Tommy Elphick

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Now I'm not normally one to speak negatively about players.

BUT.

Is it just me or does Tommy consistently (i mean in almost every game) play at least one (often more) absolutely dreadful pass across his own penalty area or to a player being closed down or just directly to an opposition player? He also seems to get caught in possession far too much for a central defender.

He's improved greatly and some of his tackling and headers on Saturday were superb. I'm also fully aware of how few goals we've conceded this season and we're top which is amazing! But with El Abd really shining at the moment and Greer waiting in the wings, could Tommy have a real job on his hands staying in the starting eleven?

or am I just being a wally?

 

[Flavor Flav]

Personally, I think Elphick's improved more than El Abd since Poyet came. Elphick would be on my teamsheet every time.

 

[narly101]

elphick over el-abd for me as well

 

[Acker79]

Elphick is one of only two players to have played every minute of every game this season. That has to say something about him, and how Gus sees him as part of the team.

 

[severnside gull]

He is a central defender and accurate passing isn't a natural part of his game although I think he is vastly improved in that respect. Both he and el abd do make mistakes to about the same extent in fairness but Elphick scores more goals.

I worry more that he nearly cost us the winner on Saturday by assaulting their full back on the line as Sandaza put it in.
A harsher ref might have picked up on that!

But seriously, Elphick for me over el Abd at the moment but only just - I think they are both performing out of their skins. Will Greer get back in? I think so but it will be tough on the current pairing and god help him if we ship more than one goal or he makes a mistake!

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Looking back, I think that's more what i meant to ask

Does Greer get back in?
If yes, who goes and why?

 

[keaton]

I can see your point Tom, El-Abd gets a lot of criticism for his passing but because he accpts his limits he doesn'y give it away as much, whereas sometimes Elphick seems a bit cocky on the ball and makes a really silly decision. BUt they've both been very good this year, and have done nothing to warrant being dropped, and Greer (in his very limited time, most of which is his own fault) has done nothing to suggest he would be doing better than either of them

 

[Was not Was]

It's a fair point, you're not a wally (there, do you feel better now?).

Not a major issue, but yes, there are times he dallies - for example, when the Oldham no. 9 had just come on, and nicked the ball off Tommy from a starting point 25 metres away ...

 

[SamSeagull]

He is a central defender and accurate passing isn't a natural part of his game although I think he is vastly improved in that respect. Both he and el abd do make mistakes to about the same extent in fairness but Elphick scores more goals.

I worry more that he nearly cost us the winner on Saturday by assaulting their full back on the line as Sandaza put it in.
A harsher ref might have picked up on that!

But seriously, Elphick for me over el Abd at the moment but only just - I think they are both performing out of their skins. Will Greer get back in? I think so but it will be tough on the current pairing and god help him if we ship more than one goal or he makes a mistake!

the oldham player was holding tommys shirt to start with, it should have been a pen....

 

[Jim D]

Greer (in his very limited time, most of which is his own fault) has done nothing to suggest he would be doing better than either of them

Disagree with that. Thought he looked very comfortable against Rochdale until their sub nobbled him.

 

[NMH]

Now I'm not normally one to speak negatively about players.

BUT.

Is it just me or does Tommy consistently (i mean in almost every game) play at least one (often more) absolutely dreadful pass across his own penalty area or to a player being closed down or just directly to an opposition player? He also seems to get caught in possession far too much for a central defender.

He's improved greatly and some of his tackling and headers on Saturday were superb. I'm also fully aware of how few goals we've conceded this season and we're top which is amazing! But with El Abd really shining at the moment and Greer waiting in the wings, could Tommy have a real job on his hands staying in the starting eleven?

or am I just being a wally?

Having been a Tommy critic for many games, personally I think he's improving gradually - saturday being one of his better performances.

Greer I'm worried about, that he may have been a duff buy. Have to give him more time, perhaps not fully fit or something.

 

[Simster]

Albion under Poyet like to build from the back, which means the centre backs stroking the ball about waiting for the opportunity to pass. From what I understand, Oldham had done there homework on Saturday and didn't give our defenders time to settle on the ball. This is the sort of thing that will unsettle an inexperienced centre back, and maybe his ability to assess risk will need to improve. However, we won't come up against Oldham's hard working forwards every week, and I suspect Elphick is being encouraged to use the ball like this.

Short term, we might see a massive f*** up, but longer term it'll make the team tick in the way Poyet wants.

 

[Brovion]

Having been a Tommy critic for many games, personally I think he's improving gradually - saturday being one of his better performances.

Greer I'm worried about, that he may have been a duff buy. Have to give him more time, perhaps not fully fit or something.

I think if nothing else Greer is part of the reason WHY El Abd and Elphick have been pretty good this season: they know there's a (hopefully) quality player ready to step in if their standards slip. This wasn't the case in previous years.

 

[Titanic]

I think if nothing else Greer is part of the reason WHY El Abd and Elphick have been pretty good this season: they know there's a (hopefully) quality player ready to step in if their standards slip. This wasn't the case in previous years.

er hem.... Colin 'The Hawk' Hawkins?

 

[Giraffe]

or am I just being a wally?

This. Elphick is a class act, nothing to criticise on this season's performances.

 

[porkypie]

How many managers has tommy been a first team player under now? is it 5? He cant be that bad, if he was they would not play him!

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Albion under Poyet like to build from the back, which means the centre backs stroking the ball about waiting for the opportunity to pass. From what I understand, Oldham had done there homework on Saturday and didn't give our defenders time to settle on the ball. This is the sort of thing that will unsettle an inexperienced centre back, and maybe his ability to assess risk will need to improve. However, we won't come up against Oldham's hard working forwards every week, and I suspect Elphick is being encouraged to use the ball like this.

Short term, we might see a massive f*** up, but longer term it'll make the team tick in the way Poyet wants.

Spot on.

 

[Da Man Clay]

This. Elphick is a class act, nothing to criticise on this season's performances.

He's not being a wally though. Elphick very nearly made a horredous mistake on Saturday by trying to turn a striker when he was the last man.

It'll only take him to be punished once doing that before Greer gets the start imo.

 

[keaton]

He's not being a wally though. Elphick very nearly made a horredous mistake on Saturday by trying to turn a striker when he was the last man.

It'll only take him to be punished once doing that before Greer gets the start imo.

I thought the bizare chip volley across our box was worse

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

This. Elphick is a class act, nothing to criticise on this season's performances.

I think he's made a series of mistakes this season very similarly to last season. The only difference being that his cock ups haven't resulted in goals like they did last season due to a large slice of luck.