Two bits of bad news

[Joe.]

Question all you like, pal. I've only ever wanted Hammond for his speed and that bcause there's absolutely no alternative in this department. And I more likely to score than Fryatt when the latter he was so blatantly unfit.

And that's the case. Hammond 4 goals from 16 games and Fryatt two goals from 15.

It's ironic that anyone would rather have one of these two playing than a guy who would almost certainly score more goals in half a season than both those two put together.

To be fair Thracian Fryatt is improving a great deal in the last few games he has played and the partnership of him and Hume is startin to come together again.

Maybe Dodds would do better than Elvis, it's not exactly hard but in my opnion he shouldn't be ahed of Fryatt.

[BartonFox]

Question all you like, pal. I've only ever wanted Hammond for his speed and that bcause there's absolutely no alternative in this department. And I more likely to score than Fryatt when the latter he was so blatantly unfit.

And that's the case. Hammond 4 goals from 16 games and Fryatt two goals from 15.

It's ironic that anyone would rather have one of these two playing than a guy who would almost certainly score more goals in half a season than both those two put together.

And how can you make that assumption given the only forst team action he has seen was in the Conference?

[Thracian]

I actually don't see any reason why he shouldn't be given a run in the team, personally. I'm guessing RK does, though, and this might have something to do with it.

From what you've said about him before, is he anything like a Lineker type who hardly touches the ball and then appears from nowhere to poke it home, or does he graft with the rest of the team as well? I'd have no problem with playing him myself either way, but if he is a little anonymous until he scores it might explain RK not picking him.

And that, in a nutshell, is my main concern about Kelly. He seems to see only one way, one system, one type of footballer.

Put it this way. We have seven eights of a squad who are anonymous when it comes to the attacking penalty box. And if we don't change we'll go down.

[Joe.]

And how can you make that assumption given the only forst team action he has seen was in the Conference?

It's no use saying Dodds is or isn't going to make the grade. Nobody will know until he actually plays for us. Until then, it's no use debating because it is impossible to tell.

[The People's Hero]

I'm not making excuses for Hammond, Thracian. You have been... and now suddenly, you've swivelled against him!

[Thracian]

To be fair Thracian Fryatt is improving a great deal in the last few games he has played and the partnership of him and Hume is startin to come together again.

Maybe Dodds would do better than Elvis, it's not exactly hard but in my opnion he shouldn't be ahed of Fryatt.

He can look as good as he likes. But the fact is he has scored two goals in his last 16 games for Leicester or one goal in every eight matches.

No other specialist striker would muster a quorum of support for that record because strikers' only reason for being is goals.

No way - not any way assuming he retained two legs to walk on - would Dodds complete half a season with two goals to his name. So how you'd make your case I don't know.

Potential goals doesn't seem to be a big argument for anyone else.

But I'll face facts whether anyone else wants to or not.

[Bloomer]

Seems to me its coming up to decisions time for Sheehan and Dodds. This bit of action won't do their rustic match-fitness levels any harm - but none of the journalists ever seem to ask about the lads' prospects and the silence from Kelly on the subject is constant.

Both players seem effectively snookered. There's no place to put them in the window for a loan spell, no way they can remain at their sharpest and this works against either being part of the first team squad.

Cadamarteri must be considered a special talent because he's involved while being less than fully fit but are we really going to waste Dodds?.

He's already had one Conference loan - perhaps cos League sides are reluctant to loan a striker who they cannot cast their eye over - so, presumably, he'll be heading in that direction again. Why?

There are other players of Dodds build and style that create havoc. People who aren't particularly fast, who don't go on mazey dribbles, who cannot muscle past people but who just turn up in the right place at the right time with the right touch and score again and again.

Larsson and Sheringham. Yes, exalted names and Dodds is a long way off that level. But he has the same knack of just being there when its wanted. Why would we never offer him a chance?

Is it coincidence that neither are scurrying, headless chicken type players?.

And has no-one considered where a team full of scurriers that lack almost any sort of elegance has got us these last years. It has continually left us huffing and puffing around the bottom of the League. Leicester City is not in need of more Hughes's and Tiattos and Mayburys, valiant servants though they all are.

It is crying out for a touch of class.

Up front, in midfield, and in defence.

And at the helm.

