Pires

[Goliath]

Did he play well against Plymouth? In an easy game I don't think he was particularly good
The only reason people are criticising Pires, is because you started a thread criticising another player.

I said he goes backwards too often and looks uncomfortable receiving the ball. It's not exactly a huge criticism compared to what people have put in the rest of the thread.
But as I suspected one rule for one.

[bumba]

Vitinho at left back was an absolute shambles.
Pires has made 20 appearances in the best Championship defence in history whilst still settling in from a new country. He's not been outstanding by any means but I'm not sure what he's done to deserve this level of criticism.

It's bizarre that someone had a go earlier In the thread for 'digging out' Humphreys when the whole thread has been people criticising Pires for very little reason. I just think he deserves a chance after playing well in a 5 0 win against Plymouth and presumably now starting to feel more settled.

One rule for one, one rule for another.

What's he actually done to receive your backing?
For me he can't defend and gets skinned easily, he miss times 95% of tackles he goes for, he doesn't win headers, he's a poor passer, his control is poor, creates nothing and is as weak as a 12 year old.
Every team targets his flank when he plays.
If it wasn't for Esteve on his dad we'd have conceded a lot more from his poor defending.

[Goliath]

What's he actually done to receive your backing?
For me he can't defend and gets skinned easily, he miss times 95% of tackles he goes for, he doesn't win headers, he's a poor passer, his control is poor, creates nothing and is as weak as a 12 year old.
Every team targets his flank when he plays.
If it wasn't for Esteve on his dad we'd have conceded a lot more from his poor defending.

Right. 95% seems a bit high, let me know where you're getting your stats from.

I think he has lost 1 league game that he's started, he looks decent on the ball, takes decent corners and in general has done OK for somebody so young settling into a new culture and style of football.

[Goliath]

Excellent today. Clean sheet away at a Prem side.
Turns out he isn't the worst left back we've ever had, who knew what a bit of patience could do.

[CoolClaret]

Played well today - made some vital blocks/interceptions and started some counter attacks down that left-hand side.

[morninbob]

Excellent today. Clean sheet away at a Prem side.
Turns out he isn't the worst left back we've ever had, who knew what a bit of patience could do.

As a wing back with Humphrey/Steve covering him...

[Murger]

Looked a lot better playing further forward.

[123EasyasBFC]

Excellent today. Clean sheet away at a Prem side.
Turns out he isn't the worst left back we've ever had, who knew what a bit of patience could do.

Pires had an excellent game today but let’s not pretend he played left back, he had humphrys at left back first half and then esteve next to him in a back 5 second half.

However is that’s how we get the best out of him then I’m happy for us to play a back 5 in the league, we looked more fluid and attacking despite having more defenders on

[Goliath]

Nobody's pretending anything. He was defensively very strong and showed great energy getting up and down along with some really good use of the ball.

It's bizarre that he's disliked to the extent without ever really doing much wrong. Nobody can even bring themselves to say he played well without caveating it.

[Darnhill Claret]

Why do so many want to dig out a player, instead of supporting them.
Why not post about those that have good games and you'll find that every now and then, you'll realise that they all have good games, now and again.
They all have skills that get them into the first team in the first place.
Supporting them, would be looking for possible reasons, that they they didn't have a particularly good game. It would show empathy and support for those that you claim to support.
There's nothing wrong with supporting all our players.

[123EasyasBFC]

Nobody's pretending anything. He was defensively very strong and showed great energy getting up and down along with some really good use of the ball.

It's bizarre that he's disliked to the extent without ever really doing much wrong. Nobody can even bring themselves to say he played well without caveating it.

It’s not caveating it, you tried to do the whole ‘I told you so’ thing, but he didn’t play left back in a back 4 today which has been the issue with him this season. Today he was excellent in a back 5 with the extra support on his side

[Goliath]

Another win, goals and a clean sheet. A lovely first time touch to Anthony which opened up the game completely for the third goal.

Solid defensively, good on the ball, decent going forwards. An all round championship full back. But people on here will say he's worse than Brian Easton.

[Rileybobs]

Another win, goals and a clean sheet. A lovely first time touch to Anthony which opened up the game completely for the third goal.

