2020/21 Ben Godfrey

[stevie blott]

Ben Godfrey has been here two minutes. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt. He is not the issue here, He will make mistakes, hell even the fans favorite Jon Stones made many... Even under Pep. Patience is key with Ben. He's a monster, big, quick and athletic, He is perfect for us, just needs time to get to grips with how damn slow the rest of our side is and he will be fine.

 

[Zatara]

Keane and Mina. If we're not pressing that is the best pairing imo. I recognize a need to get Godfrey minutes and Mina's injuries give us ample opportunities to do so. Holgate is done here I think.

We play Keane and Mina and were sat so deep that its going to massively impede our ability to attack...

Both should be sold.

Yes he anticipated the pull back. Was a mistake put at least he was positive in what he wanted to do.

He’s made a couple of mistakes now. But so have all the other CB’s and he’s been as to play all across the back line. How would Keane cope playing LB or RB

Also, imagine if Godfrey had a centre back with pace next to him along with a top right back.

He wouldnt have been put in that position.

 

[Zatara]

Ben Godfrey has been here two minutes. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt. He is not the issue here, He will make mistakes, hell even the fans favorite Jon Stones made many... Even under Pep. Patience is key with Ben. He's a monster, big, quick and athletic, He is perfect for us, just needs time to get to grips with how damn slow the rest of our side is and he will be fine.

Or we bring in a partner and a right back to complement him (and Digne). Then build out the team from the back rather than signing midfielders/attackers and then seeing the defence doesnt have any harmony with them.

 

[MACCA75]

We play Keane and Mina and were sat so deep that its going to massively impede our ability to attack...

Both should be sold.



Also, imagine if Godfrey had a centre back with pace next to him along with a top right back.

He wouldnt have been put in that position.

We can’t just defend on the half way line for 90 minutes Zat.

 

[Zatara]

We can’t just defend on the half way line for 90 minutes Zat.

Haha.

I think quick, quality players at RB + CB along with two monsters in midfield e.g Kessie and Bissouma and we could play higher up the pitch and teams would find it far harder to get through the centre or the right (which seems easy for them) before getting to the centre backs.

It also helps us play on the front foot as were higher up the pitch of course.

 

[stevie blott]

Or we bring in a partner and a right back to complement him (and Digne). Then build out the team from the back rather than signing midfielders/attackers and then seeing the defence doesnt have any harmony with them.

Yup, a more cohesive back four is a must. Your right, we really should be looking at the solid players we have and building around them but that possibly means less well known players, less of the champagne signing days...I would personally prefer it if we went looking for players to fit the system rather than big name signings. That lot across the park won the league with James sodding Milner and all the Southampton players in it. Leicester won the league with Huth and Morgan.... If they had ever been signed for us ? Brands would have been told to do one.

 

[Toffeelover]

Godfrey, the one good spark of the whole season.

 

[Zatara]

My player of the season.

 

[ToffeeTim]

My player of the season.

He's made too many mistakes for that

 

[ToffeeTim]

Also, I think everyone should tone down the hype around Ben. We are starting to do what we always do with young players and it's not healthy to lose all perspective and overrate players well beyond their level. He's had a good first season here and has a high ceiling - higher than any of our other centre halves. But he still makes too many basic mistakes like we saw on Sunday. He needs more time and more work, but he can get there over the next couple of years. Let's not pretend he's the greatest defender the club has ever seen. It's not fair on anyone, least of all not the player who has completely unrealistic expectations.

Our players just unfortunately aren't as good as we think they are, or as good as we hope they are.

 

[Terrarian]

Godfrey doesn't get slated as much and gets away(if that's the right terminology) with things when he has a bad game because generally his attitude and application are 100%, you forgive mistakes when you know a player is giving his all for the shirt.

 

[Brisan123]

The cross for Jebbisons goal was not a cross or a pull back but a shanked shot that was nowhere near the goal
Jebbison anticipated it to an extent and reacted quicker but he got lucky and Godfrey was a tad unfortunate

 

[Terrarian]

The cross for Jebbisons goal was not a cross or a pull back but a shanked shot that was nowhere near the goal
Jebbison anticipated it to an extent and reacted quicker but he got lucky and Godfrey was a tad unfortunate

It was a rookie error Bri, he left his man to step up which is always touch and go on a cross. But he's still learning his craft so mistakes will happen.

 

[blueblue]

This thread has not properly addressed how poor that bit of defending was for their goal. Where was he actually going?

He was anticipating a cut back and if that had happened then he would have prevented a goal, he made the wrong call, it happens.

The problem in the goal was the player being allowed to get in a position to cross the ball.

Godfrey generally had a very good game.

Allan and Doucoure both were very poor throughout.

 

[blueblue]

Isn't that like saying "on the list of venereal diseases, this one isn't the worst"?

Nothing against him, but I wouldn't be arsed if we sold any of our current squad.

Or like saying Godfrey has been arguably our best player for the last thirty matches and made the wrong call against Sheffield United.

We also had 80 minutes to redress the mistake and we were not good enough to do so.