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Hurst: Tough Call at the Centre of Defence
Thursday, 20th Sep 2018 16:23

Blues boss Paul Hurst admits he has a tough choice to make at the centre of his defence at the weekend with Toto Nsiala back after his three-match ban but with skipper Luke Chambers and on-loan Everton man Matthew Pennington having impressed during the DR Congo international’s absence.

“I think he was doing very well,” Hurst said of Nsiala, who was harshly red-carded at Sheffield Wednesday last month.

“Arguably, not that many games in truth, but was again one of our most consistent performers and then Luke Chambers and Matt Pennington have had the last few games together and I have to say I think they’ve done very well.

“So, a tough call. I think I’m pretty much there, but you’re entitled to change your mind until that teamsheet goes in.”

Regarding Pennington’s excellent start to his season-long loan, he added: “He’s done very well, I’m very impressed with how he came into that first game having not really trained with the players.

“It was a last-minute deal that happened, he came straight across but we had a little bit of an advantage that [fitness coach] Nathan [Winder] had worked with him at Leeds and I also had some information on the player from people that I trust and they were very positive.

“So maybe not the biggest of surprises what I’ve seen but still nice to see it first hand. Players sometimes take time to settle but I think he hasn’t needed time, he’s got straight on with his business.

“He’s very unassuming, a very good character. Someone you wouldn’t think, ‘He’s at a Premier League club, he’s a little bit precious’ or anything like that. He’s a really good lad.”


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runningout added 16:32 - Sep 20
Not a tough call at all ... Pennington and Nsiala
2

arc added 16:39 - Sep 20
Stick with one of the few things that's working–Chambers and Pennington. I'm sorry for Toto–he was mugged by the ref–but his time will come.
9

goat_man added 16:43 - Sep 20
I bet it will be Pennington that gets dropped
-6

SheptonMalletBlue added 16:43 - Sep 20
Easy, drop the fist pumper!!!
-3

flimflam added 16:46 - Sep 20
Why drop Chambers? He has been decent pretty much every game!!!!
6

Radlett_blue added 16:54 - Sep 20
OK - all our centre backs are doing very well but we still haven't kept a clean sheet all season?
0

Karlosfandangal added 16:58 - Sep 20
So people call for a bit of experience in the team and then shout for Chambers to be dropped.
Drop Gerken too as he was One of MM boys get Bart back in, even though Gerken has played well for the last 3 games and deserves to stay in goal
1

prebbs007 added 17:13 - Sep 20
Drop the dead donkey. Chambers is a liability, costs us goals regularly, can't pass, gets beaten for pace, is positionally unaware and is well past his best. Still shouts a lot though. There is no decision to make PH. It's Nsiala & Pennington for certain.
-7

ChrisFelix added 17:29 - Sep 20
I thoughthink that Gerken should have saved the Brentford goal. Chambers is a disaster waiting to happen but he offers experience
-3

DJ27 added 17:30 - Sep 20
Interesting that people who were complaining that we signed too many League 1 players and not enough Championship experience, are the same people who want to play said League 1 player instead of Championship experience. You cannot make it up, its laughable. Personally i think Nsiala was a good buy, but i would stick with Chambers and Pennington. Chambers is underrated, his distribution isnt great, but he is a very good defender there was an incident in 2nd half on Tues, when Brentford Striker was clean through and Chambers just eased him off the ball. We also need his leadership on the pitch right now as there isn't alot of other vocal players currently in the side.
8

ihatecanaries added 18:07 - Sep 20
Yep its a tough call when you have so many world class defenders to choose from
2

pragmatic added 19:37 - Sep 20
Dj 27 as you say “you couldn't make it up” presumably we all want a win asap & the best way is the correct blend of experience helping the new blood along the way, target at the moment 51 points from 114 & hopefully some goals & games to remember in this very transitional season,
2

Warkys_Tash added 22:21 - Sep 20
Drop your captain, are you serious? We need his leadership. And as some said on here he is a good defender. give the guy a break.

Pennington is probably the best defender we have though.
2

cantona11 added 23:21 - Sep 20
As you will all know I don't like Chambers as he is not a leader and the worst footballer we have at the club can not play out of defence and when he does the opposition get possession very impressed with Pennington cattied the ball out of defence tues and immense at defending so i would play Toto and Pennington and with Toto being one he has bought in i would think he might make that call and Gerkin made a good save Tues to keep us in the game as it wasn't lifted over him and the Brentford player should have done better I don't think he gives the defence much confidence,he's so slow of his line and I think Bart commands better and can kick better as we seem to pass the ball backwards a lot at the mo Chambers being the no1 culprit
0

Murphys_Law added 09:04 - Sep 21
Doesn't appear that anyone has considered that it might be all three of them? Might then mean we only play one holding midfielder rather than two?
1


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