Callum Cooke

One of the reasons I know Bowyer is not at the races and of course players instinctively pick up on this is that he has no idea what his best team is. He plays ppl out of position attributes skills to player who nobody else can see. I like Cooke and if he is fit he plays for my money, I think Reeves is poor, and the rest of them are just not good enough apart from Pritchard who also looks a shadow of his former self. Surrounded by midfielders and not a clean pass to be had.

 

Best Passer? Best tackler?

Don't need him m8. Chris Taylor.

 

Utility

 

It went downhill for Cooke when he got sent off. He was influencing games until then. Wonder if he fell out with GB due to the soft nature of that red.

 

One of major weakness’ is our central midfield. We’ve known it all season. Those commentating on games have eluded to it many times and recently, both Gary Jones and Greg Abbott, two people I trust know enough about by the game and importantly our club, have pointed this out as a major hole.

We desperately need a ‘Gary Jones’, but in the absence Callum Cooke is by far and away the most effective CM we have. Unless injured or mentally not fit, there is simply no excuse for him not starting games. Palmer has shown we’re clearly not the right match for his game. Reeves, although started well when he came back, has really dipped off and perhaps the amount of games vs long lay off is starting to take effect.

With Devitt back, for me the CM’s can only be him and Cooke. Pritchard on the left, Connolly on the right and Vaughan and Doyle up top on Tuesday. Donaldson will hopefully be able to get more minutes on from the bench and hopefully we can put a performance together that puts yesterday behind us.

Bowyers needs it - or else Bowyer might need a new job.

 

Why would Bowyer fall out with Cooke and hold a red card against him when he's stuck with Ben 'red card waiting to happen' Richards-Everton?

 

Can’t see Cooke being at City on the 1st February unless Bowyer goes.

 

Abbot was responsible for the Reeves, Akpan and others debacle. He was in prime position to sort that out, so it’s a bit rich for him to come on start saying what we’re missing when he had the opportunity to recruit a player in his mould.

 

I didn’t like his commentary tbh. How he couldn’t see that he was responsible partly in bringing these players in that not only were not good enough, but lacked character. Some self reflection might help!!

 

Yep, fair point. However on paper and history Reeves and Akpan were good signings. What materialised and inability to react is a different conversation.

 

Ive no idea. But he was our best player before his red and now he cannot get in the team. Somethings changed......

 

Bowyer was trying to shoehorn him into the role of defensive midfielder which Callum is not.
He was totally frustrated and out of his comfort zone trying his hardest to do the ugly work he is not used to.
Bowyer called him out on the field after the red card as a very disappointed Callum Cooke took the long walk from the Kop end
past the dugout.
if you call that man management then Im a Dutchman.
Callum has not been an automatic first choice since when he should be first name in the midfield as the creative

 

Didn’t Mcanthony say on Twitter that we need to sign him permanently to keep him? Or something along those lines

 

Not sure he had the final say, that Heart of the Matter video showed that when they were discussing with Rahic about the Hanson bid from Sheffield United, it looked very much to me you can have your say/opinion but I have the final decision.

 

He shoulders at least part of the blame, regardless of Rahic's input.

He also shoulders all of the blame for verbally attacking the fan that was asking the question about the transfer strategy. If he can't offer respect to concerned supporters then he gets absolutely zero in return.

 

Yes he was very much on the back foot when that fan accused the January window as being a shambles.

 

He sat there and tried to defend the indefensible. I remember being there at the time thinking it would come back and bite him on the arse.

 

I am continually amazed that Cooke misses out in favour of Chris Taylor and Jake ‘better than josh cullen’ reeves. It really is bizarre.