Rage Online

Given the opinion Oxford fans seem to have already formed of Ben Futcher I thought I'd seek the views of a mate who supports Bury. Here's what he said.


&quotWhen he first arrived, the Bury fans didn't like him either, but he seems to be one of those who need a run of games before he finds any form. In the season we finished 4th (the season before last) he was consistently decent and won most fans over. I think he'd now generally be regarded as an average, or very slightly better than average, League 2 centre back. He lost his place this season to Tom Lees who we've got on loan from Leeds (and who scored the header against Oxford!), and during the first couple of months there were a lot of Bury fans (including me I must admit) who thought that we would be better off with Futcher back in.

No Beckenbauer, but we have definitely had quite a few worse.&quot

&quotBaboo&quot wrote:Given the opinion Oxford fans seem to have already formed of Ben Futcher I thought I'd seek the views of a mate who supports Bury. Here's what he said.


&quotWhen he first arrived, the Bury fans didn't like him either, but he seems to be one of those who need a run of games before he finds any form. In the season we finished 4th (the season before last) he was consistently decent and won most fans over. I think he'd now generally be regarded as an average, or very slightly better than average, League 2 centre back. He lost his place this season to Tom Lees who we've got on loan from Leeds (and who scored the header against Oxford!), and during the first couple of months there were a lot of Bury fans (including me I must admit) who thought that we would be better off with Futcher back in.

No Beckenbauer, but we have definitely had quite a few worse.&quot

So he is mediocre, and only then if we can get him playing at his best. Hmm.

&quotGodalmingYellow&quot wrote:
So he is mediocre, and only then if we can get him playing at his best. Hmm.

Just the view of one guy but I think he knows his football.

The question that has been raised many a time already - is he better than the Beast.
Mustn't forget though that Mark Creighton had a very poor first game for us. I recall everyone saying at the time that he couldn't jump.

&quotBaboo&quot wrote:

&quotGodalmingYellow&quot wrote:
So he is mediocre, and only then if we can get him playing at his best. Hmm.

Just the view of one guy but I think he knows his football.

The question that has been raised many a time already - is he better than the Beast.
Mustn't forget though that Mark Creighton had a very poor first game for us. I recall everyone saying at the time that he couldn't jump.

And that he was clearly at fault for the goal conceded at Crewe &amp got sent off for a ridiculous tackle at Bradford when already on a yellow. I like the kudos surrounding the Beast but don't rate him as any better than Conference standard.

&quotRadley Rambler&quot wrote:

&quotBaboo&quot wrote:

&quotGodalmingYellow&quot wrote:
So he is mediocre, and only then if we can get him playing at his best. Hmm.

Just the view of one guy but I think he knows his football.

The question that has been raised many a time already - is he better than the Beast.
Mustn't forget though that Mark Creighton had a very poor first game for us. I recall everyone saying at the time that he couldn't jump.

And that he was clearly at fault for the goal conceded at Crewe &amp got sent off for a ridiculous tackle at Bradford when already on a yellow. I like the kudos surrounding the Beast but don't rate him as any better than Conference standard.

I think that is way harsh on Beast. All defenders get sent off now and again, it's part and parcel of the job. The ref at Bradford never had control of the game, and the level of off the ball shenanigans between Creighton and the Bradford player was significant on both sides. If the ref had been better, he would have cut out the rubbish early on avoiding the need for the sending off.

And defenders are usually at fault for goals conceded. Again part of the job. Being at fault for one goal does not make Beast any lesser standard a player. Otherwise to apply the same criteria you will follow this up by recognising Wright's fault on Saturday and claiming he is Conference standard.

Players are, or should be, judged on their all round contribution to results. Beast has generally been solid.

Futcher had an apalling first game suggesting he could not control the ball, pass the ball, maintain position, head the ball despite his height, or tackle, and he had no pace. He had no composure under pressure and didn't mark tightly enough. The question was what did he do of any use, and why was his standard so poor, leading to a big question mark over whether he would be capable of reaching the required standard for a sustained period. Fair enough to argue wait and see as one game isn't enough, except we have got rid of the aforementioned Beast, who did play to the required standard over a period of time, and we have Worley who is clearly yards ahead of Futcher as well.

&quotGodalmingYellow&quot wrote:
And defenders are usually at fault for goals conceded. Again part of the job. Being at fault for one goal does not make Beast any lesser standard a player. Otherwise to apply the same criteria you will follow this up by recognising Wright's fault on Saturday and claiming he is Conference standard.

Fair point about Wright, who I rate very highly by the way. Wright also stupidly got sent off at Bardford, at least as stupid as the Beast's actions.

&quotGodalmingYellow&quot wrote:

&quotRadley Rambler&quot wrote:

&quotBaboo&quot wrote: Just the view of one guy but I think he knows his football.

