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Post by andyl on Mar 15, 2015 7:38:19 GMT
If we can keep our place in the Championship. If!
Then there are some glimmerings of a brighter future if NL is backed by the Board and if he remains committed to the cause
Amos, Vela, Clough, Clayton and Walker look really bright and promising. They all look to be capable of a multi million price tag and doing very well certainly in the championship and probably above
Amos of course is not ours and he is apparently used to good wages. It is not a foregone conclusion that we can get him. I do hope NL can. Yesterday especially we saw some basic skills displayed really well. I would predict him to emerge as our best keeper since Jussi. He is vocal, confident, kicks extremely well ( if too often) stands tall v one on ones and imposes his presence. Bogdan sometimes does/is all of those things, Lonergan none. And we need them done.
Walker has has one good trick and it came off three or four times yesterday. I liked the way he tackled back even if once he caused a half decent penalty shout but he has a good left foot and we saw it on a glorious free kick. He should get better with experience?
Clough is too easily knocked about but is a star in the making if his shoulder heals to the point where he can be routinely bashed about. Clayton is a bundle of energy and can take a goal
Maybe some of the current squad can complement these, maybe not. Experience is vital. So too is the ability to stay fit -which raises questions over Wheater, Mark D and Craig D all of whom are just about good enough? And have experience!
at present we have too many injuries and too many players too obviously short of what is required for progress. And these two factors imperil our position even ten points clear of Wigan. Happily loads are out of contract . Le Fondre lacks something and that's why he is ever peripheral but he gets goals. I doubt he's buyable but if he is he's certainly one to go for?
so there is hope. In passing in thinking of this I wondered who our player of the season may be. Some may argue for Mills, Danns or Pratley perhaps? ( Not me!). For the early part of the season Chungy was a shoe-in! I arrived by process of easy eliminations only to Clough and Vela. And from ther to Vela . It has to be someone from the NL era? And that thought process says all!
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Post by whitesince63 on Mar 15, 2015 11:11:32 GMT
Good post Andy L I agree entirely with all of that and it wouldn't sadden me to see all of the loanees, other than Amos and hopefully Le Fondre to go at the end of the season to be replaced by NL's own picks. Sadly we allowed Freedman to tie some of his journeymen to contracts so we're stuck with them but hopefully only as bit players when needed until we can get rid of them as they cost us nothing and wages shouldn't be too high. I also agree with Vela as player of the season,, especially given he's been played out of position mainly and partnered with averageness. I'm really looking forward to next season, we must be due a good one after our decline and I have every confidence in NL to deliver it.
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Post by joanna on Mar 15, 2015 11:34:41 GMT
Player(s) of the season:-- Until very recently, the obvious choices, based on MOM performances, would have had to be Lee, Pratley and Lonergan jointly.
Their absence now, along with a few others who have glowed for a shorter period of time until injury, largely explains our recent decline in performance levels.
In overcoming the loss of so many players, Lennon has done well to gather enough points to keep us clear of the relegation places after the mess DF left us in.
Picking a player of the Year who's represented us excellently over the whole season is virtually impossible......and, of course, there's still quite a few games left!
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Post by bonaparte on Mar 15, 2015 12:12:12 GMT
Agree Joanna, too soon. Interesting take on Amos Andy. His kicking was an issue for me, I can only remember a couple of times when we retained possession from his kicks, or indeed from the central defenders hoofs. We were on the back foot all the time as we conceded possession all over the pitch and better strikers would have taken advantage. A further consequence of defending for long periods may be tiredness and lack of concentration resulting in giving away late goals. We did not seem confident enough to receive the short ball and play quickly through the midfield, perhaps this is a training ground issue. Don't agree with you re Lonergan, or indeed Trotter, the former you dislike, the latter you do like, but for the life of me I cannot see why. |
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Post by greydad on Mar 15, 2015 12:19:14 GMT
In such an injury disrupted season it is difficult to elect any player who has actually been present throughout or survived it's duration! Clough's 10 game spell has certainly offered the most impressive, exciting and productive contribution, and Vela has generally flourished since NL brought him into the team, adapting most commendably to the role of full back. Pratley and Danns (notwithstanding his lack of self discipline and perpetual pirouetting) both improved considerably under the current manager, but inconsistency, injury and lapses of form have dogged far to many of the squad. I feel that Ream's overall consistency and commendable skill on the ball support his candidacy for player of the season thus far..he has played all season out of position, is often our most creative and positive user of the ball, does not concede many silly or unnecessary fouls, and is rarely injured. I'm sure others will provide evidence of his defensive frailties and culpability re: specific goals being conceded, but has he really been any more culpable than those around him have been throughout the season? I'm not sure that any other player can match his overall contribution in terms of consistency and composure over the season as a whole.
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Post by andyl on Mar 15, 2015 12:44:05 GMT
Yes, Bonaparte, I should clarify. Amos kicks long and accurately--he is almost as good as Jussi at this and he was quite excellent, very good at crossbar challenges. In both their cases though they did it too often and lost possession too often and it did and does drive me to distraction. I always thought it was a damning indictment of manager(s). Bogdan kicks adequately. Lonergan lacks power although accuracy is par. Sometimes it really helps to clear the lines. Bogdan and Lonergan especailly this year have made much more of the early release and our possession stats have improved markedly when they do--- not to mention the aesthetic appeal of the fare.
