Stearman

[RowlattsFox]

I think a move away from the club would be the best thing that could happen to Stearman right now, his career has gone stale and he has lost his confidence in his ability, even if he has to have a spell at League 1 level. A spell at a promotion-chasing League 1 side where he can regain confidence by winning games, I have no doubt that he is good enough for this level. I can see him having a similar sort of career to Jordan Stewart.

[Thracian]

I think a move away from the club would be the best thing that could happen to Stearman right now, his career has gone stale and he has lost his confidence in his ability, even if he has to have a spell at League 1 level. A spell at a promotion-chasing League 1 side where he can regain confidence by winning games, I have no doubt that he is good enough for this level. I can see him having a similar sort of career to Jordan Stewart.

Trouble is they'll only direct their aggression at someone else - invariably someone in an outside position because they see everything those players do and know that their vitriol drives home.

Rarely are midfield or the field players subject to such bullying. People like McAuley or Kisnorbo can make just as many mistakes as Stearman but many go unseen and the verbals reaction gets lost on the wind anyway.

You only have to look at the fans team selections for evidence. No matter how much McAuley or Kisnorbo give the ball away they almost always get picked. If Stearman gives the ball away half as much he's pilloried. If you're going to play in the outside positions you need to be a fans favourite.

[stez]

Trouble is they'll only direct their aggression at someone else - invariably someone in an outside position because they see everything those players do and know that their vitriol drives home.

Rarely are midfield or the field players subject to such bullying. People like McAuley or Kisnorbo can make just as many mistakes as Stearman but many go unseen and the verbals reaction gets lost on the wind anyway.

You only have to look at the fans team selections for evidence. No matter how much McAuley or Kisnorbo give the ball away they almost always get picked. If Stearman gives the ball away half as much he's pilloried. If you're going to play in the outside positions you need to be a fans favourite.

a bit like kaebi eh? also kisnorbo came in for no end of stick while he was at centre mid. player who get stick, usually deserve it, stearman has become complacent and it's showing.

[Joe.]

Some of the early comments in this thread are hilarious :laugh:

I can honestly say I've not liked Stearman since probably his first three months or so. I started a thread in about November last year (which I conviniently can't find ) saying we should cash in on him. Seems my suspicions were right.

I hope Holloway sees it's finally time to be rid of him, he's clearly not cut out for this level of football at the moment, and unfortunately I don't think he ever will (yes, I know he's only 20 ).

[ronnup]

he's shit. Offers ver very little going forward except enthusiasm. Mediocre as a tackling hard working right back who gets caught out all the time. It's not about being a whipping boy, they're all fooking shit.

[Thracian]

a bit like kaebi eh? also kisnorbo came in for no end of stick while he was at centre mid. player who get stick, usually deserve it, stearman has become complacent and it's showing.

Yes, Kisnorbo was an exception. I'd forgotten him.

But I thought Kaebi was a fans favourite - like Fryatt!

[Bert]

I think our full backs need to be quick, energectic, who can both attack (ability to overlap is essential) and defend, i think Chambers fits the bill perfectly, after seeing the players that have/can play there this season. Stearman (who i used to rate, and in the back of my mind, somewhere, i still believe is good enough at this level - i've seen him do it ) hasn't fulfilled anyone with optimism this season, Bruno is better at centre back, and doesn't have the pace or stamina i don't think, to last 90 minutes every single game. Kenton seems to be playing cameo roles all over the place.

Chambers has shown us (Albeit in a different position) energy, enthusiasm, fight for the cause, the willingness to attack and defend and i think it's only fair he get's his chance to show us what he's really about.

[Thracian]

Some of the early comments in this thread are hilarious :laugh:

I can honestly say I've not liked Stearman since probably his first three months or so. I started a thread in about November last year (which I conviniently can't find ) saying we should cash in on him. Seems my suspicions were right.

