lazlo_80 Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 just going back to the question from before. For those who oppose Aird, who would you suggest plays that position? It's not like Aird is the be all, end all, but when you look at our options of people playing first team football there really isn't alot of options. Ledgerwood? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 38 minutes ago, lazlo_80 said: just going back to the question from before. For those who oppose Aird, who would you suggest plays that position? It's not like Aird is the be all, end all, but when you look at our options of people playing first team football there really isn't alot of options. Ledgerwood? We don't have any other true options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpg75 Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 3 hours ago, lazlo_80 said: Ledgerwood? Yes. He is the safer option. kmouseyc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_Gagne Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 1 hour ago, jpg75 said: Yes. He is the safer option. Aird is unsafe because he is learning the position, whereas Ledgerwood is unsafe because he lacks athleticism. IMO we have no "safer" option. If Benito thought Ledgerwood wasn't a potential liability at RB he would have played him there against Mexico, but that clearly didn't happen. Hopefully a full season at a reasonably high level will make Aird serviceable by September. In the meantime he needs to hold his starting spot, stay healthy, and get some time with Floro and the Nats in June. A number of things need to go right there, but Aird has demonstrated a lot of growth so far this season, so my money is on him being up for the challenge in September. As for him being able handle the pressure, consider this, Aird does play in from of 20,000 fans each week, and he did play for Rangers. Regardless of division, they still draw big crowds each week and a lot of media attention. Yes, Ledgerwood is the more "veteran" player, but IMO it's not as though Aird's hasn't experienced high pressure games either. Moldy9, Grizzly, kmouseyc and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Hombre Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 4 minutes ago, A_Gagne said: Aird is unsafe because he is learning the position, whereas Ledgerwood is unsafe because he lacks athleticism. IMO we have no "safer" option. The one thing Ledgerwood has is athleticism. The main knock on him is the perception that he lacks skill, particularly the type of dribbling/crossing skills that Aird possesses. At this moment, Ledgerwood is the better defender and Aird is the better attacker. It all depends on what you are looking for. kmouseyc, Oranje and jpg75 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floortom Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 Ledgerwood is kind of underrated on this board. He's been pretty solid in his National team appearances. He has almost no skill or ability going forward but defensively I've always been relatively pleased with him kmouseyc, Ivanovski94, Greatest Cockney Rip Off and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Hombre Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 What's interesting is when Ledgerwood lines up to take a free kick, which has happened a few times over the last 18 months. Not sure what Floro sees in training, but there must be something there. I haven't ever seen it though. Pqhbv 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 (edited) 1 hour ago, Floortom said: Ledgerwood is kind of underrated on this board. Not true. I think I am one of the few who believes you guys overrate him as a rightback. Edited May 17, 2016 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpg75 Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 1 hour ago, canta15 said: Not true. I think I am one of the few who believes you guys overrate him as a rightback. Half the people on this board crap on Ledgerwood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertuzzi44 Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 (edited) Against El Salvador I say definitely start Aird because we are GOING FOR THE WIN! or at least I hope we are... Edited May 17, 2016 by Bertuzzi44 Moldy9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_Gagne Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 4 hours ago, El Hombre said: The one thing Ledgerwood has is athleticism. The main knock on him is the perception that he lacks skill, particularly the type of dribbling/crossing skills that Aird possesses. At this moment, Ledgerwood is the better defender and Aird is the better attacker. It all depends on what you are looking for. Sorry, maybe I should have said "pace" as opposed to "athleticism". I thought it was a curious decision for Floro to play Henry at RB against Mexico, especially in the 2nd game, after he was clearly exploited in the first game. When Benito was asked why he played Henry, even after having a poor game in Vancouver, Floro's response was essentially, "well, who else was I going to play there?" Most of Ledgerwood's caps are at RB - even though it's not his typical position at club level -, so it's not as though he's an unknown commodity at RB. When Floro elected not to start Ledgerwood at RB against Mexico (especially the 2nd game), my interpretation was that he must believe that Ledgerwood simply isn't going to keep up with the top wingers in CONCACAF. I figured, surely that must have been the critical attribute that Henry (in Floro's mind) had over Ledgerwood. If Aird progresses defensively, he certainly will also have a significant pace advantage over Ledgerwood, but that being said, I'm honestly not up on Honduras enough to know if Floro would have this same concern (i.e. extremely fast wingers) against Honduras. 