CONFIMRED - Tommy Elphick

[Royal_jimmy]

Good start. Out for 6 weeks after an operation

[Snowflake Royal]

Did Adressen go out on loan or is he available?

I'd probably play him at home over Blackett just because of the significant section of our home attendees who are relentlessly negative and get on Tyler's back the second the team is announced.

[Old Man Andrews]

Did Adressen go out on loan or is he available?

I'd probably play him at home over Blackett just because of the significant section of our home attendees who are relentlessly negative and get on Tyler's back the second the team is announced.

Bit hard to play him with his leg in plaster to be honest.

[Hound]

heard he was injured, but what has he done? Any chance of him being back soon?

[Old Man Andrews]

heard he was injured, but what has he done? Any chance of him being back soon?

Really not sure, came out of the blue. Just remember seeing a photo on his Twitter feed. Shame really as this would have been a good opportunity for him to get some first team minutes.

[Snowflake Royal]

Bugger.

Well same sentiment... maybe Osho or McIntyre or equivalent.

[Sutekh]

Opportunity for Dickie then.. oh wait the club flogged him to *xf*rd didn't they...

[RG7Fan]

Tyler is a much better left sided centre back than he is a left back

There is also Joey

Looks bright if Elphick and McShane are out for another month or two doesn't it?

He didnt show that on Saturday ...

[Forbury Lion]

He would he a boon to our defence.

better tell him to get on his bike then.

[TiagoIlori]

According to the Reading chronicle, Clement is keen to turn this into a permanent deal. Could be dependent on whether Villa win on Saturday.

[Royalwaster]

According to the Reading chronicle, Clement is keen to turn this into a permanent deal. Could be dependent on whether Villa win on Saturday.

Yeah I heard he fell in love with the club physio!

[NewCorkSeth]

According to the Reading chronicle, Clement is keen to turn this into a permanent deal. Could be dependent on whether Villa win on Saturday.

I would be pretty keen too. Another leader through the door if he signs. That would make it McShane, Elphick, Yiadom and Moore as clear, on the pitch leaders. Sign a CM with a loud voice and commanding presence and the morale problems should swiftly depart.
Yes Elphick was pretty poor for us in his brief cameos but it seemed clear that he is a classy player who will work well for us given time.
Might stall Ilori further though..

[Hound]

don't really believe anything from the Chronic, but sure we'd have an interest if he was available. Suspect a lot of that will be down to the PO final result. If Villa do go up, there's no way they are going to want to keep him

[Denver Royal]

Given the new manager, wasn't sure if we'd want to sign Elphick. His loan with us was arranged/started back in January, which was well before Clement's arrival, who has barely seen him play. Maybe it just so happens that Clement really fancies Elphick over the plethora of CB's that are becoming available out there. But it also makes me wonder a bit how much 'say' Clement has in player signings?

Btw, Elphick is coming off knee surgery in Feb, and turns 31 in a few months, so he's only a year younger than McShane. He would add experience, as would other older CB's, but weren't some in here worried about the risk of that and the long-term implications? Pretty sure some have said McShane, who turned 32 this year, is washed up, needs to go, etc.

[Hound]

fair points Denver. I suppose its a case of whether PC has seen enough in training to think Elphick is a better mid term option than McShane

Thought McShane was very disappointing last year after a good season in 16/17. Maybe if he went back to just being a defender first and foremost, then he would go back to being the player he was.

[Snowflake Royal]

fair points Denver. I suppose its a case of whether PC has seen enough in training to think Elphick is a better mid term option than McShane

Thought McShane was very disappointing last year after a good season in 16/17. Maybe if he went back to just being a defender first and foremost, then he would go back to being the player he was.

Seems likely. Concentrating on defending first and foremost and having a breather when your side is in possession can't help but be easier than concentrating on defending when you don't have the ball, and concentrating on finding a pass with a static midfield when your team does have it.

Part of the reason that possession football should work is that it allows you to take more control of when you have high intensity periods and lower intensity 'rest' periods. But that doesn't happen if your CBs are the ones who have the ball the whole time and are quickly closed down.

[Hound]

with McShane as well, he is obviously less comfortable on the ball than Ilori or Moore. It was probably more of an effort to play the possession game mentally. Really he should just concentrate on being a bit of a thug and organising the back line

[leon]

fair points Denver. I suppose its a case of whether PC has seen enough in training to think Elphick is a better mid term option than McShane

Thought McShane was very disappointing last year after a good season in 16/17. Maybe if he went back to just being a defender first and foremost, then he would go back to being the player he was.

Yeah driving the ball into a rapidly compressing midfield and then passing it sideways or backwards really wasn't best use of his abilities. It was noticeable that the aggressiveness, effectiveness and concentration of the defence improved when they were allowed to focus on just that rather ball retention and play making.

[bcubed]

with McShane as well, he is obviously less comfortable on the ball than Ilori or Moore. It was probably more of an effort to play the possession game mentally. Really he should just concentrate on being a bit of a thug and organising the back line

Yeh a couple of really tall thugs in the centre of defence works wonders in this division. Ask Warnock

[Denver Royal]

with McShane as well, he is obviously less comfortable on the ball than Ilori or Moore. It was probably more of an effort to play the possession game mentally. Really he should just concentrate on being a bit of a thug and organising the back line

Yeh a couple of really tall thugs in the centre of defence works wonders in this division. Ask Warnock

Yep, and poor Bod was up against ‘two big lumps’ most weeks.

Of course, Warnock also figured out, very early doors, that a couple of really tall thugs, if that’s what they are, work wonders in the Champ at the other end of the park, too. Imagine the plus/minus of that over a 46-game season compared to our’s?

We, however, will do it our way. We will do it differently, and despite our possession footy, we will be much more entertaining.

Right now we are currently eagerly awaiting the signing of Tommy Elphick who may, or may not, beat out Tiago Ilori.