I hope Holloway sees it's finally time to be rid of him, he's clearly not cut out for this level of football at the moment, and unfortunately I don't think he ever will (yes, I know he's only 20 ).

I defend him sometimes because some folk have got it in for him whatever, and for their own reasons, but I've never been a great fan.

I've long thought he's a better centre-back than full-back.

[potter3]

I can honestly say I've not liked Stearman since probably his first three months or so. I started a thread in about November last year (which I conviniently can't find ) saying we should cash in on him. Seems my suspicions were right.

What? he was quality is first season (ish), he's just gone downhill is the past year or so. I would rather play Chambers at RB, and perhaps Kenton too, but I'd still rather Stearman plays than McAuley or N'Gotty at RB, they're both to slow and immobile.

[Scow]

I really don't understand why people think Stearman is a centreback.

He's too weak physically and aerially to play there.

He played there at youth level, but there's a massive between that level and the first team - opponents are much stronger physically. I've seen Stearman try to challenge the likes of Hartson and Fuller in the past and he's come off a clear second best.

[Joe.]

What? he was quality is first season (ish), he's just gone downhill is the past year or so. I would rather play Chambers at RB, and perhaps Kenton too, but I'd still rather Stearman plays than McAuley or N'Gotty at RB, they're both to slow and immobile.

Stearman has never been "quality" and he never will be.

He may have hit it off well in his first few games but after that like you say he's gone right downhill.

[Thracian]

I really don't understand why people think Stearman is a centreback.

He's too weak physically and aerially to play there.

He played there at youth level, but there's a massive between that level and the first team - opponents are much stronger physically. I've seen Stearman try to challenge the likes of Hartson and Fuller in the past and he's come off a clear second best.

Stearman's not the only centre-back to come off worst against Fuller, or Hartson (in his better days) for that matter. There are ways to nullify these big guys if you stiffle the supply from the flanks or take the backline far enough from goal and have a guy standing off to pick up the second ball.

We never do either with any conviction and this stops us moving forward as a closely linked unit when we gain possession because our defence stays too far detached from the midfield.

Our attacking and distribution problems start with this and contribute to our shortage of goals and chances. Good teams need fast, mobile defenders and we've hardly got any. I wouldn't pick Stearman as my ideal in those departments but he's as good as we've got right now.

Cos we're gonna be tested. When that video of McAuley getting skinned down the centre gets around there'll be all sorts of plans being hatched to take Kisnorbo away and expose McAuley one-on-one to a player with pace.

Megson could see that, of course, and played with three centre-backs. No reason we shouldn't go back to that for a few games - if only to try and repair the cracks being found in our four-man defence.

That said, whatever system we use right now, we don't have the personnel not to be vulnerable in one way or another.

[Ultra]

Megson's tactics were those of a man who quite clearly couldn't give a flying one about the club or its players. I see no purpose in going back to them, especially as it could be argued that they are the source of our current problems.

How often in his mercifully short reign did we see a City side play with genuine confidence, without fear of the opposition? Maybe at Hillsborough, but that would be the only instance.

With regard to Stearman, I've long argued that he has been a prime casualty of the instability that has plagued our club over recent seasons. To have played, as he has, under SEVEN different managers, each with their own ideas on how the game should be played, it's not surprising that his game has declined so badly over the past 18 months.

What annoys me in particular is the fact that he is consistently treated as a "chosen man" by successive bosses, presumably on the basis of reputation and/or potential rather than current ability. Thus he is picked to play at right-back when it is evident to even the most casual observer that we have several better choices available (Chambers, Kenton, N'Gotty) in that position.

Perhaps Holloway will be the man to put his career back on track. But at the moment, he's a liability and recognised as such by fans and opponents alike.

A lengthy spell in the reserves, away from the firing line, may help him to recover his form and perhaps even become the prospect we once hoped that he would be.

[Thracian]

Megson's tactics were those of a man who quite clearly couldn't give a flying one about the club or its players. I see no purpose in going back to them, especially as it could be argued that they are the source of our current problems.

