Wayne Bridge, case for the defence

[Jnr Kisby]

Right back?!!

He is a left back mate ;)

haha, you can edit your post but it wont change whats quoted in mine! I was just about to quip "... if ashley cole is injured" when I spotted you 'deliberate' mistake!

 

[Outrun]

No matter what cover he does or doesn't have, this is the important part:

what annoys me the most about bridge is his reluctance to put in a tackle. Too often he will stand off the attacker waiting for him to make the move, and 9 times out of 10 he'll get beaten.

This kept repeating itself each match, and as a defender you should be able to stop *one* opposing player. But he couldn't manage that, so we kept getting crosses in from his side when the player ran around him or just crossed the ball without being attacked.

Other than that he's a class act offensively, but his man-on-man defensively was a disgrace parts of last season. And I don't think any settling in or pre-season will change that lack of ability. I still think he's worth a place in the starting eleven though, there are world class full backs who are poor at some areas too.

 

[SWPISHOME]

I really rate Bridge, He's getting to much stick. An awfull lot of last season he was left with 2 players coming at him and nobody helping Bridge, I think he is the best attacking left back in the League.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

No matter what cover he does or doesn't have, this is the important part:

what annoys me the most about bridge is his reluctance to put in a tackle. Too often he will stand off the attacker waiting for him to make the move, and 9 times out of 10 he'll get beaten.

This kept repeating itself each match, and as a defender you should be able to stop *one* opposing player. But he couldn't manage that, so we kept getting crosses in from his side when the player ran around him or just crossed the ball without being attacked.

Other than that he's a class act offensively, but his man-on-man defensively was a disgrace parts of last season. And I don't think any settling in or pre-season will change that lack of ability. I still think he's worth a place in the starting eleven though, there are world class full backs who are poor at some areas too.

Believe me, if he was beaten "9 times out of 10" then he wouldn't be anywhere near the first team.

 

[Deleted member 14625]

Now a lot of people on here and various other forums have been having a go at Bridge,and frankly i've had enough.
1.Last season if you remember on the left was him and Robbie, now i love Robhino but he didn't excalty bust a gut to track back did he? And that left bridge woefully exposed on the left(i think Evra or Cashley would of struggled)
2.joining in jan didn't help,had no time to settle in, not 100% match fit after not playing regular for Chelsea(which wasn't his fault)

Now this season i feel he will be a key player for us as hes settled in,had a full pre-season and most importantly with the signing of Barry COVER, as Barry is left footed and will cover for Bridge when he makes runs down the left(which Robbie never did)
People' Bridge is an ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL and for 12M we got a really good deal like Barry
This season i'm sure we will see the real Wayne Bridge and he is a class act
Right rant over

(now where's that tin hat!!)

Unfortunately mate, although we all support the same team and have gone through the same downs and ups and downs with them, a majority of our fellow fans (yes, a majority) know absolutely nothing about football! ive been a member on here for about 6 months and never have i felt more alienated and less part of a group who i once thought was togther as one! some people talk and think utter bollocks!

Wayne Bridge was in the difficult predicament of coming from a club where he played once every 3 or 4 weeks (same as SWP)! playing every now and again stops players gaining consistency and halts progression if not sends quality into a decline! then when he came to City he was expected to come into a far far inferior team and fit in and play consistently well every week! but how can someone suddenly switch on week-in-week-out without fail after so long of being a bit part player? well, you cant! it takes time to get used to getting your mind set right on a more regular basis, then your fitness (altho could be great in training) has to be up to scratch for at least one match a week over an extended period, then he has to get used to playing with new players he hasnt played with before who arent as good as players he'd played with for the last 6 years, then outside of the game he has to find a home, keep his family happy in their new surroundings, get used to living in a city where there is very little going on compared to London; it was a massive change for him, and is for any new player!

then look at the work rate and help he had from our left sided player Robinho - pretty much none-existent for 90% of the time! which left Bridge isolated on his own so he felt he couldnt get involved in attacking play too much as Robi's lack of effort would mean he would have no cover (see the signing of Barry as a big thing which will give Bridge a but more freedom as a full back and not just a defender!), and when he did stay back he never got any help from Robi defending neither! i bet you it was a tough start for Bridge when he first came here!

and dont forget we finished 10th last season and we were 3rd from bottom at Christmas! our January signings must have been pretty good!