[Thracian]

I'm not making excuses for Hammond, Thracian. You have been... and now suddenly, you've swivelled against him!

If someone called me a bit over-enthusiastic at times I'd accept it. But to say either that I made excuses for Hammond or, more important, that I've now swivelled against him, is totally wrong.

I'm not against Hammond. I'm not against Fryatt. Or Nils or Maybury. I'm not "against" anyone, I cheer em all and want them all to do well.

What I did say was that our team needed pace and Hammond was the only option in the club with real pace. Give me someone else with real pace and looks a more convincing striker and see who I'd prefer.

As for scoring he not only had more goals than Fryatt at the time (as now) but was also much fitter and a better bet to score than Fryatt.

Like you, I can see that Fryatt looks more his old self now and the question is more difficult. But the goals are hardly flowing and I stand by what I've said. Dodds would never play half a season without scoring what those two have managed so far put together.

That doesn't mean I'm for Dodds but against Hammond and Fryatt. That's just realism as I see it.

Situations change in football. Players form fluctuates dramatically - and for various reasons.

All I'm interested in is Leicester fielding its best balanced team at any given time. And the remarkable thing is - I've never seen that yet in the entire course of the last 18 months. And it's another reason we are struggling so much to make headway.

[Geo V]

In Kellys defence, he bought in Josh Low who featured in the "Team of the season" at the end of last season and in similar vain, added a well thought of defender in McAuley for nothing. One of those two has shown that he can hack it and the other one has moved on. The fact is, some players who you may THINK can make it, cant and viceversa.

Ive mentioned the lad at Wycombe before (Jermaine Easter) who has kicked about for a few clubs (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jermaine_Easter) and after an £80k move now actually looks to have found his feet. Who`s to say with confidence that he could step up another level or higher or if he has peak now??

I see everyones angle on this issue on young players been drafted in. Personally, I wouldnt want to get any player in too soon as it could have long term damage on the youngsters fragile confidence. However, when you see some of the shower that have trotted around the pitch in recent months its no wonder why certain people are almost demanding that the likes of Dodds gets a look in.

BTW WE NEED A BLOODY RESERVE TEAM!

[Thracian]

In Kellys defence, he bought in Josh Low who featured in the "Team of the season" at the end of last season and in similar vain, added a well thought of defender in McAuley for nothing. One of those two has shown that he can hack it and the other one has moved on. The fact is, some players who you may THINK can make it, cant and viceversa.

Ive mentioned the lad at Wycombe before (Jermaine Easter) who has kicked about for a few clubs (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jermaine_Easter) and after an £80k move now actually looks to have found his feet. Who`s to say with confidence that he could step up another level or higher or if he has peak now??

I see everyones angle on this issue on young players been drafted in. Personally, I wouldnt want to get any player in too soon as it could have long term damage on the youngsters fragile confidence. However, when you see some of the shower that have trotted around the pitch in recent months its no wonder why certain people are almost demanding that the likes of Dodds gets a look in.

BTW WE NEED A BLOODY RESERVE TEAM!

I don't know about your "fragile confidence" thing. Many of City's Academy players have been around this or other professional football clubs for a long time.

They are brought up within the system and literally watch their colleagues when they are elevated to first team status from alongside the players tunnel.

Every player, young and old, will have certain tensions before a debut but these lads are not suddenly having to impress among strangers. And by the time of their appearance they would have trained regularly with the seniors anyway.

Of relatively recent debutees: Stearman, Wesolowski, Sheehan, Logan, Porter and Odhiambo, I'd say only Odhiambo looked especially nervous - and he looked just the same on his first appearance for the reserves but soon got over it.

Not only that but it was an especially atmospheric game for his debut - Aston Villa - and because of the special circumstances with injuries etc I doubt he'd expected to play either.

There's no arguing about needing a reserve team though. The situation is almost embarrassing. It is holding up development, costing players fitness and restricting the chances of fringe players finding suitable loans.

[Manwell Pablo]

And how can you make that assumption given the only forst team action he has seen was in the Conference?

He can't.

[The People's Hero]

No other specialist striker would muster a quorum of support for that record because strikers' only reason for being is goals.

This is what many people don't understand about you.

On one hand you say this... and then the next minute you're praising Hammond's effectiveness because of his pace... but where's the goals?