How often in his mercifully short reign did we see a City side play with genuine confidence, without fear of the opposition? Maybe at Hillsborough, but that would be the only instance.

With regard to Stearman, I've long argued that he has been a prime casualty of the instability that has plagued our club over recent seasons. To have played, as he has, under SEVEN different managers, each with their own ideas on how the game should be played, it's not surprising that his game has declined so badly over the past 18 months.

What annoys me in particular is the fact that he is consistently treated as a "chosen man" by successive bosses, presumably on the basis of reputation and/or potential rather than current ability. Thus he is picked to play at right-back when it is evident to even the most casual observer that we have several better choices available (Chambers, Kenton, N'Gotty) in that position.

Perhaps Holloway will be the man to put his career back on track. But at the moment, he's a liability and recognised as such by fans and opponents alike.

A lengthy spell in the reserves, away from the firing line, may help him to recover his form and perhaps even become the prospect we once hoped that he would be.

Kenton and N'Gotty aren't fast enough as full-backs. They'll cope on occasions but basically full-back is a position that requires people of pace. People who can support at speed but who are agile, quick to turn and quick to recover.

James Chambers is our one option despite us being labelled Right Back City and, for some reason, he never seems to get the chance.

That worries me. Because he must have some weakness that's just not been widely recognised but which prompted Watford to let him go and City not to play him at full-back.

Having seen him briefly at right back against Forest in the abandoned game where he stood between us and a mauling, I can only guess that it's not his defending but his final pass that lets him down. But it was flimsy evidence.

Truth is Stearman should move. For his own good. He needs a fresh challenge where he can refocus and where they have people good enough to keep developing his game. You only have to look at our team's failings to realise that so much is not being done.

[Tommy G]

Megson's tactics were those of a man who quite clearly couldn't give a flying one about the club or its players. I see no purpose in going back to them, especially as it could be argued that they are the source of our current problems.

How often in his mercifully short reign did we see a City side play with genuine confidence, without fear of the opposition? Maybe at Hillsborough, but that would be the only instance.

With regard to Stearman, I've long argued that he has been a prime casualty of the instability that has plagued our club over recent seasons. To have played, as he has, under SEVEN different managers, each with their own ideas on how the game should be played, it's not surprising that his game has declined so badly over the past 18 months.

What annoys me in particular is the fact that he is consistently treated as a "chosen man" by successive bosses, presumably on the basis of reputation and/or potential rather than current ability. Thus he is picked to play at right-back when it is evident to even the most casual observer that we have several better choices available (Chambers, Kenton, N'Gotty) in that position.

Perhaps Holloway will be the man to put his career back on track. But at the moment, he's a liability and recognised as such by fans and opponents alike.

A lengthy spell in the reserves, away from the firing line, may help him to recover his form and perhaps even become the prospect we once hoped that he would be.

Thats a good point in bold.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Kenton and N'Gotty aren't fast enough as full-backs. It is a position that requires people of pace. People who can support at speed but who are agile, quick to turn and quick to recover.

James Chambers is our one option despite us being labelled Right Back City and, for some reason, he never seems to get the chance.

That worries me. Because he must have some weakness that's just not been widely recognised but which prompted Watford to let him go and City not to play him at full-back.

Having seen him briefly at right back against Forest in the abandoned game where he stood between us and a mauling, I can only guess that it's not his defending but his final pass that lets him down.

This is all wrong IMO.

Chambers only hasn't played there because he got injured in the Blackpool game and was then drafted into central midfield (a more important position) by Megson on his return. Then he got injured again and he hasn't been match-fit since.

He's got far fewer faults than any of our other defenders - and that's based on me seeing him for West Brom and Watford, not just us. His display in the Blackpool game was the best attacking display by any of our defenders so far this season and in the first half of the abandoned Forest game he put in a display that was arguably the best defensive display so far this season.

He is a quality player and we have missed him big-time since he got injured.

