Bevan & Matthews

[Chilcott]

Both of these players are talked about alot on the forum.

Bevan could be OK if he stops turning the ball over at critical times. Also, he always seems to turn it over in the corridor where its easy for the opposition to score from it. I will give him credit for his tackles and he is a hard nut of sorts.

Matthews on the other hand is a donkey. What @@@@s me is the 'corale' he uses instead of 'aim at the hips' and tackle the player. He puts his hands up and stands a few metres off the player. The opposition player does not feel any pressure at all and just looks for a better option down the ground.

[BSA5]

Both of these players are talked about alot on the forum.

Bevan could be OK if he stops turning the ball over at critical times. Also, he always seems to turn it over in the corridor where its easy for the opposition to score from it. I will give him credit for his tackles and he is a hard nut of sorts.

Matthews on the other hand is a donkey. What @@@@s me is the 'corale' he uses instead of 'aim at the hips' and tackle the player. He puts his hands up and stands a few metres off the player. The opposition player does not feel any pressure at all and just looks for a better option down the ground.

I'm new to the forum and I noticed it as well, but I can't say I disagree with it.

Bevan is definitely a hardnut, but that's all he's got going for him. And often that goes against him, and he gives away stupid frees. He isn't particularly fast, he has very poor disposal skills, he has no footy brain, he isn't much use in aerial contests, and he doesn't pick up many possessions (though in fairness that is in part due to his defensive role).

Matthews, well, he wasn't always as bad as he has been recently. He's just getting old. It's time to bring in the new guys. He's never been in our top 15 or anything, but now I think he's genuinely dropped out of our best 22.

[goswannie14]

They should both be used for target practice at Pucka.

[reigning premier]

Every team needs a couple of donkeys. More over, they need a couple of guys that are going to sacrifice their game, put the saddle on an opponent and shut them down. No glory for them. No stats. And certainly no recognition of their efforts from the supports. That's what Bevan and Mathews do. And to a lesser extent, Crouch. They perform a nessecary, unappreciated task. They do their inglorious task with relative efficiency IMHO.

My point is, How people can sledge these two when we have the likes of McVeigh running around is beyond me???? McVeigh is supposed to be a "play maker" and "ball winner". When he starts doing his job as well as Bevan and Mathews do theirs, then we can start looking at others. Until then, let's just concentrate on where the problems are, not just where they are perceived to be.

[BSA5]

Every team needs a couple of donkeys. More over, they need a couple of guys that are going to sacrifice their game, put the saddle on an opponent and shut them down. No glory for them. No stats. And certainly no recognition of their efforts from the supports. That's what Bevan and Mathews do. And to a lesser extent, Crouch. They perform a nessecary, unappreciated task. They do their inglorious task with relative efficiency IMHO.

My point is, How people can sledge these two when we have the likes of McVeigh running around is beyond me???? McVeigh is supposed to be a "play maker" and "ball winner". When he starts doing his job as well as Bevan and Mathews do theirs, then we can start looking at others. Until then, let's just concentrate on where the problems are, not just where they are perceived to be.

But Bevan and Matthews don't do their jobs well. If they were good taggers then I'd have no problem at all with them, but they just aren't. It's no use tackling your opponent every time he gets the ball if more often than not you give them a free anyway (that's Bevan I'm talking about). The don't actually shut their opponents down. At least not as well as some players.

And I really don't see why people bash McVeigh. Sure, he isn't our number one midfielder, but he isn't a bad player by any means. His kicking lets him down too often, otherwise he would be a really good player, but as he is he's serviceable.

[AnnieH]

But Bevan and Matthews don't do their jobs well. If they were good taggers then I'd have no problem at all with them, but they just aren't. It's no use tackling your opponent every time he gets the ball if more often than not you give them a free anyway (that's Bevan I'm talking about). The don't actually shut their opponents down. At least not as well as some players.

And I really don't see why people bash McVeigh. Sure, he isn't our number one midfielder, but he isn't a bad player by any means. His kicking lets him down too often, otherwise he would be a really good player, but as he is he's serviceable.

McVeigh???? Surely you're talking about the one who plays for the Bombers?

McVeigh has been a waste of space for a long time now.
Bevan should have been dropped last year.
Matthews is a workhorse. His job is to stop the ball from going into the opponents forward 50. For a game plan that is created on stoppages, he does that well.

[gloveski]

give me Matthews anyday over Bevan

[BSA5]

McVeigh???? Surely you're talking about the one who plays for the Bombers?

McVeigh has been a waste of space for a long time now.
Bevan should have been dropped last year.
Matthews is a workhorse. His job is to stop the ball from going into the opponents forward 50. For a game plan that is created on stoppages, he does that well.

There is nothing wrong with McVeigh. Although I DO think he would be better suited somewhere in the forward line, rather than the midfield. His poor disposals would be less of a problem there. Sure, McVeigh isn't a star, but he's always been in our best 22. Not by a lot, sometimes only just, but I've never had a problem with him being selected over anybody else.

As for Matthews, I agree, he has done a good job for a long time, but he's getting old now, and less physical, and I think he's slipped outside our best 22.

[2005]

Paul Bevan is very frustrating to watch as he will do something well and than just have a brain explosion and destroy the ball.
Benny , the game has just got past him. He was never a star a honest toiler at best who got the most out of himself. He will be there abouts .
Every side has these blokes you hate & these are 2 guys that get targeted
the majority of the time.
I still rekon Roosy will stick fat with the senior group , though I hope the likes of Bevo & Benny are picked on form , not on past performances.

[TheGrimReaper]

Keiran Jack should take Paul Bevan's spot in the team as soon as possible.

[Robbo]

Keiran Jack should take Paul Bevan's spot in the team as soon as possible.

I wholeheartedly agree.

[BSA5]

Keiran Jack should take Paul Bevan's spot in the team as soon as possible.

Definitely. Let's see if Jack can succeed where Bevan failed.

[reigning premier]

Keiran Jack should take Paul Bevan's spot in the team as soon as possible.

I disagree.

Jack should be groomed as Benny's replacement next year. Yes get him in the team now if he fits, but in the longer term, for when Benny retires (Probably at season's end), he will be a great replacement.

[BSA5]

I disagree.

Jack should be groomed as Benny's replacement next year. Yes get him in the team now if he fits, but in the longer term, for when Benny retires (Probably at season's end), he will be a great replacement.

He'll fit in nicely this year in Bevan's old possie!

[Old Royboy]

I disagree with using Cracker as a small defender. In the ressies games in the first half of last year (when he dominated and earned his elevation) he was a midfielder. I was gobsmacked when he was elevated and sent to the back pocket where he was totally a fish out of water. As a midfielder he is good both inside and outside - good in the packs with quick hands, but also a good ball runner possessing both a swerve and sidestep. We saw the siidestep last week but like his Dad Jimmy he prefers the swerve. His disposal can let him down but compared to the likes of Bolton, McVeigh, Bevan and Mathews it is blue chip. Would those guys have had the nous and the skill to execute that pass to Nick Davis Cracker did last week? Countless times in the ressies I have seen him break free and kick long goals. A bloke with those attributes is wasted as a stopper. Cracker has more talent in his big toe than Mathews and Bevan. He and Dicky are the future of our midfield.