Solid defensively, good on the ball, decent going forwards. An all round championship full back. But people on here will say he's worse than Brian Easton.

I’ve got nothing whatsoever against Pires, but for 60 minutes or so tonight he was an absolute liability and I have no doubt he would have been hooked had Humphreys been on the bench.

[Goliath]

I’ve got nothing whatsoever against Pires, but for 60 minutes or so tonight he was an absolute liability and I have no doubt he would have been hooked had Humphreys been on the bench.

well you clearly do have something against Pires because that's total nonsense.

[Rileybobs]

well you clearly do have something against Pires because that's total nonsense.

Did you watch the game? He made numerous errors leading to Wednesday chances. He was lucky not to concede a penalty in the first half for manhandling their player. He was booked and was lucky not to have already been booked for completely missing a tackle which was fortunately given offside. He looked fine in the last 30 mins or so when we were pretty much camped in Wednesday’s half but up until then he was a liability. I was expecting him to make way for Brownhill and Anthony to move to left back.

[Bullabill]

If it wasn't for Esteve on his dad we'd have conceded a lot more from his poor defending.

He'd be even better on his mam.

[Vegas Claret]

Someone on twitter claiming he spoke with Humphreys before the game and he told him he is out for the rest of the season. Obviously, no way to verify that claim but it would be a huge blow

[JohnDearyMe]

I’ve got nothing whatsoever against Pires, but for 60 minutes or so tonight he was an absolute liability and I have no doubt he would have been hooked had Humphreys been on the bench.

I thought he really struggled too until we managed to kill the game off.

[RVclaret]

Pires was really poor last night and if it’s true that Humphreys is out for the season then this is a serious blow and could rule us out of the autos.

[Quickenthetempo]

Just watched the goal highlights the club have put up and Pires plays big roles in the 3rd and 4th goals.

A great first time ball for Anthony to cross for Roberts. (Most of our players would take it down and pass it slowly)
Then the 4th goal he sprints down past Benson on the overlap to create a huge gap for him to run into.

Some posters give him 4 on the ratings thread. Bonkers.

[RVclaret]

Just watched the goal highlights the club have put up and Pires plays big roles in the 3rd and 4th goals.

A great first time ball for Anthony to cross for Roberts. (Most of our players would take it down and pass it slowly)
Then the 4th goal he sprints down past Benson on the overlap to create a huge gap for him to run into.

Some posters give him 4 on the ratings thread. Bonkers.

A very simple ball to Anthony, let’s not be silly here, that might have been his first successful forward pass of the night. Offering an overlap, I mean come on now. Literally the entirety of his game was getting beat defensively, looking awkward on the ball, and playing it backwards to Esteve, no drive, no switches, nothing.

[CharlieinNewMexico]

Gassama (?) had him on toast.
I do appreciate the nuances he adds to our attacking game though

[Quickenthetempo]

A very simple ball to Anthony, let’s not be silly here, that might have been his first successful forward pass of the night. Offering an overlap, I mean come on now. Literally the entirety of his game was getting beat defensively, looking awkward on the ball, and playing it backwards to Esteve, no drive, no switches, nothing.

They might be simple to an attacking team, but they have been missing out of our team most of the season.

I like Humphreys defensively but it's no coincidence that Pires has been playing in the big wins. Tonight, Plymouth away and Luton. Did he play the Cardiff game?

[RVclaret]

They might be simple to an attacking team, but they have been missing out of our team most of the season.

I like Humphreys defensively but it's no coincidence that Pires has been playing in the big wins. Tonight, Plymouth away and Luton. Did he play the Cardiff game?

I honestly think it is a coincidence. What’s been missing is a player like Edwards.

[Quickenthetempo]

I honestly think it is a coincidence. What’s been missing is a player like Edwards.

Pires did play the Cardiff game.

As for Edwards, looks a really good player.

[Jakubs Tash]

Another win, goals and a clean sheet. A lovely first time touch to Anthony which opened up the game completely for the third goal.

Solid defensively, good on the ball, decent going forwards. An all round championship full back. But people on here will say he's worse than Brian Easton.

You watched a very different game to me.

Solid defensively? Their winger had him on toast and we were wide open down that side - especially in the first half where most of their chances came from that side.

