Chris Mepham

Sorry Roger said:
Mepham has regularly played as the RCB in a back three for Wales, alongside Rodon, in the centre, and Ben Davies at LCB. Anyone who claims he can’t play in that position is talking out of their @rse.
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And anybody who claims that someone is talking out of their **************** for having a different opinion is talking out of their @rse. He can play there obviously, he is just inferior in that role. To really get the best out of him he needs to be in the centre. Similar to how Smith can play at RWB, but he really isn’t as comfortable there as he is at full back. I just feel that now Mepham has finally found some form that it would be a mistake to move him from the centre where he has been outstanding so far.
 
Where now for Mepham?

At the start of this season I couldn't see him staying unless he somehow became a regular, which seemed unlikely since he was usurped in the Championship promotion season by first a veteran signing and then a loan player.

He gets in at the start of the year seemingly by default, and does pretty well. In a tough spell he was one of the few players to come out with credit. This was the breakthrough for which he had been waiting, and a new contract was duly signed.

Now he's been replaced in the XI by another loan signing, and with a young starlet signed and waiting in the wings to get back to full fitness who will, presumably, also move ahead of him in the pecking order.

Seems a bit harsh on him but that's football sometimes. If Stephens holds on to the position for the rest of the season, I wonder if CM will ask to leave in the summer?

It has some echoes of the Mings situation, only this time it isn't a Champions League player like Ake getting in his way.
 
kirsikka said:
Where now for Mepham?

At the start of this season I couldn't see him staying unless he somehow became a regular, which seemed unlikely since he was usurped in the Championship promotion season by first a veteran signing and then a loan player.

He gets in at the start of the year seemingly by default, and does pretty well. In a tough spell he was one of the few players to come out with credit. This was the breakthrough for which he had been waiting, and a new contract was duly signed.

Now he's been replaced in the XI by another loan signing, and with a young starlet signed and waiting in the wings to get back to full fitness who will, presumably, also move ahead of him in the pecking order.

Seems a bit harsh on him but that's football sometimes. If Stephens holds on to the position for the rest of the season, I wonder if CM will ask to leave in the summer?

It has some echoes of the Mings situation, only this time it isn't a Champions League player like Ake getting in his way.
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I would say out of all our centre backs it's Lloyd Kelly who is firmly last choice, certainly not CM.
 
Its about effective left and right partnerships. I think the Ukrainian chap prefers the right (anyone know for sure?) which would put him in contention with CM.

Ultimately though, it isn't about who is last choice but who is first choice. Mepham has been with us for five seasons now. To enter season six and still not be first choice for his position and so only play a backup role would, I imagine, be extremely frustrating.
 
kirsikka said:
Where now for Mepham?

At the start of this season I couldn't see him staying unless he somehow became a regular, which seemed unlikely since he was usurped in the Championship promotion season by first a veteran signing and then a loan player.

He gets in at the start of the year seemingly by default, and does pretty well. In a tough spell he was one of the few players to come out with credit. This was the breakthrough for which he had been waiting, and a new contract was duly signed.

Now he's been replaced in the XI by another loan signing, and with a young starlet signed and waiting in the wings to get back to full fitness who will, presumably, also move ahead of him in the pecking order.

Seems a bit harsh on him but that's football sometimes. If Stephens holds on to the position for the rest of the season, I wonder if CM will ask to leave in the summer?

It has some echoes of the Mings situation, only this time it isn't a Champions League player like Ake getting in his way.
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Bit of a strange situation yeh. He has actually been good this season, but the defence doesn’t necessarily always look good with him in it. Stephens and Senesi seem to complement each other very well.
 
So Meps. Will he stay or will he go? I'd imagine the club would like him to stay as a squad player, but it seems Meps wants a permanent move or loan to give him more game time. Fair enough really. No point keeping a player who's frustrated as that's not good fir him or team morale. Just a case of bringing in another centre back. Maybe this is another reason for recalling James Hill?
 
Cherriess said:
So Meps. Will he stay or will he go? I'd imagine the club would like him to stay as a squad player, but it seems Meps wants a permanent move or loan to give him more game time. Fair enough really. No point keeping a player who's frustrated as that's not good fir him or team morale. Just a case of bringing in another centre back. Maybe this is another reason for recalling James Hill?
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I think he will go and if Lloyd Kelly can be persuaded to stay at least through the season then James Hill will have to do as a the backup.
 
I thought Meps was dreadful Saturday - no passion, no aggression and mostly no idea. Both goals came from his side and for the second Aarons was pointing for him to push Dikes wide. Meps just fast jogged to a no man’s land position at the edge of the six yard box. His body language after both goals was also poor. I don’t like singling out individuals for criticism but he got hooked for a good reason. He’s an experienced player now but still makes crucial errors. I’d like him gone now - my patience has run out.
 
BFC1 said:
I thought Meps was dreadful Saturday - no passion, no aggression and mostly no idea. Both goals came from his side and for the second Aarons was pointing for him to push Dikes wide. Meps just fast jogged to a no man’s land position at the edge of the six yard box. His body language after both goals was also poor. I don’t like singling out individuals for criticism but he got hooked for a good reason. He’s an experienced player now but still makes crucial errors. I’d like him gone now - my patience has run out.
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Looks like his has too. Kind of checked out maybe.
 
Sounds like Hill will take his position as third CB.

If no one else is brought in, I’m sure Andoni will be happy to keep him as the fourth CB.
 
BFC1 said:
I thought Meps was dreadful Saturday - no passion, no aggression and mostly no idea. Both goals came from his side and for the second Aarons was pointing for him to push Dikes wide. Meps just fast jogged to a no man’s land position at the edge of the six yard box. His body language after both goals was also poor. I don’t like singling out individuals for criticism but he got hooked for a good reason. He’s an experienced player now but still makes crucial errors. I’d like him gone now - my patience has run out.
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Maybe that’s him saying he wants out?
 
BilbaoCherry said:
Sounds like Hill will take his position as third CB.

If no one else is brought in, I’m sure Andoni will be happy to keep him as the fourth CB.
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Just hasn't been able to secure a long-term start for us. Last season he was really good for a lot of the season but then Zabarnyi started being preferred, and Andoni clearly prefers Zabs as he's persisted through teething problems. I think Meps will do a great job elsewhere if he gets to have a decent run of games.
 
BFC1 said:
I thought Meps was dreadful Saturday - no passion, no aggression and mostly no idea. Both goals came from his side and for the second Aarons was pointing for him to push Dikes wide. Meps just fast jogged to a no man’s land position at the edge of the six yard box. His body language after both goals was also poor. I don’t like singling out individuals for criticism but he got hooked for a good reason. He’s an experienced player now but still makes crucial errors. I’d like him gone now - my patience has run out.
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Probably fair to say that both goals also came from Brooks side.

A player that also got hooked for a good reason.
 
Cherriess said:
Just hasn't been able to secure a long-term start for us. Last season he was really good for a lot of the season but then Zabarnyi started being preferred, and Andoni clearly prefers Zabs as he's persisted through teething problems. I think Meps will do a great job elsewhere if he gets to have a decent run of games.
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If he wants to leave, I can see Andoni wanting to secure a 4th CB, unless he sees someone in the development squad who could play that role.
 
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