Sheehan's Back

[davieG]

Source

Stags have decided not to take up (yet) a third month loan option with Alan Sheehan, with Stags boss Peter Shirtliff now looking elswhere.... Speaking to the Mansfield CHAD, Shirtliff said of his decision not to renew Sheehan's loan deal for another month "Alan has been good for us and I think we've been good for him.

"But we have sent him back as he is out with an infected toe and can't play in the Cup on Saturday anyway.

"There are only three games he could play in during November so it's not really worth using that last month up. But, depending on how things work out, we could maybe bring him back to cover us through December for his third month like Lincoln have done with Forest's Nicky Eaden."

[Wils]

Celebration time in Thracians house.

[Manwell Pablo]

Sheehans Mansfield player ratings.

Sheehan - 5, got forwards well and put in some good crosses in the second half. Corner delivery was poor.

Sheehan 7 Defended well and pushed forward ok. Good distribution.

Sheehan 5 Mistake led to first goal. Injured earlier on, and then subbed.

Sheehan 5 Struggled and his two free kick attempts were woeful

Sheehan 6 Generally did ok.

Sheehan 7 Defended well, and linked impressively with Jelleyman down the left

Sheehan (for Mullins, 33) 5 Missed penalty. Did not look impressive at centre half.

Alan Sheehan 6 at fault for the goal but linked up well with Jelleyman

Sheehan 7 Again showed his class with several vital interceptions.

Sheehan 8 Very accomplished debut, good on the ball and rarely wasted a pass.

Not bad, then again hardly impressive saying he was playing in League Two.

[Thracian]

Celebration time in Thracians house.

Not at all. As I've said, he's probably missed his chance at Leicester. Nils has been solid enough and is not likely to lose his place anytime soon, despite his limitations.

Another year or so on and Sheehan, unless there is a dramatic improvement, will have no chance against Joe Mattock, although whether he too will be left frustrated on the sidelines under another regime is a different matter.

Sheehan might fit into a different type of team to Leicester's - it is not that Sheehan's no good, just that Mattock is an outstanding rival.

But Sheehan has not developed the defensive reliability to go with his obvious attacking abilities which have resulted in several assists at Mansfield in what, even so, has been a less than completely impressive loan spell (average player rating just over 6 from 10 games according to Manwell).

Were I a manager I'd prefer Mattock but denied that luxury I would still sign Sheehan because he would fit into the sort of team I would wish to build. Mind you he wouldn't half get a talking to about what was required.

But, and he might be right, RK's view of what makes a good football team seems markedly different to mine and I can't see it including Sheehan in a hurry.

Unless there's a change of City direction, the lad's need now is for another loan spell because if he wants a career in professional football, he needs to convince someone quickly that he's what they want and can do the job consistently and with an attitude that he's determined to learn and improve on a daily basis.

Kelly could put him on the bench and give him cameos but, if he's unfit now, he'll lose some more fitness before that can happen and will be back to square one with nowhere sensible to keep him match-ready. So why would Kelly do that with queues of people all wanting a place on the bench or better? And when would he play if Nils keeps helping keep our seven-man defence solid?.

I could see the club getting Sheehan as fit as they can and releasing him permanently if an opportunity arises.

Have all those years of hard work been wasted by the club or by the player?. You could debate it endlessly but broadly Sheehan's a Leicester City player at the wrong time.

Our team emphasis is defence and he needs to be at a club where the emphasis is on attack.

[Guest]

Our team emphasis is defence and he needs to be at a club where the emphasis is on attack.

Never heard of balance?

[Thracian]

Never heard of balance?

Even balance would represent a step forward.

But my idea of balance is that all our defenders can attack and all our attackers can defend, though obviously not all at the same time..

I don't believe balance is about all our forwards wear themselves out in the cause of defending while our defenders and midfield just do enough to win possession and then hack the ball anywhere.

.

[Guest]

Even balance would represent a step forward.

But my idea of balance is that all our defenders can attack and all our attackers can defend, though obviously not all at the same time..

