They are both excellent defensively and Bardsley has been better going forward than I would have imagined. Bardsley really gets stuck into forwards and shakes them up, but Lowton puts in better crosses when attacking. Can't make my mind up who I'd prefer for the next few games!?

lowton just for the stability of having been involved for longer, nowt wrong with bardsley though.

Lowton. But Bardsley has done fine.

Lowton should be back in tomorrow.

Don't think PB has done anything wrong to be dropped. Think SD will let him keep the shirt. For me since coming in he has played well and had some good wingers to contain. Defensively he is very good

warksclaret wrote:Don't think PB has done anything wrong to be dropped. Think SD will let him keep the shirt. For me since coming in he has played well and had some good wingers to contain. Defensively he is very good

There's a fag paper between them, so as Bardsley hasn't warranted being dropped he should keep the shirt.

The only thing that worries me about Bardsley was if he got booked agains Spurs he would of been suspended under the 5 bookings rule, despite only playing a handful of games.

Bardsley is more aggressive in the tackle which probably makes him a better choice against frail wingers but he also gives a way a lot of free kicks.

Lowton by a wide margin, Bardsley just doesn't offer anything offensively and is so immobile. Bardsley just isn't a modern day fullback, it looks like he's got bricks tied to his feet when he runs. I wasn't a fan of the signing in the summer and having now seen him play I stand by my comments about him being past it.

Very little between them defensively- Lowton dives in less, Bardsley does more organising.

But in the last two home games we've really missed the smoothness of Lowton's distribution and his ability to link with the front players from the back. And I also think Lowton adds more in the final third and his partnership with JBG is better.

So Lowton for me.

Lowton but it's a close call. I think he offers that little bit more going forward. Defensively they are pretty much the same.

This post proves to me that we have the ideal situation at RB. The post is evenly split and I genuinely see both sides. The issue is not having the same cover on right wing/effective striker/centre back where we are really stretched

Totally agree with Claretspice but as they are so close and Bardsley hasn’t done much wrong Sean needs someone who can come and take the shirt, so others can come in and think if I do well enough i’ll keep the shirt.

Bardsley.

Played very well since coming in. Everyone else, including players we haven’t yet signed, need to see that if you are playing well, you don’t get dropped for no reason.

Not much between them though, but I do think Bardsley is better in the tackle. At the end of the day, he’s a right back. A defender. Defenders need to tackle, and tackle well.

Great problem to have, but SD gets paid very well to deal with this, and whatever he decides, is ok with me.

Looked to me like Bardsley picked up an injury to his shoulder against Spurs so may not be fit to play anyway.

Manure are so good down their left there is an argument for both, as a one off only.

Lowton for me had a great season up to his injury and is better going forward.

Two good full-backs. Bardsley was immense today. Warrior. Has proved SD right. I wouldn't want to spill his pint.

Will have to be Lowton for next game won't it?

nil_desperandum wrote:Will have to be Lowton for next game won't it?

Why's that? Thought PB was terrific today. Unless there's a suspension I'm unaware of?

It's a nice problem to have given that some posters said Bardsley was past it when we signed him.

All were tremendous, but Bardsley shades it as my MOM today - loved it when he dissed Miktarian

Something about Bardsley I don't like, he's the only one who appears to argue regularly with other players. He can also be way too reckless.

whiffa wrote:Why's that? Thought PB was terrific today. Unless there's a suspension I'm unaware of?

Well, i think the majority on this board - including CT - thought that his 5th booking would see him suspended, but it would appear that the cut off point for bookings was the end of the Spurs game. However the official info is so contradictory that we await final confirmation.
(It did say on the FA website - and still does that, he and Cork were one card away from a ban).

dougcollins wrote:Something about Bardsley I don't like, he's the only one who appears to argue regularly with other players. He can also be way too reckless.

I get that feeling.
Seems a nasty type player. Always got a feeling a red card or a silly foul is on its way.
Constantly whinges, seems to get involved in spats with the opposition and referee.
I think he'd one of those players that if was on the opposition team, many people's views would be different.

Bardsley just edges it for me

I think Bardsley's nose starts bleeding when he crosses the halfway line.

Bardsley for me. Very experienced top flight player. Certainly a good defender and decent enough going forward. Don't think we should be doubting one of defenders for being a tough tackler.

what a position to be in. Glad Im not Seany.
Ouf replacements are so good that it is really hard to decide who should be in the first X1 and who isn't.
Heaton or Pope
Ward or Taylor
Marney or ?
Vokes or Wood
Barnes or Walters
endless (ish) combinations...
I'll just stick to cheering em on!

UTC

Lowton for me. He’s better in the tackle than Bardsley, who is better at fouling. Bardsley has done well since he came in though. Lowton’s distribution allows us to get up the pitch better.

Bardsley shows some great skill but the amount of times he gives the ball away or completely wastes opportunities by firing a cross onto the roof of the stand shows he's either a bit rusty or getting past it.

Fag paper between them for me so I am easy either way.

What I do like is that Bardsley has slotted in easily and I think you can tell why he's played nearly all of his career at the top level. Good footballer, knows his job and hard as nails.