He’s weak on the ball. Literally has no body strength and he’s often caught on the ball because of this - see his booking last night.

When I think about what other teams at our level can pick up for €2.5m, this looks like a really poor signing and use of finance.

[BurnleyFC]

He’s an attacking full back so isn’t as adept at defending as Humphreys or indeed Roberts is on the other side.

That said, I don’t think Anthony helped him out defensively last night and actually put him in trouble a couple of times with dangerous, needless balls.

[willsclarets]

We had problems defensively in the first half down their left and right, it wasn't purely down to Pires we were conceding chances. He definitely came out as a bit of a scapegoat for a poor first half because of a few obvious moments of frailty.

He got done against a tricky and quick winger a few times, but he had some good moments too playing his part in the 3rd goal. I'd prefer humphries in there, but I'm not sure it materially dents our top two chances.

[123EasyasBFC]

Another win, goals and a clean sheet. A lovely first time touch to Anthony which opened up the game completely for the third goal.

Solid defensively, good on the ball, decent going forwards. An all round championship full back. But people on here will say he's worse than Brian Easton.

You keep coming back to this post every game Pires plays, you seem to have an obsession, it should be clear to everyone who watched the game last night that Pires was the weak link

[123EasyasBFC]

And if it’s true Humphreys is out for the season I would be worried

[claretspice]

You keep coming back to this post every game Pires plays, you seem to have an obsession, it should be clear to everyone who watched the game last night that Pires was the weak link

If anything more direct chances originated down our right than our left.

Pires had a difficult night against Wednesday's best player. He's not the most convincing defensively but he tends to get the job done and whilst last night was not his most assured outing, broadly he did fine last night once the team as a whole regained it's equilibrium. Of course he did then play a lovely pass to Anthony which opened the game up for our third goal.

He's not our best player and if we go up we'll need better. Arguably if we stay down it might be an area for improvement. But broadly I think he's a bit of a scapegoat.

[123EasyasBFC]

If anything more direct chances originated down our right than our left.

Pires had a difficult night against Wednesday's best player. He's not the most convincing defensively but he tends to get the job done and whilst last night was not his most assured outing, broadly he did fine last night once the team as a whole regained it's equilibrium. Of course he did then play a lovely pass to Anthony which opened the game up for our third goal.

He's not our best player and if we go up we'll need better. Arguably if we stay down it might be an area for improvement. But broadly I think he's a bit of a scapegoat.

The biggest scapegoat across the fanbase has been Anthony when he’s largely been our best player, Pires has been poor but the point I was making is after every game he plays golith reopens this thread to mention Pires Asif to say ‘I told you so’ yet he was clearly still the weak link. He had one good game at wing back in the up because we had the extra support behind him

[boatshed bill]

Reminds me of the criticism dished out to Maatsen.

[RVclaret]

Reminds me of the criticism dished out to Maatsen.

Sorry but this is nonsense. Maatsen was so many levels above Pires going forward it’s not funny. No comparison.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Sorry but this is nonsense. Maatsen was so many levels above Pires going forward it’s not funny. No comparison.

I do think he has been scapegoated though.

Really did not think he was a bad last night as was made out.

Worth noting I was the only person that highlighted how important he was in the third goal with a good bit of skill

[morninbob]

6 goals conceded with pires from 21, 3 with Humphreys from 25.

[123EasyasBFC]

I do think he has been scapegoated though.

Really did not think he was a bad last night as was made out.

Worth noting I was the only person that highlighted how important he was in the third goal with a good bit of skill

You weren’t the only person to point out his involvement in the 3rd goal, I’ve seen plenty of people mention it

[Silkyskills1]

You weren’t the only person to point out his involvement in the 3rd goal, I’ve seen plenty of people mention it

Be careful here. He's rarely wrong. For me I'd have Humphries over Pires any time. Pires looked uncomfortable last night, especially first half against a direct, tricky winger.

[claretspice]

6 goals conceded with pires from 21, 3 with Humphreys from 25.

6 from 21, of which three were before the end of August when the team settled, and none of which have specifically been a result of him being a weak link.

Quite the liability.

As I say he's no world beater but let's have it in proportion.

[boatshed bill]

Sorry but this is nonsense. Maatsen was so many levels above Pires going forward it’s not funny. No comparison.

