Viking Supporters Co-operative

Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: andyst79 on February 18, 2025, 10:06:13 pm

Title: Clifton
Post by: andyst79 on February 18, 2025, 10:06:13 pm
Sorry I don't particularly like singling players out and like I've said in previous posts , you can't fault his work rate but god he's awful and I dare say we're paying him miles more than what we offered to Biggins  to stay
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: colincramb on February 18, 2025, 10:11:28 pm
Not sure on the comment regarding pay, no idea what biggins wanted/was offered to stay versus what Clifton gets. But Biggins was a marginally more effective player in almost all departments other than possibly work rate.

IF we get out of this league, really not sure what he could offer in the league above. Gives his all but that’s probably not enough. Strange signing really
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Nudga on February 18, 2025, 10:12:35 pm
Another one GazLaz got right.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: rich1471 on February 18, 2025, 10:12:49 pm
Clifton wins the ball and gives us some grit in midfield,that's his job to break up play and win the ball
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: drfchound on February 18, 2025, 10:13:56 pm
Sorry I don't particularly like singling players out and like I've said in previous posts , you can't fault his work rate but god he's awful and I dare say we're paying him miles more than what we offered to Biggins  to stay

Totally different level but people said the same about players like Nobby Styles and David Batty but they were invaluable to their teams at the time.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: steve@dcfd on February 18, 2025, 10:15:17 pm
Clifton worked hard covered all the the ground yes technically he’s not the right player but if we had taken our chance then Clifton would not had been singled out . On that pitch and that game he did what was required.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Usher wide. on February 18, 2025, 10:16:26 pm
Clifton, why?

Broadbent, why?

On a night when we’ve scraped a draw against a sh**e team (yes I know about being reduced to 10 men etc) I can’t for the life of me understand why Clifton gets a place in front of Billy or Joe.

Without that early press & a goal inside 5 minutes we again looked like a side struggling with its ‘identity’.

I’ll gladly take those 3 points but, it’s going to be a rollercoaster of a ride for the last fourteen games starting at Accrington on Saturday.

Let’s not get carried away by tonight.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Usher wide. on February 18, 2025, 10:18:47 pm
Another one GazLaz got right.

In a ‘civil partnership’ or long, lost brothers?
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: andyst79 on February 18, 2025, 10:19:29 pm
Clifton worked hard covered all the the ground yes technically he’s not the right player but if we had taken our chance then Clifton would not had been singled out . On that pitch and that game he did what was required.
A difficult pitch and other players were equally unaafective but just doesn't tick many boxes for me and  not just on this showing. I'm just putting my opinion out there and happy to hear other's thoughts
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Cramby10 on February 18, 2025, 10:20:26 pm
He’s a nothing player. Offers nowt.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: ncRover on February 18, 2025, 10:21:05 pm
Clifton, why?

Broadbent, why?

On a night when we’ve scraped a draw against a sh**e team (yes I know about being reduced to 10 men etc) I can’t for the life of me understand why Clifton gets a place in front of Billy or Joe.

Without that early press & a goal inside 5 minutes we again looked like a side struggling with its ‘identity’.

I’ll gladly take those 3 points but, it’s going to be a rollercoaster of a ride for the last fourteen games starting at Accrington on Saturday.

Let’s not get carried away by tonight.

Here we go again. Poor George Broadbent.
Did nothing wrong and pulled off some good passes we’d be praising Charlie Crew for.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Ryaldinhio on February 18, 2025, 10:23:09 pm
The issue is emotion is brought into it when watching usually driven by the commentary similar to boxing.

Morecambe had 1 shot on target in the whole game, which I think was 1st half......yet we were hanging on?????

It feels that way because of emotion but we weren't really hanging on were we?
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: drfchound on February 18, 2025, 10:23:28 pm
Clifton, why?

Broadbent, why?

On a night when we’ve scraped a draw against a sh**e team (yes I know about being reduced to 10 men etc) I can’t for the life of me understand why Clifton gets a place in front of Billy or Joe.

Without that early press & a goal inside 5 minutes we again looked like a side struggling with its ‘identity’.

I’ll gladly take those 3 points but, it’s going to be a rollercoaster of a ride for the last fourteen games starting at Accrington on Saturday.

Let’s not get carried away by tonight.