1 hour ago, jpg75 said: Half the people on this board crap on Ledgerwood. I'm not crapping on Ledgerwood. I think he hardly ever sets a foot wrong defensively, and puts in a solid shift every time. I think he makes a solid squad player, but I think it speaks to a significant lack of depth (especially at RB), when he very well could be our best option when the chips are down and WCQ is on the line. Essentially, I like the guy, but at the same time think that he's exactly the kind of lower div journeyman player that I'm really hoping our national team grows out of having to start in meaningful games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted May 18, 2016 Share Posted May 18, 2016 22 hours ago, A_Gagne said: When Floro elected not to start Ledgerwood at RB against Mexico (especially the 2nd game), my interpretation was that he must believe that Ledgerwood simply isn't going to keep up with the top wingers in CONCACAF. I figured, surely that must have been the critical attribute that Henry (in Floro's mind) had over Ledgerwood. In the return fixture in Mexico City Ledgerwood was brought into the right flank mid situation to provided defensive support for Henry as well as to counteract the attacking support threat of Mexican LB Layun, who was excellent in the previous match, and he did well in that regard. But I cringe to think at how things would turn out if he had to do more isolated 1 v 1 defending as an RB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_Gagne Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 (edited) "He’s only been training two or three weeks, to be fair, since his injury and since the personal issues that he had." - Carl Robinson, commenting on Aird, post match after tonights game. Anyone have any insight into what the "personal issues" were? http://aftn.ca/report-and-reaction-vancouver-whitecaps-san-jose-earthquakes-mls/ Edited August 14, 2016 by A_Gagne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northvansteve Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 39 minutes ago, A_Gagne said: "He’s only been training two or three weeks, to be fair, since his injury and since the personal issues that he had." - Carl Robinson, commenting on Aird, post match after tonights game. Anyone have any insight into what the "personal issues" were? http://aftn.ca/report-and-reaction-vancouver-whitecaps-san-jose-earthquakes-mls/ I may have misheard but I thought I heard a radio commentator mention a death in the family. The Caps need to put him at RB and leave him there for the rest of the season. He has great energy and toughness, and brings a real spark to the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Beaver Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 And he links up well with Bolanos. Love his energy and pluck, and he's a pretty decent technical player too. Obinna 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrennanFan Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 Floro chose Henry as our RB in 2014, replacing Ledgerwood starting with the Colombia friendly. Henry's injuries have not helped his progress, but as soon as he came back, he was in the 11. He is clearly Floros guy at RB, for better or worse. Aird will be a huge part of the CMNT, but not until the next cycle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boominbooty Posted November 21, 2016 Share Posted November 21, 2016 Back to Rangers?? For some reason I really like Aird's style. I really hope he can make a go of it at a top club. https://mobile.twitter.com/FraserAird/status/800465295160774657 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty Posted November 21, 2016 Share Posted November 21, 2016 3 minutes ago, Boominbooty said: Back to Rangers?? For some reason I really like Aird's style. I really hope he can make a go of it at a top club. https://mobile.twitter.com/FraserAird/status/800465295160774657 I like him too. I'm curious if Rangers will be loaning him out again soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obinna Posted November 21, 2016 Share Posted November 21, 2016 Got some good playing time in MLS but never really made the RB spot his own. Wishing him the best at Rangers. I think he's in a better position to get minutes at Rangers now than he was before. BCM 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob.notenboom Posted November 21, 2016 Share Posted November 21, 2016 Wherever he ends up, I wish him all the best and certainly hope he gets lots of minutes (that of course he earns with his stellar play). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northvansteve Posted November 21, 2016 Share Posted November 21, 2016 2 hours ago, Obinna said: Got some good playing time in MLS but never really made the RB spot his own. Wishing him the best at Rangers. I think he's in a better position to get minutes at Rangers now than he was before. Never settled into the RB position and it looks like that's not a good fit for him. Clearly better as a right mid and ideally as a RB/RM in a 3-5-2. Remains to be seen what position he will end up in. Was one of the few bright spots for the Whitecaps last season despite the defensive struggles (which were over-stated). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jordan Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 Back training with Rangers this morning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obinna Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 Awesome! Really looking forward to see if he'll get a chance. Hoping the think he's a better player now than before his loan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shermanator Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 Aird did not have his contract option picked up for 2017. Guessing it's back to Rangers for him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdude Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 1 hour ago, shermanator said: Aird did not have his contract option picked up for 2017. Guessing it's back to Rangers for him? He was already training there, so it's not a surprise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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