I could be wrong, but I feel like James has excelled in the magoos running through the midfield but when given a chance in the seniors he plays in the forward line. Opportunities are circumstantial for fringe players, and they need to try to adapt, but I wonder how he'd go at seniors if he spent a little more time outside of the forward 1/3 of the ground.
I knew him as a gentle young man, I cannot say for sure the reasons for his decline
We watched him fade before our very eyes, and years before his time
This was TB’s main point regarding Bell- he wanted him to play in the mids, which is where he plays well in the magoos.
And he could be right- but the thing is, we have better options there with our youngsters and the only slot available is HF, where he underwhelms. So Campbell please.
Bell was also drafted as an inside mid, not a forward.
It is a shame that he hasn’t been able to adapt to a forward role given that has been the only opening for him when he has been selected to the senior team.
Maybe they keep persevering with him as he was an academy player and they have invested a lot in him over the years and know/see things in him through that long relationship that we haven’t seen in his senior appearances.
But as I said, Stephens has come good, so Bell (and Campbell) may yet do so.
The challenge for us is if he does become a good midfielder, he will be competing with Gus and Roberts for a spot that doesn’t exist until, eg Parker retires or there is an injury.
Clarke wasn’t a forward until seven weeks ago, so likewise, they could try Bell as a small/mid defender, if there is an injury.
I want to beat the Pies for any number of different reasons, but beating them to spite Maguire is still very close to the top reason!
A turd of a bloke who did us a lot of damage.
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