Ben Nelson

[JimJams]

32 minutes ago, It'sblueupnorth said:

This is where critical thinking isn’t your friend as you haven’t got any. Nelson shouldn’t be hung out to dry just because he had a shit game against Huddersfield in the league cup. He also shouldn’t be expected to ‘spur himself on’ whilst watching shit players get chance after chance and continue to **** up whilst he’s been bombed out the squad over a bad game in the milk cup over players like wout faes that show contempt that they even have to play for us. 
He should be the future of the club and would see us make a big profit should we actually treat him properly.

Had a great season last year at this level and if he has any sense will tell us where to stick it in January 

And reading isn't yours.

You, as well as others, seem to read a post and conjure up meaning that isn't there.  Inventing your own narrative and ignoring what has been said. If someone says anything that doesn't confirm your exact thinking, you spin off on a tangent making up shit and straw manning, arguing against points that were never made.

 

I said he had a bad game in his only appearance for us this season.  And while many people would argue that's a matter of fact, you seem to think saying it means I'm suggesting we "Hang him out to dry".

 

If you don't act the sycophant then you're treated as though you've got some sort of vendetta on a player.  I can see the positives in using Nelson.  I wanted him to start the season for us.  But I can also understand why a new manager with little time to work with the players gave the nod to others.  Maybe he remembered QPRs away game to Oxford last season when they scored 3 with Nelson at the back and wasn't impressed.  Perhaps he just thought it better to put two players together who had played together the season prior, despite it being a total fxxk.  The point is he could only play 2 and go from there.  As it stands we've had Okoli start the first 5, he now looks out of favour.  Faes has only started 3 games, he may now be out of favour.  Vestegaard seems like the only nailed on CB as he's started every league game.  So there's an opportunity there for Nelson.  If he performs when he's required then he'll displace the competition.  If he doesn't he won't.

Cifuentes has to achieve promotion. That'll be his target.  Whilst developing Nelson among other players would be desirable, it would also be a bonus.  If he thinks that playing Nelson right now isn't worth the risk because he doesn't think he's as good as his other options then he won't take that risk. 

He played 17 games for Oxford last season. The highest level he's ever played.  He's still in the early stages of his career.  I can understand why Cifuentes doesn't think he's the answer that some of our fans do. Whether I agree or not.

 

In terms of him telling us where to stick it, I have my doubts that players would be quite as eager to jump ship as some expect.  Though that's pure conjecture.

[LCFCJohn]

1 hour ago, MPH said:

 

100% disagree with that. When you are storming the league, it’s a great time to play a young player: and  when you are nailed on to go down, why not play the young players?

 

 

that’s how you develop a young player. By playing him.

Which is exactly what you are arguing against now 

 

It’s absolutely clear what @moore_94is saying. 
 

Saying not fancied by the managers has negative connotations, I.e not good enough. Being loaned out to get a full season in the Championship as he wasn’t Premier League ready is not a negative slight on a young player.

 

Being left out now is. 
 

The only bit I agree with is about Maresca but he didn’t like playing youth players so it’s not surprising he didn’t play him.

[MPH]

18 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

Which is exactly what you are arguing against now 

 

It’s absolutely clear what @moore_94is saying. 
 

Saying not fancied by the managers has negative connotations, I.e not good enough. Being loaned out to get a full season in the Championship as he wasn’t Premier League ready is not a negative slight on a young player.

 

Being left out now is. 
 

The only bit I agree with is about Maresca but he didn’t like playing youth players so it’s not surprising he didn’t play him.

 

no, if you read back I have said his ability  is not in question. Then said it must ask the question why consecutive managers have not played him . Keep up chap.

 

and if I really have to spell it out to you, I’m alluding to the fact that maybe something else is going on that we don’t know about?  I have also said maybe he was one of the ones who wanted out at the end of the season

Edited 27 September 2025 by MPH

[LCFCJohn]

2 minutes ago, MPH said:

 

no, if you read back I have said his ability  is not in question. Then said it must ask the question why consecutive managers have not played him . Keep up chap.

I am absolutely up to date having read the conversation.

 

You have made it sound a negative towards Nelson that Cooper didn’t fancy him. When that was not the case as he was loaned out for his development and it was not a negative. And even under Maresca isn’t not a negative as he was younger then. 
 

He is now on the back of a strong season either side of injury at this exact level so now it is a negative situation but it wasn’t before.

[The Doctor]

14 minutes ago, MPH said:

 

no, if you read back I have said his ability  is not in question. Then said it must ask the question why consecutive managers have not played him . Keep up chap.

 

and if I really have to spell it out to you, I’m alluding to the fact that maybe something else is going on that we don’t know about?  I have also said maybe he was one of the ones who wanted out at the end of the season

who are the consecutive managers who haven't played him while him being at the level the club is currently at? Maresca played him as a breakthrough talent, getting minutes here and there at the end of that season. Cooper loaned him out because he wasn't PL ready. RvN never had him available due to that loan. Martí is the first one to just completely ignore him without clear reason

[Dahnsouff]

No answer found on here is going to sate the fury evident in this thread, no idea why he isn't playing more.

