Semi Ajeyi

[StraightOuttaCanton]

Re: Semi Ajeyi

So, you're saying that Ajayi plus all of the defenders we had at the club when we got promoted were average at Championship level? I accept that there is an argument to say that they aren't Premier League standard, but you genuinely believe that none of those you list are good Championship defenders (and weren't when we got promoted?)? All I can say is that you have very demanding standards.

Maybe it’s our respective definitions of Championship defenders... I suppose my perspective is that none of them are anything more than average. I’d suggest that you could probably take a centre half from any team in the Championship and drop them into any of the other 23 teams and they’d probably do just fine. Let’s say there are 92 regular starting centre halves ... it’s very rare you get a stand out player in that position in this league... if they existed there’d be a queue of interested top half premier league teams for them...

I don’t recall anyone ever being interested in any of our defenders being in those conversations. In fact we’ve only really had a few that have ever been able to bridge the gap between average (because that’s what I think a Championship level player generally is) and having a Premier League career... Outside of Gabbidon, Collins and maybe Johnson (who went downhill quickly) I’m struggling with any more who made their name with us in that position

[Baloo]

Re: Semi Ajeyi

When I started this thread my point was really that he never made a single appearance in any competition for us before being released on a Free. With that in mind I’m surprised there are so many insights about him as he went completely under the radar for me. I posted it after reading a post by a WBA fan stating he thought he was Bilic’s best signing for their club.

[StraightOuttaCanton]

Re: Semi Ajeyi

Reply to Surge:

You’d probably be right about my expectations but I’m not sure that some select XI’s from whoscored.com and a bunch of Championship ‘pundits’ are significant enough for me to change my perspective

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Semi Ajeyi

Maybe it’s our respective definitions of Championship defenders... I suppose my perspective is that none of them are anything more than average. I’d suggest that you could probably take a centre half from any team in the Championship and drop them into any of the other 23 teams and they’d probably do just fine. Let’s say there are 92 regular starting centre halves ... it’s very rare you get a stand out player in that position in this league... if they existed there’d be a queue of interested top half premier league teams for them...

I don’t recall anyone ever being interested in any of our defenders being in those conversations. In fact we’ve only really had a few that have ever been able to bridge the gap between average (because that’s what I think a Championship level player generally is) and having a Premier League career... Outside of Gabbidon, Collins and maybe Johnson (who went downhill quickly) I’m struggling with any more who made their name with us in that position

I think you’ve done a good job of showing that certain players aren’t Premier League standard there, but I struggle to se how you can lump almost every centre back in the Championship together as being much of a muchness. A week on Friday, Sean Morrison will be thirty and so that might well be enough to put some clubs off him, but if we had been looking to sell him at any time in the four or five years since we signed him, I think there may have been one or two PremierLeague teams interested in him, but I’m pretty sure there would have been a fair few from the Championship because I think he’s seen as a good defender in this division within the game.

[StraightOuttaCanton]

Re: Semi Ajeyi

I think you’ve done a good job of showing that certain players aren’t Premier League standard there, but I struggle to se how you can lump almost every centre back in the Championship together as being much of a muchness. A week on Friday, Sean Morrison will be thirty and so that might well be enough to put some clubs off him, but if we had been looking to sell him at any time in the four or five years since we signed him, I think there may have been one or two PremierLeague teams interested in him, but I’m pretty sure there would have been a fair few from the Championship because I think he’s seen as a good defender in this division within the game.

I think your last sentence is where we differ. Good defenders at this level are just that... and I do think they are much of a muchness, which is where my ‘average’ language comes from. Very rarely do they turn into anything more. They may get you into the top half of the Championship but that’s about it for most of them.

[surge]

Re: Semi Ajeyi

I think your last sentence is where we differ. Good defenders at this level are just that... and I do think they are much of a muchness, which is where my ‘average’ language comes from. Very rarely do they turn into anything more. They may get you into the top half of the Championship but that’s about it for most of them.

Are good defenders at this level more about consistency of performance rather than talent levels? Morrison is one of the most consistently above average defenders at this level but you could probably find an equally talented defender who shows their skills once every four games. That's why McNaughton could do it at CB for 2 games in a row but was found out if asked to do more than that.

Premier league is looking for talent and consistency and most defenders at this level aren't able to get there while some others can but still need coaching up.

Unlikely that Morrison was ever going to attract premier league interest but he's definitely one of the better ones at this level.

[The Bob Banker Spanker]

Re: Semi Ajeyi

This will be a quiet thread tonight

[Rjk]

Re: Semi Ajeyi

This will be a quiet thread tonight

wait, there's another thread that I'll boost

[Baloo]

Re: Semi Ajeyi

This will be a quiet thread tonight

Apparently not. Leeds have been great again.

Peach of an own goal.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Semi Ajeyi

This will be a quiet thread tonight

Yep, it probably will be.

[StraightOuttaCanton]

Re: Semi Ajeyi

The fact that Lee Peltier started just reinforces the average nature of Championship defenders... the fact that they conceded 5 puts a cherry on the top

[Pedro de la Rosa]

Re: Semi Ajeyi

The fact that Lee Peltier started just reinforces the average nature of Championship defenders... the fact that they conceded 5 puts a cherry on the top

How does the fact Peltier started a PL game reinforce anything?

[StraightOuttaCanton]

Re: Semi Ajeyi

How does the fact Peltier started a PL game reinforce anything?

You don’t see the link? Suppose I’m not surprised

[Pedro de la Rosa]

Re: Semi Ajeyi

You don’t see the link? Suppose I’m not surprised

I honestly haven't got a clue what you're on about. Peltier was a very good defender for us and the fact you call Manga, Bamba and Morrison average is mental. Look at the difference between Benkovic and Morrison tonight. Chalk and cheese.

[StraightOuttaCanton]

Re: Semi Ajeyi

I honestly haven't got a clue what you're on about. Peltier was a very good defender for us and the fact you call Manga, Bamba and Morrison average is mental. Look at the difference between Benkovic and Morrison tonight. Chalk and cheese.

I didn’t just call those defenders average, I said most if not nearly all defenders at this level are just average. Peltier was below average.

You’re the guy I think who believes Bennett is a good defender 🤪.