The RB situation-Key and Galbraith

[TruckerJack]

I'd say more bordering on obsessive than random

You make just as many comments on it than I do, but largely ones that are criticising the other view as opposed to backing your own.

 

[malc]

Do you have any links that say the club saw Galbraith as a Grimes replacement? Or was that assumed due to us being interested around the time when Grimes left?

I seem to remember it was LOB that was the Grimes replacement and Galbraith interest came after that. I don’t recall the club making any statement at all regarding Galbraith in weJanuary.

From what I remember there was an interest in January .
There was some who thought when Abdulai went to Orient we should have done a deal .
Kept an eye on after that ,
Watched him on TV when Orient played Man City in the FA Cup , he was outstanding.

 

[Smurph]

From what I remember there was an interest in January .
There was some who thought when Abdulai went to Orient we should have done a deal .
Kept an eye on after that ,
Watched him on TV when Orient played Man City in the FA Cup , he was outstanding.

Just out interest Malc, what position did he play on the day?

 

[TruckerJack]

From what I remember there was an interest in January .
There was some who thought when Abdulai went to Orient we should have done a deal .
Kept an eye on after that ,
Watched him on TV when Orient played Man City in the FA Cup , he was outstanding.

Definitely remember us being interested in January. I am just questioning the assumption it was as a Grimes replacement.

Looks like December and January that season he played almost exclusively at RB for Orient.

 

[malc]

Just out interest Malc, what position did he play on the day?

Looks as if he played left side in a midfield 2 .
Orient set up with a 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 .
Other games he played anywhere on the right side .

 

[magicdaps10]

Do you have any links that say the club saw Galbraith as a Grimes replacement? Or was that assumed due to us being interested around the time when Grimes left?

I seem to remember it was LOB that was the Grimes replacement and Galbraith interest came after that. I don’t recall the club making any statement at all regarding Galbraith in January.

I don't want to take this off the original starting point that has been discussed well in general. I will offer a response and would hope that we can get it back on track to posters giving their opinions and views on the situation.

We signed Lewis O'Brien on the last day after rumoured failed attempts for Galbraith previously in the window. We were also on that last day trying to push for Jacob Wright whom was another midfielder, Wright was a holding midfielder and that deal fell through which then led us to a "rumoured" failed bid late in the window after the Wright deal fell through.

Not to say that is factual but I have no doubt that neither you nor I can actually 100% disprove it either.

 

[TruckerJack]

I don't want to take this off the original starting point that has been discussed well in general. I will offer a response and would hope that we can get it back on track to posters giving their opinions and views on the situation.

We signed Lewis O'Brien on the last day after rumoured failed attempts for Galbraith previously in the window. We were also on that last day trying to push for Jacob Wright whom was another midfielder, Wright was a holding midfielder and that deal fell through which then led us to a "rumoured" failed bid late in the window after the Wright deal fell through.

Not to say that is factual but I have no doubt that neither you nor I can actually 100% disprove it either.

Yes I don’t think we should go on rumour. I certainly believe we were in for him in Jan, but I see no evidence that it was as a Grimes replacement.

I don’t think a deal for LOB could be done that quickly on deadline day, that was obviously in the works for days before. I think it’s clear we tried to make multiple signings as opposed to 1 of 3, because the alternative doesn’t make logistical sense.

Our fan base often make their own narratives or project their own reasoning onto signings rather than understand the clubs.

 

[magicdaps10]

Yes I don’t think we should go on rumour. I certainly believe we were in for him in Jan, but I see no evidence that it was as a Grimes replacement.

I don’t think a deal for LOB could be done that quickly on deadline day, that was obviously in the works for days before. I think it’s clear we tried to make multiple signings as opposed to 1 of 3, because the alternative doesn’t make logistical sense.

Our fan base often make their own narratives or project their own reasoning onto signings rather than understand the clubs.

That last bit is probably correct but haven't you not done the same in your post?
In regards to Galbraith, I think it speaks volumes that the club site announced Galbraith when signed as a Midfielder.

If we are going to take it from the horse's mouth then that would clear up the discussion.

Back on track.

 

[Pentyrchjack]

Key looks fitter and sharper and his hip rotation is much better which means he changes feet quicker. Well done Victor on helping him be better

 

[TruckerJack]

That last bit is probably correct but haven't you not done the same in your post?
In regards to Galbraith, I think it speaks volumes that the club site announced Galbraith when signed as a Midfielder.

If we are going to take it from the horse's mouth then that would clear up the discussion.

Back on track.

The club didn’t say he was signed as a midfielder, we spoke about that before.

The press release, which wouldn’t be written by anyone who signed him, said he was a midfielder that offers versatility across multiple positions and tasked with offering Sheehan variety in midfield - which was true, and he still offers that variety when we choose to use it as last night showed.

If we signed him to be a 6 then we wouldn’t have signed Stamenic and given Fulton a new contract.

If we signed him to be an 8 we wouldn’t have signed Yalcouyé on top of Franco.

If we signed him to be a 10 we wouldn’t have signed Widell and Walta.

Yalcouyé leaving offers him a chance to come back into midfield in the summer but only if Lissah comes back and pushes him there, otherwise I suspect he will stay there.

