TrueBlueArmy Forums

Multiple sources incl. The News today reporting Doncaster talks for Ben Close

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/footb...er-3261059

We should be building a team around him.

Something rancid going on at our club.

Not good enough - good luck to him!

Yeh a shame but probably for the best. He needed someone better than Naylor beside him to be effective. He showed periods of very decent ability but just wasnt consistent enough.

Bit of an enigma. Probably the best passer in the squad who chipped in with a few goals, but far too lightweight for a midfielder in this division - not able to put a tackle in. Need someone more balanced.

More to the point: Who are we replacing him with?
Who are we replacing Jack with?

(04-06-2021, 02:56 PM)Cleaver Greene Wrote: [ -> ]More to the point: Who are we replacing him with?
Who are we replacing Jack with?

Neither of them has left yet ffs

are we just seeing that we were paying and promising wages that now not affordable by any club planning for a possible second season of limited fans?
The October Grand Prix in singapore has already been cancelled. That makes me wonder quite what we the winter might hold.

Thanks Ben but almost 5 seasons struggling to be a regular shows we need better. Good luck at Donny

seeing just about the entire youth set up cleared out, suggests our youth coaches or intake were just not good enough. Since Hards and Awfs left perhaps?

(04-06-2021, 01:48 PM)briefcase_wanchor Wrote: [ -> ]Bit of an enigma. Probably the best passer in the squad who chipped in with a few goals, but far too lightweight for a midfielder in this division - not able to put a tackle in. Need someone more balanced.

Blame Naylor for that

I'm afraid he was a marmite player good for some others not. he never really took the game by the scruff of the neck and dictated, the play, that's who we need to replace him someone
like a joe ledley or a newer version of Paul Merson, Newport lad sheenan  looked good in the playoffs I know we are not going to get a Kevin de bruyne but I was encouraged by some of the players that Lincoln had either loaned or bought so some gems are out there

I liked the look of Sheenan too, as well as Bridcutt at Lincoln.

Now confirmed as gone. Wish him all the best. Let's hope we have a decent replacement lined up.

Apparently he's got himself a three-year deal. Good luck to him.

Hope he does well. If they pair him properly he will be very dangerous for them. Do they still play 433?

>If they pair him properly he will be very dangerous for them<
Close and dangerous, surely that's an oxymoron

If they have a big lump (or two) who can break up play and get Close the ball quickly, he will be dangeous, yes.

Unfortunately Naylor cant pass for shit so we didnt get him the ball fast enough to be able to pick a pass. Our defence was also too weak to cope with having just 1 tackling midfielder protecting them.

Close would have worked for us if we either upgraded Naylor or Upgraded Raggett. Unfortunately we chose to do neither.

Naylor's job isn't as a playmaker,his job is to break up the oppositions play which he does quite well at this level. He needs a playmaker/box to box midfielder alongside him,that's why it worked well with Ben Thompson. Close, Cannon and Morris were meant to be the passers/playmakers but aren't very good.

Yes, agreed but my point was naylor was so shit at passing that even once he’s won the ball, he couldn’t find Close and that made him ineffective. Close is the player you need to give the ball to once you win it. Naylor couldn’t pass it to him and Close isn’t going to get it himself.

As much as Cannon was lauded, he too was shit at tackling. Good at running with the ball but not much else.

Ben Thompson was the only one who could tackle, run and pass.

Close was supposed to replace Naylor, not play next to him.

WALOB, Close is a completely different type of midfielder. I always thought you knew feckall about Pompey,this proves it.

(07-06-2021, 06:45 PM)scumslayer Wrote: [ -> ]Close was supposed to replace Naylor, not play next to him.

Huh?  Naylor could tackle and break up play, but the man couldn't pass water.  On the other hand, Close could pass better than most but couldn't tackle or break up play.

As midfielders go those two were antipodal (look it up).

If we built a team around close then that team would be shit!
He could pass and had an eye for a spectacular shot.
If that was all that was required he could be an OK player but in league 1 he is a luxury that no team could afford.
We should be thankful he felt it was time to move on!

(07-06-2021, 06:45 PM)scumslayer Wrote: [ -> ]Close was supposed to replace Naylor, not play next to him.

And the new winner of the most wrong opinion ever posted on here is ......

You've posted some ignorant bollix in the past but that takes the biscuit.