He'll appear there after we sign him.
Lenihan out for the season
- Thread starter AytonMews
- Start date
He'll appear there after we sign him.
Depends how you define experience... Bangura's played over 100 games, 50+ of them in Erdivisie.
Engel, although most of them in the Danish leagues, has played 15,000 professional minutes.
exeterboro
Well-known member
We have Lewis O Brien to come back in in the next month or two, and wouldn't be surprised if Carrick goes down the Giles path and has Riley and Isaiah helping out in the LB and RB positions.
TeaCider
Well-known member
We've improved because we're scoring goals now, not because Lenihan has been dropped or because we're suddenly solid at the back (Plymouth puts paid to that idea).
We scored 7 goals in the 8 games in which Lenihan played this season, and one of them was his goal.
In the 8 games since then, we've scored 16.
TeaCider
Well-known member
Lewis O'Brien should never have been playing at left back to begin with.
He's a midfielder.
We're fine at left back.
We need a right back on loan, if not permanent, and then VDB can compete for the centre back position that is natural to him.
It's a difficult comparison because I think McNair gives other players (especially Engel) more freedom to attack, which contributes to us scoring more goals.
The Sheff Wed (I think?) game when Engel was getting destroyed by the winger... there wasn't another Boro player within 30 yards of Engel so he was consistently getting beat 1 on 1 and he got the blame for having a bad game... but Lenihan was pretty much glued inside the box. McNair spots when other players are in trouble and helps them out in my opinion.
exeterboro
Well-known member
But he can play at left back and do it very well, same with IJ , if he played with Giles last season at LB then the same applies for IJ on at RB, Forss would go further ahead of him on that side.
What I would say is he did drop IJ back then providing Clarke is up to it ( and we don't know) that would give us a 4 CD's of McNair, RVDB, Clarke and Fry.
What I would say is he did drop IJ back then providing Clarke is up to it ( and we don't know) that would give us a 4 CD's of McNair, RVDB, Clarke and Fry.
TeaCider
Well-known member
I think McNair has done a fine job, and I'm not in any way being critical of him, I'm just not liking the idea that we're winning because Lenihan got injured.
At the start of the season, at left back we had Coulson playing and then an Engel who was struggling to adjust.
Then at right back, we had McNair followed by a 19 year old new to this country, both being played out of position.
We also had a totally misfiring forward line.
Things have improved because new players have adjusted and things have been tweaked, not because a player who was excellent for us was dropped.
Ayresome_park
Well-known member
We were scoring hatfuls last season and still conceding goals with fry and Lenihan at the back, that carried on into this season until his injury!! We are better without the fry and Lenihan partnership.
I agree. I'm not suggesting Lenihan out of the team is the sole reason we started winning, there were a number of factors.
I do think McNair is one of those factors though. Engel struggled with Lenihan because (in my opinion) he didn't react when wingers were giving him a hard time. I think McNair does that.
I also think Fry is a lot better with McNair in the team, because they're different types of CB who compliment each others playing style.
I like Lenihan, I think he's a good 1 on 1 defender, and I might be in the minority of fans.... but I prefer McNair.
TheYorkshireTerrier
Well-known member
Our terrible luck with injuries has really carried on from the end of last season hasn’t it.
Need a CB in January who can cover at RB, at least we have some room to manoeuvre with the loan spots.
Gutted for Lenihan, really like him as a player.
Need a CB in January who can cover at RB, at least we have some room to manoeuvre with the loan spots.
Gutted for Lenihan, really like him as a player.
Alwaysaborolad
Well-known member
We've improved since he's been out of the team, so it's not a huge problem, we have back ups with Clarke also VDB could play in his prefered position if needed, with Dijksteel at RB.
Let's hope both Fry and McNair stay injury free.
Let's hope both Fry and McNair stay injury free.
r00fie1
Well-known member
Always valued the partnership between Fry and McNair, irrespective of positions.
Paddy deserves a lot of credit for his contribution to the squad. Since he first arrived from that club up the road, he has always given 100%. Although Northern Ireland isnt the biggest International Team in the World, Paddy has come up against the best in the world and it shows.
Offer the lad a new contract.
We need him.
Paddy deserves a lot of credit for his contribution to the squad. Since he first arrived from that club up the road, he has always given 100%. Although Northern Ireland isnt the biggest International Team in the World, Paddy has come up against the best in the world and it shows.
Offer the lad a new contract.
We need him.
Air Resistance
Well-known member
Terrible news, but injuries are often the making of younger and fringe players. We have three full backs and a centre back who have barely kicked a ball yet this season so hopefully they I’ll take their chance to shine.
The Disciple
Well-known member
We are definitely not alright at left back - Engel is not great defensively, and on the other side Berg is most definitely not a reliable right back. He may well develop into a very good centre half but right back is clearly not suited to his game. Djiksteele should be in there based on what we have available, and he also offers far more offensively than Berg. I’d expect O’Brien to be in at left back when he’s fit as he did well there, even though it’s not his best position. I suspect Bangura will get his chance on the left full back position for now as it looks like Engel could be out for a while. Right back should be addressed one way or another in the window
Priv
Well-known member
We conceded Hatfulls after Fry got injured and McNair came into the team. Before that we were pretty solid once Carrick arrived.
Priv
Well-known member
Engel and Coulson before him were struggling as McGree and or Silvera were not tracking back at the start of the season, they were being left 2 on 1. It’s likely the reason McGree was struggling to get in the team, he was playing selfishly and being lazy. The improvement in the left is far more to do with Greenwoods willingness to track back and close down on the front foot.
McGree not tracking was odd as last season he was always helping out Giles. Did make me consider if there was anything in the rumours of wanting away in the summer.
Zoophonic
Well-known member
Bangura doesn't fill me with huge amounts of confidence though. At Blackburn he was wanting. He had a decent game at Exeter but well that was Exeter. Hope he proves me wrong because his chance has come.