Ryan Shotton to Watford

[AngryRam]

why all the hate for Ryan? He was by far our best defender this season (I know that's not saying a lot) but he also offers us pace and versatility (can play RB CB CDM) I actu rate him as a championship CB. I think we need to be realistic and accept were not going to be attracting Premiership standard quality Defenders.

pace? rewatch the forest game at the city ground. Antonio's 'knock it past him and run' routine every time he got the ball exposed his lack of pace, furthermore his slowness on the turn. every time he turns round it's his birthday.

shotton was very poor last season. a player that's played many seasons in the premier league I think we were entitled to expect better. to be fair to him he's a bit of a victim of his own success. he's not a bad RB but shocking CB.

I think the Huddersfield away game summed his season up.

if we got our money back for him I'd be very pleased. if

[Rapid]

why all the hate for Ryan? He was by far our best defender this season (I know that's not saying a lot) but he also offers us pace and versatility (can play RB CB CDM) I actu rate him as a championship CB. I think we need to be realistic and accept were not going to be attracting Premiership standard quality Defenders.

pace? rewatch the forest game at the city ground. Antonio's 'knock it past him and run' routine every time he got the ball exposed his lack of pace, furthermore his slowness on the turn. every time he turns round it's his birthday.

shotton was very poor last season. a player that's played many seasons in the premier league I think we were entitled to expect better. to be fair to him he's a bit of a victim of his own success. he's not a bad RB but shocking CB.

I think the Huddersfield away game summed his season up.

if we got

[AnagRam]

Have to agree with Loyal and Angry. I know he hasn't been a complete success but he played in a defence that appeared devoid of confidence and leadership from January onwards and was never 'allowed' to adapt to one particular position. He's admittedly not a great passer, is anyone other than Jake - on a good day - in that defence, but he does offer the sort of versatility that all squads are likely to need during a season.

[Manofpride]

We all have our own opinions and are entitled to them, so you can see how hard it is for a manager. We have some supporters who rate him and others who don't. Personally I think he's cack, get's exposed all the time, runs round like a headless and he panics at nothing. I do agree his best position is right back but still not good enough for a team wanting promotion to the Premier League! IMO like.

[swaledale]

Have to agree with Loyal and Angry. I know he hasn't been a complete success but he played in a defence that appeared devoid of confidence and leadership from January onwards and was never 'allowed' to adapt to one particular position. He's admittedly not a great passer, is anyone other than Jake - on a good day - in that defence, but he does offer the sort of versatility that all squads are likely to need during a season.

Agree, he had hos off days certainly, but then who didn't in Derby's defence last year - I mean how many times did Forsyth pass the ball from defence straight to an opponent?

Shotton was no worse and in some matches better than many, but then Keogh is picked as defender in the championship team of the year and some think he is crap! Just shows how opinions differ.

[SheffRam]

Have to agree with Loyal and Angry. I know he hasn't been a complete success but he played in a defence that appeared devoid of confidence and leadership from January onwards and was never 'allowed' to adapt to one particular position. He's admittedly not a great passer, is anyone other than Jake - on a good day - in that defence, but he does offer the sort of versatility that all squads are likely to need during a season.

Agree, he had hos off days certainly, but then who didn't in Derby's defence last year - I mean how many times did Forsyth pass the ball from defence straight to an opponent?

Shotton was no worse and in some matches better than many, but then Keogh is picked as defender in the championship team of the year and some think he is crap! Just shows how opinions differ.[/quote]

This kind of ties in with my point earlier. All of our defenders clearly have ability. However

[paulo570]

If you look up the word shotton on the dictionary it actually says..."mistake waiting to happen"

[swaledale]

Have to agree with Loyal and Angry. I know he hasn't been a complete success but he played in a defence that appeared devoid of confidence and leadership from January onwards and was never 'allowed' to adapt to one particular position. He's admittedly not a great passer, is anyone other than Jake - on a good day - in that defence, but he does offer the sort of versatility that all squads are likely to need during a season.

Agree, he had hos off days certainly, but then who didn't in Derby's defence last year - I mean how many times did Forsyth pass the ball from defence straight to an opponent?

Shotton was no worse and in some matches better than many, but then Keogh is picked as defender in the championship team of the year and some think he is crap! Just shows how opinions differ.[/quote]

This kind of ties in with my point earlier. All

[AnagRam]

'Even Hughes provided excellent assists to opposition players'...brave words. Almost heresy in some quarters! Don't get me wrong, I love watching Will at his best but if - when even - the likes of Shotton and Christie make the same mistakes they're castigated mercilessly and never forgiven.

[Ramkes]

Just goes to show how important Thorne and Eustace are to our team, they are the cement that holds our defensive brick wall together, without them the back four were put under extra pressure and found it difficult to cope.

The fact that we kept 20 clean sheets in various matches, only struggling when the above two players where missing shows that our defence can play when given sufficient cover.