Gaetan Bong

[Thomas]

I’ve been asking where Richardson has been. He should definitely be Lowes/colbacks backup, not Bong.

 

[adam09]

I think some on here underestimate how bad he is based on a few decent crosses.

His positioning isn't something that can be corrected because the reason he tucks in is so he isn't one on one with his winger because when that happens he invariably gets beaten on the outside. It's a safety mechanism for him so he doesn't get embarrassed. But it means we give up our left flank. No team is going to turn down easy balls into the box or a free run to the byline.
When he gets forward he doesn't have the energy to cover, so he meanders back, normally back into the middle oddly and often confusing the whole defensive set up. He's an absolute liability.

I don't agree with booing a player, but maybe some folk feel they need to get a message across to the management that this guy hurts his own team. How else can they do that, write a stern email to the club?

Personally I'd rather see Richardson get a run there in a 5. He played there for Exeter and he's got recovery pace. He might not be good enough but we'd learn something and he can't be as damaging to his own cause as Bong is.

You mean like with people singing for Carvalho? That worked brilliantly.

I assume given he’s not first choice, we brought in Lowe and even Colback is player ahead of him, the management team don’t actually deem Bong as suitable or part of future plans but it’s what they’ve got and part of their job is to use whats available to them.

 

[justnotjase]

Didn't Mbe Soh play full back under Hughton? No idea how close to fitness he is though and obviously not his natural position either

 

[incapable hulk]

but maybe some folk feel they need to get a message across to the management that this guy hurts his own team. How else can they do that, write a stern email to the club?

But who is better placed to know this? The manager, players and people at the club who work with him every day - or the fans who either sit in the stands for a hour and a half every 2 weeks or listen on the radio?

I think fans overreach with stuff like this. As if they have a better insight into this stuff than the people actually doing it every day. If he was "hurting the team" Cooper wouldn't play him and the players probably wouldn't be keen to play with him. There's been nothing to suggest any of that.

Bong isn't very good, that much is obvious. But he's been turned into a hate object even when he hasn't actually done badly. Any positives are torn down by people whose knowledge of the inner workings of the squad come from their own imaginations. "Getting a message across to management" shouldn't involve picking on a particular player. Who does that help? How does that motivate the team if you are booing one of their teammates? In a game where we are clinging on with 10 men, who does it serve by booing a particular player? Especially one we are counting on to help hold the line. To me that's just people indulging their own bullshit and then trying to come up with a justification when there isn't one. If he'd have lost his concentration due to people booing him, or yelling at him constantly as some prat near me was, we'd then be criticizing him for that even though our fans are the one piling the extra pressure onto him. It's like we are desperate for him to fail so some divs can be proven right. We should be trying to motivate him to play out of his skin - not making an effort to get him to make mistakes.

The problem is that we need better backup for that position than Bong, but singling him out and booing him before the transfer window isn't going to magic another one into existence. For me booing should be reserved only for genuine situations either when there's something genuinely bad going on or someone has genuinely done something deserving it.

 

[Mr. Blonde]

You don't have to work with Bong every day to see how bad he is as a Championship left back, and were it up to me he wouldn't be anywhere near the side.

However the manager has put his faith in him and if he puts the work in in training and tries his best on matchday then he has my full support.

Anyone who boos him needs to have a look at themselves. It's moronic, counterproductive and disrespectful.

 

[Captain Sinister]

Didn't Mbe Soh play full back under Hughton? No idea how close to fitness he is though and obviously not his natural position either

2 weeks away...
Or ready after the next international break.
Yer pays yer money an' yer teks yer choice.

 

[Otis Redding]

I remember the destruction of Paul Smith.

Indeed AR, an absolute disgrace. Even more recently, Ethan Horvath was subjected to the chorus of ironic cheers from the usual minority of idiots whenever he touched a ball following his error against Middlesbrough.

 

[Red Ray's Redlist]

But who is better placed to know this? The manager, players and people at the club who work with him every day - or the fans who either sit in the stands for a hour and a half every 2 weeks or listen on the radio?

I think fans overreach with stuff like this. As if they have a better insight into this stuff than the people actually doing it every day. If he was "hurting the team" Cooper wouldn't play him and the players probably wouldn't be keen to play with him. There's been nothing to suggest any of that.

Bong isn't very good, that much is obvious. But he's been turned into a hate object even when he hasn't actually done badly. Any positives are torn down by people whose knowledge of the inner workings of the squad come from their own imaginations. "Getting a message across to management" shouldn't involve picking on a particular player. Who does that help? How does that motivate the team if you are booing one of their teammates? In a game where we are clinging on with 10 men, who does it serve by booing a particular player? Especially one we are counting on to help hold the line. To me that's just people indulging their own bullshit and then trying to come up with a justification when there isn't one. If he'd have lost his concentration due to people booing him, or yelling at him constantly as some prat near me was, we'd then be criticizing him for that even though our fans are the one piling the extra pressure onto him. It's like we are desperate for him to fail so some divs can be proven right. We should be trying to motivate him to play out of his skin - not making an effort to get him to make mistakes.

