Guy Branston?

[Smithys]

I couldnt really hear against Chesterfield but I believe he won player of the year.

Now I accept he is fantastic with his head, and is very commited and leads the team well, whenever the ball falls to his feet im nervous! Some fans look for the ability to use both feet, Branston struggles to use either, he is terrible with a player running towards him, often resorting to a foul. Personally alot of his attributes arent good enough for football league, bar his heading, in my opinion Ellis and Robbo are better.

I would like to hear from you guys the reasons for voting him player of the year.

[Scott Brehaut]

I'm guessing you will be asking the PFA too then............

[Plymouth Gull]

the fact that he has been solid as a rock for 95% of the time since he joined us, he's a leader, he's helped the club push on and he has had a great season.

Although personally I voted for Zebs.

[Smithys]

I also voted for Zebo, but with a good attacker, as we will see many should we achieve promotion to League 1, I have to disagree that he's solid.

[CP Gull]

. in my opinion Ellis and Robbo are better.

I would like to hear from you guys the reasons for voting him player of the year.

Player of the Year in my book with Zebs a very close second.

Much as I rate both Ellis and Robertson individually as players they are nothing (at this stage of their careers) without Branston alongside them cajolling them and marshalling the defence.

If you want proof, then you only needed to turn up at Plainmoor for the one and only time Branno wasn't it the team and Ellis and Robbo played together. Result = a 4-3 home defeat to a very average Oxford side .... 'nuff said!

[slackers]

I would have to admit to branston being fantastic with his head, in that sense he is a real threat. On the other hand when the ball is played to his feet i get very nervous because i believe with his feet he is not good enough to be in the football league.

[Smithys]

Yeah I deffinatley think they need Branston for the porpose of Controling the defence, but not player of the year, he isn't a good enough deffender!

[CP Gull]

Yeah I deffinatley think they need Branston for the porpose of Controling the defence, but not player of the year, he isn't a good enough deffender!

Oh and the only other time we have conceded 4 this season was at home v Bury ..... yep you guessed it! Branno went off at half time (replaced by Charnock) when the score was 2-2.

I don't disagree that his distribution is generally poor and maybe he lacks a bit of pace but he makes up for that to an extent by his reading of the game but he has hardly lost a header all season (important in L2) and his organisational skills are, in my opinion, excellent.

Anyway, don't listen to me, as others have suggested listen to his fellow pros ... who voted him the best in the business in his position at this level this year.

[Trojan 67]

Anyone on here remember Duncan Forbes ?

An uncompromising old fashioned centre half and fixture in the Norwich City defence who came to Torquay United on loan during the 1976-77 season.

Like Guy Branston, not pretty to watch, always liable for a booking/sending off and last, but not least, an effective player who won the ball and cleared the danger.

After his loan period, Dunc went back to Norwich, won his place back, and continued to dump both ball and player into touch.

Guy Branston reminds me of Dunc. Every successful team needs one.

[eastyorksgull]

Anyone on here remember Duncan Forbes ?

An uncompromising old fashioned centre half and fixture in the Norwich City defence who came to Torquay United on loan during the 1976-77 season.

Like Guy Branston, not pretty to watch, always liable for a booking/sending off and last, but not least, an effective player who won the ball and cleared the danger.

After his loan period, Dunc went back to Norwich, won his place back, and continued to dump both ball and player into touch.

Guy Branston reminds me of Dunc. Every successful team needs one.

vaguely remember trojan,i maybe wrong was ian twitchen in the team at that time

[Smithys]

I just believe that a league 2 center back should be able to use his feet and deal with strikers far more comfortbaly than Branston can, we need him in the team, but when I told my friend, a Bury fan, and another, a Vale fan, they were quite amused, League 2 has come on since 1976, and being able to play FOOTball with the feet is far more important, I feel he'd struggle in League 1.

[HRG]

I think you have high expectations of league two defenders. Branston does what he has to do and does it well.

[happytorq]

I won't hear a word said against him.

I won't!

la la la la la I am not hearing you la la la I have my fingers in my ears la la la can't hear you.

Yes, he can be...agricultural but he's more than just a defender, he's a talisman, and as much of leader on the pitch as is Mansell

[Smithys]

If we were to achieve Promotion, League 1 strikers would have a field day running at him, and I dont believe expecting passable ability with at least one foot is to higher an expectation.

[HRG]

But you were asking for reasons as to why he was voted for player of the season. He was voted for as part of a League Two team and as a League Two player has done what was asked of him.
If we got to League One I'd still give him a year. Just as Sills and Hargreaves were given the chance to step up, so should he be, and I have always felt that Branston's benefits are not restricted to the pitch.