I couldn’t get to the game yesterday, how did Gibson do alongside Mee?

Did ok to say he played on the right.

He looked comfortable next to Ben Mee (but then again who doesn't with him as a CB pairing). Could probably do with a few games to get up and running but looked good.. Dunne looked solid and composed as well

Gibson played well. He played on the right side with Mee on the left. He is a very strong, rugged defender who I think would do very well for us at either left or right sided centre back.

I thought he had a good game If Tarka does go, him and Ben will be quite capable in front of His Eminence, who also had a good game keeping us in the match during some torrid times in the 1st half.

As someone else said Dunne looked comfortable too when he came on. So I reckon if Tarka goes we will be OK.

Jay Rod and Woody didn't seem to gel, yet when Ash came on in the 2nd half it worked with him and Jay up front .... mind you Ash seems to be able to work with most strike partners.

Be an interesting week leading up to the close of the window.

I’d be concerned with that pairing in a Premier League game simply because they are both very left sided

Did well. He's very assured on the ball for a centre half, more so than Tarkowski, so playing on the right doesn't really affect us.

ClaretTony wrote:I’d be concerned with that pairing in a Premier League game simply because they are both very left sided

I find the notion of two left footed center halves abhorrent. It's unnatural!! And basically just dirty.

Edit - and I'd like to add, this would see us relegated.

Newty wrote:I find the notion of two left footed center halves abhorrent. It's unnatural!! And basically just dirty.

Edit - and I'd like to add, this would see us relegated.

If we didn't come in the bottom 3 I think we should get demoted anyway just for doing something so outrageous

Pass it with the left, hoof it with the right. Perfect for us!

Newty wrote:I find the notion of two left footed center halves abhorrent. It's unnatural!! And basically just dirty.

And yet nobody thinks twice about two right footed CHs. That’s footist.

Newty wrote:I find the notion of two left footed center halves abhorrent. It's unnatural!! And basically just dirty.

Edit - and I'd like to add, this would see us relegated.

Yet nobody bats an eyelid at a left footer playing right wing or vice versa ....

Tricky Trevor wrote:And yet nobody thinks twice about two right footed CHs. That’s footist.

Footist

As a left footer myself must defend my fellow lefties - I can slide in late with both feet

Rick_Muller wrote:As a left footer myself must defend my fellow lefties - I can slide in late with both feet

& Muller them, presumably?

Tricky Trevor wrote:And yet nobody thinks twice about two right footed CHs. That’s footist.

It's a strange notion to be honest. Totally illogical.

Tricky Trevor wrote:And yet nobody thinks twice about two right footed CHs. That’s footist.

It’s a strange one but you can always get away with two right footers but it doesn’t work with two lefts. Doesn’t matter further up the pitch but definitely does at the back.

Photo of Dyche with Cahill last night

From what i seen and granted 1 match, so not to much to go on, but the natural quick play and thinking on the feet didn't work to the point it either went on the floor to the left or in the air to the right, which i presume would be natural for a left footer, but all that to one side Gibson is a strong CB.

Burnley1989 wrote:Photo of Dyche with Cahill last night

It's not displaying, can you try again?

ClaretTony wrote:It’s a strange one but you can always get away with two right footers but it doesn’t work with two lefts. Doesn’t matter further up the pitch but definitely does at the back.

A Premier League defender should be able to use both feet, let's be fair. They'll always have a stronger foot, but if you can't pass it out with your weaker foot, there's something wrong.

FactualFrank wrote:A Premier League defender should be able to use both feet, let's be fair. They'll always have a stronger foot, but if you can't pass it out with your weaker foot, there's something wrong.

Not so - and it tends to be the left footers who are more one footed

ClaretTony wrote:Not so - and it tends to be the left footers who are more one footed

I know it's not so, I'm saying that's how it should be. My nephew was left-footed and still is, but he can shoot and cross with his right, down to me pestering him and try his 'other foot'. His coaches at the academy often comment on how he can use both feet. It's not difficult when they're young to not just use it for standing on.

