Happe or Widdowson at left back?

[Long slender neck]

Who do you prefer there?

I'd say Happe is the better defender but Widdowson bit more mobile.

[Sid Bishop]

Neither.

[eagwgw]

Happe is a better defender for sure.

Not really sure he is cut out for left-back longer-term, sure he can have one good game, but eventually opponents adjust once they realise he will be playing there.

It is a bit like how we changed up Brophy to be on the left-side of the 4-3-3. He got a goal against Northampton, an assist against Walsall, and looked useful as an outlet with his pace.

Since then no goals or assists, and then he lost his place to JMD. You can only presume that while 4-3-3 might have been a surprise for the first two opponents, people worked it out after.

[Give it to Jabo]

Happe is an accomplished footballer, but he is not a left back and he can not go on an attacking run down the wing and put in a dangerous cross easily. Widdowson can.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

Widdowson.

Happe is the better player now, is going to play at a much higher level than Joe in the future, but he’s not a left back.

[point nine one eight]

Happe is an accomplished footballer, but he is not a left back and he can not go on an attacking run down the wing and put in a dangerous cross easily. Widdowson can.

Widdowson, put in a dangerous cross your having a laugh, watch what happens to our attack when Widdowson gets the ball, pass back after pass back, Dayton wont even pass to him as he knows what's the point

[Orient_Man_And_Boy]

I find it interesting that both Ling and Widdowson, when suffering a rush of adrenaline to the system, can both look decent when pushing down the wings deep in the opposition half. But I agree that under normal circumstances the % of ‘oops, I’ve accidentally sped over the half way line and must therefore stop’ is annoyingly high. I’d rather they just let the red mist subsume them and go for it. For example, our winner vs Eastleigh last year.

Still, roll on Saturday and a visit to a ground where there’s nowt to stop a force 10 all the way from the Artic Circle.

[Sid Bishop]

Happe is an accomplished footballer, but he is not a left back and he can not go on an attacking run down the wing and put in a dangerous cross easily. Widdowson can.

Widdowson, put in a dangerous cross your having a laugh, watch what happens to our attack when Widdowson gets the ball, pass back after pass back, Dayton wont even pass to him as he knows what's the point

@ Give it to Jabo on Widdowson........go on an attacking run down the wing and put in a dangerous cross easily.
OMG....so now Joe has been magically changed into a Dennis Rofe type of attacking left fullback ! In actual reality Widdowson is like Sam Ling, a defensive and rather unadventurous sort of player whose attacking skills are very limited, he is also a very poor crosser of the ball and when he does get a cross in, then he does not seem to be able to lift it more than a couple of foot high. More than often, when he gets up-field, he is unable to beat the opposing fullback, instead just checks back to pass the ball sideways or backwards.

[point nine one eight]

Happe is an accomplished footballer, but he is not a left back and he can not go on an attacking run down the wing and put in a dangerous cross easily. Widdowson can.

Widdowson, put in a dangerous cross your having a laugh, watch what happens to our attack when Widdowson gets the ball, pass back after pass back, Dayton wont even pass to him as he knows what's the point

@ Give it to Jabo on Widdowson........go on an attacking run down the wing and put in a dangerous cross easily.
OMG....so now Joe has now magically been changed into an attacking, Denis Rofe like attacking left fullback ! In actual reality Widdowson is like Sam Ling, a defensive and rather unadventurous sort of player whose attacking skills are very limited, he is also a very poor crosser of the ball and when he does get a cross in, then he does not seem to be able to lift it more than a couple of foot high. More than often, when he gets up-field, he is unable to beat the opposing fullback, instead just checks back to pass the ball sideways or backwards.

Spot on Sid couldn't have put it better my self, infact didn't. I need a Pimm's No 1 urgent

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

Happe is an accomplished footballer, but he is not a left back and he can not go on an attacking run down the wing and put in a dangerous cross easily. Widdowson can.

Widdowson, put in a dangerous cross your having a laugh, watch what happens to our attack when Widdowson gets the ball, pass back after pass back, Dayton wont even pass to him as he knows what's the point

@ Give it to Jabo on Widdowson........go on an attacking run down the wing and put in a dangerous cross easily.
OMG....so now Joe has now magically been changed into an attacking, Denis Rofe like attacking left fullback ! In actual reality Widdowson is like Sam Ling, a defensive and rather unadventurous sort of player whose attacking skills are very limited, he is also a very poor crosser of the ball and when he does get a cross in, then he does not seem to be able to lift it more than a couple of foot high. More than often, when he gets up-field, he is unable to beat the opposing fullback, instead just checks back to pass the ball sideways or backwards.