[davieG]

This is all wrong IMO.

Chambers only hasn't played there because he got injured in the Blackpool game and was then drafted into central midfield (a more important position) by Megson on his return. Then he got injured again and he hasn't been match-fit since.

He's got far fewer faults than any of our other defenders - and that's based on me seeing him for West Brom and Watford, not just us. His display in the Blackpool game was the best attacking display by any of our defenders so far this season and in the first half of the abandoned Forest game he put in a display that was arguably the best defensive display so far this season.

He is a quality player and we have missed him big-time since he got injured.

Isn't that what Thracian was intimating at

[Fez of Mahrez]

Isn't that what Thracian was intimating at

I interpreted it as Chambers "not being given a chance" because the club have noticed some particular "weakness".

[Manwell Pablo]

Watford didn't let James Chambers go, he was offered a new deal, he turned it down and decided to leave.

[davieG]

I interpreted it as Chambers "not being given a chance" because the club have noticed some particular "weakness".

Ah I can see where you're coming from!

[Thracian]

This is all wrong IMO.

Chambers only hasn't played there because he got injured in the Blackpool game and was then drafted into central midfield (a more important position) by Megson on his return. Then he got injured again and he hasn't been match-fit since.

He's got far fewer faults than any of our other defenders - and that's based on me seeing him for West Brom and Watford, not just us. His display in the Blackpool game was the best attacking display by any of our defenders so far this season and in the first half of the abandoned Forest game he put in a display that was arguably the best defensive display so far this season.

He is a quality player and we have missed him big-time since he got injured.

I thought he's been available for a game or two.

He's our only progressive right-back option and if he's as good as you say I cannot understand why he's not used.

I think he was used in midfield not because it was more important but because we had no options there and we did have one at full-back.

However if you really think central midfield is a more important position than full-back that's something we'll just have to disagree on.

I wouldn't want our team to be without a central midfielder - and sadly, the way Clemence is playing that's almost the case - but you seem to underestimate the value of full-backs.

I think good, fast, aggressive but attack-capable full-backs are vital.

Teams that have them tend to do well and teams that don't are always going to be limited.

Many teams concentrate on a solid centre but, for winning things, I'd start with two full-backs such as I mentioned. Assuming you can find them.

[Thracian]

Watford didn't let James Chambers go, he was offered a new deal, he turned it down and decided to leave.

Come on Manwell. If Watford had seriously wanted to keep him they'd have offered him a more tempting deal. Obviously they only rated him to a certain degree.

[Ric Flair]

Come on Manwell. If Watford had seriously wanted to keep him they'd have offered him a more tempting deal. Obviously they only rated him to a certain degree.

He had long periods where he wasn't in the team at Watford in the past few seasons, it didn't surprise me that he wanted to leave. Watford saw him as a valuable squad player, Chambers was looking for more than that.

[Thracian]

Ah I can see where you're coming from!

I've had to assume the club have seen some weakness cos I've not seen enough of him to recognise anything I'd be sure is a weakness.

His performance at Forest in the abandoned match was the best I've seen from any City right back this season. Not that it was much to go on.

[Fez of Mahrez]

I thought he's been available for a game or two.

He's our only progressive right-back option and if he's as good as you say I cannot understand why he's not used.

I think he was used in midfield not because it was more important but because we had no options there and we did have one at full-back.

However if you really think central midfield is a more important position than full-back that's something we'll just have to disagree on.

I wouldn't want our team to be without a central midfielder - and sadly, the way Clemence is playing that's almost the case - but you seem to underestimate the value of full-backs.

I think good, fast, aggressive but attack-capable full-backs are vital.

Teams that have them tend to do well and teams that don't are always going to be limited.

Many teams concentrate on a solid centre but, for winning things, I'd start with two full-backs such as I mentioned. Assuming you can find them.

I don't underestimate the value of full-backs. I'd love a good, fast, aggressive full-back but sadly I have to make do with Alan Sheehan.