Ben Nelson signs new contract until 2027

[dmayne7]

9 hours ago, Deeg67 said:

I like Nelson, and I thought he played well under adverse circumstances.  But I’m not sure how well he fits the role Enzo envisions for a CB.  He likes ball-playing defenders over no-nonsense CBs, just as he prefers ball-playing keepers over shot stoppers.  That may not be a luxury he can worry about in the PL, but it all depends on how rigid Enzo turns out to be in his philosophical inclinations.  One way or the other Nelson is going to have to work on his possession and passing before Enzo will see him as a potential first-choice CB.

He definitely fits into this team perfectly. I think it's hard for a defender/keeper coming through a PL club's academy to not be decent on the ball now. He's got a real calmness and composure. Saturday was the kind of game where any of the players would look ragged in possession. Previous round his use of the ball was fantastic (and hardly bad on Saturday). Reads the game well and 'deceptively quick'. Where he still hasn't been really tested yet is in a proper physical battle and as he's fairly slight and still young, that might take a bit of time to come on.

[Langston]

Watching that compilation back one of the things that really stands out is how comfortable he looks with both feet. 
 

I know we have a tendency to build up academy players as “ready” but he really does look like he could slot in seamlessly at Championship level. 

[filbertway]

1 hour ago, Stadt said:

I think his passing was pretty good, those lofted passes didn't come off because the forwards miscontrolled them, mostly. He broke the lines when under pressure without smashing the ball away aimlessly.

The direction and intelligence in the passes were impressive on most, just not ideal when most of them seemed to end up bobbling to the receiving player. Could just be a case of him over thinking it a bit and not getting a good connection on the ball.

[ClaphamFox]

11 hours ago, Deeg67 said:

I like Nelson, and I thought he played well under adverse circumstances.  But I’m not sure how well he fits the role Enzo envisions for a CB.  He likes ball-playing defenders over no-nonsense CBs, just as he prefers ball-playing keepers over shot stoppers.  That may not be a luxury he can worry about in the PL, but it all depends on how rigid Enzo turns out to be in his philosophical inclinations.  One way or the other Nelson is going to have to work on his possession and passing before Enzo will see him as a potential first-choice CB.

Eh? Nelson is a ball-playing centre-half. That's a major part of his game...

[Dan]

Said at the time I didn't rate the Coady signing and we massively overpaid.

 

Nelson is better than I thought however. Actually see a future for him here.

[Kinowe Soorie]

He looks calm on the ball for a younger player, he’s tall and reasonably quick.

Has all the attributes to be a really good central defender.

[mozartfox]

Are Brighton in for him yet?

[funkyrobot]

4 minutes ago, mozartfox said:

Are Brighton in for him yet?

Or one of the other giants of the Premier league like Brentford and Fulham. Fed up of these massive clubs sniffing round our players. 

[mozartfox]

Just now, funkyrobot said:

Or one of the other giants of the Premier league like Brentford and Fulham. Fed up of these massive clubs sniffing round our players. 

Keep KDH and get promoted and likes of Brentford, Fulham and Brighton will not be sniffing around us.  

[funkyrobot]

Just now, mozartfox said:

Keep KDH and get promoted and likes of Brentford, Fulham and Brighton will not be sniffing around us.  

He’d be mad to go to those teams now anyway. 

[LCFC FOX]

Going to have a big future! Looks championship standard already.

[AKCJ]

He's quick as well. Runs like Van Dijk where he doesn't look like he's putting in effort but he breezes across the pitch.

 

 

[Ric Flair]

One thing that's impressed me most is his recoveries, he's deceptively quick which is a huge plus. He's not rapid by any means but a lack of pace won't be a weakness for him and that's why I see him slowly moving in to the reckoning for us this season and next, even in the Premier League (if we don't blow it).

[Sambiasso]

A loan to a championship club would be in his best interest, need these kind of players to get some experience.

[kingpowerout]

49 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

One thing that's impressed me most is his recoveries, he's deceptively quick which is a huge plus. He's not rapid by any means but a lack of pace won't be a weakness for him and that's why I see him slowly moving in to the reckoning for us this season and next, even in the Premier League (if we don't blow it).

I think he'll make the match day squad next season on a regular basis as I could see us sending Coady out on a season-long loan to the Championship as the guy will want to play regularly at this stage of his career. Clearly Coady wasn't an Enzo signing as he would have played more if that was the case, I think the club signed him to acquire more leaders.

Edited 30 January 2024 by kingpower

[westernpark]

2 hours ago, kingpower said:

I think he'll make the match day squad next season on a regular basis as I could see us sending Coady out on a season-long loan to the Championship as the guy will want to play regularly at this stage of his career. Clearly Coady wasn't an Enzo signing as he would have played more if that was the case, I think the club signed him to acquire more leaders.

I think he was an Enzo signing. If it had not been for his injury during pre season and the start of the season, he would have been playing in Vestergaard’s position from the start. His passing is very good in the central position(Millwall in the cup, although I’d argue Vestergaard’s is better but there is also an argument that it is the kind of role where your passing improves with every game played), he also has a similar trajectory to Vestegaard regarding career and position, gradually was moved from midfield to defence. 

[Lesterlad]

6 hours ago, Sambiasso said:

A loan to a championship club would be in his best interest, need these kind of players to get some experience.

He’s at a championship club 

[cruzFOX]

The kid is good and is showing so much potential. I’m really liking the output from our academy at the moment. Hope it continues.

[westernpark]

On 06/01/2024 at 14:46, westernpark said:

Has he declared for Scotland or England yet? He’s got the highest ceiling out of any of the players currently coming through. 

Get the proper Ben Nelson thread going, I stand by this statement.

[weller54]