone at the top level. The full back position is the one area, apart from the goalkeeper, where mistakes are easy for the uninitiated to spot and I feel that is the reason he is criticised by some.

When you look at Judd, he bombs forward far more that Ling but without thinking of what is around him. This means the centre backs or midfielder have to adjust there positions more and inturn this will leave gaps for the other team to exploit. Brophy likes to bomb forward as well, but picks his moments so it doesn't leave the team exposed.

I feel Embleton has got the balance right with one of our full backs more defensively minded, with the other given more licence to move forward.

Hilarious WUM, Ling is lazy and slow and has next to no position sense and should be playing non league football.

[O my gawd]

Having just watched the highlights, I just cannot see how Ling can be blamed for the goal.
Credit where it is due for his ball over the top for Johnson for the equaliser.
Some people's agendas on here are embarrassing. Everyone going on saying Judd was better in pre-season, yet no one watched any pre-season. I've said it before Ling has the edge on Judd, but hoping the new loanee from Norwich will be an improvement on both.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

Having just watched the highlights, I just cannot see how Ling can be blamed for the goal.
Credit where it is due for his ball over the top for Johnson for the equaliser.
Some people's agendas on here are embarrassing. Everyone going on saying Judd was better in pre-season, yet no one watched any pre-season. I've said it before Ling has the edge on Judd, but hoping the new loanee from Norwich will be an improvement on both.

Do o you not see the bit where he leaves his man, dives in on someone else (unsuccessfully) and allows them a free run down our flank?

[tuffers#1]

Having just watched the highlights, I just cannot see how Ling can be blamed for the goal.
Credit where it is due for his ball over the top for Johnson for the equaliser.
Some people's agendas on here are embarrassing. Everyone going on saying Judd was better in pre-season, yet no one watched any pre-season. I've said it before Ling has the edge on Judd, but hoping the new loanee from Norwich will be an improvement on both.

Do o you not see the bit where he leaves his man, dives in on someone else (unsuccessfully) and allows them a free run down our flank?

Did you not hear Ross’s interview, that we are
trying to play a high press , a game most succesful teams have
been implementing the last 4 or 5 seasons .

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

High press doesn’t mean full backs charge into midfield areas and leave their player unmarked

[tuffers#1]

We hadthe ball & were playing forward ,
How are we meant to attack & score without
Wingback moving upfield ?

Hoofball ?

[Disoriented]

People on here seem to delight in singling out a player and framing any debate or ratings to suit there own agenda. Sam Ling is not flashy and not a maurauding full back like some, but a reliable solid right back. His positional sense is excellent for his level but of course nowhere near what you would expect from someone at the top level. The full back position is the one area, apart from the goalkeeper, where mistakes are easy for the uninitiated to spot and I feel that is the reason he is criticised by some.

When you look at Judd, he bombs forward far more that Ling but without thinking of what is around him. This means the centre backs or midfielder have to adjust there positions more and inturn this will leave gaps for the other team to exploit. Brophy likes to bomb forward as well, but picks his moments so it doesn't leave the team exposed.

I feel Embleton has got the balance right with one of our full backs more defensively minded, with the other given more licence to move forward.

Embleton knows the balance isnt right which is why he’s bought in Thomas.

It’s a shame Lings positional sense left him yesterday for their goal.

He missed a 50/50 ball for the goal on the half way line .
Stop being a broken record reDo , you used to be so much better than that !

From the estimable Pevans on the Ratings thread:

Ling - 5 - bloody awful. It took 80 minutes before he cut out a cross. To blame for the goal and never got tight at any point so crosses coming in all game

Time to give your broken record routine a rest.

[Rich Tea Wellin]

Regardless of who’s fault it was, it needs to be a learning curve because whatever tactics you play, you can’t allow a winger 25 yards of space near your box.

If Ling has been told to press high and run into midfield to
make tackles then the centre backs need to be told (and have pace) to come over and cover the wingers. Or a midfielder should
be doing that as looks like brophy, coulson and Happe all have players they are marking. Also not sure where the right side of our midfield was. It’s a mistake somewhere - especially as players like Judd are judged to be not good enough because they rashly dive in. Surely if we are playing high press we want our most aggressive and best tacklers i.e. Turley, Judd, etc...?

[Rich Tea Wellin]

And also ‘you are all wrong’ and not mindweep