I'm not comparing the footballers, just the criticism.

[Goliath]

You keep coming back to this post every game Pires plays, you seem to have an obsession, it should be clear to everyone who watched the game last night that Pires was the weak link

An obsession? I'm just posting about him because he's gets a hell of a lot of stick from people when he hasn't done much wrong.

He doesn't play that regularly so when he does I find it worthy of comment. I'm yet to see this absolute calamity of a full back that people seem to suggest he is.

[DCWat]

I thought he struggled a bit defensively, at times.

But let’s be fair though, the first half and the first fifteen or so of the second, we were really poor and somewhat fortunate not to concede. Egan-Riley looked like he had his boots on the wrong feet, before getting back to his usual self in the second half - and he wasn’t alone in that.

Pires is, and has been, fine for a back up, but I do think he would be targeted if he was playing regularly.

[Conroy92]

I think he's a bit of a scapegoat. He's the new Vitiniho in that respect.
People struggle to see that he's actually technically quite good with the ball at his feet. He's not a particular great crosser or defender like Humphreys but I actually think aspect's of his game such as his ability to play in a tight space and touch are better. There was a moment in the first half last night where he intercepted the ball with three of the opposition around him, beat two of them and was fouled by the third.

He's under rated by many on here.

[Poulton-le-Claret]

He is good going forwards, not great defensively, but he sort of gets away with it because Esteve is that good, he covers off the entire left side of our defence.

Hopefully Pires can develop and get better, as he has great potential, although I still prefer Humphreys at this stage.

[RVclaret]

People are seeing something completely different to me that say he’s ‘good going forwards’. He’s not got a single assist since the opening day of the season? Harrison Burrows at Sheff U is twice the player and cost the same amount. Thankfully the rumour of Humphreys being out for the season is false, seemingly.

[Goliath]

People are seeing something completely different to me that say he’s ‘good going forwards’. He’s not got a single assist since the opening day of the season? Harrison Burrows at Sheff U is twice the player and cost the same amount. Thankfully the rumour of Humphreys being out for the season is false, seemingly.

Good going forwards doesn't always have to be about assists. There's more to it than that. That 3rd goal evidenced that perfectly.

First time opened up and perfectly weighted a first time volley pass to Anthony which left Sheff Wed scrambling and unable to get across quickly enough.

Don't want to turn this into a criticism of anyone but if Humphreys plays then he brings that down takes a few touches and plays it safe with the chance gone.

[123EasyasBFC]

People are seeing something completely different to me that say he’s ‘good going forwards’. He’s not got a single assist since the opening day of the season? Harrison Burrows at Sheff U is twice the player and cost the same amount. Thankfully the rumour of Humphreys being out for the season is false, seemingly.

I have to agree with you RV and people saying ‘lovely bit of skill for the 3rd goal’ he played a first time pass to Anthony that I would expect every player in the league to be able to play

[RVclaret]

Good going forwards doesn't always have to be about assists. There's more to it than that. That 3rd goal evidenced that perfectly.

First time opened up and perfectly weighted a first time volley pass to Anthony which left Sheff Wed scrambling and unable to get across quickly enough.

Don't want to turn this into a criticism of anyone but if Humphreys plays then he brings that down takes a few touches and plays it safe with the chance gone.

It was one fairly straight forward pass.

Humphreys is in the top 12% in the league for progressive passing. Pires is in the bottom 35%. This objectively suggests Humphreys is the better, quicker forward passer.

[Tinribs]

Pires was really poor last night and if it’s true that Humphreys is out for the season then this is a serious blow and could rule us out of the autos.

Bit dramatic both Pires and Humphrey’s have their good and bad points but I don’t think playing either of them as a massive effect on the team overall.

[Goliath]

It was one fairly straight forward pass.

Humphreys is in the top 12% in the league for progressive passing. Pires is in the bottom 35%. This objectively suggests Humphreys is the better, quicker forward passer.

It wasn't really that straight forward. The obvious thing to do was bring it down, he showed the vision to realise it had to be the first time pass or the chance disappears.

Also look at goal 4, it comes directly from Pires absolutely bombing down the outside of Benson and opening up the space for him. The kind of purposeful runs we've lacked all season.