Rodgers makes Demarai Gray prediction after development standstill

[davieG]

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-boss-brendan-rodgers-3531995

 

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers discusses the improvements made by winger Demarai Gray after his recent impressive performances from the substitutes' bench

ByJordan Blackwell
07:00, 13 NOV 2019

Demarai Gray’s development is no longer at a standstill and Brendan Rodgers is predicting the winger to make “big strides” over the next few seasons.

Gray has been Rodgers’ go-to man off the bench in recent weeks as Leicester City have recorded four straight Premier League wins to enter the November international break in second place.

The 23-year-old wide-man has been effective in his cameos, producing an eye-catching display in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Arsenal.

Rodgers says Gray has responded well to their conversations, and to the “hurt” he felt when he was left out of the matchday squad for the opening two games.

 
“I’ve always really liked Demarai as a player from the outside looking in,” said Rodgers. “But he’d gone through a period where he stood still in his development.

“When I came in he probably expected to be either playing or at least in the squad. And when he wasn’t in the squad for the first two games of the season it hurt him – but he knew why. I think that’s important. Giving clarity to players is very important.

“From that he’s been absolutely brilliant. He upped his intensity in training and we speak a lot in terms of what we want from him.

“I told him not to be too down – I know he wants to start but the game is also about the team that finishes. He has to make sure he is ready to make an impact. And he does that.

Leicester City latest

 
“He is so good in training and he’s in an environment where he’s improving all the time. I just think over the next few years there are big strides that he will make.”

Rodgers also rejected any suggestions that Gray had an attitude problem.

He said: “He is a good guy. He’s a wonderful boy, he trains every day and is really professional.

“But my job is to rinse more out of that and to push them, not let them become comfortable.

“I didn’t want him to be a player who could be in and around a mid-table Premier League team and maybe nick a move somewhere else.

“Our job is to develop players to be the best and to grow – and try and help this club get up towards the top. So there’s no ego at all. I repeat, there are no guys here with an ego.”

[Fox92]

Rodgers' man management has been spoken highly of, even by Steven Gerrard who I read considered him the best man manager (which is amazing given he's had the likes of Rafa managing him).

 

I heard Rodgers speak about Gray post Arsenal game and he talked about it well, stating he'd been dropped.

 

And now Gray has come back and looked good off the bench. I think he's pushing for a start now.

[Alf Bentley]

Sounds like Rodgers is handling this well - and Gray does seem to have made a step up in his performances recently.

 

Admittedly, he's flattered to deceive in the past, doing good things & then making bad decisions or performing inconsistently.

But I'd be cautiously optimistic that Brendan has got a handle on him and will be able to keep helping him improve his game & decision-making.

Gray can't be far off starting a few games now - maybe 1 or 2 over Christmas (but perhaps not Liverpool)?

 

Issuing public statements like this is part of the improvement/motivation process, I'd say.

[urban.spaceman]

He's had a lot of criticism over the years - some of it deserved, some perhaps not - but we all want him to succeed here and reach his full potential. 

 

He's been absolutely excellent coming on the last few games. I don't think he'll be dislodging Harvey or Ayoze any time soon as they're already quite effective in a settled first XI, but we're still very early into the season and there should be plenty of opportunities for him.

 

 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Fair enough, I wrote him off earlier in the season but he's looked good recently and if Brendan trusts him we should as well. 

[Guest SO1]

Go on now Demarai. Keep working hard........ I know he's going to make a huge contribution to this Club.

One of many that some will have written off. Seen Rodgers do this again and again.

Nothing more positive and uplifting than watching/feeling a persons hard work and success. Blessed to be able to witness it.

[ajthefox]

Made a big impact on saturday when he came on, just gave us an extra bit of impetus going forward and it made the difference. Hopefully he continues with more performances like that and can repeat it when he has the opportunity to start.

[Hollyfox]

Most people who support other clubs (and I know quite a few) have always spoken highly of him. 

I've always replied that they don't see as much of him as I do, and I've not been overly impressed. 

He seems a lot brighter the last few games and I'm delighted for him, as I would be any Leicester player. 

Would love him to turn out to be the player we all hoped he would become 👍

[st albans fox]

either there's no way BR will sell him or he's bigging up his price for a sale …….its the former ……….

[Foxxed]

I hope Rodger's coaching is rubbing off on the other coaches. I think we have a head of academy coaching now. I hope Rodger's coaching style stays with the club in the same way, I hope, Steve Walsh's scouting did.

