Matt Connolly.........

[HammersmithR]

fully deserved his team selection.

Showed everything in the game that Hall does not do.

1. He organised the defence

2. He won his headers

3. He very rarely misplaced a pass

4. Set up some great attacks

5. Made some great tackles (very well timed)

To think that people wanted Ramage ahead of him...........totally laughable. Without doubt one of the best defenders in the Championship. That is why Warnock was so keen to get him on a new deal in the summer. Ramage is out of contract next summer. Why wasn't Warnock so keen to get him tied up?

I hear Hall is out for 4 weeks (no surprise). I fully expect him to cement his place in this side which is coming together nicely. Just need those 2 strikers!

[BennyBoyRs]

As I've said many a time Dave...for me, he's easilly our best CB. So composed and his positional sense is superb. He's good with the ball on the deck as well.

[Spencer]

Another suprise already for me is Clint Hill.

Looks very solid at Left Back...He is very good in air,not bad at distribution, but the one fact that was going to scare us all, was his lack of pace.

Well, I was sitting in R block yesterday, and their right winger looked to have him beaten for pace.But Hill dug in and you could see on his face that he knew he was slower.But his footballing brain got him to the ball before their player.He also constantly talks to Hogan.

Not saying his is the best left back we could have signed and Im sure a better player will out pace him.But i feel much more comofrtable with him there over Borrowdale.

But yes...you are right.Matt looked very good yesterday.

[rangers74]

I like Matt Connolly, I really do. Composed,good reader on the game,comfortable in possession.

My concern about him, is when is up against a big strong,no nonsense centre forward (Henderson,Boothroyd,Adebola etc)

I remember last season at home to Coventry, Leon Best bullied him the whole game and Matt struggled.

I guess we will see......

[HammersmithR]

I like Matt Connolly, I really do. Composed,good reader on the game,comfortable in possession.

My concern about him, is when is up against a big strong,no nonsense centre forward (Henderson,Boothroyd,Adebola etc)

I remember last season at home to Coventry, Leon Best bullied him the whole game and Matt struggled.

I guess we will see......

Shame Fitz Hall struggles against all types of strikers...........especially ones with clever movement e.g. Michael Chopra

Ramage struggles against most types of forwards. He plays 4 or 5 games at the end of last season when our season was already over and some people on here think he is Franco 'phucking' Baresi!

[BennyBoyRs]

Whilst I can't be arsed to get into a debate, especially on a thread about another defender, Rambo is a very good CB.

Just an opinion I've always had.

[Scarlet pimple]

Connolly was good yesterday against a shoit attack.

[G.T.P]

warnock has his own mind, cos going on, last week, pecking order and last season etc, ramage should of covered today, but he used connolly.
man knows his players and what and who he wants already.

[swanleyhoop]

Perhaps it was a case of NW choosing the one who was most suited to Scunny's forwards, rather than who is the best CB.
Against a different type of forward line, Ramage may have got the nod.

[WeAreQPR12]

Perhaps it was a case of NW choosing the one who was most suited to Scunny's forwards, rather than who is the best CB.
Against a different type of forward line, Ramage may have got the nod.

Sorry Swanley I don't go along with that.

You shouldn't choose a defender regarding what strike force you come up against.

You need a defence that you feel is your strongest and you should play them together for as long as possible, so they get comfortable playing together and build a partnership. Playing centre back is all about the partnership. I actually think Connors and Gorkks should play as many games as possible until injury means we need to change it.

[swanleyhoop]

I've read about managers choosing teams according to the opposition before. Mainly happens with teams where squad rotation is in force.
Given that we don't seem to practise that, perhaps it ISN'T something NW would do -- but it's always worth thinking about.

[singingranger]

I don't rate hall at All but he played well last week before his injury, in terms of clint hill so far so good but better wingers to face for sure

[swanleyhoop]

I don't rate hall at All but he played well last week before his injury...

I agree, credit where credit's due.

[hhrangers]

he did well but filled in for the fitz hall "lets boot the ball as high and as far as i can" role quite well. one example was clear when gorkss was closer to the ball and could have played a pass to hill or ephraim i think and connolly called "matts ball" and just wacked it as far as he could. apart from the hoofs he did well there though

[Youvebeenrangered]

Connolly or Rambo is a complete no brainer imo, Connolly everytime! Had a good game...

M'boro have some good goal poachers and will make us pay if we make any defensive mistakes.

Boyd in particular is a preditor when silly mistakes are made...