Just wanted to get your opinion on the Kevin Long situation. Thought he played a good game for the time he was on, and he has always been a solid stand in for tarks or mee. Question is, should he now start ahead of Mee? In my opinion Mee has lost his drive and just doesn't seem interested, I think it's only fair to give the young lad a chance as he has proved himself on more then one occasion! Thoughts lads? Rodney

Rodney122 wrote:Just wanted to get your opinion on the Kevin Long situation. Thought he played a good game for the time he was on, and he has always been a solid stand in for tarks or mee. Question is, should he now start ahead of Mee? In my opinion Mee has lost his drive and just doesn't seem interested, I think it's only fair to give the young lad a chance as he has proved himself on more then one occasion! Thoughts lads? Rodney

"Young lad"....

Never lets us down but only seems to play right side and I don’t think Tarks is as good on the left. If Mee doesn’t buck up it will be Gibsons shirt soon enough.
Ben Mee was a slow starter last year but this time it has gone on too long. I don’t agree with them calling his defending but his passing is worse than atrocious.

The problem is Mee is left sided.If Gibson had been fit I think he may have been playing by now.

He's 28, young lad? Are you in the camp that thinks Joe Hart is massively older than Heaton?

He is what he is. A valuable resrve who is patient and rarely lets us down. But hes not as good as Tarks. Goal aside at Burton he wasnt great.

no Long shouldn't start instead of Mee.

Besides Dyche and me know best

Such an improved player, but not to be picked before Sir Benjamin.

Give it a rest Dave

One of my favourite players owing to his loyalty and dedication. He has improved year on year and is a more than able deputy.

He does have his limitations tho. Prefers to face the game and struggles when attackers get behind him and his ball control is poor. At Burton he was terrified when receiving balls in tight spaces

A more than useful squad player, a threat in their box, but no more than that

Rodney122 wrote:In my opinion Mee has lost his drive and just doesn't seem interested, I think it's only fair to give the young lad a chance as he has proved himself on more then one occasion! Thoughts lads? Rodney

Doesn't seem interested? Playing well or badly, that is a ridiculous condemnation of a player who works his socks off in every game. And the young lad you refer to, who doesn't even play in Mee's position on the left, is about one year younger than Mee.

There is only one Ben Mee and he puts everything into defending our goal.

Gibson is his stand in and Long for Tarkowski.

Ben Mee has looked a shadow of himself so far this season.
More worrying for me than his distribution is the fact he looks totally disinterested and looks like he doesnt want to me here.

Whether its because he is now a father to a6 month old baby and that has made him realise there’s more important things in life I dont know.Also just signed a new contract,which if not slready so,sets him up financially for the rest of his life.

paulatky wrote:the fact he looks totally disinterested and looks like he doesnt want to me here

Which is probably why he committed himself to a new deal - no way does he look disinterested and no way have his performances ever suggested he doesn't want to be here.

I love Kevin Long - IDST

Mee hasn’t looked any different this season to any other IMO I do think at times he is a tad overrated by some on here. Decision making can be rash and poor distribution are his weaknesses but undoubtedly brave as a lion and better than Kevin Long.

As for Long very capable and dependable for a small block of games as back up but when the best are available he should be on the bench. Similar with Westwood IMO

paulatky wrote:Ben Mee has looked a shadow of himself so far this season.
More worrying for me than his distribution is the fact he looks totally disinterested and looks like he doesnt want to me here.

Whether its because he is now a father to a6 month old baby and that has made him realise there’s more important things in life I dont know.Also just signed a new contract,which if not slready so,sets him up financially for the rest of his life.

He has been one of the most important players at the club for many years and set the bar very high, believe or not players have slight dips in form. There’s no way, contracts and baby’s have anything to do with that. Give the lad a break.

Burnley1989 wrote:He has been one of the most important players at the club for many years and set the bar very high, believe or not players have slight dips in form. There’s no way, contracts and baby’s have anything to do with that. Give the lad a break.

Babies affect players. Night time feeds, waking up crying. Any parent suffers until they get through that cycle. I didn’t know he had a new born but that could very easily be a contributory factor to why he is off his best

Footballers don't tend to share a room with their partner the night before a game, either hotels with the team or 1 of their many spare rooms.

Burnley1989,I was giving him a break by suggesting a couple of reasons for the apparent change in his demeanour on the pitch this season.
If 1988 is your your of birth it may well be you are not a father yet, Most of us who are recognise its a life changing experience.

Steve Macmarn as manager of Blackpool did a very entertsinong post match intetview years ago in which he blamed one of his players poor petfetmsnces on him being up all night with his baby, saying that was the wife’s job.
Bottom line is a lot of fathers want to be involved and hands on.

With respect paulatky I would imagine a professional footballer will have far more free time to spend at home with the wife and kids than the average Joe in the street.

It does Long no favours to be suggesting he is good enough to be a first choice starter for us.

He is a decent stand-in but only that. He was massively exposed in both games against Olympiakos, especially the mistake at the Turf to give them the crucial away goal. He struggled in games last season - no coincidence that the first three games of our good run in the spring, he didn’t play. He struggles with trickery and sudden changes of pace and direction. As I said though, he is a decent stand-in, just one who, like many stand-ins, weakens us considerably.

paulatky wrote:Burnley1989,I was giving him a break by suggesting a couple of reasons for the apparent change in his demeanour on the pitch this season.
If 1988 is your your of birth it may well be you are not a father yet, Most of us who are recognise its a life changing experience.

I have children as I'm 29 years old, I know I'm a bit too young, but I was an early starter.

I'm not overly keen on long to be honest. I'm no statto but I'd like to know how many clean sheets we have actually kept when long has featured.

Rodney122 wrote:Just wanted to get your opinion on the Kevin Long situation. Thought he played a good game for the time he was on, and he has always been a solid stand in for tarks or mee. Question is, should he now start ahead of Mee? In my opinion Mee has lost his drive and just doesn't seem interested, I think it's only fair to give the young lad a chance as he has proved himself on more then one occasion! Thoughts lads? Rodney

The real mccoy, accept no imitations

Boll ewood wrote:I'm not overly keen on long to be honest. I'm no statto but I'd like to know how many clean sheets we have actually kept when long has featured.

https://www.premierleague.com/players/3 ... Long/stats" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

paulatky wrote:Steve Macmarn as manager of Blackpool did a very entertsinong post match intetview years ago in which he blamed one of his players poor petfetmsnces on him being up all night with his baby, saying that was the wife’s job.
Bottom line is a lot of fathers want to be involved and hands on.

What’s McMahon doing these days, I wonder? Most likely getting p!ssed and falling out with his own shadow.

Thanks bfcmaj

BFCmaj wrote:https://www.premierleague.com/players/3 ... Long/stats

That is interesting. Looked up Defour - 45 appearances and 73 points gained from those games. God we need him back.

Make that 63 points - I still want him back : o )