Joe Riley

Mellor is no way a CB, just not good enough defensively.

Riley has done well so far but he will probably only be backup and on a hefty wage which is better spent elsewhere imo.

 

Didn't he kiss the badge in the Liverpool game?? WTF

 

He did, it was quite unnerving to witness.

 

He's been quite impressive so far this pre season, with Bowyer who is a good man manager and a clean slate we may well see what all the fuss was about. Might be worth paying the wages

 

I think the shirts had the Darby Rimmer Foundation stitched on and he was kissing that.

 

I've not taken notice of what he had or what he is now, but maybe he wanted this number last season but couldn't.

 

Joe Riley needs to avoid becoming one of those players that puts in enough eye-catching performances in irrelevant games to get fans on side, but fail to win the manager over with his overall input in training and reserve team football.

We've had plenty of players that have convinced City fans they needed game time in the past, but the only players that need game time are the ones consistently giving their all across all facets of the game.

Talented divas won't get anywhere under Bowyer, he's clearly a Parkinson-type in terms of expectations.

 

I thought he played very well at left back yesterday. If he puts in performances like that regularly then Bowyer will want to keep him. I hope he takes his chance.

 

Riley may turn out to be good player. The issue at the moment is that he's a reserve on what I'm presuming are first team wages. Factor in that we still need to strengthen 2 or 3 positions and are now relying on outgoings and I'm not sure we can accommodate him.

Bowyer will probably get rid of him the first opportunity he gets.

 

It's between him and Jermaine Anderson to win the 'Will Atkinson used to be shit then turned out okay' award.

 

Not many are going to agree but on what I saw yesterday thought Riley was better than longridge at left back but one game means nothing needs to show that if/when he gets a chance. Would prefer Riley over wood at left back if needed as wood is better more forward.

 

Hes a young lad. Last season was a tough one, we had no leaders and it was probably a shock to the system after living in a more sheltered world at Man United. Maybe he just handled it poorly? Maybe in a properly organised club, with proper men in the side to mentor him, he could flourish?

 

Think last season problems should be well forgotten clean slate and let bowyer do his job a promotion push will be on.

 

He might be reserve at the moment but Mellor didn't pull up

Problem is, you're overating Atkinson by using 'ok'. You'd have been better off saying, a bit less shit.

 

Aww no Atkinson was a solid okay!

 

As with all of last seasons failures, offload is the priority. If we can't, I sense Bowyers a good enough man manager to get something out of him.

 

I suspect that Riley has been told/realised that his immediate future is dependent on whether a club will come in and take his wages off our books or, failing that, whether City fans will warm to him. It might turn out to be the motivation he needs. I haven't been a Riley fan so far but my mind and indeed my heart is open.