I don't believe balance is about all our forwards wear themselves out in the cause of defending while our defenders and midfield just do enough to win possession and then hack the ball anywhere.

Are you implying that I believe this to be the case?

[Thracian]

Source

Stags have decided not to take up (yet) a third month loan option with Alan Sheehan, with Stags boss Peter Shirtliff now looking elswhere.... Speaking to the Mansfield CHAD, Shirtliff said of his decision not to renew Sheehan's loan deal for another month "Alan has been good for us and I think we've been good for him.

"But we have sent him back as he is out with an infected toe and can't play in the Cup on Saturday anyway.

"There are only three games he could play in during November so it's not really worth using that last month up. But, depending on how things work out, we could maybe bring him back to cover us through December for his third month like Lincoln have done with Forest's Nicky Eaden."

Jeff on Talking Balls adds another slant to Sheehan's return:

What (the OS) they didn't say is that Mansfield wanted to keep Sheehan for another month and had been talking to the club about extending the loan. Sheehan had also said he'd be happy to stay another month.

So the fact he's now back here suggests the manager sees him as part of the first team squad, maybe we'll see him on the bench on Saturday.

__________________

[Thracian]

Are you implying that I believe this to be the case?

I was not implying that at all - by word or intent.

I was trying to say that when you mention balance I don't see balance as being 5 defenders and five forwards I see it as players who are comfortable footballers as attackers or defenders but can also do their specialist job well.

In other words a balanced team should be able to attack in numbers as well as defend in numbers which we don't.

[Guest]

I was not implying that at all - by word or intent.

I was trying to say that when you mention balance I don't see balance as being 5 defenders and five forwards I see it as players who ae comfortable footballers as attackers or defenders but can also do their specialist job well.

In other words a balanced team should be able to attack in numbers as well as defend in numbers which we don't.

[bold_fox]

I was not implying that at all - by word or intent.

I was trying to say that when you mention balance I don't see balance as being 5 defenders and five forwards I see it as players who ae comfortable footballers as attackers or defenders but can also do their specialist job well.

In other words a balanced team should be able to attack in numbers as well as defend in numbers which we don't.

Surely not if he's got an infected toe !!!

[The Don]

Sheehans back.

Now got the M&M song going through my head now.

[lookwhaticando]

Jeff on Talking Balls adds another slant to Sheehan's return:

What (the OS) they didn't say is that Mansfield wanted to keep Sheehan for another month and had been talking to the club about extending the loan. Sheehan had also said he'd be happy to stay another month.

So the fact he's now back here suggests the manager sees him as part of the first team squad, maybe we'll see him on the bench on Saturday.

__________________

We're going to play him in the middle in place of Johnson.

A left back with a manky toe playing out of position should easily be more effective than a fully fit Johnson.

Perhaps there's light at the end of the tunnel for Sheehan.

[Thracian]

We're going to play him in the middle in place of Johnson.

A left back with a manky toe playing out of position should easily be more effective than a fully fit Johnson.

Perhaps there's light at the end of the tunnel for Sheehan.

Do yoiu mean the Blackwall Tunnel? You've haven't heard he's going as cover to Charlton have you.

I honestly don't think so. First he's got to win over the manager and then a fair number of fans who'd be much happier importing ready made players.

[Manwell Pablo]

Do yoiu mean the Blackwall Tunnel? You've haven't heard he's going as cover to Charlton have you.

I honestly don't think so. First he's got to win over the manager and then a fair number of fans who'd be much happier importing ready made players.

Note wrong with that, thats how every succesfull team in Europe operates.

[lookwhaticando]

Note wrong with that, thats how every succesfull team in Europe operates.

You've a bit of a soft spot for Arsenal, don't you? (Correct me if I'm wrong because that's a hell of an offensive statement if it's not true... )

Isn't Arsenal's policy not to so much buy ready-made talent but raw underdeveloped talent and turn it into Premiership quality? Such as all those African/French kids they've bought over the last 3 years...

