Most liked posts in thread: Finn Cousin-Dawson

I don't remember us struggling to produce players

Let me rephrase: I don't remember us trying.

Hopefully Stuart's legacy will be of producing youngsters like he once was

 

That happens in every bloody city.

You do understand a lot of parents would rather their or daughter join a real big club if possible.

Sparks really needs to stop playing football manager.

 

Arguably his best game of the six he's played so far, that back four looks solid. Only way Canavan gets in at the moment is either via an injury or resting someone because of a backlog of games.

 

He has slotted in remarkably well for someone so young and inexperienced and deserves to keep his place in a defence that has tightened up considerably since Trueman and Sellars took over.

It's great to see one of our own youngsters progressing nicely

 

Lad did very well, plus he also got singled out for praise from the Cambridge commentators.

 

Maybe the time off without games has been beneficial in that it has meant that T and S have been able to do some one to one coaching with him. Definitely had a good game yesterday, will be interesting to see how he is handled with the amount of games coming up, with only a few days recovery between them.

 

Normally I would be in agreement with you on this Fordy but to be honest although I agree with about parents wanting their lad to join a big club there is nothing wrong with the club trying to convince them it is the lad's interest to stay. As for Spark's playing Football Manager, I don't care what he does as long as the management team don't see it as interference and it brings us success.
The lad, although a novice is doing okay so far.

 

Not sure he'd have to admit to anything, when FCD took over from Threlkeld he had a couple of games where he looked unsteady but I thought he did well and was disappointed he brought Threlkeld straight back when fit.
I like a good challenge (old school) but the first could have been a red and the second was definitely another yellow, he's not a kid learning the game we could and some would argue should have been down to 10 men after that reckless second challenge.

 

Foulds is getting better by the game for me. Lest we forget, apart from his short spell at Como in Italy, this is his first experience of first team football.

 

Played well today against one of the division’s better sides. Brave in the tackle and deserves to retain his place.

 

Agreed.

His slip was just unlucky IMO. Plus, it was on the halfway line. Our lack of mobility cost us and no one could get over to Pinnock.

Questions again should be asked of our set piece that led to the goal.

 

Neither are Darbs, McMahon quality, Admittedly, but Threlkeld is error prone every game. He deserved a red himself at Port Vale and has looked uncomfortable at RB in nearly every game he’s played this season.

of the young lads I think Staunton is most ready for the first team, then Finn, so I do think he might be back on the bench when OT is fit, annoyingly, given Staunton’s opportunities have ended short term with him being loaned out.

 

I think Foulds should feel hard done by for being dropped. If he is comfortable on the right, I would play him right back.

 

If we dissected the side we could replace every player in every position but as it stands we are probably like most of the teams in the division where we are 2 or possibly three players away from being a very good side. If everyone is fit to pick from I'd say we have the basis of a potentially half decent side, it's just fitting those 2 or 3 unknown players into what we have to make that decent side. And that means building around the players that do contribute regularly and replace the ones that don't. Just sticking a new striker upfront ain't gonna stop us conceding virtually every game, a new right winger/midfielder isn't going to suddenly make our strikers take their chances. Its about the right players for the right fit, and as I expect us to only change two or three at most in Jaunaury they have to be in pivotal positions. And for me that is a central midfielder, a right sided attacking midfielder and a striker. And with Angol and Eisa now coning back into the fold our greatest need is that pivotal central midfield. Sutton has probably done enough to warrant a regular place, as has Cooke for his chance creation and Cook for his goals. Vernam can be hit and miss but also warrants a start. The likes of Gilliead, Watt and possibly Songo'o as a midfielder haven't and we need better in these positions.

 

That is bang on Idle. Had Boyeson got it right yesterday FCD would have walked and nobody would be mentioning anything about a good performance. His passing is erratic at times, but then no one in our back line is any good with the football at their feet. Both he and Staunton both have potential but at the moment that's what it is, potential. In 12 months time the experience they gain may seem them ready.

 

It gets said a lot - when everyone is fit or when we have a full squad to pick from - but how often does that happen in a season? Probably half a dozen games, maybe 10?

What is more important is that there is someone who can come in and do a job while the first teamer gets back fit or that the manager can switch around tactics, formation to cater for the missing player.

Our problem is not enough of our players have played well enough. Only really Vernam and Sutton have had a highish level of impact on a number of ganes. Angol has shown he can but hasn't played enough games and Lavery perhaps might. Even Cook really, he's played a lot and scored a few but relies on others or the team hasn't played to his strengths.

January is a bit of a way away - 7 league games and so we'll be half way through the season by then. I can't see us winning all 7 so I expect us to be maybe a place or two higher than now. We'll have to see how attractive a proposition that is for potential signings and won't some have to leave to be able to bring others in? Aren't we close to the squad size limit?

 

Not the best delivery but the ball came back out to our player who had a strike at goal, their goal had a fair element of luck about it FCD slipping leaving a 3 on 1 situation, but can't deny the finish from Pinnock was first class he never looked up to lay the ball off. Maybe our front men need to take a leaf out of his book rather than getting a nose bleed when they get to the oppositions box and looking to get rid of the ball.

 

That is an issue we need to address, all the current back four are capable of is lumping it.

Last year we had Anthony O'Connor, Connor wood and even Staunton at times, all totally comfortable on the ball, carrying it out effortlessly, or spray a good longish pass rather than an hoof.

Until we change that (not sure how with all under contract) then we will continue having to bypass the midfielders