Harry Darling …

[Dr. Winston]

I agree that he isn't a player that we should smash our wage structure for, but for some on here to suggest it is fine to replace him with Delcroix who I felt was very poor against Millwall is beyond optimistic

If you're basing your opinions of players on single games then you're going to find your emotions being awfully up and down.

 

[Londonlisa2001]

Darling is worth keeping if we can do so without major financial issues.

Quite like the idea of keeping Delcroix as well if we can.

Having a stable group of centre halves could enable us to build more creativity in front of them. It’s a difficult position to recruit. Many are not very good.

 

[bakajack]

If you're basing your opinions of players on single games then you're going to find your emotions being awfully up and down.

Not single games, honestly I haven't found Delcroix to be incredibly compelling as an option in any games that he has played, perhaps he might get better with time but he always looks very raw and has a serious mistake in him. The latter used to be a stick you could regularly beat Cabango with but in fairness to him ever since the promotion to captain and Sheehan stopping the side more or less dicking about at the back he himself has improved significantly.

 

[Dr. Winston]

I thought that Delcroix was playing considerably better than Darling until Harry upped his game about seven or eight matches ago (coincidence?).

The resurgence in belief in HD intrigues me. For much of his time here he took a hell of a lot of stick from certain quarters. It's only really this season that the praise has bordered on unanimous.

 

[bakajack]

I thought that Delcroix was playing considerably better than Darling until Harry upped his game about seven or eight matches ago (coincidence?).

The resurgence in belief in HD intrigues me. For much of his time here he took a hell of a lot of stick from certain quarters. It's only really this season that the praise has bordered on unanimous.

Darling has been the best centre half at the club since the day we signed him, whenever he is fit he plays.

One could argue that its only really since Sheehan took over that Cabango has looked less like an accident waiting to happen that the two have formed a more potent defensive partnership. Cabango is usually the no nonsense type who focuses on reading the game and sticking to the big man up front and Darling is the one distributing the ball.

Its a similar dynamic to the old Monk/Williams axis - though admittedly Cabango still has a ways to go to reach Monk's level of positional awareness and reading of the game and Darling a way to go to reach the insane consistency that Williams had on those laser guided 60 yard cross field balls to the wingers.

 

[Colin-swansea]

Darling under previous managers always gave me the impression there was always going to be periods in the game when he made silly mistakes, but under Sheehan he appears to have tightened his game up, while another plus in his game is that he offers a serious threat in the opposition penalty area from set pieces.

 

[Swanjaxs]

Darling under previous managers always gave me the impression there was always going to be periods in the game when he made silly mistakes, but under Sheehan he appears to have tightened his game up, while another plus in his game is that he offers a serious threat in the opposition penalty area from set pieces.

He looks a different player under Sheehan mate, in both boxes.

 

[Whaleoilbeefhooked]

I hated his football, but fair doos to Martin, he was the one who brought him here in the first place.

 

[AusinIsOurHero]

Darling under previous managers always gave me the impression there was always going to be periods in the game when he made silly mistakes, but under Sheehan he appears to have tightened his game up, while another plus in his game is that he offers a serious threat in the opposition penalty area from set pieces.

several times in a game, he would dither & spend too long on the ball & get closed down. He'd then turn back to his own goal & fall over from a 'push'.
Tried it several times in the home derby against Cardiff & just about got away with it.
Good to see he's tightened up his game.

 

[bakajack]

several times in a game, he would dither & spend too long on the ball & get closed down. He'd then turn back to his own goal & fall over from a 'push'.
Tried it several times in the home derby against Cardiff & just about got away with it.
Good to see he's tightened up his game.

While not quite the "dark arts" of defending, Darling is an expert in winning free kicks from attacking players who try to close him down or chase the ball. There is a streetwiseness to his game that the other defenders in the club just don't have.

Definitely a master of the "grey arts"

 

[Molbys_pie]

I'd like to see him sign a new contract with us (within the financial model we have) but I think he's probably off elsewhere.

Probably more a reflection on the rest of the team, but we will need to consider replacing his goal contributions too - scored 5, assisted 3 this season. That's more goals than anyone in our midfield, and he's our third top scorer

 

[Derwydd]

I'd like to see him sign a new contract with us (within the financial model we have) but I think he's probably off elsewhere.

Probably more a reflection on the rest of the team, but we will need to consider replacing his goal contributions too - scored 5, assisted 3 this season. That's more goals than anyone in our midfield, and he's our third top scorer

Agree on his goal/assist contribution. We also need more goals from our wingers, severley underperforming in that regard

 

[WentToSchoolWith]

Agree on his goal/assist contribution. We also need more goals from our wingers, severley underperforming in that regard

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Eight starts for Bianchini is a shame this season I think. Thought he's looked bright whenever he's had proper minutes, took his goal at Oxford really well too

 

[Manselton Jack]

Eight starts for Bianchini is a shame this season I think. Thought he's looked bright whenever he's had proper minutes, took his goal at Oxford really well too

Probably the only player in the squad that was better under Williams. Looks like Sheehan just doesn't fancy him