But I do see Amos's dilemma. He should pass more to Ream and Vela but increasingly he is confronted by Mills as his possible outlet ball or Danns, who is as often as not on a booking and has been well and truly rumbled by oppositions re his movements So small wonder he hoofs it. In passing did anybody else notice that Walker actually got to a header or two- that was a bonus. It's a real weakness of nearly all our players not least Mills that they head poorly ( McCarthy looks OK) That's one reason why Twardzik could perhaps get another chance- he's pretty good in the air.
Re man of Season. As last year, yes the ten games are crucial. Ream has been brave and his passing is often quite excellent. He made Le Fondre's opener yesterday but he's had it before and I can't rid myslef of the many moments he's lost concentration when marking and how easily he is beaten for pace off the mark when at full back. But he's still been our most consistent defensive performer for me. I also get the early season argument for Chungy and Pratley and also Lonergan who all had some splendid games. I do though think it fair to point out that for the most part our 2015 dip in form has coincided with Lonergan's loss of form. His injury came at the sharp end of all but one of 4 lots of 4 goal concessions. OK Joanna presumably and Bonaparte above do ot accept the argument about Lonergan's shortcomings. Maybe others watching Amos have had them illuminated?
Re Trotter he's clearly down the pecking order but I just like some ( not all!!) of what he does- surely he can be as good as those preferred to him yesterday? If not he should be sent the way of Beckford?
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Post by greydad on Mar 15, 2015 14:37:46 GMT
I do agree regarding Lonergan, Andy, I readily acknowledge his excellent shot-stopping capabilities and the role he played in the initial improvement under NL, but it was noticeable in the matches leading up to his injury that his body language did not exude confidence, and he was becoming hesitant in making crucial decisions. Perhaps the goalies equivalent of shell shock was beginning to take hold. Bogdan's superb display against Wigan and Liverpool, and those of Amos since his start at 'Boro, have highlighted the importance of confidence, and also, perhaps, the bravura of relative youth. While results may not have been what we all hoped for, or indeed what they should have been, the results with Amos in goal have been 0-1, 1-0 , 1-1, 0-1 and 2-0...3 goals conceded in 5 games, 2 of which were in added on time, and the 0-1 defeat at 'Boro was undeserved after the team's second half improvement. It may not be the easiest thing for any keeper to play behind a defence that has had to be changed so often recently, but Amos seems to be making a real go of it...the criticism re: kicking might be avoided if coaching staff were to make it clear to outfield players that they must try to make themselves as readily available for throw outs as opposition players seem to do for their keepers, and thereby eliminate at least some of the wasted possession resulting from a procession of pointless high balls.
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Post by whitesince63 on Mar 15, 2015 18:42:13 GMT
I agree on the Amos thing but let's face it, would you have the confidence to pass out to some of our lot? Until we've got a settled and competent back four and midfield I'd rather he cleared his lines. I also agree Ream has been consistent all season but I still think Vela, given his confidence crushing time with Freedman has been outstanding since he came into the side compared to the players next to him.
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Post by greydad on Mar 15, 2015 19:57:20 GMT
Whites, you are absolutely right regarding Vela...he has displayed great maturity considering his treatment under DF, when he might well have lost his way. His assured displays have done him credit, and although I still think Ream is a deserving candidate, I agree that Vela's candidacy is valid, and also deserving...it's a good fence to sit on!
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Post by realtrottersforever on Mar 15, 2015 20:21:24 GMT
REAM all day long for me. Yes he has had lapses, but generally he is our most consistent player.
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Post by OohMac on Mar 15, 2015 21:09:02 GMT
I think Pratley , he's the most improved player and we have missed him probably the most.
Clough and Vela though are or best assets and can't wait to see them next year, hopefully linking up in the midfield.
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Post by spanishjonny on Mar 15, 2015 21:43:12 GMT
Yesterday Amos indicated a goal kick to one side and moved the players over only to place the kick on the opposite side
he did this a number of times, was it intentional? Amos would be my first choice for next season if we can afford him.
Ream, for me, has been our most reliable and consistent player so far this season, he's a quality player who I think will
probally move to a bigger club in the summer and finance most of our rebuilding programme, I would keep him but
Lennon will need more money than he can shuffle by moving players in and out.
I would love to keep Amos, Alf, Macarthy and Bannan, not sure about Janko
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Post by whitesince63 on Mar 16, 2015 19:04:54 GMT
If we're going to seriously challenge for the play offs next year we need to add quality which we're lacking in critical areas at the moment. Certainly if Pratley is back and retains his form and with Vela, Clough, Mini Davvo and Clayton coming through we need to spend any money we have on defenders. We are incredibly weak in that department with only Ream and Wheater really worth a place. We should be able to offer ALF enough to keep him and Eidur should be good for one more season. If any of our young fringes such as White, Walker, Wilkinson or Threlkeld come through then so much the better but for a serious challenge we need NL to unearth one or two gems otherwise it will be another season of building which may not be enough on its own to satisfy Neil.
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Post by andyl on Mar 18, 2015 10:05:33 GMT
I think that any of the 200+present last night will wonder how on earth NL has been picking Feeney Danns and even Bannan ahead of Rochina! Not sure if any chance of keeping him or NL next year but if we could get him he'd be a star. Must be on at least bench from now on. Exciting! We have several really good players aboard at the moment- underlines points made above that getting a solid defence is critical
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