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Martin just how good is he?


simo
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In terms of potential, well someone commented on Mike Williamson being a premier league player now, Martin can certainly match that.

 

He has had to grow quickly since moving to us from Eastleigh and he's getting better all the time, he's deserved a run in the team but I still would prefer Fonte and Hooiveld alongside each other.

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He is one for the future for sure, he has the potential to be a regular and dependable Premier League CB. But he's not there yet, I'm sure he knows that too. He is getting better all the time, as yesterdays performance seems to show, he is a solid backup CB in this league. With time, patience and more games he will get better and better.

 

A lot of his mistakes, such as the one derry refers to above, come down to playing experience at our current level. He's up against some very good, experience players who really test him - heck, they test Jos and Fonte enough - but he is holding his own. He does the basics right, the rest will follow.

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If you want an answer, look at how he sold himself for the second goal v Leicester. A centre back was allowed to get a cross in from the byeline because he turned his back on a feint.

 

Agree. I mean, a rookie defender making a mistake whatever next.

 

If Lambert misses a 1 on 1 on tuesday night does that mean hes not good enough for the PL too?

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He'll be a class act in a few years. Currently he's just a good defender but once he gets the rest of his game sorted he will be a top player.

 

Brilliant yesterday, especially as he was alongside a LB who he'd never played with in that position before.

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Agree. I mean, a rookie defender making a mistake whatever next.

 

If Lambert misses a 1 on 1 on tuesday night does that mean hes not good enough for the PL too?

 

He is pretty poor in terms of where we are. His distribution is abysmal, his control on the ball is poor, he is a decent marker, a good header of the ball and he has a weak left foot. Last week against Leicester he was woeful. He is young and has a long way to go if he is to be what some people on here are suggesting. He was fifth choice at the start of the season and is no better than a fourth choice now playing due multiple injuries.

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He is pretty poor in terms of where we are. His distribution is abysmal, his control on the ball is poor, he is a decent marker, a good header of the ball and he has a weak left foot. Last week against Leicester he was woeful. He is young and has a long way to go if he is to be what some people on here are suggesting. He was fifth choice at the start of the season and is no better than a fourth choice now playing due multiple injuries.

 

I wasnt arguing it either way - but basing your answer on a single error was ridiculous.

 

I personally thinks he needs a few years in lower league before we can tell - whether or not he'll get that here who knows.

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I think we are talking about potential. I think he could be our best centre back. I can remember West Ham came in for him for him last year, and we are starting to see why
The only reason west ham were interested was because wally downes was on their staff and recommended him to avrim grant .
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I wasnt arguing it either way - but basing your answer on a single error was ridiculous.

 

I personally thinks he needs a few years in lower league before we can tell - whether or not he'll get that here who knows.

 

The cameo that led to the goal showed where he is as far as his ability is concerned. He turned his back and was skinned by St Ledger FFS. That was the sort of defending that forwards who can't defend regularly show but a centre back, definitely not, he had to stand up and not turn his back and sell himself. In fact he should have been showing him the line rather than buying the dummy. This thread does him no favours. He was slaughtered on the after match thread. All season the forum has been moaning about the need for another experienced centre back. The jury is stll out and you quite rightly point out that he needs regular football. We need two more experienced centre backs and Martin needs a season or two in the Championship if we get promotion. Centre backs rarely mature in their early twenties so he has plenty of time. He needs game time and good guidance, improve his control, passing, especially his left foot and to play in a team that passes the ball.

Edited by derry
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I think at the moment hes playing like a top league one CB and vs decent teams in this league hes looked dogey, but for someone to go from VCS to league one/ poor championship standard in 2 season, is brill and hes only 23 so if he keeps up his progress and gets playing time he will be by the end of the season a championship CB, but should we go up i think he needs to be loaned to a poor championship team to get his experience and the feel of being under pressure all game to develop.

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If you want an answer, look at how he sold himself for the second goal v Leicester. A centre back was allowed to get a cross in from the byeline because he turned his back on a feint.

