The Kyle Naughton Appreciation Thread

[thinktank]

WC Standby. Would be nice if he ended up making an appearance.

Think you misread the title of the thread, mate.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Think you misread the title of the thread, mate.

Wait, what, this isn't the thread about most unlikely RB to make a WC-squad?

Seriously, I understand Naughton is on standby for WC. And since I'm not supporting England in the WC, I don't mind if he makes it all the way to one of the pitches.

 

[thinktank]

Wait, what, this isn't the thread about most unlikely RB to make a WC-squad?

Serious, I understand Naughton is on standby for WC.

Where d'ya hear that?

 

[Krafty]

I thought he did very well against Villa, admittedly a terrible Villa side but still.

He's improved a bit with a regular run of games, and given the license to really boom forward both he and Rose did a lot better. I also think having a designated and natural DM in Sandro helped.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Wait, what, this isn't the thread about most unlikely RB to make a WC-squad?

Seriously, I understand Naughton is on standby for WC. And since I'm not supporting England in the WC, I don't mind if he makes it all the way to one of the pitches.

Are you Woy? Giving us a sniff of the squad five minutes early?

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Where d'ya hear that?

You are right, that was false. Seemed legit at the time to me.

 

[easley91]

Deserves better than the abuse he has got at times this season. Was never going to go well in his unnatural left back role. If he had been played on his natural side from the start, he'd likely be flourishing more. He has improved defensively and for me is a better defender than Walker. Also, lately he has put in some decent crosses (though nobody is willing to get on the end of them). More than good enough for RB cover, but being older than Walker I wouldn't begrudge him wanting to move at this point for first team football.

 

[whitelanefever]

Well, he's not a first team player, is he? Walker's been injured a lot in the second half of the season, but normally, he's one of the players who spend the least time at the physio's office. And why is it som worrying that he can't play on the keft? Do we expect all our players to be two footed and capable of playing on both flanks? Are any of our other full backs in that category?

Well he has been playing in first team since Walker has been injured, so how else can you judge a player, you can't really judge them if there not playing. A really good fullback should be able to play either side, just look at Azpilecueta , Ivanovic , Zabeleta & even Flanagan & Johnson who I don't particularly rate, have managed to play Lb & done a job for the team without turning into a bumbling wreck. Some of the best Lb's have been right footed Irwin, Brehme, Maldini,S Fachetti & De Sciglio currently playing at Milan is right footed, so it's a cop-out to excuse poor positional sense & technigue on playing on opposite side of pitch . I do think a professional footballer in the supposed best lg in the world should be able to use his opposite foot adequately & it shows up what is wrong with the coaching of kids in England.
To answere your question about our fullbacks then no they don't fall into that category although I do remember seeing Walker play Lb at Shef Utd & he done a decent job of it, as for Rose, he can hardly pass a ball with his left let alone his right.
As I said in a previous post for his own good he should look to move, at 25 he really should be looking to play every week.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Has done a decent job at right back in Walker's absence, and we probably won't find a better backup right back, but if we ever have to play him at left back again then the whole transfer committee should be sacked.

 

[dontcallme]

I said this was the season for Naughton to claim his place. He's 25 now so no longer a young squad player.

I thought he was very poor the first half the season.

He has played better recently but I just don't think he's up to level.

He has said he wants regular first team football. Like Livermore I think he can make a Prem career away from us and good luck to him.

 

[WiganSpur]

Meh, not entirely convinced but he's OK. At left back he's a complete disaster. Right back decent but nothing special, I know he came back from his errors but in that first half against Southampton he was atrocious.

I wouldn't be too concerned with him staying here though next season as long as we have two left backs. We probably couldn't do all that much better by replacing him. There are probably a lot more pressing matters than than Naughton as a backup right back, and i'll say one thing for him- in his favoured position he's shown a lot more composure and quality than Danny Rose.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Championship level player. Not hard enough, not confident enough, woeful decision making, and to be quite honest a poor footballer. Always said it, and at 25 I doubt he'll progress much more now.

I applaud his character though. A never ending series of calamities and yet he get's on with it every game he's played. So good on him for that. Decent athlete as well, which seems to be enough to make it as an English footballer these days.

 

[Spurger King]

Should never, EVER play at LB again. Stick Friedel out there if there are really no other alternatives. As a LB he's a walking goal-deficit. I've voiced my annoyance at him on many occasions, but the reality is that it's the fault of the manager (whether AVB or Sherwood) for playing him in a position he's clearly appalling in.

As a RB he's not actually too bad. Nowhere near first-team quality, but I can't imagine too many players that would be an improvement as a second choice RB. I suspect he's not happy with that though, so won't be surprised to see him leave.

 

[eddiev14]

Fuck me, I'm staggered at the positive reaction to this.

Kyle Naughton is nowhere near good enough for a team pushing top 4. He has made an untold number of errors this season and he has cost us points. I'm sorry but that is the reality.#

Also that performance against Liverpool was probably the worst defensive display since Gary Doherty v Leicester back in 2004...

I'm sure he's a good guy and a trier, but I'm leaving sentiment at the door on this one. After years of defending Lennon I'm applying the same logic to him now too.

 

[Black]

He's better than walker

Walker is just like Lennon a lot of huff and puff with little application.

 

[Mr Pink]

I think the OP has it pretty much spot on. Sure there are certain things he could do with improving but technically I think he's very good. He's better than Walker with the ball at his feet but Walker is obviously a lot more powerful and can recover situations better with his pace. Walker provides more thrust going forward but honestly Naughton is better with the ball at his feet and he can ping some lovely passes as well.

Overall you'd go for Walker but Naughton is a very good back up for RB IMO. Really hope he stays part of the squad and who knows, he could end up pushing Walker very hard for that first team spot.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

He's better than walker

Walker is just like Lennon a lot of huff and puff with little application.

Who would win a 1 on 1 football match in the playground? Walker would destroy Naughton. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to have a word with themselves

 

[mckenz]

He's OK, and with a run of games he's come into his game a bit but we should be looking at better.

Walker has him on pace and power, and Naughton won't find that in training and development whereas Walker will only get better with the ball with age.

Good backup (not on the left against any sort of team though) but I'd expect him to be replaced if we have a good young rb come through or if we buy in.

 

[tony_parkes]

Who would win a 1 on 1 football match in the playground? Walker would destroy Naughton. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to have a word with themselves

Why is playing football 1 v 1 in a playground relevant to playing 11 v 11 in the premier league?

It's like saying nadal might be the best clay court 1 v 1 tennis player in the world but he's shit at 11 v 11 playground tennis.

 

[absolute bobbins]

Who would win a 1 on 1 football match in the playground? Walker would destroy Naughton. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to have a word with probably talks to themselves