Brayford.

Anyone know why Brayford didn't start today and Connelly did? Do you think Malky signed him to be back up or a Starter?

Starter. Especially after his comments saying he was the best RB in the championship last season.

Hopefully he'll start Saturday I'm more concerned with tommy smith starting

I am more concerned with left back although declan had a pretty decent game everytime bilbao passed the ball out to his side he was no where near the winger, bellamy kept telling him to get out there and mark the winger, i hope malky saw this, also there was a guy sitting in front of my mate in a suit who kept wring in a notepad every time thar declan was out of position he was also taking notes throuout the game.

I am more concerned with left back although declan had a pretty decent game everytime bilbao passed the ball out to his side he was no where near the winger, bellamy kept telling him to get out there and mark the winger, i hope malky saw this, also there was a guy sitting in front of my mate in a suit who kept wring in a notepad every time thar declan was out of position he was also taking notes throuout the game.

Thought you said he had a decent game?

I would go with Ralls personally against West Ham. Played LB a few times last, season and never looked out of place. John will come good, but got skinned lots of times yesterday and not quite ready imo.

I would go with Ralls personally against West Ham. Played LB a few times last, season and never looked out of place. John will come good, but got skinned lots of times yesterday and not quite ready imo.

Would rather John or Lappin tbh.

I don't know why Malky views Brayford as first choice right-back.

Connolly was one of our best players last season, and the stats show he outperformed Brayford - 5 goals and 2 assists to Brayford's 1 goal and assist. Not bad for a makeshift right-back! Connolly also appears in the Actim Top 100 players last season, and Brayford doesn't even make it.

I don't know whether Brayford was injured or not, but hopefully Connolly starting against Bilbao means he'll be starting this Saturday.

Connolly can play left back as well can't he? Maybe put him there for the west ham game. Adds more height and strength for set peices

Given that John is likely to start in a 4-5-1 with Gunnar/Whitts and Bellamy on the left side suring up defence I think Conolly will start v WHU.

Having both fullbacks making his PL debut and the other making his full debut would be harsh.

Connolly better than Brayford due to goal scoring and assists?

Connolly is not even a preferred fullback and his key position is CB but was put out there all season and he did well in most games considering it isn't his choice.

Ralls LB? Oh deary me. He is a Centre Mid and had to be versatile for one game due to lack of strength and had one game there because he done the job and suddenly he has been played there the odd time. I hope he doesn't be played there again.

Brayfords distribution at RB is really good and he get's forward a lot.

John has critics? Broke into the first team in Pre Season and got a look in. Promising young fullback and got Spurs looking at him.

He isn't going to be a world beater and will be learning. Bellamy had a go at him but he is only helping and that is what Bellamy brings for youngsters.

Every young fullback I see in the Prem are not the best defensively to start with like Walker for Spurs was poor but improved a lot. Same will go for Luke Shaw and Ben Davies who are exciting but still learning at the same time.

Connolly better than Brayford due to goal scoring and assists?

Connolly is not even a preferred fullback and his key position is CB but was put out there all season and he did well in most games considering it isn't his choice.

Ralls LB? Oh deary me. He is a Centre Mid and had to be versatile for one game due to lack of strength and had one game there because he done the job and suddenly he has been played there the odd time. I hope he doesn't be played there again.

Brayfords distribution at RB is really good and he get's forward a lot.

John has critics? Broke into the first team in Pre Season and got a look in. Promising young fullback and got Spurs looking at him.

He isn't going to be a world beater and will be learning. Bellamy had a go at him but he is only helping and that is what Bellamy brings for youngsters.

Every young fullback I see in the Prem are not the best defensively to start with like Walker for Spurs was poor but improved a lot. Same will go for Luke Shaw and Ben Davies who are exciting but still learning at the same time.

Declan John has only in the past 12 months or so been converted to a full back and has played winger all of his life.

I am not sure the Premiership is the best place for him to learn this position, its a very unforgiving league, but either way theres a way of doing things and Bellers shouting at him is not the right way IMO.

I hope Malky tells CB to wind his f*cking neck in.

Stats can say what they want big imo connelly is not a first choice RB, he covered well but we needed much better.

Connolly better than Brayford due to goal scoring and assists?

Connolly is not even a preferred fullback and his key position is CB but was put out there all season and he did well in most games considering it isn't his choice.

Ralls LB? Oh deary me. He is a Centre Mid and had to be versatile for one game due to lack of strength and had one game there because he done the job and suddenly he has been played there the odd time. I hope he doesn't be played there again.