 

Just one incident, yesterday he was class for 90 minutes, faultless.

 

He has a lot of potential there's no denying it.

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He is the real deal from what I have seen. He needs to bulk out a bit, but he is strong, decent, if not outstanding, on the ball, good in the air and athletic. He got done for the Leicester goal, but it wasn't just his fault. IMO, from what I've seen he would get into most NPC teams we've played. He is still a young lad with barely a dozen league games under his belt, but personally I honestly believe he has what it takes to go all the way.

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Still young, still learning his trade and will get better. My personal opinion though, is that he will always just be a little short of top class and will remain more of a back-up player for us (especially after promotion) than a 1st teamer. I hope he proves me wrong though, would be nice to see a locally raised lad gracing the Premier League again.

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Just remember, being the fickle bunch we are, he is ex non league and still young. He will have a crap performance or two again but was fantastic yesterday.

Ive never been convinced by him when in possession or recieving a pass under pressure but that could be down to confidence and match time.

 

One to watch.

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Considering where he has come from I would have no problem playing him in the premier league next season if he keeps improving how he has been !

 

prior to his current run, he'd only played about 20-odd games since he arrived. Now he's had 5 games on the trot, and there is a decided improvement.

 

Of course he has a lot to learn still, but I don't think he's been a bad bet at all. He's likley to be on the team sheet for a while yet, and with Jaidi on the bench, and Fonte on the mend, we'll have some back-up as it may be some weeks before Jos is back on fit again.

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Just one incident, yesterday he was class for 90 minutes, faultless.

 

He has a lot of potential there's no denying it.

 

It wasn't, it was just an example of inept defending that he has to learn not to do. As I said he was positionally woeful, his distribution was poor, strong in the air but headed as far as he could back to the opposition, he has little control over his left foot. He is strong and could develop but he has a mile to go. He might have had a decent game yesterday which after Tuesday's debacle shows a welcome strength of character. At the moment we don't have time for potential in the promotion battle, we need high level competence such as Fonte and Hoiveldt plus a couple more of the same. Martin is work in progress and is no more than a stopgap and cover on the bench pressed into service due to a lack of experienced cover.

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It wasn't, it was just an example of inept defending that he has to learn not to do. As I said he was positionally woeful, his distribution was poor, strong in the air but headed as far as he could back to the opposition, he has little control over his left foot. He is strong and could develop but he has a mile to go. He might have had a decent game yesterday which after Tuesday's debacle shows a welcome strength of character. At the moment we don't have time for potential in the promotion battle, we need high level competence such as Fonte and Hoiveldt plus a couple more of the same. Martin is work in progress and is no more than a stopgap and cover on the bench pressed into service due to a lack of experienced cover.

 

You are doing the boy down. He is better than that. Even against Leicester he did okay. One lapse was costly, but everyone in that team had at least one. I agree I wouldn't swap him for our first choice pairing, but you'd struggle to replace him for less than a decent fee.

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We had a thread about him a while back, I think it was when he was put in up against Kevin Davies in the CC match. I believe I said then that there was something about him that made me think he could go all the way and become an England intertnational.

 

Nothing I've seen of his progression since has made me question that.

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I would have him over a fully-fit Seaborne in the current pecking order.

 

Every single day of the week. Martin has come on leaps and bounds this season, will be a solid Prem centre-back in 3 or 4 years time. Definitely one to keep around. In fact I was drawing up a mental list during the Millwall game comparing him and Fonte.

 

Experience - Fonte

Aerial - Martin

Pace - Fonte

Potential - Martin

With the ball - Fonte

Positioning - Fonte

Communication - Martin/Fonte

 

Quite evenly matched, but Fonte is the better all-round defender.

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I would have him over a fully-fit Seaborne in the current pecking order.

 

Why

 

Seabourne is left footed and much better on the ball

 

but I will see if Martin has improved since the Bristol City game when his distribution was poor tomorrow evening

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