Still, you could hardly accuse Arsenal of being a successful team in Europe.

I'm here all week.

[Manwell Pablo]

You've a bit of a soft spot for Arsenal, don't you? (Correct me if I'm wrong because that's a hell of an offensive statement if it's not true... )

Isn't Arsenal's policy not to so much buy ready-made talent but raw underdeveloped talent and turn it into Premiership quality? Such as all those African/French kids they've bought over the last 3 years...

Still, you could hardly accuse Arsenal of being a successful team in Europe.

I'm here all week.

The talent they have is mostly purchased at around the age of 18,19,20. All good players start somewhere after all.

Arsene Wenger understands it's not likely the borough of Islington is going to create a world beating XI. Unfortuantley neither is Leicestershire.

[lookwhaticando]

The talent they have is mostly purchased at around the age of 18,19,20. All good players start somewhere after all.

Arsene Wenger understands it's not likely the borough of Islington is going to create a world beating XI. Unfortuantley neither is Leicestershire.

They may purchase the players - but they're not truly ready-made players. They're still very young and still learning. Afterall, our Stearman is also only 19, as are a couple of our more notable academy members. As well as the likes of Fryatt, McCarthy and Hume when we purchased them.

You are right, though, all good players start somewhere - some of them even begin life at Forest or Southampton.

There's nothing wrong with bringing in some ready-made players, just as there's nothing wrong with developing talent you bought elsewhere or developing talent you've brought up from childhood. A good mix of the three is what we're aiming for. I think we've got a reasonable balance at the minute - we've bought some developing talent, we've bought some more ready-made players, and we've brought through a few of our own.

As for Islington and Leicestershire being unable to produce world beating XI's, you're probably right, but then again Wenger buys players from places you don't hear much about (I for one couldn't tell you where half his first team comes from any more). Places you don't expect to be a hotbed of talent any more so than Islington. He also bought some chap from Southampton - what's that all about?

[Guest]

To be fair to the younger players, what are they going to learn if you bring them into a team that is, in all effect, not that good? It's not like gardening where you can plant a bulb into a pile of horse poo and get a beautiful rosebush out of it.

[Manwell Pablo]

They may purchase the players - but they're not truly ready-made players. They're still very young and still learning. Afterall, our Stearman is also only 19, as are a couple of our more notable academy members. As well as the likes of Fryatt, McCarthy and Hume when we purchased them.

You are right, though, all good players start somewhere - some of them even begin life at Forest or Southampton.

There's nothing wrong with bringing in some ready-made players, just as there's nothing wrong with developing talent you bought elsewhere or developing talent you've brought up from childhood. A good mix of the three is what we're aiming for. I think we've got a reasonable balance at the minute - we've bought some developing talent, we've bought some more ready-made players, and we've brought through a few of our own.

As for Islington and Leicestershire being unable to produce world beating XI's, you're probably right, but then again Wenger buys players from places you don't hear much about (I for one couldn't tell you where half his first team comes from any more). Places you don't expect to be a hotbed of talent any more so than Islington. He also bought some chap from Southampton - what's that all about?

I know exactly were he gets them from, France. Well Fabergas was Barcelona but most of his up and coming team have been nicked for peanuts from one French team or another. And they are a a lot more ready made than academy players, on his budget it's the only way he can do it. Who can blame him any way when Theo cost 8 million and Toure cost 250k? English players cost silly money

He's still buying players to replace his academy, the likes of Smith and Bently for example.

[Thracian]

To be fair to the younger players, what are they going to learn if you bring them into a team that is, in all effect, not that good? It's not like gardening where you can plant a bulb into a pile of horse poo and get a beautiful rosebush out of it.

We have a core of young players already. Logan, Stearman, McCarthy, Kisnorbo, Wesolowski, Porter, Fryatt, Hume (if I can count him) and Dodds (if they bring hime back). That's nine!. Welsh and Hammond are capable of playing with young players and so are Williams, O'Grady, McAuley, Nils and Tiatto. That makes 15. We simply need to sort our weaknesses by getting an attacking left-back option, another attacking midfielder and a right winger. Then add Gradel and King to the squad and you've got the basis of a decent improving and maturing team with options and no desperately prnounced weaknesses.

