Sylvain Distin

kenada_blue · March 14, 2015

Solid as a rock.

But last season was his swan song, like a few players.

daz4matty · March 14, 2015

Toffeelover said:
By whom, when and with what money? But actually has replaced him with Stones and the next inline is Alcaraz.

We should have loaned someone in the summer

riddick · March 14, 2015

daz4matty said:
We should have loaned someone in the summer

Can imagine Alderweireld and Stones in defence? would be boss methinks..

daz4matty · March 14, 2015

riddick said:
Can imagine Alderweireld and Stones in defence? would be boss methinks..

Yeah like that

Toffeelover · March 14, 2015

daz4matty said:
We should have loaned someone in the summer

Possibly but whom? But would that have delayed Stones getting into the first team?

daz4matty · March 14, 2015

Toffeelover said:
Possibly but whom? But would that have delayed Stones getting into the first team?

There must have been a left sided centre half in europe.
I think it would have done jags some good having some proper competition.
Stones would have still come through plus he has had a longish injury this season

kenada_blue · March 14, 2015

Charlie Croker said:
Distin's form has not "dropped off the cliff". It does not happen that quickly. I think his poor form is more due to his differences with Martinez, stemming from his opinions of the manager's tactics and his reluctance to adapt to them. Sorry to lay more blame at Martinez' door, but this is one of the things that have gone wrong on his watch.

He's 37 mate. A player at that age in this league just loses it very quickly.

You could see this season his sharpness went. Offsides, aerial battles, quicker attackers - it all went to pot.

And at his age, what's the point in having words with the manager and causing grief? It's players like him that haven't helped us this season if this is true.

LinekersLegs · March 14, 2015

neil999 said:
hes 37 ffs, slagging him off now is ludicrous..Martinez should have replaced him tho

Think that was the aim with Galloway. with Distin playing so well last season and being generally so fit he probably hoped he could last another season and instead spend money on strikers and midfield where we lacked depth.

LinekersLegs · March 14, 2015

Charlie Croker said:
Distin's form has not "dropped off the cliff". It does not happen that quickly. I think his poor form is more due to his differences with Martinez, stemming from his opinions of the manager's tactics and his reluctance to adapt to them. Sorry to lay more blame at Martinez' door, but this is one of the things that have gone wrong on his watch.

Seemed to happen pretty suddenly to both Vidic and Ferdinand, they were awful last season for Moyes. Know they had their problems with him but both have continued that bad form at their new clubs.

Don't think it is all physical, Distin is still pretty fast and could probably outrun a lot of younger CBs. Think a lot of it is mental - reaction speed, concentration and then when you have a few bad games the pressure starts to build and probably your confidence goes a bit and you start second guessing yourself. We saw Jags had an equally awful spell at the start of the season and in hindsight a lot of that looks down to confidence.

John Terry had a bad spell a couple of seasons ago and everyone though he was finished but Mourinho's return seemed to rejeuvenant him - his defensive tactics probably helped as well.

sageyefc · March 14, 2015

Always been a moody tit but has been more than worth the money, thought at the time he signed we would have about 2 seasons from him

LouReedwalkonthewildside · March 14, 2015

Charlie Croker said:
stemming from his opinions of the manager's tactics and his reluctance to adapt to them.

Think Martinez's tactics would have been more suited to Distin's game, specially as he was getting on.

RFUS · March 14, 2015

People have very short memories.

He's been an immense signing. The second he hit some form for us it never dipped until this season. Probably the best athlete I've seen in the Prem -- as his record number of outfield appearances for a foreign player helps back up -- and that's why he's lasted this long. No shame in him dipping now, though I don't think that necessarily it was just age at play. Bear in mind all our team have been crap this year, young and old alike.

But for a good 4-5 years he was just ace. Unbeatable in the air, strong as an ox and fast as lightning. Damn sexy to boot.

LinekersLegs · March 14, 2015

RadioFriendlyUnitShifter said:
People have very short memories.

But for a good 4-5 years he was just ace. Unbeatable in the air, strong as an ox and fast as lightning. Damn sexy to boot.

Seeing him in the new kit was one of the best things about preseason, damn he looked fine.

Tree13 · March 14, 2015

He's been one of our best ever signings. Absolutely stunning value for money - played 173 league games in five and a half seasons, and for at least three of those seasons (including last year IMHO) was the best CB at the club. Unfairly blamed for the shambles that was our defence for the first half of this season, because he was in fact playing better than Jags by some margin. Yes he needs replacing, but he's still better than Alacaraz and I think Martinez has handled him very poorly indeed. Hope Sylvain gets onto the field for 20 minutes at the end of the Europa League final and his last moment with us is lifting the trophy.

Agree with the above post re Alderweireld - obviously should have got him in on loan. Hope we go for him on loan this summer, and loan Galloway to Southampton. Also hope we sell Alcaraz.