We didn’t scrape a draw though.
To be fair, we should have scored three or four goals tonight.
Not just the chances in the first half either, we had at least two glorious opportunities in the second half.
The last 25 minutes was always going to be backs to the wall after the sending off.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: andyst79 on February 18, 2025, 10:25:46 pm
Tbf I can understand why Broadbent played today. It was a difficult pitch, not one for the purists. I thought he did ok. Our defence was superb 2nd half and Senior was unlucky , was having a great game until he got sent off.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Canadian Rover on February 18, 2025, 10:29:52 pm
I think Clifton is a hard working, hard tackling midfielder that's ideal for us in this league. Gone are the days of Stock and Wellens!! A fully committed centre midfielder is a valuable asset in a team. He's not silky but he's our grafter and deserves more respect from our fans.

Put it this way gimme Clifton on a game like that vs Close any day off the week.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Nudga on February 18, 2025, 10:30:43 pm
Another one GazLaz got right.

In a ‘civil partnership’ or long, lost brothers?

Dafuq are you on about?
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Ryaldinhio on February 18, 2025, 10:32:10 pm
I think Clifton is a hard working, hard tackling midfielder that's ideal for us in this league. Gone are the days of Stock and Wellens!! A fully committed centre midfielder is a valuable asset in a team. He's not silky but he's our grafter and deserves more respect from our fans.

Agree. L2 midfielder who suits where we are at the minute.

Let's get put of this league.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: andyst79 on February 18, 2025, 10:32:20 pm
I think Clifton is a hard working, hard tackling midfielder that's ideal for us in this league. Gone are the days of Stock and Wellens!! A fully committed centre midfielder is a valuable asset in a team. He's not silky but he's our grafter and deserves more respect from our fans.
He's not been played as a centre midfielder, that's the issue for me
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Padge_DRFC on February 19, 2025, 06:24:18 am
I don't even think he breaks up play much. Bailey is the best at that out of them all.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: dickos1 on February 19, 2025, 07:40:29 am
Clifton, why?

Broadbent, why?

On a night when we’ve scraped a draw against a sh**e team (yes I know about being reduced to 10 men etc) I can’t for the life of me understand why Clifton gets a place in front of Billy or Joe.

Without that early press & a goal inside 5 minutes we again looked like a side struggling with its ‘identity’.

I’ll gladly take those 3 points but, it’s going to be a rollercoaster of a ride for the last fourteen games starting at Accrington on Saturday.

Let’s not get carried away by tonight.

Scraped a draw ?
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: oggycompton on February 19, 2025, 09:57:55 am
Offers nothing, dont udnerstand it, but who do you put in that 10 role?
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: sedwardsdrfc on February 19, 2025, 10:06:22 am
Don’t dislike him what he offers ever team needs. I have more issue with him been used as a 10 role. We really need someone who gets on the ball in that position not a workhorse.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: andyst79 on February 19, 2025, 10:19:57 am
Don’t dislike him what he offers ever team needs. I have more issue with him been used as a 10 role. We really need someone who gets on the ball in that position not a workhorse.
Being able to put yourself about and work hard off the ball should be a given for any footballer , he seems a decent pro at L2 standard but we need someone more progressive at 10
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: ncRover on February 19, 2025, 10:30:23 am
L2 is such a physical league with no time on the ball. Sbarra would have been eaten alive last night.
And even at the top level, attacking midfield players aren’t diminutive tricky types lacking in athleticism like they were in the 00s.
Pressing and winning the ball back high up the pitch so much more important nowadays.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: steve@dcfd on February 19, 2025, 10:52:02 am
No Clifton is not ideal as a 10. But I don’t see a player at the club who is an out and out 10. Sbarra technically good but gets run over by opposition midfield players. None of the three strikers Street Billy or Ironside could do the midfield duties of a 10. Kelly for me is not the player but the closest again easy knocked off the ball. So you with left with Molyneux but he more dangerous off right.
Last night the role required a work man like performer which Clifton gave that. Now if we had taken our 4 clear cut chances this debate would be irrelevant.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: TonySoprano on February 19, 2025, 10:55:35 am
Clifton, why?

Broadbent, why?

On a night when we’ve scraped a draw against a sh**e team (yes I know about being reduced to 10 men etc) I can’t for the life of me understand why Clifton gets a place in front of Billy or Joe.

Without that early press & a goal inside 5 minutes we again looked like a side struggling with its ‘identity’.

I’ll gladly take those 3 points but, it’s going to be a rollercoaster of a ride for the last fourteen games starting at Accrington on Saturday.