I get what you're saying but there's no comparison - Widdowson is far more likely to push on than either Lingy or Happe. Judd is the only one of them properly prepared to get at their opponent and trying and beat them, it was refreshing to watch him do that on Saturday.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

There is an argument when Brophy is playing not to have a full back that pushes on, trying to leave James 1 on 1 as much as possible.

[EliotNes]

Still, roll on Saturday and a visit to a ground where there’s nowt to stop a force 10 all the way from the Arctic Circle.

Cambridge? Isn't 3/4 of the UK in the way of the Force 10 from the Arctic or am I missing something?

But BTTT, I prefer Happe as a centre-back, but at this level, there seem to be so many players who are just "defenders" and play at CB or FB as needs must.

COYOs

[Four four two]

Happe is a better player than Widdowson and will play at a higher level. Widdowson's positional sense is questionable (colchester away for example) whilst ling goes totally missing in action. He cannot read danger and is a liability i'm afraid due to non marking.

Its NO SURPRISE we kept a clean sheet on Saturday without Ling, Widdowson and sadly for this season Coulson.

Slade believed in playing his best four defenders and slotting them in where he could. i.e cuthbert at right back and Omuzuzi left back. That team didn't too bad did it ?

Embleton has stumbled into this defence. He has stumbled into his best four defenders. We looked far more comfortable and assured with Judd RB, marv and Turley in the middle and Happe at left back.

Ross only has himself to blame if he changes things.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

Yeah, that’s a fair point.

[Thor]

But you also know that as soon as long is fit he's back in the side, which wouldn't either be fair or warranted.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

If Myles keeps on playing as he did on Saturday, there’s no way he should be dropped.

[Thor]

I agree Redo. Let’s see what happens next.

[Orient_Man_And_Boy]

Still, roll on Saturday and a visit to a ground where there’s nowt to stop a force 10 all the way from the Arctic Circle.

Cambridge? Isn't 3/4 of the UK in the way of the Force 10 from the Arctic or am I missing something?

But BTTT, I prefer Happe as a centre-back, but at this level, there seem to be some many players who are just "defenders" and play at CB or FB as needs must.

COYOs

Ah, but the Jet Stream seems to send the cold air down the North Sea, into The Wash, across the Fens and straight up yer ... Abbey Stadium.

It probably doesn’t but I do remember freezing numb one Tuesday night back in Nov ‘80 and we lost 1-0.

[Ronnie Hotdogs]

I agree Redo. Let’s see what happens next.

Ross said Samling is likely to be out for a few games, so it’s all in Myles hands.

[Sid Bishop]

I agree Redo. Let’s see what happens next.

Ross said Samling is likely to be out for a few games, so it’s all in Myles hands.

When fit and in form ( hard to get to be in form when you hardly ever get a game ! ) Judd has far more about his game than Ling, but is RE strong enough to drop Ling and Widdowson if others are playing better ? I have yet to be convinced on that score.

[point nine one eight]

Still, roll on Saturday and a visit to a ground where there’s nowt to stop a force 10 all the way from the Arctic Circle.

Cambridge? Isn't 3/4 of the UK in the way of the Force 10 from the Arctic or am I missing something?

But BTTT, I prefer Happe as a centre-back, but at this level, there seem to be some many players who are just "defenders" and play at CB or FB as needs must.

COYOs

Ah, but the Jet Stream seems to send the cold air down the North Sea, into The Wash, across the Fens and straight up yer ... Abbey Stadium.

It probably doesn’t but I do remember freezing numb one Tuesday night back in Nov ‘80 and we lost 1-0.

One season had a bad cold couple days just before Christmas got outa bed Boxing day for Cambridge game, froze goolies off there, no points and came back with Flu, those cow pats annoy me as well, I swear they put the cows in that field deliberately before our games

[Thor]

I agree Redo. Let’s see what happens next.

Ross said Samling is likely to be out for a few games, so it’s all in Myles hands.

When fit and in form ( hard to get to be in form when you hardly ever get a game ! ) Judd has far more about his game than Ling, but is RE strong enough to drop Ling and Widdowson if others are playing better ? I have yet to be convinced on that score.

He is absolutely not strong enough to do that. Thesamling will be straight back in the side when fit.

[DuvB]

Happe is a better defender for sure.

Not really sure he is cut out for left-back longer-term, sure he can have one good game, but eventually opponents adjust once they realise he will be playing there.

It is a bit like how we changed up Brophy to be on the left-side of the 4-3-3. He got a goal against Northampton, an assist against Walsall, and looked useful as an outlet with his pace.

Since then no goals or assists, and then he lost his place to JMD. You can only presume that while 4-3-3 might have been a surprise for the first two opponents, people worked it out after.

I feel Brophy should be played on the right side as he can then cut in and shoot with his left foot. He cannot do that on the other side.

[Thor]

When we played with inverted wingers last season people on this board moaned about it!! You can't win if you do or if you don't.