Often when I read articles and comments about players people think we should be getting rid of, Callum Davenport’s name pops up.
I remember when he first played for us a few years back. Each game I saw him play further emphasised for me his quality in the air. It just seemed that he got his head to anything that came near him.
He has now played (I think) in all of our pre-season fixtures and has scored once against Southampton. That’s one more than Carlton Cole if anyone is counting.
I personally am suprised when people mention him when talking about players that we should be getting rid of. I think he has a lot to offer and is an ideal back-up for when Upson inevitably gets injured!
I was wondering if there is anyone who feels the same as me, or have I simply been watching a different player to everyone else?!!
Sam
Why would Upson inevitably get injured? How long was he out last season, do you know something I don’t?
As for Davenport, yeah great backup and team squad player but with Collins, Ferdinand, Gabbidon and Upson infront of him he isn’t going to see much first team football. Besides, I think you’ll find that as soon as Mcartney is back at left back you’ll then see Neill go into the center with Upson and Behrami on the right so that just puts someone else infront of him.
Need any other reason?
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Oh and to save you looking it up, Upson missed 9 league games last season. Played in all FA cup matches and I think it was 2 league cup matches.
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great contribution there col. really good.
oh and to save you looking it up, the 9 games that Upson missed came in the final 10 games of the season, and Upson has only just come back from that injury featuring in only two of our pre-season fixtures so far.
do you know something that I don’t about Collins and Gabbidon because as far as I could make out they are two renowned sicknotes. probably therefore for most of the season putting Davenport above them in the pecking order.
as for putting Neill into the middle…great idea. i suppose he is pretty pacy and does turn like a battleship. great in the air too. some of the many qualities of a modern day centre half.
need any other reason?
good post sam, I agree with you…davenport does have a lot to bring to the team.
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Upson is injury prone, Collins and Gabbidon aren’t really premier quality so I cannot understand how they can be ahead of Davenport. I would pesonally keep him and get rid of the other 2 but I agree that there is not much in it.
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my abiding memory of him whan he was with us in the Championship was that he got his head(which had flowing blond locks) on everything that came into the box and was a good in an attacking role from corners etc. I would keep him.
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Col, accurate stats for 07-08. Shame you overlooked the previous season when after his £7000000 transfer in january he played just 41 mins of football in 2 games over the whole of the second half of that season! He’s my choice of our centre backs however but i agree with Sam that he, along with first choice players such as Bellamy, Ashton, Dyer and Parker are all injury prone!
As for your center back pairing of Upson and Neil – Rob Green had better be practising his sprint starts!
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I’ve been saying this all last year when his name came up alongside the trash like LBM and Qhashie as players we should offload. He’s only played a handful of games for us this stint, and the one game that he had a shocker in, the whole team did as well (including Ferdinand alongside him, who IMO has played a lot more dodgy games than Davenport.)
His first stint at the club he was absolutely solid, and I for one was sad to see him go.
He’s by far the best defender we have in the air, and is an intellligent player.
If I were to place our CB’s in order, it would be Upson, Gabbidon, Davenport, Collins, Ferdinand, Tomkins.
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My son went to the Southampton game and said Behrami was dreadful at right back and was at fault for one of the goals. He wasn’t tracking the left winger at all and is clearly much better going forward. When he moved up to right midfield he was great apparently. If true, why is Curbs wanting to play him at right back as standard? Would be typical Curbishley – buy a player and then not know where to play him. Hapless idiot.
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i thought that when we had him first on loan – from Chelsea? He looked promising ? I dont think he has had a chance to prove at the top level really – or maybe he is just shite in training ? lol
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davenport is a good player, but with upson being 1st choice i think only ferdinand or gabbidon can play alongside him as all the others lack pace
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