Let’s not get carried away by tonight.

Here we go again. Poor George Broadbent.
Did nothing wrong and pulled off some good passes we’d be praising Charlie Crew for.
Thing with broadbent, I think people are wanting him to be a Ben whiteman, which he certainly isn't.
He's a league 2 player, and doing ok for us.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: danumdon on February 19, 2025, 11:11:20 am
L2 is such a physical league with no time on the ball. Sbarra would have been eaten alive last night.
And even at the top level, attacking midfield players aren’t diminutive tricky types lacking in athleticism like they were in the 00s.
Pressing and winning the ball back high up the pitch so much more important nowadays.

Exactly right. Its not a coincidence that GM ensured he had his most robust players in that match last night. On that playing surface and against a team who may be at the bottom but fighting for their survival you need all hands to the pump.

It was always going to be a hard night, the very good start from us was always going to be pulled back but what we did was ensure they had to work very hard to even get a sniff of our goal.For all their possession and grunt TSL was very comfortable with his evenings work.

Its always going to be a battle at this stage of the season and relative form can mean nothing, we went to a place which was always going to be difficult and managed to come through with a good win and a precious clean sheet.

Clifton may look a bit industrial and lack the nous and skill of a Close but he's definitely our player who ticks the boxes in these type of battles.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Move DRFC on February 19, 2025, 11:25:58 am
Hopefully we go up and bin off the plodders like Clifton Ironside Broadbent and hate to say it Sharp.

Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: ncRover on February 19, 2025, 12:25:43 pm
Clifton, why?

Broadbent, why?

On a night when we’ve scraped a draw against a sh**e team (yes I know about being reduced to 10 men etc) I can’t for the life of me understand why Clifton gets a place in front of Billy or Joe.

Without that early press & a goal inside 5 minutes we again looked like a side struggling with its ‘identity’.

I’ll gladly take those 3 points but, it’s going to be a rollercoaster of a ride for the last fourteen games starting at Accrington on Saturday.

Let’s not get carried away by tonight.

Here we go again. Poor George Broadbent.
Did nothing wrong and pulled off some good passes we’d be praising Charlie Crew for.
Thing with broadbent, I think people are wanting him to be a Ben whiteman, which he certainly isn't.
He's a league 2 player, and doing ok for us.

I agree with your last sentence. But you’d think he was the midfield equivalent of Jordy Hiwula the way people go on about him on here and twitter.
He has to do a lot more than others to receive any credit and a lot less than others to receive any criticism.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: edlored on February 19, 2025, 12:33:32 pm
Thing is with the recruitment we've not got many league one ready players so it's partial rebuild again
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Bessie Red on February 19, 2025, 12:57:48 pm
Offers nothing, dont udnerstand it, but who do you put in that 10 role?
Jordan Gibson should play in the 10. I saw some stats, not sure if it was here or not, showing his effectiveness in the 10 role when in lge 1 & he was at the top of the list. He may well be better used there.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Copps is Magic on February 19, 2025, 01:00:09 pm
I thought Clifton was very good last night at what he's in the team to do. We create many more chances with him in the team than Sbarra. It's just he's not very good technically and his end product is not so great.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: drfchound on February 19, 2025, 04:20:24 pm
Thing is with the recruitment we've not got many league one ready players so it's partial rebuild again

Every new season brings about a partial re build given the number of loan players that we (and almost all other teams) rely on these days.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: andyst79 on February 19, 2025, 05:01:10 pm
Hopefully we go up and bin off the plodders like Clifton Ironside Broadbent and hate to say it Sharp.


I'm a massive fan of Ironside and he still has plenty to offer us , however Streets performance yesterday showed us exactly what we've been missing all season. Not had anyone making those kind of dynamic runs in behind since Haks last season
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: drfchound on February 19, 2025, 05:08:23 pm
Hopefully we go up and bin off the plodders like Clifton Ironside Broadbent and hate to say it Sharp.


I'm a massive fan of Ironside and he still has plenty to offer us , however Streets performance yesterday showed us exactly what we've been missing all season. Not had anyone making those kind of dynamic runs in behind since Haks last season

I said earlier that Street might now be this seasons Adelakun.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: i_ateallthepies on February 19, 2025, 06:28:56 pm
It would be great if he did, then we would have to hope that he could be persuaded to sign for us if available.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Metalmicky on February 19, 2025, 07:17:01 pm
I thought Clifton was very good last night at what he's in the team to do. We create many more chances with him in the team than Sbarra. It's just he's not very good technically and his end product is not so great.

