My big take - Bashir Humphreys

[equinox]

I remember it different. Ben wasn't quick enough for LB and his performances weren't great, by any stretch.

He was perfectly suited to play CB.

That's how I saw it, one of Dyches stubborn moments where he wouldn't change it and then when he did we went on that long unbeaten run.

[Goliath]

Didn't we get promoted with Mee at left back in the first promotion season.

[Rowls]

Didn't we get promoted with Mee at left back in the first promotion season.

We did.

Then he kept his place at LB all of the following season in the PL.

Then he stayed at LB for the first half of the Championship season under Dyche.

He was moved to CB because Duff was dropped.

None of the above is a matter of opinion.

[Anonymous Claret]

It is ok to believe that Duff was aging, performing inconsistently and needed replacing whilst also acknowledging that Mee wasn't performing well at left back and would be better suited at centre back. It could also be added that from the few games the previous season where Ward had played left back he would be a better option than Mee.

[Rowls]

It is ok to believe that Duff was aging, performing inconsistently and needed replacing whilst also acknowledging that Mee wasn't performing well at left back and would be better suited at centre back. It could also be added that from the few games the previous season where Ward had played left back he would be a better option than Mee.

Believe whatever you want. But it isn't true that Mee "wasn't performing well at left back."

Ben Mee was moved to his preferred CB position because Duff was dropped.

The fact that many of us thought (correctly) that he would eventually become a better CB than a makeshift LB doesn't mean he "wasn't performing well at left back." It's neither here nor there.

Believe what you want, but you're re-writing the past here. It simply did not happen that way.

[superdimitri]

Full backs are back in fashion. It's become more useful like it used to be to have players that can defend and head the ball in those positions.
That was always the case until the noughties when more attacking players were more common!

Your Lee Dixon's and Gary Nevilles of old would be obsolete a few years ago but now you're starting to see full backs be defensive again and instead of cutting in they can still whip in a good cross.

The goal vs Blackburn was very Trippier like. An overlap and a simple cross. Football is as easy as you make it.

[gtclaret]

Rowls is correct,Dyche also brought in Lowton at RB,it was after the 3-0 defeat at Hull,and that was when the 23 game run started

[fatboy47]

Matter of opinion.

I thought Mee was mainly pants at left back...simply too slow, not a ball carrier and no subtlety in passing...just a hoofer.

Great at centre back mind..different skill sets.

[burnleycclaret]

Ben Mee came here as a full back if I remember rightly and looked a bit too slow, however was it Dyche ( not sure) who moved him to CH and the rest is history as they say, maybe left back is Bashirs new found position going forward in his career.

Moved him central due to an injury - might have been to Duff. A forced move at the time.

[Rowls]

Moved him central due to an injury - might have been to Duff. A forced move at the time.

No, Duff was dropped. As was Darikwa.

[Quickenthetempo]

No, Duff was dropped. As was Darikwa.

Which game was Duff dropped from?

[Rowls]

Click here to see the lineup and subs bench for the 4-0 win against Bristol City. Duff and Darikwa on the subs bench. They are not injured. They were dropped following the abysmal 0-3 away loss at Hull.

https://tinyurl.com/3xtmunpj

The idea that Ben Mee was "dropped" from LB is just false. He was promoted to CB. Not becaue he'd struggled at LB but because he'd been a consistently good performer there.

Yes, we all know he became an even better CB than he was a LB (and Stephen Ward was far better at LB) but to imply he 'struggled' there or that he was 'regularly outpaced' is just re-writing the facts of the matter.

Sure, you might remember it that way. But if you do, you're misremembering it.

[Rowls]

Which game was Duff dropped from?

Hull away. 0-3 loss.

He'd been a weak link in our defence that opening half of the season. Not dreadful - he's Michael Duff and he always gave his all. He was always well organised and great at marshalling the inexperienced Michael Keane. But his pace -especially over the first few vital yards- had gone. I'm not sure if he played again until Dyche gave him a cameo away at Charlton on the glorious final day when we clinched the Championship.

[Rowls]

In summary:

The truth matters!

Ben Mee was never 'dropped' from cockadoodie left back slot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br5umHO ... Movieclips