[lcfc sheff]

We all know what Demarai is capable of which is where a lot of frustration towards him lies. He’s so much better on the RW imo hope he can continue to give Pérez good competition.

[fox_up_north]

His development has been frustrating. When he was bought I remember the hope that he'd develop further on from his Birmingham start but that was nearly four years ago. I do wonder if they're priming him for a January sale to a relegation struggle club. Big him up as an exciting prospect that can add energy.  Either that or he's going to be an impact player to stretch defences in the last 20/15 minutes of games. 

 

I can't imagine that the club view him as the future first choice winger that it was hoped he'd grow into.

[Clever Fox]

What he brings to the team when he comes on is an energy just when we are perhaps running out of ideas. The whole tempo of the Team improves and both of the above  coupled with his improved decision making is whats making the difference. 

BR deserves great credit for the job he's doing with him. 

[Father Ted]

I'm not getting all excited suddenly over a couple of steady cameos from the bench. For me, Barnes is a superior player who should be getting the majority of the game time to develop and Perez on the right is slowly, but surely, adjusting to his new role in the team. I do hope Gray improves but I'm not getting all excited on the back of a couple of cameos from the bench.

[Langston]

I still wouldn't start him over Barnes - if he realises his role off the bench is where he's best used without kicking up a fuss, great.

[Dahnsouff]

Nice tactic for team development.

Communicating two distinct messages

For Demi -  Good job Demi, you are back on track 

For other wingers - Demi is doing great, don’t let your levels drop.

 

[Jacnah]

1 hour ago, Father Ted said:

I'm not getting all excited suddenly over a couple of steady cameos from the bench. For me, Barnes is a superior player who should be getting the majority of the game time to develop and Perez on the right is slowly, but surely, adjusting to his new role in the team. I do hope Gray improves but I'm not getting all excited on the back of a couple of cameos from the bench.

Are you sure you picked the right one? 

 

 

[Lambert09]

3 hours ago, Hollyfox said:

Most people who support other clubs (and I know quite a few) have always spoken highly of him. 

I've always replied that they don't see as much of him as I do, and I've not been overly impressed. 

He seems a lot brighter the last few games and I'm delighted for him, as I would be any Leicester player. 

Would love him to turn out to be the player we all hoped he would become 👍

This what annoys me when I read people suggesting Nathan Redmond... he is literally Southampton's Gray. He looks great from the outside but is usually underwhelming overall. 

 

Nothing more dangerous than highlight players... poorly managed clubs often take a punt on these.  Probably how we ended up with Beckford

[FoyleFox]

We've all hoped he'd develop and consistently deliver the potential we've seen. Sadly that hasn't happened to date. Just consistently inconsistent. 

Only time will tell but if BR can't finally realise that potential then I'm not sure anyone will. 

[LC/FC]

2 hours ago, Lambert09 said:

This what annoys me when I read people suggesting Nathan Redmond... he is literally Southampton's Gray. He looks great from the outside but is usually underwhelming overall. 

 

Nothing more dangerous than highlight players... poorly managed clubs often take a punt on these.  Probably how we ended up with Beckford

It's how we got Zsolt Laczko

[ozleicester]

Won't be surprised if he goes in Jan, I'm thinking he won't be happy playing a bit part and will be looking for more game time that some clubs will give him.

[shade]

14 hours ago, Langston said:

I still wouldn't start him over Barnes - if he realises his role off the bench is where he's best used without kicking up a fuss, great.

regardless of form, ever? bit weird.

[Sol thewall Bamba]

1 hour ago, ozleicester said:

Won't be surprised if he goes in Jan, I'm thinking he won't be happy playing a bit part and will be looking for more game time that some clubs will give him.

Is he going to get it better than he has it here though? Say he makes 30 apps this year in the league and the Cups for a team that is pressing for Champions league, is he going to get that elsewhere? Either he'll go to an Everton/West Ham type where he'll get similar game time but not be pressing for Europe, if he'll go to a duffer like Palace and be playing regular but fighting relegation for the rest of his career. 

[Langston]

26 minutes ago, shade said:

regardless of form, ever? bit weird.

Yeah, not that weird really - granted, it's a bit rock and a hard place but at the moment everything is working and he's been perennially ineffectual as a starter. Gray seems to be doing really well as defences tire and games get stretched, coming on fresh. I don't think he can do that from kick off in the same manner Barnes manages to, who even on off days still drives at defences and causes issues.

[foxile5]

Justifies the criticism DG has copped from the fans the last two seasons; he wasn't working hard enough. 

 

Hopefully Rodgers is the man he needs.