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Oldham Athletic and Coventry City Supporters' Thoughts on Reece Brown
Written by HarryfromBath on Thursday, 13th Jun 2013 10:44

I have had a look on Oldham and Coventry forums to get their thoughts on Reece Brown, with whom we recently have been linked. Although a Manchester United player, he has been loaned out to several clubs, including ourselves.

Brown has had little first team experience, but 15 of his 25 starts came in a loan spell at Oldham from March 2nd to the end of the 2012/12 season, and six came in a run of Coventry games in August and September of this season, so these seemed the most suitable places to look.

Oldham supporters liked what they saw. “A big lad”. “Released by United today, I'd have him back in a heartbeat”. “I'd like to see him back here. I guess he'll be aiming for a Championship club though”. “I would really like to see him back. He's one that will be worth money in a few years too”.

“A Manchester United fan I work with says he would be a good signing. No chance of him making at United but good enough for Championship he reckons”. They were unequivocal about where to play him. “He was good at centre-back, but was absolutely horrendous in midfield”.

“I would snap up Brown no questions asked, but to play as a centre-back and nothing else. Although he is versatile to play anywhere along the back four, he certainly isn't a midfielder from what I saw of him”.

“Didn't we play him left back at some point and he was poor, then moved him central and he played really well?” “We played him in midfield he was rubbish. As centre-back he was good. I recall he played right-back as well and was good”.

“His touch and passing were off at times, but he wasn’t scared to put a foot him and tried to spread play when he had space”. “I think Brown has been excellent. Good to have his height in there, wins plenty of headers and likes a tackle. He will only get better”.

They were disappointed when he signed on loan for Coventry last summer. “Gutted isn’t the word! Quality centre-back”! Paul Dickov started him in midfield in his early games, but Latics were quick to spot his defensive strengths after his first home game against the Iron: “Reece Brown looked like a defender playing midfield."

“A lot of his good work might have gone unnoticed by some, but when the other midfielders bombed forward it was usually Reece Brown filling in behind them”. “I thought he had the best footballing brain in the midfield that night”.

His lack of experience in midfield found him out, as fans pointed out in his next game against Yeovil. “Reece was another who was shocking today. He was at fault, directly, for both goals (in a 2-1 home defeat). His insistence (or is it the manager's?) on sitting so deep meant that we were playing with three centre-backs; not two”.

“Brown was way too deep at times. It made the centre of midfield useless for us today because there was no-one there. If he pushed up then we would have passed it more. He played well against Scunny getting forward but staying back enough to let his partner forward. He needs to push up more and stop playing the holding role, doesn't work in a 4-4-2”.

Brown scored for England U19s against Russia in a friendly in 2009, and it is at 3 minutes 15 seconds on this clip, which Oldham fans unearthed. As set pieces go, it is not especially memorable, but it did go in, and is the only video action I could find:

Some Latics haven’t given up hope of signing him. “He looked very solid at centre-half. He wasn't first-choice at either Coventry or Ipswich, so his sights might be a bit lower than we're expecting. He’s local, knows the club and was a regular when he played here. It's feasible, you know”.

Coventry fans were altogether less forgiving, judging by their reaction when we signed him on loan in February. “He was dog ****, one of the worst defenders I've seen in a long, long time. I think I would have done a better job. Every ball he kicked was either given straight to an opposition player or into the crowd. Think he's living off his brother's name a bit”.

“Possibly the worst defender I have seen play for us. One of the goals we conceded against Arsenal (a 6-1 defeat in the Capital Cup) was a prime example (the first maybe?). He looked totally uninterested, unrepentant of mistakes, slow to make a decision and totally lethargic”.

“He was played out of position at right back for us”. “He was billed as a right back who can play central defence”. “I thought he was poor too”. “Has he learned how to trap a ball yet?” “He really was terrible”.

“I can't believe a Championship club has come in for him”. “If McCarthy starts Reece Brown (in what was our dour 0-0 draw at the John Smith’s Stadium), that could be the transfer that sadly saves Huddersfield from relegation.

The two websites I referred to were OWTB for Oldham Athletic, and Sky Blues Talk for Coventry City.




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John_Warks_Willy added 12:28 - Jun 13
Super, super Harry.....super, super Harry....super, super Harry....super Harry from Baaaath.
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Edmunds5 added 14:36 - Jun 13
Interesting how two teams from the same Division have such different opinions, I suppose some of that is maybe down to Coventry fans expecting more from their team. The way it sounds is that he has a few decent attributes but some not so, but the thing is he is by no means the finished article at 21 and he has been out on loan which is never easy for players to make an impression especially if they're only for a couple of months. I would be pleased if he joined and MM must have seen something in him or he would just say no chance, he's not someone for sentiment. Also, sometimes players play better with better players around them and so maybe our back 4 can make him feel comfortable if they defend like last season. Oldham and Coventry both had tough seasons so they were not really the kind of environements a young player like Brown could really thrive in at that particular time.
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algarvefan added 14:41 - Jun 13
hahahaha Edmunds5 have you read our pages even our own fans have wildly differing opinions on our own players, I cite one Pablo Counago as an example, he was marmite!

As regards Reece, I trust MM & TC they will have seen him in training and not wanted to upset a solid back line whilst he was here on loan, hence the lack of opportunity, I see him as one for the future and capable back up if we do sign him.
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Edmunds5 added 14:45 - Jun 13
thats true algarvefan, everyone has different opinions. I thought Pablo was class for us but then others say he is lazy ect. I wouldn't say he is lazy I just think it is the type of player he was, Dennis Bergkamp for example or Matt Le Tissier didn't exactly get around the pitch but they still excited fans and created opportunities for others and yeah I think Brown would be an able back up from what I know but I have yet to see him in the flesh.
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HarryfromBath added 15:28 - Jun 13
I agree, Algarvefan. Mick is a bit of a magician when it comes to developing defenders - our transformation in months has been remarkable. Even if not a regular, Brown will be developed in training.

I agree Edmunds5 that he will benefit from playing in what is now a settled defence, but I do reckon that he will get chances, given how relentless this division is.

The Oldham comments about him sticking to Centre Back hold some water. It was widely felt that he was too defensive playing in front of the back four, and he was a complete liability at left back.

He suffered at Coventry when playing in a turbulent period when Andy Thorn was sacked. He was frozen out when William Edjenguélé and Richard Wood established themselves at the heart of the Sky Blues defence.
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Keaneish added 16:31 - Jun 14
Nice one Harry! Can you do this on every signing or t
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Keaneish added 16:34 - Jun 14
Hadn't finished that!

Nice one Harry! Cam you do this on every signing or target as it will save me scouring websites to glean information!

I'd be happy if he returns but it sounds like he'll be backup to smith and chambers only and not even first choice back up if we're in for kisnorbo, stearman, broad foot etc...given he's ex-united I think he'll have the birth between his teeth trying to prove himself and at this age this could be an interesting signing.
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