Bikey - Can he change?

[SpaceCruiser]

I really don't know what to say to that.

Except mumble something about Frimmers and papereyes being right about university and stand up respectively.

Did you really take my comment seriously? I never take you seriously because you continue to berate Lita when he's done a fantastic job so far. I mean, he is the top scorer!

You have continued to berate Henry despite his goals. Same difference?

And you continue to bite.....

[brendywendy]

one mistake the other day:

let the man go by him, he was totally gutted and tried to desperately get back in there catching the blokes legs and bringing him down (tamely)
but against arsenal how can that be so bad

no on heres going on about murty letting his man go by him for th esecond are they, cos hes in the cant put a foot wrong club

whereas bikey is in the cant do anything right club

[1871 Royal]

I think the EP rating of 5 for him was a bit harsh.

[brendywendy]

thought he was very very good up till, and after that point
was unlucky
as was murts who also had a decent game
both against very very good players.

[Leamington Royal]

I think comparisons to Sonko's first season aren't that fair.

Bikey is adjusting to not only Premier League but also British football in general. Sonks came to us with experience in England (albeit a lower division). In Sonko's first season we didn't do terribly well either. Flying high until Xmas and then we were dreadful.

As for too many defenders in the squad - I disagree. We have been very lucky with injuries so far. Never had both centre backs out or both full backs as far as I can remember - Imagine if we had had to field John Halls against Man U or Arsenal!

Be interesting to see who Sir Steve keeps/ signs come the summer though. I'd try to keep Bikey if the money is right - he also has potential as a stopping midfielder don't forget.

[Royal Rother]

I don't know.... In the last few games Bikey has defended brilliantly against some of the best attacking players in the world, made very few mistakes yet still gets criticised. Lita has done bugger all except score one fantatsic goal and lose control of the ball virtually every time an opportunity presented itself, yet people are still wetting themselves over him, game after game.

Funny old game.

FWIW I think Bikey is thinking very hard about his game and looks like he is improving with every match. I'll be very disappointed if there isn't a place for him next season. Love to see him get a game in midfield some time.

Ferdinand looked very classy against us last week, yet he was at fault for Kitson's goal and he didn't have a whole series of World Class attackers running full pelt towards him the whole game. Defenders make mistakes - even the very best, whatever the opposition! Give Bikey a chance for goodness sake.

.....you are talking crap re: Lita.....he puts in a heck of alot of running, holds up and scores goals....he does need to improve his first touch though agree with that...Lita is young too you know.

My point is that Bikey is doing far more excellent things in a game than Lita at the moment. I give Lita credit for what he does well, (scoring goals with instinctive first touch) but refuse to get drawn into the "he runs about a lot and holds the ball up well" bullshit, when he rarely does anything with it when he's got time to think.

There is a great deal to work on with both Bikey and Lita and I shall be delighted to see them both in the hoops next season when they will undoubtedly be better players than they are now.

[nivek elyod]

as was murts who also had a decent game

Except that the Arse's second goal was pretty much his fault...

[brendywendy]

as was murts who also had a decent game

Except that the Arse's second goal was pretty much his fault...

as was the 1sts bikeys fault, but the two had decent games against some of the best/fastest attacking footballers in the world

that was my point, poorly made

[brendywendy]

--

[Archie's penalty]

Into a turtle?

[Don Finch]

I think Bikey's main problem is his positioning, all the more important because he's not that quick. You can make up for a lack of pace if you take up a good defensive position, but he's getting caught out far too often right now. The majority of his fouls are from hauling down players from behind, trying to get goal side and I think he's been very close to red cards recently. This is the difference between him and Sonks, Sonko is lightening quick and is great at making those last ditch tackles (I know he gets them wrong sometimes too!).

So, can Bikey get better?? Well, he's stuck with that pace so it all depends on how his defensive awareness improves. I think he's a decent prospect, still young and hardly played any games in the top flight, we've got to keep hold of him. I could see him at (Defensive) Centre Mid actually, his passing is miles better than Sonkos but he's not ready to play there just yet - not judging by his performance against Burnley in that position.

[Shortbread]

I'd say that centre mid is his best bet long-term. I thought he did reasonably well in the Burnley game - a lot of the play came through/from him which may have been a way of testing him out in that position (although it may be as well that everyone else was trying to play him in and give him some confidence on the ball).

Definitely worth a punt at his age and with a half a season of learning in the Prem behind him. Whether that jacks up his price beyind what we're prepared to pay though, I don't know.