I agree, he's not polished, but he puts himself about and is an influence on the game - especially on a sticky pie at Morecambe...  same goes for Anderson....more agricultural that cultured, but puts himself about and lets the more talented staff display their talents...
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: BradwellRover on February 19, 2025, 07:36:48 pm
Do we actually play with a number 10?

We normally have two wide players just behind a single striker. The midfield tends to be three, comprising two holders and a box to box. At least that’s how I see it.

Like a 4-3-2-1 standard, which goes to a 4-2-3-1 if we have the ball in the other half, with the box to box midfielder pushed up.

No real 10 though, playing as an attacking midfielder off the striker. 
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Copps is Magic on February 23, 2025, 10:36:42 am
Very good again yesterday. He's constantly willing to drift into the box and cause a nuisance for the other team.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: RoversInSpain on February 23, 2025, 11:20:40 am
Great finish from Harry yesterday. Good lad!
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: andyst79 on February 23, 2025, 11:24:01 am
Good finish and was involved for the 2nd so can't argue with that, hope he keeps it up. I thought Broadbent was very good for us protecting the back four yesterday.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: danumdon on February 23, 2025, 12:27:18 pm
Not sure if it was condition dependent or not but our constant long ball strategy (no messing about at the back these last few games)has hit on a formula that we can build and develop.

A big part of that form is having a mobile striker with wide players who (on their day) can create openings from these long balls. Its also imperative that we have a mobile and box to box player to get up there and assist, this is what a player like Clifton can do and demonstrated admirably yesterday.

It's very obvious that he's not a Stock or Wellens but surrounded with players like Bailey and Broadbent gives him leverage to get into those dangerous positions just off the striker, as things stand he's the only player at the club capable of this position (Bailey would be good also but does not have the speed and mobility to match, Kelly and Sbarra are to young/lighweight) Until we can bring in someone with the extra quality Clifton is more than capable.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: drfchound on February 23, 2025, 12:31:03 pm
It is quite interesting to see how this thread has evolved.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Drover on February 23, 2025, 12:52:47 pm
I think Clifton is a hard working, hard tackling midfielder that's ideal for us in this league. Gone are the days of Stock and Wellens!! A fully committed centre midfielder is a valuable asset in a team. He's not silky but he's our grafter and deserves more respect from our fans.

Put it this way gimme Clifton on a game like that vs Close any day off the week.

100% this,we seem to have more Fickle fans than ever at the moment,he does'nt always get it right,nobody does,but in GM + his team I trust.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: GazLaz on February 23, 2025, 01:19:03 pm
Nice finish, still not good enough.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: steve@dcfd on February 23, 2025, 01:27:58 pm
Quote
It's very obvious that he's not a Stock or Wellens

No or even Green

But none of our midfield players are near the level of those three.

We were spoilt when those three played together

If we do get promoted we will need two more quality midfield players to match with Bailey .
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Copps is Magic on February 23, 2025, 05:24:00 pm
Nice finish, still not good enough.

not good enough for what?
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Padge_DRFC on February 23, 2025, 05:41:59 pm
Nice finish, still not good enough.

not good enough for what?

Any team serious about top 3. Reminds me a bit of David Syers or whatever he was called. Pretty much does nothing in games other than run about but pops up with a few important goals
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Copps is Magic on February 23, 2025, 06:06:05 pm
I'll take the important goals for now then and see where we are at the end of the season.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: Pancho Regan on February 23, 2025, 06:44:25 pm
In our terrible performance against Grimsby I thought Clifton was perhaps the only one who came away with any credit.

He was good yesterday.
Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: sedwardsdrfc on February 23, 2025, 08:35:42 pm
Nice finish, still not good enough.

not good enough for what?

Any team serious about top 3. Reminds me a bit of David Syers or whatever he was called. Pretty much does nothing in games other than run about but pops up with a few important goals

That was basically Biggins’s game too. Clifton is a better tackler and presser so probably is an upgrade.

Title: Re: Clifton
Post by: NickDRFC on February 23, 2025, 09:40:20 pm
He’s a downgrade on the Biggins that finished last season but an upgrade on the Biggins we saw prior to that. Probably about on a par overall.