 

[SwanseaBoy123]

The answer to this is completely dependent on who we are playing against and how they set up. It's not as simple as one or the other.

 

[magicdaps10]

The answer to this is completely dependent on who we are playing against and how they set up. It's not as simple as one or the other.

That's very valid and I think Tuesday night highlighted that with the switches at half time and Galbraith moving from RB to Midfield hence why the thread started.
We all know that Galbraith started his career as a central midfielder. He was then after 2 seasons at Orient put in to cover at RB and did a decent job, he then went back to primarily midfield whilst occasionally covering in at fullback until November 2024 when he seemed to be used regularly at RB which was then his last season at Orient.

A player who can cover various positions is very handy to have but can also be very detrimental especially to the player himself.

Looking at Tuesday and granted different opposition will offer different challenges but we looked so much better with a RB who was holding the team shape and helping out his winger and even getting beyond the opposition full back. It was also great to see a cultured player who was playing in a position that was one they started their football career in and pulling the strings and got the fans thinking "WOW".

The discussion is about what's best for the team and the versatility will be a nice option but it can't be ignored that Galbraith was superb for us 2nd half in midfield and Key brought something that enhanced the team at RB.

Surely a RB is something that is going to be high on the summer shopping list?
Given how over stocked we are in midfield,Yalcouye going back(?) would mean that Galbraith into midfield as an option as a RB cover when the correct time call means a RB is clearly on the agenda. Allowing Galbraith to shine in midfield, all the talk of him at the start of the season being our best player was when he played midfield which is a massive indication to the discussion.

Its not about saving face here just what's best for a team going forward and improving on where we stand as a team. We can't ignore either that Galbraith was put into RB solely down to Key losing form and having a bad time so it was a forced change due to that.

Let's not forget, we are a team who are 15th in the league which gives a lot of room for improvement. Granted if we were top 6, Galbraith playing RB then you could hardly question the role he was playing or he could offer elsewhere because the team would be doing so well.

 

[Cwmbwrla Floatabout]

Perhaps we're bringing Ben Davies back and will play 3 at the back. If we surround him with Bens that might persuade Lissah he's still in Scotland.

 

[TruckerJack]

That's very valid and I think Tuesday night highlighted that with the switches at half time and Galbraith moving from RB to Midfield hence why the thread started.
We all know that Galbraith started his career as a central midfielder. He was then after 2 seasons at Orient put in to cover at RB and did a decent job, he then went back to primarily midfield whilst occasionally covering in at fullback until November 2024 when he seemed to be used regularly at RB which was then his last season at Orient.

A player who can cover various positions is very handy to have but can also be very detrimental especially to the player himself.

Looking at Tuesday and granted different opposition will offer different challenges but we looked so much better with a RB who was holding the team shape and helping out his winger and even getting beyond the opposition full back. It was also great to see a cultured player who was playing in a position that was one they started their football career in and pulling the strings and got the fans thinking "WOW".

The discussion is about what's best for the team and the versatility will be a nice option but it can't be ignored that Galbraith was superb for us 2nd half in midfield and Key brought something that enhanced the team at RB.

Surely a RB is something that is going to be high on the summer shopping list?
Given how over stocked we are in midfield,Yalcouye going back(?) would mean that Galbraith into midfield as an option as a RB cover when the correct time call means a RB is clearly on the agenda. Allowing Galbraith to shine in midfield, all the talk of him at the start of the season being our best player was when he played midfield which is a massive indication to the discussion.

Its not about saving face here just what's best for a team going forward and improving on where we stand as a team. We can't ignore either that Galbraith was put into RB solely down to Key losing form and having a bad time so it was a forced change due to that.

Let's not forget, we are a team who are 15th in the league which gives a lot of room for improvement. Granted if we were top 6, Galbraith playing RB then you could hardly question the role he was playing or he could offer elsewhere because the team would be doing so well.

That’s not actually true.

Galbraith has played RB for both Man Utd youth and Salford, he’s always been a midfield and RB utility. He’s played RB at some point at every club in his career other than his spell at Doncaster, and over the last few years has played there more than anywhere else.

Come 4/6 weeks time he will have played RB more than any individual outfield position in his entire career.

As for league position, I wouldn’t be too hung up on that, the points tally is the important part and a better guide. We are having the best season outside the parachute payment years since our relegation from the Premier League and actually almost neck and neck with the Potter parachute season. We are 3 points from 9th. This has coincided with Galbraith being RB, which is also a pattern Leyton Orient saw when he played there.

We also have to remember that starting a career somewhere doesn’t mean it’s your best or most effective position.

Ben Davies and Gareth Bale both started their careers at LB, but Bale was certainly not a LB covering as a forward, and Thierry Henry was not a winger covering as CF. Calls to put them back to their original position because that’s where they started out would be laughed off.

 

[TruckerJack]

League points after 34 games after parachute years:

2025/26 - 46 points ( 0 GD)
2024/25 - 40 points (-9 GD)
2023/24 - 39 points (-12 GD)
2022/23 - 43 points (-4 GD)
2021/22 - 42 points (-14 GD)

Potters season was currently 1 point ahead of us as it stands.