Brayfords distribution at RB is really good and he get's forward a lot.

John has critics? Broke into the first team in Pre Season and got a look in. Promising young fullback and got Spurs looking at him.

He isn't going to be a world beater and will be learning. Bellamy had a go at him but he is only helping and that is what Bellamy brings for youngsters.

Every young fullback I see in the Prem are not the best defensively to start with like Walker for Spurs was poor but improved a lot. Same will go for Luke Shaw and Ben Davies who are exciting but still learning at the same time.

Declan John has only in the past 12 months or so been converted to a full back and has played winger all of his life.

I am not sure the Premiership is the best place for him to learn this position, its a very unforgiving league, but either way theres a way of doing things and Bellers shouting at him is not the right way IMO.

I hope Malky tells CB to wind his f*cking neck in.

I don't know much about John in terms of being moved to Fullback but it is unforgiving but some players like Luke Shaw has coped in the Prem and I just hope John can do the same.

My mate who was with me said Bellamy needs to chill a bit.

Connolly better than Brayford due to goal scoring and assists?

Connolly is not even a preferred fullback and his key position is CB but was put out there all season and he did well in most games considering it isn't his choice.

Ralls LB? Oh deary me. He is a Centre Mid and had to be versatile for one game due to lack of strength and had one game there because he done the job and suddenly he has been played there the odd time. I hope he doesn't be played there again.

Brayfords distribution at RB is really good and he get's forward a lot.

John has critics? Broke into the first team in Pre Season and got a look in. Promising young fullback and got Spurs looking at him.

He isn't going to be a world beater and will be learning. Bellamy had a go at him but he is only helping and that is what Bellamy brings for youngsters.

Every young fullback I see in the Prem are not the best defensively to start with like Walker for Spurs was poor but improved a lot. Same will go for Luke Shaw and Ben Davies who are exciting but still learning at the same time.

Declan John has only in the past 12 months or so been converted to a full back and has played winger all of his life.

I am not sure the Premiership is the best place for him to learn this position, its a very unforgiving league, but either way theres a way of doing things and Bellers shouting at him is not the right way IMO.

I hope Malky tells CB to wind his f*cking neck in.

On thing I was pleased about was that after John gave the ball away he didn't look less confident, he looked more determined to do something else etc. Always good to have a trait like that when they're young.

In the first half out on the wing he played a poor pass and straight away went chasing and made a good tackle.. seems eager to be on the ball and does seem confident.

Connolly better than Brayford due to goal scoring and assists?

Connolly is not even a preferred fullback and his key position is CB but was put out there all season and he did well in most games considering it isn't his choice.

Ralls LB? Oh deary me. He is a Centre Mid and had to be versatile for one game due to lack of strength and had one game there because he done the job and suddenly he has been played there the odd time. I hope he doesn't be played there again.

Brayfords distribution at RB is really good and he get's forward a lot.

John has critics? Broke into the first team in Pre Season and got a look in. Promising young fullback and got Spurs looking at him.

He isn't going to be a world beater and will be learning. Bellamy had a go at him but he is only helping and that is what Bellamy brings for youngsters.

Every young fullback I see in the Prem are not the best defensively to start with like Walker for Spurs was poor but improved a lot. Same will go for Luke Shaw and Ben Davies who are exciting but still learning at the same time.

Declan John has only in the past 12 months or so been converted to a full back and has played winger all of his life.

I am not sure the Premiership is the best place for him to learn this position, its a very unforgiving league, but either way theres a way of doing things and Bellers shouting at him is not the right way IMO.

I hope Malky tells CB to wind his f*cking neck in.

On thing I was pleased about was that after John gave the ball away he didn't look less confident, he looked more determined to do something else etc. Always good to have a trait like that when they're young.

Yes if they still want the ball and dont go hiding it says a lot about a player, especially someone so young.

DandoCCFC wrote:

Connolly is not even a preferred fullback and his key position is CB but was put out there all season and he did well in most games considering it isn't his choice.

The point is that despite CB being his best position, Connolly showed he makes a superb RB as well. He was part of a backline that kept 13 clean sheets. Alright, much of that might have been down to the CB pairing, but Connolly can defend and yet he managed to score goals and make assists because of his marauding runs. He's shown two facets to his game that make him a more attractive option than Brayford, who to me suggests safety first.

I say we should start with Connolly at RB and have a go at teams, and if he's not up to the task after a couple of games then throw Brayford in.