Burnley1989 wrote:Photo of Dyche with Cahill last night

Was one of those "this photo will self destruct in 10 seconds" photos

ClaretTony wrote:Not so - and it tends to be the left footers who are more one footed

I must be an exception to the rule CT, as said before I’m left footed and I can’t kick right with either foot

Nah Dyche is above not by his side

Bosscat wrote:Was one of those "this photo will self destruct in 10 seconds" photos

Bit of a Cutsy post that, apologies.

Apparently seen with him though, personally doubt it

Ffs did anyone that has played football at a decent level think about who kicked with what foot or whether they were a decent footballer?

FactualFrank wrote:A Premier League defender should be able to use both feet, let's be fair. They'll always have a stronger foot, but if you can't pass it out with your weaker foot, there's something wrong.

Absolutely players, who won’t practice on their weaker foot really should be made too by the coach, a nonsense and unprofessional not to do so.

South West Claret. wrote:Absolutely players, who won’t practice on their weaker foot really should be made too by the coach, a nonsense and unprofessional not to do so.

You mean like Ryan Giggs & Arjen Robben?

Being almost one-footed didn't cause any problems for them during their illustrious careers!

Spijed wrote:You mean like Ryan Giggs & Arjen Robben?

Being almost one-footed didn't cause any problems for them during their illustrious careers!

A Different kettle of fish.

South West Claret. wrote:A Different kettle of fish.

But you just said players should be made to practice on their weaker foot.

Perhaps you should have said "Only if they play in certain positions".

Spijed wrote:But you just said players should be made to practice on their weaker foot.

Perhaps you should have said "Only if they play in certain positions".

I think most people would have known in what context I penned the post.

Spijed you can tell is harmless, but you just don't know where to start on how many ways you can tell him he's wrong.

South West Claret. wrote:Absolutely players, who won’t practice on their weaker foot really should be made too by the coach, a nonsense and unprofessional not to do so.

It was one of the first things we were told when we joined a local club. Unfortunately some precocious players are indulged by coaches who fear losing them, so it was just us mugs who had to work harder on it!

I’m not sure left footers are any more one footed than right footers. I don’t see any clear indication of this, nor have I heard players or managers mention it.

hoskinsgoalatswansea wrote:I’m not sure left footers are any more one footed than right footers. I don’t see any clear indication of this, nor have I heard players or managers mention it.

I agree.

All it took for me was to realise I was standing on my left leg and with the umpteen hours I had free, started shooting with my left foot and crossing with it. Young players only need a tiny nudge - it's nothing like pressure.

And it works. Both of my nephews can pass and shoot with both feet. It's a massive advantage.

Can't remember which retired Burnley player said he was made to remove his right boot and play practice games just with the one boot so he had to learn to use his left foot

I’m left footed, and our coach used to devote one training session a week to players using their weaker foot, but some players are just more naturally two footed than others but I don’t believe right footed players are more likely to have this ability than lefties.

hoskinsgoalatswansea wrote:I’m left footed, and our coach used to devote one training session a week to players using their weaker foot

Sounds like a top coach!

I played for a club where they used to amputate your good leg to force you to use your Weaker foot. We got relegated that season.

It's amazing how many top level footballers are completely one footed though.

I dont think the issue is being able to use the weaker foot. I think it is more to do with positional sense and what you are used to playing

At schoolboy and youth level if you are left footed you are very likely to play alongside right footed players and therefore all through their young playing life they will only play on the left hand side and become specialists in that role

If you are a right footed centre half there is a very good chance you will sometimes play with other right footers so will get used to playing on either side and become comfortable on both.

Once you get to pro level the % edges become so vital that the idea of playing a player in an unnatural position will be avoided as much as possible

This is just a view I have and im sure there is more to it and it is more complex but I would be confident that right footed players get exposed far more to playing on the left side during their development years than left footed players do on the right

hoskinsgoalatswansea wrote:I’m not sure left footers are any more one footed than right footers. I don’t see any clear indication of this, nor have I heard players or managers mention it.

