Tyrone Shoelaces

None of them can do what Wharton can do.

Doak’s supposed to be signing for Hull.

Gomes, Gallagher, Manoo, all of a muchness, Wharton is different.

Yeah, Eustace will know what the team will be now barring Pickering. Even if Pickering is out I’d be surprised if Beck plays. The new guys maybe on the bench.

Maybe Leeds away last season ?

Even when he was struggling a bit Raya would pull off the sort of jaw dropping saves that only top keepers can.

Play in your opponents half, like rugby league.

Does Pep know yet ?

Is he an 8, a 10 or a Jack ?

Yeah, usually to a player with an opponent breathing down his neck. Watch any division at the weekend and count the number of goal scoring opportunities given away by the keeper cocking up a pass.

There’s a lot of it about.

If you’re looking for a keeper that “ commands his area “ you’ll need a Time Machine first. Set it for about 1975.

The 8 is usually the player not good enough to play as a 10.

He’ll know if he doesn’t put a shift in he’ll be on his bike in summer.

Crackers. Just like Southgate - he said “ We’ve been waiting for a player like Wharton to come along for eight years “ , then he doesn’t play him ?

Harper. He was just a big lad for his age. I think we sent him back early.

Yes it was. It felt like a 3-2. I was probably counting the one Hedges managed to miss as a goal ?

Colour me shocked. What’s he supposed to say ? Best game I saw him play was away at Leicester at the end of last season. That was when he played left centre back in a back five. He really looked the part then and his lack of real pace couldn’t be exposed.

No matter how smart a defender you are there will be times when the opposing winger gets past you. Lucky bounce of the ball - whatever. If you’re one paced, it’s game over. Same with tackling ability. Really smart full backs don’t dive in, but there’ll always come a time when it’s shit or bust and you’ve got to go in and win the ball.

It makes you wonder what the coach’s were doing. Nyambe lack of ability on the ball never changed in all the time he was here. He still couldn’t cross a good ball. Top one on one defender though. Name me a winger that gave him the run around ?

Name me a good slow fullback that isn’t playing for the George and Dragon. My pal played for Man Utd and England schoolboys. He knew his stuff when it came to players. The best left fullback England have had for years - Ashley Cole. Why was that ? Because he was seriously rapid. Players could beat Cole and within a stride or two he’d be back at them. Players beat our two and it’s bye bye.

Remember that cup tie at Leicester ? We were cruising 3-0 up with JRC at right back, he had that Harvey Barnes is his pocket. We take JRC off and bring Brittain on and all of a sudden Barnes starts looking like prime Gareth Bale up against Brittain. We squeaked away with a 3-2 win.

Going back before your time but - the two Mikes. Ferguson , a tricky dribbler. Harrison, hard running and direct. A great pair of wingers. Maybe coming up to date. Duffer- a tricky dribbler. Ripley, a more direct ball carrier ?

I used to to games with a mate who was a City scout. From time to time he’d be scouting a full back. If the target didn’t have real pace we’d be back in the car and heading home just after half time. It was the first thing on his full back scout sheet.

Brittain is a really wing back playing as a full back in a back four. I haven’t seen most teams play recently but our two ( Brittain and Pickering ) must be the weakest pair of full backs in the league defensively.