Ben Nelson

[RowlattsFox]

Happy he's in and he should remain but I don't think him not playing as made that much difference to our points total. Yes we've conceded soft goals but its our attacking play that's cost us. 

[Globalfox]

Let’s be crystal clear if Ben does not play Saturday then it is official Cifuentes is a complete and utter moron.

[trooky]

23 minutes ago, teblin said:

Was going to say the same.

We need to manage the game, or stop the cross. 

 

He had the run on Okoli and would have scored against any of our smaller RBs. In general he had a decent game, looked solid but should have scored. 

 

Anyway I want Nelson to keep his place, and to not play Skipp, Soumare or Hamza alongside Winks. 

 

James linked well with Fatawu so can stay at 10 as we don't have other options. 

 

If Ricky P plays RB, then Soumare will play alongside Winks for a physical presence, so IMO the best solution is Ricky P alongside Winks and Okoli at RB for additional height and presence. 

 

 

Edited 5 November 2025 by trooky

[honeybradger]

2 minutes ago, RowlattsFox said:

Happy he's in and he should remain but I don't think him not playing as made that much difference to our points total. Yes we've conceded soft goals but its our attacking play that's cost us. 

The West Brom game comes to mind where Faes threw himself to the floor, the one where Vestergaard and Kristiansen got bullied off the ball as well.

 

You just dont get the feeling that Nelson has those moments in his game.

[StanSP]

Should be starting each game now. 

[Ric Flair]

21 minutes ago, GrobyLCFC31 said:

He looked good - as expected 

 

We looked better defensively - as expected 

 

He tired late in the second half - as expected 

 

No one in the media asked Marti at FT whether he’s been tactically left out so far this season or he’s been injured - as expected 

Found Marti's comments about his improvements in training interesting. Think he's already trying to cover his arse on why he had inexcusably left him out for the first 3 months.

[Ric Flair]

11 minutes ago, RowlattsFox said:

Happy he's in and he should remain but I don't think him not playing as made that much difference to our points total. Yes we've conceded soft goals but its our attacking play that's cost us. 

I think defensively has cost us in the last month, individual errors every game vs Pompey, Hull, Millwall and Blackburn. Probably only a few points difference but still been dog shit.

[GrobyLCFC31]

1 minute ago, Ric Flair said:

Found Marti's comments about his improvements in training interesting. Think he's already trying to cover his arse on why he had inexcusably left him out for the first 3 months.

It’s clever from Marti, none of us see training day to day so we can’t comment on how he’s been training -

My guess is Nelson’s been training at a similar level to everyone else Marti just has been told he has to play Faes/Vestegaard etc. from above so we can try and shift them on 

 

 

If he’d said anything like ‘selection/tactical decision’ he’d have been crucified! 
 

[Buzzell]

9 hours ago, Dan said:

Wouldn't be remotely surprised if he was back out.

Neither would I to be honest. It’s the sort of move you can see Marti doing, slotting Faes back in there and Nelson being frozen out again.

 

I really hope I’m wrong.

[ClaphamFox]

8 minutes ago, Buzzell said:

Neither would I to be honest. It’s the sort of move you can see Marti doing, slotting Faes back in there and Nelson being frozen out again.

 

I really hope I’m wrong.

I've so far resisted the theory that Nelson has been frozen out because Marti is being given orders from above over team selection as I struggle to believe that any football club would choose to do something so utterly moronic and self-defeating. But if Nelson drops out on Saturday, then I'll have to admit that I was wrong and there really is a club stupid enough to do that—and it's us.

Edited 5 November 2025 by ClaphamFox

[The Doctor]

1 hour ago, coolhandfox said:

Who probably been one of our best and consistent defender.

 

Play them together 

Vestegaard is a big part of the problem. we can only play at one pace, incredibly slow, and it's because he can only play at that pace. Already given away three goals this season with his mistakes, should have been a 4th last night if it weren't for Begovic. He doesn't justify a place.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

Vestergaard is absolute shite and the sooner people accept it the better. He's just the least shit out of himself, Okoli and Faes. None of them have any business starting for us and should all be out on their arse.

[The Doctor]

42 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

I think defensively has cost us in the last month, individual errors every game vs Pompey, Hull, Millwall and Blackburn. Probably only a few points difference but still been dog shit.

I mean the defensive errors go all season and have cost us so many points.

 

Preston - Stolarcyks rush of blood and Vestegaards inability to track a run, turns a hard fought 1-0 to a 2-1 defeat.

 

WBA - Vestegaards lack of positional sense and whatever the **** is wrong with Faes turns a smash and grab 1-0 to a 1-1 draw

 

Wrexham - Vestegaard again, throwing away 2 points

 

Pompey - Winks failing to track a run, throws away 2 points

 

Millwall - Thomas limp as anything, drops a point

 

that alone would have us 2nd before even considering Hull, Blackburn, Oxford and Okolis inability to jump last night.

 

[Fox on the Rox]

49 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Found Marti's comments about his improvements in training interesting. Think he's already trying to cover his arse on why he had inexcusably left him out for the first 3 months.

