Match Thread Away v Crawley Tue 15 December 7:45pm

Hush now child,and don’t cry.
Your folks might understand you by and by
Move on up, towards your destination
You may find from time to time complication.


rip Curtis Mayfield

 

Hmmm. Sounds like we had a decent manager on the sidelines! - whoever he was.

 

I'd suggest all those I posted above played because they were good enough, what dont you understand, if your good enough your old enough age doesn't matter.

They were all young and good enough to play, everyone making our team stronger before moving on for very good transfer fees, maybe I'm quoting players you never saw as kids during their careers at Valley Parade.

So just for clarety the above mentioned didnt deserve their place in the various teams they played with.

 

I never said that.

I'm also not saying that he won't be a good player.

What I am saying is that to count on a 18/19 highlights how poor the defence or squad really is and how the McCall was clueless when it came to tactics.

Play 4 at the back and like last night showed Staunton becomes less important.

The failings are our squad isn't good enough and the table is highlighting that or you have your head in that much sand!

 

That's a very fair point, but (with the exception of Hamilton who we really duped Newcastle over such a big fee) does Staunton really have the potential of a Richards/ Jackson/ McCall ?

He's good and I'm sure he should have a very decent career, but Richards/ Jackson/ McCall all stood head and shoulders above the rest of the team from day one and Jackson had the massive benefit of learning on the shoulder of Roy McFarland.

 

I'd saywhat we've seen of our CD players Staunton more than held his own.

 

While he has been just about the only positive this season I think some of the hype from City fans regarding Staunton is way OTT, and he's made mistakes that have been glossed over which others would have been vilified for.

 

Not disputing that, it would be silly to do otherwise, but my point remains in that had McCall got a tune out of our three senior CBs with a formation that didn't make them square pegs in round holes, then he would be nowhere near the first team.

Had Stuart played a 4 at the back, which worked last night, the best he would have had is a spot on the bench whilst BRE was out of favour. I don't doubt his ability at all or that he did make a difference, and now we have seen him I think we will see more of him, hopefully instead of AOC.

 

Even accepting Kammy did a great job of getting £2+ million for him he started 88 games for the club, the comment Fordy is making was with regards playing youngsters Des falls into that category making his first team debut aged 17.

 

Staunton is the same age as Burke when he played for City

 

And playing at a far higher level than Jamie Vardy was at 19, player development is fickle no body knows how he’ll turn out.

 

And you could tell the difference (that's not a dig at Staunton) but Reece looked so in control playing along side his fellow CD Rory McArdle or Nathan Clarke.

 

Let's hope this current injury doesn't knock the lads confidence.

 

Absolutely right, but of the 4 he was probably number 1 or 2. It shows how weak the squad is when a youngster playing his first season is missed more than the seasoned pro’s.

 

Apologies, I didn't realise you meant switched over centre half roles. Plenty of right footers play the left sided centre half well though. I suppose it's a case of having two right footers but with AOC being the more experienced and probably more comfortable on the ball he was the one to shuffle across. Either that or he may even actually be more comfortable on that side like Andrew Davies was?

 

1223 City fans paid to watch the game last night. Bloody mad the lot of us!!

 

Classic song that one, Rocket.

 

Crawley could do with the money

 

Dean Richards was a bit special from the first day he made the first team, good defender with very good ball skills. Jacko was a bit different, a decent defender to start with but you're correct about the Roy McFarland influence.
I remember being 2 nil down at Stockport. They had a big centre forward called Tommy Sword who was bullying Jacko who was just bouncing off him. At 2 nil Sword was stood in front of us with the ball at his feet, almost posing in arrogant sort of way. McFarland came from nowhere and took man and ball, leaving Sword on the seat of his pants. McFarland turned to Jacko and the other players shaking his fist saying that's how you play him. I thought wow, this guy I've watched on the telly playing for Derby County and England can really mix it. We won 3:2
Trevor Cherry had that same influence when needed. I wish we had someone on the coaching staff now who could motivate players in a similar way.

 

Sorry Mark. Or is it Conor I’m engaging with? Apologies, won’t be impolite again. Thanks for trawling through a post made over five days ago to remind me about my tongues bad habits. Have a great day!