Ben Matthews and Nic Fosdike

[CureTheSane]

These are two players who, for whatever reason, I never seem to see do much.

Take last week for example.
31 and 30 posessions makes them on top of the list, but I hardly saw them.

anyone else have this problem with them or other players?

[Bleed Red Blood]

yep, especially Mathews.

[NMWBloods]

Both Cresswell and Barry Mitchell were the same.

[midaro]

I reckon its because they are often in those handball exchanges where they rack up like 3 HBs in 5 seconds. The ball moves too quick to pick up the players

As evidence: It said in the paper today (HS) that Mathews had 11 HB receives yesterday.

BTW I'm one of those who actuall like the handball. I reckon we're at our best when we run in packs, creating gaps with quick hand skills.

And I like these two as well. Fosdike is my nominated lovechild, and Mathews is our Chris Johnson IMO.

[Plugger46]

Re: Ben Matthews and Nic Fosdike

Originally posted by CureTheSane
These are two players who, for whatever reason, I never seem to see do much.

Take last week for example.
31 and 30 posessions makes them on top of the list, but I hardly saw them.

anyone else have this problem with them or other players?

Yeah I agree. Can't believe either of them had that many posessions.

[monopoly19]

I never, ever see Fosdike. No matter whether I'm at the game or watching from home, the boy is invisible. It used to be the same for Mathews but I notice him a lot more now. I have no idea how Fosdike got 30 on the weekend, but more power to him!

They both must be keeping the clanger count low if nobody sees them.

[Dpw]

Re: Ben Matthews and Nic Fosdike

Originally posted by CureTheSane
These are two players who, for whatever reason, I never seem to see do much.

Take last week for example.
31 and 30 posessions makes them on top of the list, but I hardly saw them.

anyone else have this problem with them or other players?

Fosdike I notice and the only time you seem to notice Mathews is when he kicks it so as long as he handballs Iam happy, Mathews is playing the best football of his career and is extremely versatile has really lifted in the last two season.

[penga]

Originally posted by midaro
And I like these two as well. Fosdike is my nominated lovechild, and Mathews is our Chris Johnson IMO.

never thought of him this way, to which i will change! i think its a pretty good call, however, johnson is quite a bit more damaging and has kicked a few more goals than what benny has from that position... give benny time maybe

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by midaro
Mathews is our Chris Johnson IMO.

I don't really see Mathews as like Chris Johnson, in that the latter is quite kick, powerful, evasive, a superb kick and quite an athlete.

In terms of being the defensive "quarterback" I can see Mathews being like him, however I'd like to see Mathews ball gathering ability and role as a linkman (plus fondness for handballs and short kicks) place him in the centre.

[midaro]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I don't really see Mathews as like Chris Johnson, in that the latter is quite kick, powerful, evasive, a superb kick and quite an athlete.

In terms of being the defensive "quarterback" I can see Mathews being like him, however I'd like to see Mathews ball gathering ability and role as a linkman (plus fondness for handballs and short kicks) place him in the centre.

Yeah it's the defensive "quarterback" aspect I was getting at.
It's true that Johnson is probably a class above Mathews, although we do tend to underrate Mathews

[NMWBloods]

Mathews and Fosdike both play similar roles in that they are link players or run past players. Still, they also put themselves into packs, so they are not simply outside players.

Pleasingly Mathews has improved his disposal from a few years ago, and I generally expect it to be to a target, although sometimes he still does the loopy handball to someone under pressure.

At times Fosdike's disposal leaves a lot to be desired, either missing targets (often dropping short) or to a player under pressure. He gets the ball an awful lot so if he could just improve his disposal a bit it would be a great benefit to us.