Could be because there are more right footed players than lefties so they learn to use their left to plug the gaps in the positions that need to be filled?

jrgbfc wrote:It's amazing how many top level footballers are completely one footed though.

Very true. Seems strange when it’s your profession that it’s something you don’t work on, or maybe they do, but can’t do it and their ability with their strong foot is enough to see them ok. I remember Romario fluffing a sitter in the 94 World Cup final because it fell to his left and he tried to adjust his body shape to hit it with his right, but you can’t argue with the career he had.

Devils_Advocate wrote:I dont think the issue is being able to use the weaker foot. I think it is more to do with positional sense and what you are used to playing

At schoolboy and youth level if you are left footed you are very likely to play alongside right footed players and therefore all through their young playing life they will only play on the left hand side and become specialists in that role

If you are a right footed centre half there is a very good chance you will sometimes play with other right footers so will get used to playing on either side and become comfortable on both.

Once you get to pro level the % edges become so vital that the idea of playing a player in an unnatural position will be avoided as much as possible

This is just a view I have and im sure there is more to it and it is more complex but I would be confident that right footed players get exposed far more to playing on the left side during their development years than left footed players do on the right

Positional sense has nothing to do with it. You make the same positions, you're just naturally better at making the next move and executing it.

rob63 wrote:Could be because there are more right footed players than lefties so they learn to use their left to plug the gaps in the positions that need to be filled?

Its a different sport but there are a lot of left handed Cricketers about these days... My Brother was only commenting how a schoolteacher of his used to make him write right handed back in the late 50's ....

Thankfully people are allowed to use whichever hand is dominant now hence the split is almost 50/50 for left and right hand.

My mate was right footed and used to practise his left foot kicking etc all the time... Until he was almost as good with both till his bloody knees went and had to give up playing...

Bosscat wrote:Its a different sport but there are a lot of left handed Cricketers about these days... My Brother was only commenting how a schoolteacher of his used to make him write right handed back in the late 50's ....

Thankfully people are allowed to use whichever hand is dominant now hence the split is almost 50/50 for left and right hand.

My mate was right footed and used to practise his left foot kicking etc all the time... Until he was almost as good with both till his bloody knees went and had to give up playing...

I have about as much interest in cricket as I do in navel fluff collecting, but one would have thought that to be different, due to there being one batter at the time?

Devils_Advocate wrote:I dont think the issue is being able to use the weaker foot. I think it is more to do with positional sense and what you are used to playing

At schoolboy and youth level if you are left footed you are very likely to play alongside right footed players and therefore all through their young playing life they will only play on the left hand side and become specialists in that role

If you are a right footed centre half there is a very good chance you will sometimes play with other right footers so will get used to playing on either side and become comfortable on both.

Once you get to pro level the % edges become so vital that the idea of playing a player in an unnatural position will be avoided as much as possible

This is just a view I have and im sure there is more to it and it is more complex but I would be confident that right footed players get exposed far more to playing on the left side during their development years than left footed players do on the right

Spot on.

rob63 wrote:Could be because there are more right footed players than lefties so they learn to use their left to plug the gaps in the positions that need to be filled?

Quite possibly. In our team we had a few right footed players playing down the left due to the shortage. I just don’t see a noticeable distinction, nor heard it mentioned by people I’d expect to have more knowledge about it than us. For me, Mee and Gibson playing is no different to Tarks and Long playing based on balance not ability.

FactualFrank wrote:Positional sense has nothing to do with it. You make the same positions, you're just naturally better at making the next move and executing it.

Course it does. For example up against strikers running the channels a left footed player on the left side will be tackling with their strong foot. Put them on the right side they will need to tackle with their weaker foot. If you are used to playing both sides then you get used to your body shape and tackling being weighted on your weaker side but if you've only ever played on your strong side then actually switching sides positionally makes a difference.

Pretty much all other aspects of defending is mirrored so you are doing things with the opposite side of your body to what you are used. As said if through your development you play both sides then you get used to it but I think a lot of left sided players dont get this exposure