Dael Fry under Woodgate

P

PensionerCorner

Well-known member
Dael was a regular starter when Woodgate was manager, wasn't he?

I know some on here don't have Fry as being of Premier League quality, but for me he's our best CB by far.

You can possibly argue he hasn't progressed over the past couple of years, but that is partly down to injury. I also think it took him longer than many to get used to 'Carrickball' and its only this season where he's trying to play the ball quicker.

My memory may be wrong, but I'm sure Fry was starting most games under Woodgate. Assuming Woody is a fan, you would think he's keen to see him in Carrick's starting XI.

Reflecting on the Sunderland line-up, and the decision to leave a local lad out of a derby...is it just a case that Carrick's isn't as keen on Fry?
 
PensionerCorner said:
Dael was a regular starter when Woodgate was manager, wasn't he?

I know some on here don't have Fry as being of Premier League quality, but for me he's our best CB by far.

You can possibly argue he hasn't progressed over the past couple of years, but that is partly down to injury. I also think it took him longer than many to get used to 'Carrickball' and its only this season where he's trying to play the ball quicker.

My memory may be wrong, but I'm sure Fry was starting most games under Woodgate. Assuming Woody is a fan, you would think he's keen to see him in Carrick's starting XI.

Reflecting on the Sunderland line-up, and the decision to leave a local lad out of a derby...is it just a case that Carrick's isn't as keen on Fry?
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Fry was put forward for interviews at Xmas time for the media - the only player - so that says something about his standing in the club and with the manager.
But in those interviews he was asked about the backling Woodgate gave him and Fry replied about how grateful he was but said because of that time his fitness was often an issue it was a freget to him that he couldn't totally repay the faith Woodgate had shown in him.
He went on to say felt his fitness levels were now the highest they had been and was looking forward to showing what he could achieve.
Carrick praised him for his early games after his comeback. So, I think we will see him featuring again very soon, perhaps even v Sheff Utd. Maybe Carrick felt he needed the most mobile defenders and believed he was playing them. Or it could just be he thought the Rav/George combination was better on the day. But I do think Carrick has demonstrated many times that he does rate Fry.
It could be that he wasn't absolutely 100% of course,
 
PensionerCorner said:
Dael was a regular starter when Woodgate was manager, wasn't he?

I know some on here don't have Fry as being of Premier League quality, but for me he's our best CB by far.

You can possibly argue he hasn't progressed over the past couple of years, but that is partly down to injury. I also think it took him longer than many to get used to 'Carrickball' and its only this season where he's trying to play the ball quicker.

My memory may be wrong, but I'm sure Fry was starting most games under Woodgate. Assuming Woody is a fan, you would think he's keen to see him in Carrick's starting XI.

Reflecting on the Sunderland line-up, and the decision to leave a local lad out of a derby...is it just a case that Carrick's isn't as keen on Fry?
Click to expand...
Woody is definitely a fan. Think when he was manager at a fans event he described him as the best player in the championship.

I find Fry very frustrating but he's by far our most experienced centre back and, when his head is on it, probably our best one.

Better with a "leader" type alongside him in my opinion. Don't know if it's a concentration issue or what, but feels like he almost needs talking through games.

I can only think Carrick thought Edmundson is more vocal maybe? Picked for leadership qualities rather than ability? Dunno.
 
PensionerCorner said:
Dael was a regular starter when Woodgate was manager, wasn't he?

I know some on here don't have Fry as being of Premier League quality, but for me he's our best CB by far.

You can possibly argue he hasn't progressed over the past couple of years, but that is partly down to injury. I also think it took him longer than many to get used to 'Carrickball' and its only this season where he's trying to play the ball quicker.

My memory may be wrong, but I'm sure Fry was starting most games under Woodgate. Assuming Woody is a fan, you would think he's keen to see him in Carrick's starting XI.

Reflecting on the Sunderland line-up, and the decision to leave a local lad out of a derby...is it just a case that Carrick's isn't as keen on Fry?
Click to expand...
He brought him straight back into the side when he was fit ahead of Edmondson and Clarke, so it's a bit of a stretch to say he isn't keen on him. It certainly seemed that Fry/VDB was his preferred pairing. Not sure why he was left out for this particular game, whether he had a knock or Carrick was thinking about a particular threat from Sunderland. Anyway, Edmondson had a bit of a mare so it certainly didn't pay off. I expect to see Fry back in next weekend.
 
PramRamp said:
Apart from the Cardiff and Preston games?
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Ha yeah, but apart from those horrendous game changing moments, he’s been at utter rock.

You regularly see VVD banging in back heels in his own box and sprinting aimlessly into midfield to leave a gaping hole for the opposition to sprint into.

Absolute rock our Fry.
 
BumTrumpet57 said:
Ha yeah, but apart from those horrendous game changing moments, he’s been at utter rock.

You regularly see VVD banging in back heels in his own box and sprinting aimlessly into midfield to leave a gaping hole for the opposition to sprint into.

Absolute rock our Fry.
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Get back OTR 😍
 
I respectfully disagree with the OP's comment.

I don't think Fry is our best centre back.

He was absolutely hideous on Monday - but i personally think Edmundson is better than him.

I also think VDB is better than him.

Lenihan also (although you can probably exclude him).

Clarke, in my opinion "was" better than him.

Fry is 27 now and while he still has a few years left - his career has almost passed him by. I thought he was destined for the prem when he broke though but he's never really improved.

Decent enough though.
 
DanBoro4499 said:
I respectfully disagree with the OP's comment.

I don't think Fry is our best centre back.

He was absolutely hideous on Monday - but i personally think Edmundson is better than him.

I also think VDB is better than him.

Lenihan also (although you can probably exclude him).

Clarke, in my opinion "was" better than him.

Fry is 27 now and while he still has a few years left - his career has almost passed him by. I thought he was destined for the prem when he broke though but he's never really improved.

Decent enough though.
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Lenihan was bang average before his injury. Don't agree with the Edmundson is better. He played ok when he first came but has had quite a few really poor games recently. VanDer Berg may end up better but is not yet. In fact he has been pretty average in a number of games this season after a great first season.

Until we buy someone better Fry is our best C.B.
 
Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret said:
I think he's our best defender. I don't think he's great at playing out from the back. But I don't think any of our defenders are. I would be playing him.
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He's not great at that at all, agreed. He's getting better though.

I've always thought he's better in a 3 as well. That won't be happening any time soon of course.
 
Personally I think his biggest weakness is on set pieces. Someone mentioned it on here once and I had a look and thought yeah you're right. Bad in a crowd. I think that's what's really held him back.

Some defenders are really good with a solid midfield in front of them, but not so good when exposed, like Clarke or Ayala. I think fry copes reasonably well with that. He's good at using his body to shepherd players wide, stuff like that.

Would have fry and rav as our No1 pairing. Perhaps bring Edmondson in if opposition are a danger at set pieces. When Clarke was in the team his job at every corner was just get your head on it. Edmondson seems to have taken that role now.

Have seen him have poor games, but also ones where's he's been immense.
 
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