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Rafferty

Rafferty

Here we go again, Fisher's distribution is terrible despite being consistently top 5 for completed pass % in the final third, classic North End fans
 
Personally I wouldn't drop fisher at right back and I'd leave Rafu at LB. Why should Hughes get straight back into the team, he's a good player but nothing spectacular. Think Raf has earned his starting place at LB and if he has a dip in form bring hughes back in.

If we still had cummingham and he was coming back in then I'd understanding dropping Rafu as he's top quality (or was when at north end) but not hughes.
 
Hughes was really bad on Saturday, clearly not match sharp yet which is understandable and I can only assume he wanted him in for his height at set pieces. I reckon Rafferty will be back in at LB tomorrow night.
 
BallyPNE said:
Personally I wouldn't drop fisher at right back and I'd leave Rafu at LB. Why should Hughes get straight back into the team, he's a good player but nothing spectacular. Think Raf has earned his starting place at LB and if he has a dip in form bring hughes back in.

If we still had cummingham and he was coming back in then I'd understanding dropping Rafu as he's top quality (or was when at north end) but not hughes.
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Last season Hughes was statistically the best left back in the league defensively...
 
BallyPNE said:
That's fair enough. You can't disagree with statistics like that but has Rafu put a foot wrong so far either?
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No but unfortunately he isn't a natural left back and personally I'm not a fan of square pegs in round holes...especially at the back
 
paddysr said:
No but unfortunately he isn't a natural left back and personally I'm not a fan of square pegs in round holes...especially at the back
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I played left back for 6 years, and once my manager asked me any chance to play right back for a game, no problem, I'm right footed,the look on his face?
 
Its football in the old days when you weren't allowed subs or even in the days when you had up to three subs what conversations do you think they had then.... this foot that foot ... get on with it man stop making excuses... don't let the man or ball past you … simple.
 
I saw no reason to really drop Rafferty vs Birmingham and saw no reason to drop him on Saturday either. I think we all had concerns about him being the LB cover after Earl left and wasn't replaced but he's been one of our star performers this season. I don't recall him being exposed in the air either so the fact Hughes was statisically good in the air last season doesn't make much difference to me.

Also with many wide players playing 'on the wrong side' these days when players cut inside it's onto Rafferty's strong side and he's also delivered quite a few good crosses this season.

I'm also firmly in the camp of if you play well then you keep the shirt but for some reason this hasn't applied to Rafferty.
 
Tino said:
I saw no reason to really drop Rafferty vs Birmingham and saw no reason to drop him on Saturday either. I think we all had concerns about him being the LB cover after Earl left and wasn't replaced but he's been one of our star performers this season. I don't recall him being exposed in the air either so the fact Hughes was statisically good in the air last season doesn't make much difference to me.

Also with many wide players playing 'on the wrong side' these days when players cut inside it's onto Rafferty's strong side and he's also delivered quite a few good crosses this season.

I'm also firmly in the camp of if you play well then you keep the shirt but for some reason this hasn't applied to Rafferty.
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I would much rather have raffertys level head in a game like tonight, especially with this ref, as I think fisher will be at real risk of seeing red
 
I'd rather keep Fisher's pace in the side tonight, this lot are lightning on the break.
 
sf said:
I'd rather keep Fisher's pace in the side tonight, this lot are lightning on the break.
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If Fisher is on his game, wingers hate playing against him and are probably a little scared. Fierce in a challenge which wingers usually hate and he has the pace to match. Come on the Fish
 
ChuckD said:
One of the reasons we are so high up the league at the moment is Rafferty stepping in to solve our Left back crisis.

Now that Hughes is back, I think Raffa has done enough to earn a start in his natural position at RB.

Many of our attacks yesterday fizzled out due to Fisher’s poor distribution. Also the fact that he was cramping up with 15 minutes to go suggests that he may not be match fit having been out for 3 weeks.

It’s good to have competition for places so hopefully AN will give Raffa his chance at RB on Tuesday.
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Agreed. Hughes at left back, Rafferty at right back. No need to complicate it.
 
I'd be quite surprised if Hughes started tonight...2 games in 4 days after coming back from injury. Seems something the manager is looking to avoid after last season.
 
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