 

[The Fat el Hombre]

Quite a lot of guys in the south stand were chomping at the bit to slate Bridge and call him a dickhead nearer the end of last season, shameful

He had a bad half year but he's better than that and I'm sure he can do well this year. Going forward he's quality and he often takes responsibility when no one else is willing to

 

[C_T_I_D]

Now a lot of people on here and various other forums have been having a go at Bridge,and frankly i've had enough.
1.Last season if you remember on the left was him and Robbie, now i love Robhino but he didn't excalty bust a gut to track back did he? And that left bridge woefully exposed on the left(i think Evra or Cashley would of struggled)
2.joining in jan didn't help,had no time to settle in, not 100% match fit after not playing regular for Chelsea(which wasn't his fault)

Now this season i feel he will be a key player for us as hes settled in,had a full pre-season and most importantly with the signing of Barry COVER, as Barry is left footed and will cover for Bridge when he makes runs down the left(which Robbie never did)
People' Bridge is an ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL and for 12M we got a really good deal like Barry
This season i'm sure we will see the real Wayne Bridge and he is a class act
Right rant over

(now where's that tin hat!!)

Hi Wayne :-)

 

[Cambridgeblue]

Now a lot of people on here and various other forums have been having a go at Bridge,and frankly i've had enough.
1.Last season if you remember on the left was him and Robbie, now i love Robhino but he didn't excalty bust a gut to track back did he? And that left bridge woefully exposed on the left(i think Evra or Cashley would of struggled)
2.joining in jan didn't help,had no time to settle in, not 100% match fit after not playing regular for Chelsea(which wasn't his fault)

Now this season i feel he will be a key player for us as hes settled in,had a full pre-season and most importantly with the signing of Barry COVER, as Barry is left footed and will cover for Bridge when he makes runs down the left(which Robbie never did)
People' Bridge is an ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL and for 12M we got a really good deal like Barry
This season i'm sure we will see the real Wayne Bridge and he is a class act
Right rant over

(now where's that tin hat!!)

This ^^^

He has easily been our best player in preseason imho and will get even better as we progress. With the extra support Barry provides I expect we will be much more solid down that side. From watching the games we've played so far it also allows Bridge to have the confidence to link up with Robinho or Petrov and do a few one twos to move the ball quickly down our left flank.

 

[vbr]

Yes he didn't have cover....That's why he consistently shuffled along about 10 yards away from the opposition player and allowed them to either get their crosses in every time or get skinned. He was gash last season no doubt about it. He'd sat on the Chelsea bench for however long and it showed. Needs to step it up majorly this year.

 

[Outrun]

Now a lot of people on here and various other forums have been having a go at Bridge,and frankly i've had enough.
1.Last season if you remember on the left was him and Robbie, now i love Robhino but he didn't excalty bust a gut to track back did he? And that left bridge woefully exposed on the left(i think Evra or Cashley would of struggled)
2.joining in jan didn't help,had no time to settle in, not 100% match fit after not playing regular for Chelsea(which wasn't his fault)

Now this season i feel he will be a key player for us as hes settled in,had a full pre-season and most importantly with the signing of Barry COVER, as Barry is left footed and will cover for Bridge when he makes runs down the left(which Robbie never did)
People' Bridge is an ENGLAND INTERNATIONAL and for 12M we got a really good deal like Barry
This season i'm sure we will see the real Wayne Bridge and he is a class act
Right rant over

(now where's that tin hat!!)

This ^^^

He has easily been our best player in preseason imho and will get even better as we progress. With the extra support Barry provides I expect we will be much more solid down that side. From watching the games we've played so far it also allows Bridge to have the confidence to link up with Robinho or Petrov and do a few one twos to move the ball quickly down our left flank.

He has been incredibly good offensively and good defensively, but against what kind of opposition? Nothing anywhere near PL standard teams so far.