2025/26 James Garner

[Kevsleftpeg]

See above...it's coming out of their mouths, not mine. I'm not singling out; Baines is on my Mount Rushmore FFS but it's quite obvious he was an exception to the rule because he wasn't pacey but had stamina and a brain.

Defenders Union can put down their pickets now,.

Baines had plenty of pace.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

Seems like we were both fullbacks One tough gig in a decent league. Agree 100%

But much easier than playing centre mid. There's no where to hide in centre mid. In fullback the entire game is in front of you and you have a touchline protecting you. Look at how hard Trent found playing centre mid. He's been shoe horned into being a full back because his passing/crossing is unbelievable and he can't play anywhere else.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

Yesterday he recorded, out of this season, his second most progressive passes, second post total progressive passing distance, and second most completed passes into the final 3rd. The 1st most in all of those was against Villa when he played LB. He's just soooo much better at moving the ball up the pitch as a fullback. Tried a beautiful curved through ball to Barry that very very nearly came off too.

Looked a touch suspect 1v1 defensively but hopefully that can be worked on.

He doesn't have the quality to be a ball player in centre mid. He just ends up playing the way he is facing all the time because he doesn't know when to turn. At fall back everything is in front of him so it far easier to pick passes and he has a decent clip/delivery.

 

[Street end man]

But much easier than playing centre mid. There's no where to hide in centre mid. In fullback the entire game is in front of you and you have a touchline protecting you. Look at how hard Trent found playing centre mid. He's been shoe horned into being a full back because his passing/crossing is unbelievable and he can't play anywhere else.

The touchline is a bad position to be in amateur football. Midfield is well away from the grief.
Pro football is easier on the violence and threatening front. Stamped out easy and no gobshites wanting to fight you outside.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

The touchline is a bad position to be in amateur football. Midfield is well away from the grief.
Pro football is easier on the violence and threatening front. Stamped out easy and no gobshites wanting to fight you outside.

I think we were just talking about it as a football position, not the likelihood of being assaulted by a spectator.

 

[Street end man]

I think we were just talking about it as a football position, not the likelihood of being assaulted by a spectator.

Fullback is tough mate. In the old days it was midfield who needed "an engine"
Fullbacks now have to be tough enough to defend and bomb down the wing at every opportunity. Hence why they are scarce.

 

[Rob17896]

Anyone else noticed Moyes keeps calling him Jimmy Gardener?

Yep. Either an in-joke or Moyes is as demented as a person who made him right back six games after the supporters knew he should play there

 

[Swartzy]

He doesn't have the quality to be a ball player in centre mid. He just ends up playing the way he is facing all the time because he doesn't know when to turn. At fall back everything is in front of him so it far easier to pick passes and he has a decent clip/delivery.

If you've got the ability to see and pick a pass, you can do it anywhere on the pitch.

Trent's passing was mainly long passing, so he benefitted from the width of being on the right.

 

[Neiler]

Expect him to become a utility player off the bench after a couple of windows.

 

[Kevsleftpeg]

If you've got the ability to see and pick a pass, you can do it anywhere on the pitch.

Trent's passing was mainly long passing, so he benefitted from the width of being on the right.

It's not about being able to pick a pass. It's about understanding where everyone else on the pitch is and when you have time to take a future touches and get your head up. And about how to find space as a midfielder. Being in midfield the opposition is all around you and can tackle you from any direction. In fullback that just isn't the case. You generally only need to worry about one player closing you down from one direction. From an on the ball perspective fullback is much much easier.

 

[Toffeepot]

You mean -The one and only Jimmy THE Gardner? He's mowing my lawn in the morning!

He's a versatile lad

 

[yakublue]

If you've got the ability to see and pick a pass, you can do it anywhere on the pitch.

Trent's passing was mainly long passing, so he benefitted from the width of being on the right.

You also get a lot more space and time on the ball at right back compared to midfield

 

[davep]

Good to see Garner finally getting a run out at RB and putting in a decent performance. Hopefully we can some re-inforcements in Jan so he can return to CM, but in the mean time he should stay there.

 

[Carlito]

It was recently quite fashionable to have one full-back tucking inside while the other moved up into midfield.

That would suit our options with Garner and Mykolenko, although it may leave the Burnley Brothers exposed if they end up having to shift right and get caught in open spaces. Could work down the line if we ever pick Branthwaite and O'Brien together, though.

 

[Swartzy]

It's not about being able to pick a pass. It's about understanding where everyone else on the pitch is and when you have time to take a future touches and get your head up. And about how to find space as a midfielder. Being in midfield the opposition is all around you and can tackle you from any direction. In fullback that just isn't the case. You generally only need to worry about one player closing you down from one direction. From an on the ball perspective fullback is much much easier.

Yeah it's definitely an easier position to view what's in front of you, but a good player knows who's around him, he knows his next pass before he receives the ball. It comes down to your teammates making themselves available.

I love Garner, but I support Everton.
So if him covering RB really improves us until a replacement is found than go for it. We will miss him the middle though so we'll just have to see how it plays out.

On saturday both Gana and KDH jumped into that slot at points to cover when he moved in centrally.

Just another bloody pain in the ass that we're heading into another international break after a win.

I do think you certainly underestimate him as a player though.