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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 31, 2008 5:53:20 GMT
Paid through the nose for him last year and no-one seems to think he is up for the Premier League task. Everyone wants a new general at the back. If Sorensen commands/talks well to his defence and can handle the crosses, will a pairing of Cort and Shawcross be better than we think? Add their goals to the equation and we could be having a laugh  |
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Post by stokey-pokey pudding and pie on Jul 31, 2008 6:04:09 GMT
he'll be useful to have around particularly against 'lesser' teams at home - but he isn't eager enough in the tackle for me, its not just the need for a 'general' - a good championship CB but i can see him costing us games next season unfortunately
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Jul 31, 2008 6:18:51 GMT
Ok as back up - especially if we are chasing a game in the second half. But he just doesn't cut the mustard as a top class defender for me. His amazing record of not getting cards is not because he tackles cleanly it is because he doesn't tackle nearly enough.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 31, 2008 6:19:52 GMT
he'll be useful to have around particularly against 'lesser' teams at home - but he isn't eager enough in the tackle for me, its not just the need for a 'general' - a good championship CB but i can see him costing us games next season unfortunately Not too sure about that mate, i'm too far away from the action. I know he's a bit of a soft lad but he does seem to tackle clean and that will be an attribute in the Premier League. He's got a bit of pace aswell hasn't he? |
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Post by nottinghamstokie on Jul 31, 2008 6:21:02 GMT
hasn't got any pace, neither has Shawcross, that's MY worry
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 31, 2008 6:26:00 GMT
Ok as back up - especially if we are chasing a game in the second half. But he just doesn't cut the mustard as a top class defender for me. His amazing record of not getting cards is not because he tackles cleanly it is because he doesn't tackle nearly enough. Shawcross - young, a little bit raw, makes the occasional rash challenge and could get himself in trouble Cort - older, may/may not get in the tackle enough but is guaranteed on the pitch at the end of a game. Both great headers of the ball and both score goals in our system of play. I just think he is being written off by us all without due consideration. Its a long time since we had a top class defender by the way, lets walk before we run. |
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Post by scfclifer on Jul 31, 2008 6:28:21 GMT
cort has pace its shawcross that makes my nan look like an olympic sprinter and she has been dead ten years
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Post by Lakeland Potter on Jul 31, 2008 7:10:34 GMT
The last REALLY top notch centre back we had was Shtaniuk. I know most of his games were in lower leagues but he really was the real deal and I was amazed he never went to a Premiership club. We lost a great player when he had to return to Russia for family reasons.
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 31, 2008 7:13:39 GMT
The last REALLY top notch centre back we had was Shtaniuk. I know most of his games were in lower leagues but he really was the real deal and I was amazed he never went to a Premiership club. We lost a great player when he had to return to Russia for family reasons. Can't fault you there brother, that guy was head and shoulders above anything in the league then and quite possibly what we have now. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2008 7:14:38 GMT
Tone has had a preseaon of brainwashing them I think they may be more ready than we think ;D
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Post by CalgaryPotter on Jul 31, 2008 7:19:06 GMT
Tone has had a preseaon of brainwashing them I think they may be more ready than we think ;D I'm with you trapper, I think Cort and Shawcross may just see us right with a good strong keeper. There needs to be a back up man in centre though. |
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Post by RAF on Jul 31, 2008 7:28:40 GMT
I think Gerry Taggart would disagree and so would I.
Gerry actually did play top flight unlike Sergei.
He may have been a yard or two slower, but his football brain and marshalling of the younger players ie- Thommo and Clint were priceless.
Don't get me wrong I loved Sergei, but he never actually got to prove he was the real deal, whether that was because he never got a shot at the top flight or he wasn't actually rated by teams in the top flight at the time we will never know.
H
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Post by lancer on Jul 31, 2008 8:44:13 GMT
I seem to recall that the great Bobby Moore wasn't the fastest player to play for England, but his timing and tackling was infallable. Cort (no, I know he's no Bobby Moore) is also a great tackler, as his none booking career shows. I also reckon her's got pace. Quite a few cooments made re Shtaniuk and taggart, two quality defenders, but I think I had as much pace as them, I probaly still do have.
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Post by knowles on Jul 31, 2008 8:50:03 GMT
I agree with you Forny. Sergei would have been brilliant in the top flight. He was a proper defender.
I think Higgy was probably one of the most cultured centre halves we have had. He seemed to be so cool in possession and rarely put a foot wrong.
As for Corty, we did pay for the nose (at the time) and the £1.2 million fee has been fully justified, as he helped us up.
However, I feel his defensive skills are not quite up to the Premier League. He is a great back up but we do need a new first choice centre back (in my eyes) to partner Ryan.
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Post by davemongisback on Jul 31, 2008 8:51:43 GMT
Cort needs to get a yellow card-get it out of the way. I think it plays on his mind subconciously.
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Post by knowles on Jul 31, 2008 8:54:45 GMT
He got a booking in Austria- perhaps that is him done for the rest of his career?! ;D
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Post by The Toxic Avenger on Jul 31, 2008 9:01:07 GMT
Is anyone else worried he might drop Shawcross and not Cort if we do bring someone else in?
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Post by knowles on Jul 31, 2008 9:09:29 GMT
Is anyone else worried he might drop Shawcross and not Cort if we do bring someone else in? Yes  He did it at the back end of last season and he could well do it again in the top flight |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2008 9:18:09 GMT
Although I think Cort is a good player he sometimes stands off far too much for my liking. He does need to get stuck in & toughen up a bit.
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Post by Godo on Jul 31, 2008 9:43:39 GMT
I worry with our reputation for being physical and all of the cheats in the Premiership that we might finish quite a few matches with 10 men. Cort's strength is that he doesn't dive in or leave a conveniently dangling leg hanging out. There aren't many traditional type of centre forwards left in the Prem that our centre backs will have to battle with so I'm more concerned that the quicker opposition players will result in players like Ryan and Dicko picking up a lot of cards.
As much as I liked Gerry as a leader and a character I agree with Forni about Sergei. I would be a bit more confident if we were starting out the season with a player of his calibre in the back 4.
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jonny
Academy Starlet
Best midfield in the land
Posts: 136
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Post by jonny on Jul 31, 2008 11:51:11 GMT
All of the 3 promoted teams need a new back 4 tbh. None of them got promoted on defensive stabilities. Shawcross and Cort will provide good back up to two more experienced defenders.
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Post by AlanHansen on Jul 31, 2008 11:55:34 GMT
I think he dropped Shawcross to give him a kick up the arse (not that he needed one as far as i could see), when he came back he was excellent.
Not sure about Cort, whatever happens though we need Higgy back or a similar type of player, cool and cultured and who has played at the top level.
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Post by Soi Cowboy on Jul 31, 2008 12:14:01 GMT
Not sure I agree re Sergei- certainly was great at a lower level but the twice I watched him at International level he had a bit of a horror show- wasn't top class opposition either.
Taggart as someone said above was a regular rock at the back at top level and had no pace at all
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