 

There could be reasons we don't know that could justify his lack of game time, and you would certainly hope they are more reasonable than Marti not fancying him, which would make zero sense. 

[MPH]

41 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

I am absolutely up to date having read the conversation.

 

You have made it sound a negative towards Nelson that Cooper didn’t fancy him. When that was not the case as he was loaned out for his development and it was not a negative. And even under Maresca isn’t not a negative as he was younger then. 
 

He is now on the back of a strong season either side of injury at this exact level so now it is a negative situation but it wasn’t before.

So he wasn’t good enough for our team and was sent out on loan?  So he didn’t fancy him then  I mean, if he was considered good enough he would have stayed right?

[ts_1010]

He's a young highly rated centre back. He's made a few mistakes in a cup game. Young players will do that. We just have to accept it and let him continue to develop. If he costs us a few points this season but develops into the best CB we have then fine.

 

What doesn't make sense to me is That he's being kept out in favour of a center back who also makes mistakes. If we're going to drop points due to errors from a CB, I'd rather have the young lad out there.

 

[MPH]

58 minutes ago, The Doctor said:

who are the consecutive managers who haven't played him while him being at the level the club is currently at? Maresca played him as a breakthrough talent, getting minutes here and there at the end of that season. Cooper loaned him out because he wasn't PL ready. RvN never had him available due to that loan. Martí is the first one to just completely ignore him without clear reason

 

changing the parameters of the  conversation there, chap.  
 

 

but what you’ve just admitted to is that  maresca didn’t play him regularly enough  because he wasn’t good enough to play regularly and  cooper sent him on loan  because he wasn’t good enough  

[LCFCJohn]

20 minutes ago, MPH said:

So he wasn’t good enough for our team and was sent out on loan?  So he didn’t fancy him then  I mean, if he was considered good enough he would have stayed right?

You’re not reading! Mate, I think you’re good poster and agree with most of what you say. I really felt for you on the whole Agyemang thing 

I know from your contribution on this forum in general that you’re an intelligent person. So I know you know full well what myself and others are saying and that you know I’m saying that the wording ‘not fancied’ has negative connotations, and that a young player not being for first team football at the level we are playing is a completely different thing. I guess Motsi is also not fancied? Or is it that he’s a 14 year old kid who will have no business playing at this level yet?

 

Nelson being loaned last season was not negative. Nobody was saying he was ready for PL football. The season before nobody was commenting on him as the minutes he has were fine.

 

Now is different. He has come off a strong season at this level and the fact he has been completely removed from first team contention is a huge negative and one that in my view, is going to stop him having a future here.

 

[MPH]

4 minutes ago, LCFCJohn said:

You’re not reading! Mate, I think you’re good poster and agree with most of what you say. I really felt for you on the whole Agyemang thing 

I know from your contribution on this forum in general that you’re an intelligent person. So I know you know full well what myself and others are saying and that you know I’m saying that the wording ‘not fancied’ has negative connotations, and that a young player not being for first team football at the level we are playing is a completely different thing. I guess Motsi is also not fancied? Or is it that he’s a 14 year old kid who will have no business playing at this level yet?

 

Nelson being loaned last season was not negative. Nobody was saying he was ready for PL football. The season before nobody was commenting on him as the minutes he has were fine.

 

Now is different. He has come off a strong season at this level and the fact he has been completely removed from first team contention is a huge negative and one that in my view, is going to stop him having a future here.

 

so just to summarize what I’ve said in this thread today, as I feel like some people are reading some of my posts on him and not others

 

His talent is not in question.

However,  if young players are good enough they’ve played ( Monga, page as evidence)

for some reason other managers have not fancied him,

Maybe there is something else going on that we don’t know about? For example, maybe he was one of the ones who wanted to leave… 

there is the realism of player hierarchy going on, regardless of ability.

 

these are all things I’ve said recently and I think it covers all points people have tried to respond to me about.

 

[Bert]

16 minutes ago, MPH said:

 

changing the parameters of the  conversation there, chap.  
 

 

but what you’ve just admitted to is that  maresca didn’t play him regularly enough  because he wasn’t good enough to play regularly and  cooper sent him on loan  because he wasn’t good enough  

There’s so much wrong with this post it’s laughable. 

[LCFCJohn]

6 minutes ago, MPH said:

so just to summarize what I’ve said in this thread today, as I feel like some people are reading some of my posts on him and not others

 

His talent is not in question.

However,  if young players are good enough they’ve played ( Monga, page as evidence)

for some reason other managers have not fancied him,

Maybe there is something else going on that we don’t know about? For example, maybe he was one of the ones who wanted to leave… 

there is the realism of player hierarchy going on, regardless of ability.