The problem is that we need better backup for that position than Bong, but singling him out and booing him before the transfer window isn't going to magic another one into existence. For me booing should be reserved only for genuine situations either when there's something genuinely bad going on or someone has genuinely done something deserving it.

Was just playing devils advocate. Easy to just call people moronic but often it's worthwhile trying to understand what drives an action.

To be fair I also stated why I don’t think he's good enough and suggested we play Richardson and you've not addressed that point. The management team are closer to all this and they seem to have decided Bong is the better option, but I'd suggest we release Richardson if he'sno better than Bong, even on his weaker foot.

 

[uredsuns]

Chastising a 3rd choice left back in the 2nd division isn't really going to help him out in any way is it? Lets not forget he wasn't even named in our 25 man squad at the beginning of the season. So maybe we need to accept him for what he is for now and just let it be rather than discussing the finer parts of his game that maybe leave us a little more vulnerable than having other players available to play in his position.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

But who is better placed to know this? The manager, players and people at the club who work with him every day

Well the manager doesn't rate him either, as he chose to break up his (at the time) favoured midfield partnership of Yates and Colback, to play Colback out of position so he didn't have to play Bong in position.

That tells you everything you need to know.

Question for tomorrow is an unfavoured Bong in his natural position better than a 3rd or 4th choice full back on the wrong flank? I genuinely don't know who Cooper will pick.

 

[Statto]

Well the manager doesn't rate him either, as he chose to break up his (at the time) favoured midfield partnership of Yates and Colback, to play Colback out of position so he didn't have to play Bong in position.

That tells you everything you need to know.

Question for tomorrow is an unfavoured Bong in his natural position better than a 3rd or 4th choice full back on the wrong flank? I genuinely don't know who Cooper will pick.

I'm failing to see the alternative.

Lowe and Tutu are injured, Colback is suspended, so it's the Bong, or playing someone like Lolley and hoping he doesn't need to defend much, McKenna out of position, or play one of the right backs on the wrong side.

 

[Notcher]

I'm failing to see the alternative.

Lowe and Tutu are injured, Colback is suspended, so it's the Bong, or playing someone like Lolley and hoping he doesn't need to defend much, McKenna out of position, or play one of the right backs on the wrong side.

Lolley on the left for me. It's the lesser of about 4 evils

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[Abdooonk]

Lolley on the left for me. It's the lesser of about 4 evils

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Lolley filled in at LB for a few minutes against Luton before Bong came on. We were all over the place and Bong was a big improvement and settled things down. Bong is the only realistic option.

 

[Notcher]

Lolley filled in at LB for a few minutes against Luton before Bong came on. We were all over the place and Bong was a big improvement and settled things down. Bong is the only realistic option.

I meant as wing back not LB, I don't want us to play a back 4. We look completely disjointed and lack an attacking threat. I'd rather revert to the 3 and go with Lolley as wing back

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[Abdooonk]

Think Lolley was playing wing back as Figgy had already come on. Although he didn't seem to know what he was doing.

 

[Notcher]

Think Lolley was playing wing back as Figgy had already come on. Although he didn't seem to know what he was doing.

Lolley Came off 8 minutes after the sending off so not enough time to tell and it's likely he wasn't quite sure what how to play with going down to 10 men. I'd give him a run with it as a defined role.

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[Matt]

On Tuesday, there were a couple of occasions where instead of facing up Onyedinma, he actually tucked inside McKenna, leaving SMc to leave his position in the centre and act as the full-back. Mental.

I remember the moment you’re referring to clearly and McKenna was already facing up Onyedinma as Luton turned the ball over so Bong took the centre half spot as he tracked back, as you’d expect him to do. I’m not sure how the situation arose that turned the ball over but Bong had moved up the pitch into the 342 shape that we used in possession

 

[congo_red_49]

Think Lolley was playing wing back as Figgy had already come on. Although he didn't seem to know what he was doing.

This. There was immediately a massive hole that Luton almost exploited. Lolley just looked like he was the first who reacted.

 

[congo_red_49]

Question for tomorrow is an unfavoured Bong in his natural position better than a 3rd or 4th choice full back on the wrong flank? I genuinely don't know who Cooper will pick.

It’s going to be Drager. ITK. You read it here first.

 

[Otis Redding]

Easy to just call people moronic but often it's worthwhile trying to understand what drives an action.

Are you suggesting that there can be context to moronic behaviour?

 

[Red Ray's Redlist]

Are you suggesting that there can be context to moronic behaviour?

Well people voted for BoJo the clown for a reason and if Labour don't try and understand why it will happen again.

 

[Master Yates]

I remember the moment you’re referring to clearly and McKenna was already facing up Onyedinma as Luton turned the ball over so Bong took the centre half spot as he tracked back, as you’d expect him to do. I’m not sure how the situation arose that turned the ball over but Bong had moved up the pitch into the 342 shape that we used in possession

He did it at least twice, maybe even three times


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[Otis Redding]

Well people voted for BoJo the clown for a reason and if Labour don't try and understand why it will happen again.

Indeed, fair point.

 

[TommyT]

Dawson and the interactive board on Sky just now
was full blown avant garde nonsense.


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[Master Yates]

So unfathomably shit.

He can’t even head a football properly.

Surely Drager is better than this clod, even out of position?!


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