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Posted by: jbn Nov 19 2009, 02:51 PM

With Greg Vignal allegedly fully fit, isn't it time to say 'Thanks' to Liam Ridgewell for filling in so willingly at left-back, and give the defence some balance on the left-hand side?

Much as we all love the Agent (in a manly sort of admiring-a-footballer sort of way, of course, Bloopy!) he's not really proved himself to be a natural-born left-back has he?

Posted by: Panja Nov 19 2009, 02:56 PM

He deserves a mention in passing for his challenge on Walcott, but he is bloody rubbish..

Posted by: lobster Nov 19 2009, 03:01 PM

Yes It's time to say goodbye as messrs Boccelli and Brightman would say, he's been absolutely skinned at left back each time he's played there, and yet funnily enough we've played brilliantly the last three games as a team? Fair play to the cormorant for filling in though...I suppose?

Posted by: jassyblue80 Nov 19 2009, 04:35 PM

Yeah he is never a left back... He will have to battle it out with Dann for CB!!

Posted by: devonblue Nov 19 2009, 04:51 PM

He was never much as a center back eitheir though was he?

Posted by: jassyblue80 Nov 19 2009, 04:59 PM

I think if he had a decent partner at the back he would do a very good job... I;ve always said that the majority of the times ridgewell was caught out/ made a mistake he was usually covering someone else!! he was usually the last man back etc...

I like him and would like to see him and Johnson at the back

Posted by: Panja Nov 19 2009, 05:24 PM

Three words; Smack, Sibling, Where?

Posted by: jassyblue80 Nov 19 2009, 05:39 PM

opinions and all that... but I like him! 100% committed, and I think he is a decent player to be honest! Look who he has had along side him since signing for us? All slow players, constantly caught out of position, meaning that Ridgewell had to cover! Then he had Murphy for left back... don't get me started on him! at some stages ridgewell was carrying 3 players!!

Posted by: daren Nov 19 2009, 05:49 PM

I agree with Luke.

That said, he would only get in if Dann gets injured/suspended in my book

Posted by: lobster Nov 19 2009, 05:49 PM

They do say that policemen and teachers get the best shit?

Posted by: jassyblue80 Nov 19 2009, 05:59 PM

I wouldn't drop Dann either, but I think Ridgewell is great cover/competiton from him!

Posted by: Bluepeter15 Nov 19 2009, 09:00 PM

I'm with Jassy on this one. A new left back (preferably a good one) and Ridgers as cover for the centre backs and we'll be going in the right direction.

P.S: I'm sure he'd prove an adequate replacement for the goalkeeper should he need to look for a new challenge.

Posted by: Berkshire Exile Nov 20 2009, 12:01 AM

Speaking sense there, jbn.
I am amused by the way his mistakes are now being blamed on the players around him, when in reality they were once-a-match blunders (usually of the highest goal-conceding variety) that were purely and simply of his own doing.
If we aim to establish ourselves as a mid-table team or better, then the squad needs cover that is considerably more reliable than Liam Ridgewell. The fact that he is committed, and a trier, cannot hide his deficiencies. Committed triers have their place - it is known as "The Championship". If in doubt, consider how many of the teams that we aspire to being our peers would be bidding for Ridgewell if he were on the transfer list? I venture to suggest that the figure would be hovering around, or possibly even just below, zero.

Posted by: jassyblue80 Nov 20 2009, 09:39 AM

I disagree that he is a mistake a game man... he makes the odd mistake and as if with most defenders, when he does he is usually punished!

people pick him out for goals scored as he is trying to make a last ditch tackle etc... my point about him covering for other people is that he is usually trying to make a last ditch tackle as someone else has let a player past or is out of position.

With this back line at the moment I doubt that would happen and if he was still getting caught then I would hold my hands up and say I was wrong and it is ridgewells fault...

Posted by: Moose Nov 20 2009, 10:36 AM

I think Ridgy should stay in the team, I feel he brings the defence some stability when we play 4-4-2 as he is not likely to bomb on as much a Vignal, or a Bale or Traore would should we be picking them up in the window.... In Addition having the equivalent of 3 centre backs there when it comes to defending set pieces and corners had made us look a lot less likely to conceded than we did when Vignal was in the team.

In addition by also keeping him in the team and playing means that he is premiership and not reserves match sharp as cover just in case anything was to happen to Dann or Johnson..

KRO

Posted by: MicK Nov 20 2009, 10:43 AM

Any left back is going to struggle with McFadden in front of him but I don't know many that would play the ball across their own area as Ridgewell did with minutes to go at Anfield.

Posted by: Berkshire Exile Nov 20 2009, 12:30 PM

The job of a full back is to be a good full back, not a decent ready-made replacement for any injured centre half. Ridgewell is playing like a man out of position, and when he comes up against Premier League "wide" players, his unfamiliarity with the role (I am trying to be kind to him here) is exposed for all the world to see. If we have fit full-backs, even David Murphy, then they simply have to be selected in favour of Liam Fish-Out-Of-Water Ridgewell.

That's just an opinion from someone who thinks Ridgewell was an overpriced very average Championship quality footballer who isn't anywhere near as good as he thinks he is.

Posted by: jassyblue80 Nov 20 2009, 12:49 PM

I agree that he is not a LB... I would prefer a recognised LB in that position! I don't rate murphy though...