Finnan

[deacon]

He has been rock steady throughout Rafa's time at the club, why is he suddenly not getting a look in for our big games? I would have thought the best move in light of Aurelio's injury would be to shift Arbeloa to left back and start Finnan at right back, but that seems very unlikely given Rafa's recent team selections, why?

[Old red eyes]

He's had a few injuries of late.

[Zoob]

Finnan has been great for us, but this season his form has dropped. He's no longer been as steady, and hasn't been able to get up and down the pitch as well as in previous years...

 

Still think that Riise has been in even worse form, and agree that I'd prefer Arbeloa on the left with Finnan at RB...

[Coyler]

It's a mystery all right. He has been relatively dodgy this season when he has played, but seeing as the rest of our full backs are far from immaculate, he must also have become consistently s*** in training and/or have a serious medical condition the club are keeping quiet.

[Guest GrandpaSimpson]

He's been poor this season, but it's curious that he has not been given a chance to play through the poor form like other players have.

[Dan]

We've missed "mr consistent" big time this season.

 

Makes you realise how valuable he was in an understated way week in week out.

 

Sadly it seems his best days are behind him.

 

Has anybody paid any attention to Steinsson at Bolton? Apparently he's been one of their best players at RB this season.

[Whitey85]

Has anybody paid any attention to Steinsson at Bolton? Apparently he's been one of their best players at RB this season.

 

He was woeful against us. Hes rubbish.

[Guest Toxteth O'Grady]

Sadly, I feel his time is up and we need to look to the future.

[MarkD]

I think that his place in the team being removed from him has a lot to do with one of Europe's leading scouts and readers of the game, nay, Europe's leading scout, has gotten into Rafa's ear. Kaizer, happy now?

[JRC]

He looked rusty on Saturday - I've rarely seen him as much at sea as when Kapo turned him; and he was partially at fault for the first goal, he didn't pick up Forsell's fairly straightforward run-around.

 

Sadly, he looks to me like a classic example of a player being rapidly undermined by serious injury; like he just got real old, real quick.

[Guest gordy]

He has been rock steady throughout Rafa's time at the club, why is he suddenly not getting a look in for our big games? I would have thought the best move in light of Aurelio's injury would be to shift Arbeloa to left back and start Finnan at right back, but that seems very unlikely given Rafa's recent team selections, why?

Lke everyone else in the team hes having a blip in his game. He needs a few good games and he should find his form.Hes a good player give him time

[Armin_Tamzarian]

He's been a great player for us but his time is coming to an end.

 

Gretar Steinsson has been excellent for Bolton this year btw. Not saying sign him but he's been a very good buy for them.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

combination of loads of injuries & playing s***e. Chicken & egg though, injuries causing him to play s***e etc

[Guest Kaizer]

Probably because he does not cover his zone in the box very well.

 

But one thing I mentioned a few months back had more to do with the fact he finally had got some competition for the RB spot.

 

It seems to me that Finnan has lost some pace and pace was not something he had a lot of before either, he has also picked up a few injuries this season and maybe this has affect4ed him more than most can imagine.

 

Finnan has been used to play almost every game during the season, maybe he is a player that will lose his momentum if he gets rested too much or gets injured, Finnan is not real athlete, so maybe he needed to play more regularly to be on top of his game, who knows.

 

I know there is a lot of speculation in all this, but him not being a "real" athlete, getting older, getting a few injures and being rested in between tells me that it might be difficult to maintain on the same level when it comes to fitness, a bit of lacking fitness means less pace and thats probably whats reduced Finnan from being a consistently decent player to being an average one with highs and lows.

 

But all this could be a lot of nonsense as well, its up to you to decide.

[smicer07]

And yet he's still been far better than Riise.

[Guest Kaizer]

And yet he's still been far better than Riise.

 

Whatever rocks your boat.

[uncle bob]

Probably because he does not cover his zone in the box very well.

 

But one thing I mentioned a few months back had more to do with the fact he finally had got some competition for the RB spot.

 

It seems to me that Finnan has lost some pace and pace was not something he had a lot of before either, he has also picked up a few injuries this season and maybe this has affect4ed him more than most can imagine.

 

Finnan has been used to play almost every game during the season, maybe he is a player that will lose his momentum if he gets rested too much or gets injured, Finnan is not real athlete, so maybe he needed to play more regularly to be on top of his game, who knows.

 

I know there is a lot of speculation in all this, but him not being a "real" athlete, getting older, getting a few injures and being rested in between tells me that it might be difficult to maintain on the same level when it comes to fitness, a bit of lacking fitness means less pace and thats probably whats reduced Finnan from being a consistently decent player to being an average one with highs and lows.

 

But all this could be a lot of nonsense as well, its up to you to decide.

 

Correct - is nonsense - Finnan still best right back in the club and not only a real athlete but a very good one at that

[Gray - YPC]

Finnan has been used to play almost every game during the season, maybe he is a player that will lose his momentum if he gets rested too much or gets injured, Finnan is not real athlete, so maybe he needed to play more regularly to be on top of his game, who knows.

I think there's an element of truth in this.

 

I think there are some players who seem to be able to adapt to being rotated, and are able to come in and play a game having not played for a couple of weeks and hit top form straight away. Others I feel need to be playing week in week out to be able to play at their best.

 

I have thought this previously about Crouch (though in recent weeks he's been very good on the whole), and think that Crouch is not good at playing the odd game here and there, and I also think he often has little impact as a substitute (compare him with some like Pongelle who was so often anonymous when starting, but often makes things happen when he came on as a sub - some would use Babel as an example of that too).

 

I think the likes of Finnan and perhaps Carragher and Alonso rely on their positioning, touch, reading of the game, and generally their brain more than natural athletic ability (though Carra is supposedly the fittest in our squad) and there is an argument that they need to play week in week out to keep their levels up, whereas someone like Babel (or Pongolle, Cisse etc) who rely more on physical attributes are more able to adapt to playing occasionally.

 

I'm not sure if I've got my point across here, but i know what I mean haha

[Armin_Tamzarian]

Correct - is nonsense - Finnan still best right back in the club and not only a real athlete but a very good one at that

 

 

I don't think he is any more mate. Sad to say because he's been a class player and a model of consistency. My bet though is that if Rafa were putting out a first choice 11 and he'd no injuries to consider I don't think Finnan would be in the reckoning.

[Elisha_Scott]

He just cant run anymore, simple as that.

[Guest Kaizer]

I'm not sure if I've got my point across here, but i know what I mean haha

 

You put it a lot better than what I did, no surprise that I agree with you.

[Guest Kaizer]

He just cant run anymore, simple as that.

 

Why is that, some kind of injury?

[Armin_Tamzarian]

I think the likes of Finnan and perhaps Carragher and Alonso rely on their positioning, touch, reading of the game, and generally their brain more than natural athletic ability (though Carra is supposedly the fittest in our squad) and there is an argument that they need to play week in week out to keep their levels up, whereas someone like Babel (or Pongolle, Cisse etc) who rely more on physical attributes are more able to adapt to playing occasionally.

 

 

That would also fit in with the relatively slow start Finnan had when he joined the club. Partly this may be due to general poor team performance at the time but I remember him getting quite a bit of stick, online and at the match in his first season at the club.

[johngibo YPC]

You put it a lot better than what I did, no surprise that I agree with you.

 

i can see where you both are coming from

Gray doesn't have bang on though doesn't he

[cymrococh]

Is it cause he is a gay?