[Guest]

We have a core of young players already. Logan, Stearman, McCarthy, Kisnorbo, Wesolowski, Porter, Fryatt, Hume (if I can count him) and Dodds (if they bring hime back). That's nine!. Welsh and Hammond are capable of playing with young players and so are Williams, O'Grady, McAuley, Nils and Tiatto. That makes 15. We simply need to sort our weaknesses by getting an attacking left-back option, another attacking midfielder and a right winger. Then add Gradel and King to the squad and you've got the basis of a decent improving and maturing team with options and no desperately prnounced weaknesses.

Some of those are already in their twenties - a big difference in a relatively short career.

Some haven't featured highly in the first team squad. Whilst on paper it looks promising, the reality has been far from it.

Stearman - what has happened to him? His passing is getting worse. He's getting easily niggled. He's not the same player he was last season. Attacking full-backs I'm all for, but full-backs trying to a centre-forward? I actually thought he looked better last season overlapping with Maybury. Why's that suddenly gone to pot? The Sunderland business? Too many questions....

Weso - so unlucky with injuries, he's not been himself since breaking his leg that second time.

Porter and Welsh - both get their heads down and run, but that's it. What about beating the man? Where's the crosses? Porter looks like he might be able to, but he doesn't.

Dodds, Gradel and King have yet to feature.

But where's the experience they can learn from? This is what I mean by balance. We have Tiatto. Run around like a headless chicken and get booked, lads. Great.

[cisono]

We're going to play him in the middle in place of Johnson.

A left back with a manky toe playing out of position should easily be more effective than a fully fit Johnson.

Perhaps there's light at the end of the tunnel for Sheehan.

Yes, yes, please.

Let's just tell RK now

[Thracian]

Some of those are already in their twenties - a big difference in a relatively short career.

Some haven't featured highly in the first team squad. Whilst on paper it looks promising, the reality has been far from it.

Stearman - what has happened to him? His passing is getting worse. He's getting easily niggled. He's not the same player he was last season. Attacking full-backs I'm all for, but full-backs trying to a centre-forward? I actually thought he looked better last season overlapping with Maybury. Why's that suddenly gone to pot? The Sunderland business? Too many questions....

Weso - so unlucky with injuries, he's not been himself since breaking his leg that second time.

Porter and Welsh - both get their heads down and run, but that's it. What about beating the man? Where's the crosses? Porter looks like he might be able to, but he doesn't.

Dodds, Gradel and King have yet to feature.

But where's the experience they can learn from? This is what I mean by balance. We have Tiatto. Run around like a headless chicken and get booked, lads. Great.

Sadly I don't think we have experienced players who are good enough to teach anyone. People like Teddy Sheringham, Patrik Berger, Gary Speed are the sort I'd have in mind just as examples, not proposals.

Just for information Porter's not a man beater, he's a passer. He's not even really a winger but a midfielder for the very reason that he's not really got the pace to beat people on the flank and would have to compensate by manouvring the ball and slipping in the clever passes he's so capable of.

In midfield he's the nearest thing we've got to Scholesy. No I'm not saying or implying that he is Scholesy or a potential Scholes just that his style of play is to control the ball quickly, turn this way and that and feed various types of pass in any direction. As opposed to being a combative midfielder. Apart from Williams, no-one else at our club can do that.

There's probably no sensible alternative right now to using this as a core team because of the familiarity which each other's style of play and the limitations of some of our older players.

I've no real fears about Doddsy and King but we could do with some quality extras come January, people who can read the game and who can talk to, inspire and encourage people during the match. But, without investment we won't find talented leaders for nothing.

[Guest]

Sadly I don't think we have experienced players who are good enough to teach anyone.

My point entirely.

We have some potential but I fear that could be lost to us, either losing players to 'better' clubs, or whatever.