For me, Joey O’Brien has so far been one of Sam Allardyce’s best signings this season and this is no more of a surprise to you reading this, as it is for me to write it.
I was one of the many who believed this had to be purely a ‘squad player’ signing based on the manager’s allegiances with his former club. But the Irishman has stepped straight into the first team, largely because of an injury to Guy Demel, played in the majority of games and pretty much made the right-back position his own. It will be interesting to see who gets the nod when the ‘Human Tank’ is fully fit.
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Personally I’d stick with O’Brien if he’s still playing well and interestingly our only league defeat this year came when O’Brien wasn’t playing. I’m not saying he would have made any major difference to this game, we all know we got completely ‘rolled-over’ by the Tractor Boys, but it’s a point worth making.
The other advantage the former Bolton man has is his versatility. Allardyce has him predominately in the right-back role, but towards the end of his Bolton days he was deployed as a midfielder. I’m not for one second saying I’d play him there, but having versatile players in a starting eleven allows for much better use of your substitutes. This is something I’m sure the gaffer is pleased about, bearing in mind he has upwards of five strikers on the books!
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This season I believe the major difference between the relegated team of last season and the potential champions of this year is our defence. The ever-improving Tomkins, the new-found consistency of Reid and the reliability of McCartney have all been major reasons behind this, but for me the stand-out player has been O’Brien. I think this is largely down to my early season expectations for him to become a liability but, whatever the reason may be, I think O’Brien has been class and I for one will not be pre-judging future signings as I did with this one.
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not as good as your e bigging him up but good enough in this division and faubert is as good so i rest my case on that one !!
Are you an idiot? JOB’s a good player but player of the season is a massive over exaggeration, you’re actually deluded.
Sorry about my previous post, I should learn to realise that different people have different opinions. I’m a saddo who thinks that I’m always right when, in reality, I have never been right. I’m a small tooled fool. Apologies.
More absolute rubbish from this website… Why are you still showing up on my newsnow?
i totally agree job has done ok,but no more tham linda faye is my choice up to now ,his totally calm at the back,one mistake against millwall,but classy aginst cardiff coyis
More absolute rubbish from this site. Are you actually diluded? JOB is a decent player at most. Personally, Faye is my player of the season.
Why is it that whenever I follow a link from newsnow to this website I end up reading a complete load of tripe! JOB has done ok, that’s about as positive as I can be about him. In truth he is a player of extremely limited ability, that panics whenever he has the ball at his feet, so lumps it as hard as he can in no particular direction. In this league we are strong enough to carry him but if/when we get promoted he must be replaced.
As I said in a previous post, most solid rb since Schemmel. Not player of the season though.
I suppose you post this drivel to create a response, well you have from me? What a load of rubbish Noble, Tomkins, Fay, are far more entitled for Player of the season entitlements? O’Brian is a squad player how many times has he won MoM.
haha. you are kidding. if there is a weak link in our starting 11 at the moment, apart from perhaps collison (who i am still confident will bounce back) it is JOB. His crossing is woeful and he is so slow for a fullback. even when he has time and space to cross, he panics and draws a corner AT BEST. The best player in the back 4? I dare say if potts was a RB, JOB would be battling for his place in the starting 11. Not to mention if Demel was fit.
I have been a fan of JoeyO, the first decent, dependable RB in a long time in my opinion. He can score, cross and our defence is strong when he plays. His game is a little under-stated but reliable a bit ‘safe’ maybe, but it’s just what is needed and he is no-ones fool, opposition players don’t mess with him.
Once again another shite post…but hey whats with the slating of job, ur all sounding like ffin yids living in the past!!! He has done a good job for us and don’t forget were in the championship not the ffin premier league. Who do you expect lahm and ffin roberto carlos as our full backs. Anyway you moaning ffers. It’s in this order for me 5.faubert 4.Noble 3.Green 2. Tonks 1. Faye…coyi
Listen haters. The title was meant to be light-hearted. Obviously Noble, Faye, Green etc have been epic, but Joey deserved recognition I thought. Don’t hate what you can’t appreciate. Credit where credits due. WHTID
He is not THAT good. An average player both defending and going forward. We are playing against Championship defenders, that’s all. Even Faubert looks half decent at right back in this league
You are certainly getting carried away. He is nowhere near my short list for HoYT that is for sure
Interesting observation about Joey O’Brien. Nothing wrong with this thought as the last line of defence together with Mark Noble have been absolutely outstanding this year. The player of the year surely must come from this dedicated and hardworking bunch of players. Thumbs up to all. We appreciate your hard work boys, may the best guy win..though all are winners in the final analysis.
Surely your having a laugh mate…..Do you go to any of WH games? FAYE has been by far our best signing this season and a rock at the back everytime he has played.
Yes appreciate his efforts, but he is no way hoty. Noble is the stand out player for me and it wouldn’t surprise me if he is voted best player in the Championship come end of season.
Tomkins just ahead of Noble coming up fast.
Time for the forwards to make a move though.
The real Test is approaching,. My Gut feeling
however will be that Nolan, will feature, to
guide us back to the promised land, and take
the Honours. .
I agree think o’brian has been a good signing along with diop who I think been superb and I’d go quite as far as to say I’d give him another year in the prem not saying he’s going to start every week but think he’s been outstanding
POTY…emmm…doubt that but JOB is a solid depandable player. I think he is fairly cool headed and reliable.
Perhaps the fact he has only played under Sam may have sheped his footballing outlook where safety is the utmost priority.