Bartley.

[Brunty]

Bartley looked OK first half but struggled second half with the system change. He's not comfortable in a back three and never will be. He can be slow and ponderous, gets turned easily and also plays too many sloppy passes.

I think he's decent back up to a back four in this league. I do feel we overpaid for him though.

[brada_wba]

But he's fine in a 2.

When we switched to the 3 second half he was all over the shop.

He's poor in a back four. He's poor in a back three. He's a poor player.

Disagree. What did he do wrong first half and Brighton away?

[Malcolm Tucker]

Pound for pound has to be one of the worst ever signings.

Yet Leeds fans love him, from his time up there. Funny old game.

They probably love him more for his time down here now. 

What amazes me most about him is how casual he is about doing something completely fucking shit.

[Cunninghamismagic]

Just watched the 3 Brighton goals again. Bartley guilty for the 1st (misscontrolled ball then tries to make out to Dawson it was a pass). Far too easy for the Brighton player to get a cross in for the 2nd (he has the mobility of the Titanic). And a poor clearance for the 3rd (which Harper should have done better with).

[Dumbo]

Just watched the 3 Brighton goals again. Bartley guilty for the 1st (misscontrolled ball then tries to make out to Dawson it was a pass). Far too easy for the Brighton player to get a cross in for the 2nd (he has the mobility of the Titanic). And a poor clearance for the 3rd (which Harper should have done better with).

1st was poor control but Dawson reaction was beyond pants. He should have got there.
2nd he was turned inside out but was clearly fatigued as it was in ET.
3rd the game was over.

Bartley was doing alright 'til DM switched to a back 3 and shifted him out right.

[brada_wba]

Just watched the 3 Brighton goals again. Bartley guilty for the 1st (misscontrolled ball then tries to make out to Dawson it was a pass). Far too easy for the Brighton player to get a cross in for the 2nd (he has the mobility of the Titanic). And a poor clearance for the 3rd (which Harper should have done better with).

The first was Dawson's fault. Yes it was a crap piece of control by Bartley but nothing unusual. Dawson was half asleep and playing his favourite i'm stronger than you game holding off the attacker instead of just hacking it clear. 

Second was just good attacking play from a fresh player in extra time. 

Bartley isn't a good player but he's certainly not as bad as certain formations make him look.

[Psalm23]

Bartley isn't a good player but he's certainly not as bad as certain formations make him look.

He definitely looks better playing, (a) in a back 4 & (b) playing on the right side as opposed to the left where he was earlier in the season. 
Still not convinced Josh would accept that he would get in the Halesowen side, mind.  

[Shabby Russian]

Bartley is an ok defender at Championship level - this worst player ever stuff is nonsense.

The switch to the back 3 had a positive effect in that we defended the penalty area better, their set pieces second half were not as dangerous as they were first half, and I felt generally we defended better. The negative of the switch was that we were less effective going forward.

I don't believe there was a massive effect on Bartley's performance b the switch. The mistake he made for their first goal could have happened with either system. And the goals in extra time were more a product of tiredness. Even their defnders were making errors in extra time, we were just unable to capitalise.

If I was nitpicking , I would have liked to see the usual full backs playing, but I fully understand why the coaching team would want to give their understudies a run out and in fairness they played well, they just lacked a little in the final third, witness that cross from Townsend when he could have done a lot better in a great attacking position.

[Cunninghamismagic]

Don't agree that their 1st goal was Dawson's fault. Arguably he could have done better but he was completely wrong footed by Bartleys awful miss control.

[Dumbo]

Don't agree that their 1st goal was Dawson's fault. Arguably he could have done better but he was completely wrong footed by Bartleys awful miss control.

Loose touch by Bartley but Dawsons reactions were pathetic. The Brighton player was miles behind and still got there first.