The question that has been raised many a time already - is he better than the Beast.
Mustn't forget though that Mark Creighton had a very poor first game for us. I recall everyone saying at the time that he couldn't jump.

And that he was clearly at fault for the goal conceded at Crewe &amp got sent off for a ridiculous tackle at Bradford when already on a yellow. I like the kudos surrounding the Beast but don't rate him as any better than Conference standard.

I think that is way harsh on Beast. All defenders get sent off now and again, it's part and parcel of the job. The ref at Bradford never had control of the game, and the level of off the ball shenanigans between Creighton and the Bradford player was significant on both sides. If the ref had been better, he would have cut out the rubbish early on avoiding the need for the sending off.

And defenders are usually at fault for goals conceded. Again part of the job. Being at fault for one goal does not make Beast any lesser standard a player. Otherwise to apply the same criteria you will follow this up by recognising Wright's fault on Saturday and claiming he is Conference standard.

Players are, or should be, judged on their all round contribution to results. Beast has generally been solid.

Futcher had an apalling first game suggesting he could not control the ball, pass the ball, maintain position, head the ball despite his height, or tackle, and he had no pace. He had no composure under pressure and didn't mark tightly enough. The question was what did he do of any use, and why was his standard so poor, leading to a big question mark over whether he would be capable of reaching the required standard for a sustained period. Fair enough to argue wait and see as one game isn't enough, except we have got rid of the aforementioned Beast, who did play to the required standard over a period of time, and we have Worley who is clearly yards ahead of Futcher as well.

You thought Wright was c*** first time you saw him though

Personally I am quite interested in what the Bury fan has to say about
Futcher. I think once the guy has a few games he''ll win some of us over. By all accounts he had an excellent second half on Tuesday night. He clearly was not match fit when he first came on on loan. Not surprising as he had not in fact played a single first team game this season before Nov 13th!

How did Wotton play against Chesterfield? Was there an improvement from Gills, I hope so!

&quotSackcloth Ox&quot wrote:[

How did Wotton play against Chesterfield? Was there an improvement from Gills, I hope so!

Improvement yes, but I can't remember a lot of what he did. Many others stood out a lot more, but we didn't get him in to stand out.

from what i remember every ball in the second half was won by worley !!!

&quotBaboo&quot wrote:

&quotSackcloth Ox&quot wrote:[

How did Wotton play against Chesterfield? Was there an improvement from Gills, I hope so!

Improvement yes, but I can't remember a lot of what he did. Many others stood out a lot more, but we didn't get him in to stand out.

Quite right he did a lot of talking and organising, which is really why he was signed.

&quotBaboo&quot wrote:

&quotGodalmingYellow&quot wrote:
So he is mediocre, and only then if we can get him playing at his best. Hmm.

Just the view of one guy but I think he knows his football.

The question that has been raised many a time already - is he better than the Beast.
Mustn't forget though that Mark Creighton had a very poor first game for us. I recall everyone saying at the time that he couldn't jump.

First game of the season v York did anyone play well that game, very nervous performance, but didn't Creighton score the winning goal!

&quotRadley Rambler&quot wrote:

&quotBaboo&quot wrote:

&quotGodalmingYellow&quot wrote:
So he is mediocre, and only then if we can get him playing at his best. Hmm.

Just the view of one guy but I think he knows his football.

The question that has been raised many a time already - is he better than the Beast.
Mustn't forget though that Mark Creighton had a very poor first game for us. I recall everyone saying at the time that he couldn't jump.

And that he was clearly at fault for the goal conceded at Crewe &amp got sent off for a ridiculous tackle at Bradford when already on a yellow. I like the kudos surrounding the Beast but don't rate him as any better than Conference standard.

Very harsh to analyse a players ability on the few games Creighton has been allowed to play. Wasn't he brought on for the Northampton game to secure the win otherwise Wilder could see we were going to lose, his game at Hereford his was outstanding. Still feel he has never been given a fair try.

&quotOXUFC4Life&quot wrote: First game of the season v York did anyone play well that game, very nervous performance, but didn't Creighton score the winning goal!

Yes he did. Doesn't mean he had a good game.

Looks like the Darlington Chairman Raj Singh has promised Mark Cooper any money made from the cup run will be invested in the team. Guess whose name is related to the article, it reads - Oxford centre half Mark Creighton has been linked with a switch to the Northern Echo Arena. It has been suggested that if Darlington offer Creighton a loan deal this could materialise into a permanent transfer.

&quotBaboo&quot wrote:

&quotOXUFC4Life&quot wrote: First game of the season v York did anyone play well that game, very nervous performance, but didn't Creighton score the winning goal!

Yes he did. Doesn't mean he had a good game.

I'm not saying he had a good game, you name me a player that day who did, he saved our bacon though. That win was vital which gave us the kick start to the season