Nailed it mate. The guy's a weasel.

[dmayne7]

1 hour ago, ClaphamFox said:

I've so far resisted the theory that Nelson has been frozen out because Marti is being given orders from above over team selection as I struggle to believe that any football club would choose to do something so utterly moronic and self-defeating. But if Nelson drops out on Saturday, then I'll have to admit that I was wrong and there really is a club stupid enough to do that—and it's us.

This is a club that turned down good money for players like Iversen, only to freeze him out for 2 years. We're more than capable of doing something like this.

[Chelmofox]

1 hour ago, honeybradger said:

The West Brom game comes to mind where Faes threw himself to the floor, the one where Vestergaard and Kristiansen got bullied off the ball as well.

 

You just dont get the feeling that Nelson has those moments in his game.

Vestegaard has been caught short multi times. Jeeze, even look at the moment Begovic had to make that save - ball literally sails through Jannicks legs. Awefull. 

[RowlattsFox]

1 hour ago, Ric Flair said:

I think defensively has cost us in the last month, individual errors every game vs Pompey, Hull, Millwall and Blackburn. Probably only a few points difference but still been dog shit.

All fair examples, but in all those games we've scored no more than 1 goal and barely looked liked it either. Defenders will make mistakes and gift chances, it happens more often than it should admittedly but if we scored more goals it wouldn't be an issue. 

[Richmondfox]

48 minutes ago, The Doctor said:

Vestegaard is a big part of the problem. we can only play at one pace, incredibly slow, and it's because he can only play at that pace. Already given away three goals this season with his mistakes, should have been a 4th last night if it weren't for Begovic. He doesn't justify a place.

And he keeps trying to play the Enzo ball to Ayew or the other clowns up top. Nelson looked solid doing the basics and  pass the ball as well. He seems smarter than our other defenders, under pressure in the second half he looked to pass backwards but then knocked it out of play so he wouldn’t put himself or others under more pressure. Simple.  
 

Get rid of JV and have Ben passing to Winks quickly who can get JJ driving up the pitch. Fatawu and the other winger look to get into space with Ricardo arriving late into the box. 

 

We have forwards who can’t control a ball but constantly expect them to hold up the ball and bring others into the game, the one player that allegedly can do that activity avoids getting anyone into good positions. 

[Chelmofox]

58 minutes ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

Vestergaard is absolute shite and the sooner people accept it the better. He's just the least shit out of himself, Okoli and Faes. None of them have any business starting for us and should all be out on their arse.

I disagree. Vestergaard is a worse defender than Okoli and Faes.

 

Unfortunately, Vestergaard has 1 thing he is good at, and the teams structure and pace is built around it. He is a better passer than those 2.  As @Richmondfox says, he's still playing Enzo ball and its so frustrating and slow to watch.

 

We can only move forward if we dump Vestergaard.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

4 minutes ago, Chelmofox said:

I disagree. Vestergaard is a worse defender than Okoli and Faes.

 

Unfortunately, Vestergaard has 1 thing he is good at, and the teams structure and pace is built around it. He is a better passer than those 2.  As @Richmondfox says, he's still playing Enzo ball and its so frustrating and slow to watch.

 

We can only move forward if we dump Vestergaard.

 

It's picking your favourite member of ISIS

[Xen]

2 hours ago, RowlattsFox said:

Happy he's in and he should remain but I don't think him not playing as made that much difference to our points total. Yes we've conceded soft goals but its our attacking play that's cost us. 

 

Even if we don't improve, I'd much MUCH rather have a youngster like Nelson getting minutes than someone like Faes stinking the place out. On yesterday's showing he's certainly not worse, and at least he's one of our own and we can look towards the future with him.

 

As you say, its our attack that is causing us the biggest issues. We should have the quality in the championship that even with an error-prone defence you can outscore the majority of teams - just look at how successful Coventry are this season. It's an approach that will be punished in the prem, but that's a problem for another time. If we can't score more freely then we're not going up, simple as that.

[EnderbyFox]

3 minutes ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

 

It's picking your favourite member of ISIS

 

Got to be Shamima Begum surely?

[Muzzy_no7]

I thought even considering his lack of gametime Ben was easily our best performer last night. 
 

Says a lot about this rabble 

[Tommy Fresh]

44 minutes ago, RowlattsFox said:

All fair examples, but in all those games we've scored no more than 1 goal and barely looked liked it either. Defenders will make mistakes and gift chances, it happens more often than it should admittedly but if we scored more goals it wouldn't be an issue. 

You won't help yourself if you're having to at least score twice every week to win though

[LCFCJohn]

2 hours ago, RowlattsFox said:

Happy he's in and he should remain but I don't think him not playing as made that much difference to our points total. Yes we've conceded soft goals but its our attacking play that's cost us. 

It still feels irrelevant to me. Let’s say the outcomes would be the same which we will never know. Playing Nelson would still be a better strategic decision in terms of long term value to the team or incoming transfer fee.

 

You're right about our attack being worthless. That’s why we’d need a Burnley like defence to stand a chance and with Faes/Vestegaard errors, we haven’t had that.