 

these are all things I’ve said recently and I think it covers all points people have tried to respond to me about.

 

I don’t disagree with this post and it is fair. As I say, all I have commented on is that I do not think it is fair to assume he was not fancied for reasons such as you suggest in previous seasons. He was clearly a kid who was genuinely not ready for the level we were at. Whereas now, he is clearly able to perform at this level and yes, other factors are now at play.

 

Ultimately, what matters is that he is now further away from the first team than he was 2 years ago under Maresca, despite getting more experience and being 2 years older. This is damning for him and his development is now going backwards. Club and player need to part ways for the benefit of both. 

[MPH]

5 minutes ago, Bert said:

There’s so much wrong with this post it’s laughable. 

 

ah yes, Burt with his mocking attitude but not actually contributing again..

[Bert]

19 minutes ago, MPH said:

 

ah yes, Burt with his mocking attitude but not actually contributing again..

I mean to start, you’ve quoted the post and still spelt my name wrong  

 

But, there’s a massive difference to being “good enough” than being ready to play and also having players that play in the same position that are currently better than you. 
 

If he wasn’t good enough, he wouldn’t be a professional footballer and he wouldn’t have had reviews last season. 
 

But no, not good enough.  

[MPH]

5 minutes ago, Bert said:

I mean to start, you’ve quoted the post and still spelt my name wrong  

 

But, there’s a massive difference to being “good enough” than being ready to play and also having players that play in the same position that are currently better than you. 
 

If he wasn’t good enough, he wouldn’t be a professional footballer and he wouldn’t have had reviews last season. 
 

But no, not good enough.  

 

have you ever stopped to wonder why I keep calling you Burt?

 

 

 

 

and if he wasn’t good enough he wouldn’t be a professional footballer? What sort of logic is that?

 

and he wasn’t good enough to play for a terrible prem team and got the gig  at a lowly championship team… that’s not really proving  your point  

 

anyone with half a heart beat would have looked good in that Oxford team.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 27 September 2025 by MPH

[Tommy Fresh]

1 hour ago, MPH said:

I mean, if he was considered good enough he would have stayed right?

Not necessarily 

[moore_94]

1 minute ago, MPH said:

 

and he wasn’t good enough to play for a terrible prem team and got the gig  at a lowly championship team… that’s not really proving  your point  

 

anyone with half a heart beat would have looked good in that Oxford team.

 

He didn't just "look good" in that Oxford team in comparison to his team mates

 

He was looking good whilst playing against some of the best teams in the league for Oxford

[MPH]

5 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

He didn't just "look good" in that Oxford team in comparison to his team mates

 

He was looking good whilst playing against some of the best teams in the league for Oxford

 

and yet we’ve all said  just how bad this league is already this season..

[moore_94]

Just now, MPH said:

 

and yet we’ve all said  just how bad this league is already this season..

How bad it is THIS season

 

There was some top quality teams for this level last season, which he played well against

[murphy]

‘I’d love to keep him here but he will probably be in Leicesters first team next season’ ‘If he isn’t then he’ll be in the premier league. He’s outstanding he has a bright future’

Gary Rowett.  Oxford manager.

 

 

[Bert]

2 minutes ago, MPH said:

 

have you ever stopped to wonder why I keep calling you Burt?

 

 

 

 

and if he wasn’t good enough he wouldn’t be a professional footballer? What sort of logic is that?

 

and he wasn’t good enough to play for a terrible prem team and got the gig  at a lowly championship team… that’s not really proving  your point  

 

anyone with half a heart beat would have looked good in that Oxford team.

 

 

 

 

 

I have and it must just be that you’re thick and your second sentence clearly just proves that as well  because the logic really isn’t that hard to understand.
 

Yet a lot of Oxford fans attribute they wouldn’t have stayed up without Nelson, but again not good enough. 
 

Once more, there’s a difference between having players that play in your position being better than you rather than not being good enough. It’s how football works. 
 

 

 

[Bert]

1 minute ago, murphy said:

‘I’d love to keep him here but he will probably be in Leicesters first team next season’ ‘If he isn’t then he’ll be in the premier league. He’s outstanding he has a bright future’

Gary Rowett.  Oxford manager.

 

 

Not good enough. 

[MPH]

5 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

How bad it is THIS season

 

There was some top quality teams for this level last season, which he played well against

 it’s not suddenly turned bad this season

[MPH]

4 minutes ago, Bert said:

I have and it must just be that you’re thick and your second sentence clearly just proves that as well  because the logic really isn’t that hard to understand.
 

Yet a lot of Oxford fans attribute they wouldn’t have stayed up without Nelson, but again not good enough. 
 

Once more, there’s a difference between having players that play in your position being better than you rather than not being good enough. It’s how football works. 
 

 

 

and so once more, then must be something else going on then, right?