I'm not saying you are wrong in either respect, just that I find it baffling you hold two extremely contradictory arguments/viewpoints. It's like Jekyll and Hyde!

[Manwell Pablo]

This is what many people don't understand about you.

On one hand you say this... and then the next minute you're praising Hammond's effectiveness because of his pace... but where's the goals?

I'm not saying you are wrong in either respect, just that I find it baffling you hold two extremely contradictory arguments/viewpoints. It's like Jekyll and Hyde!

He's just agrumentative obviously

[Geo V]

I don't know about your "fragile confidence" thing. Many of City's Academy players have been around this or other professional football clubs for a long time.

They are brought up within the system and literally watch their colleagues when they are elevated to first team status from alongside the players tunnel.

Every player, young and old, will have certain tensions before a debut but these lads are not suddenly having to impress among strangers. And by the time of their appearance they would have trained regularly with the seniors anyway.

Of relatively recent debutees: Stearman, Wesolowski, Sheehan, Logan, Porter and Odhiambo, I'd say only Odhiambo looked especially nervous - and he looked just the same on his first appearance for the reserves but soon got over it.

Not only that but it was an especially atmospheric game for his debut - Aston Villa - and because of the special circumstances with injuries etc I doubt he'd expected to play either.

There's no arguing about needing a reserve team though. The situation is almost embarrassing. It is holding up development, costing players fitness and restricting the chances of fringe players finding suitable loans.

From the names you have listed above (and I have highlighted), how many would you say have cemented a place in the team?

You must admit, at this stage we are almost desperate for numbers and have bought a few free transfers in hoping they would make the difference. I`d say, this season has been an ideal opportunity for the youngsters to come in and cement a place in the team but although these youngsters have come in and done well in stages, they havent done enough to be classed as regulars.

Its funny how succesful managers like Sir Alex Ferguson nurtured players like Ryan Giggs despite his side not having much success at the time and David Moyes doing the same with Wayne Rooney. Moyes is doing something similar with a player that most think will be the next big thing in James Vaughan who hardly features. He gets a taste and gets rested.

Why do we think that we can sling these kids in and have NO adverse effect on them but great managers like Sir Alex never rushes talented kids?

[Thracian]

This is what many people don't understand about you.

On one hand you say this... and then the next minute you're praising Hammond's effectiveness because of his pace... but where's the goals?

I'm not saying you are wrong in either respect, just that I find it baffling you hold two extremely contradictory arguments/viewpoints. It's like Jekyll and Hyde!

Not at all. I've never thought of Hammond as principally a striker. Who would? I have often advocated his being moved wider so that his pace can trouble defenders and leave space for others.

His goals have always been a bonus - it was just that, at one stage, he looked a more likely scorer than anyone else in the frame apart from Hume.

Because Hammond's been injured and Fryatt's fitness has improved the situation has changed considerably, as it often does.

Also it has become clear that Hammond won't be used wider and will have to be judged as a striker who has speed.

Overall I'd still like some pace in the side but we've got none.

Hammond and Fryatt might have been our best options until recently but neither have really justified a striker's place all season except in Kelly's eyes and right now I'd use Dodds and Hume with Fryatt on the bench because of paragraph three.

However you look at it we need a guy who'll score 15 goals a season. Dodds would do it but probably won't get the chance and we really need one more.

[The People's Hero]

Hammond is garbage. It's shocking that we spent what we did on him.

Come the revolution... well, it appears already underway with COG, JL and MS (three more capable players) having been shown the door... I only hope he's next.

[lookwhaticando]

Disagree.

Elvis serves some small purpose at least. What the fook is Rab Douglas doing? Andy Johnson? They're either completely surplus to requirements or just fooking useless.

Those two are well ahead of Elvis in the 'who should be shown the door next' race.

[Geo V]

In an ideal world we wouldnt want to be attracting players of the calibre of Elvis "Reggie" Hammond into the Leicester team or even squad but thats where we were at when we aquired his services (). He isnt great but at least he is quick and can be an out ball if needed or even bring him off the bench for the last 10 mins and count how often he gets called offside or miscontrolls the ball?

[MC Prussian]

I favour a name change for this thread now.

"Two tits of good news".

Makes it more optimistic.

[The People's Hero]

Disagree.

Elvis serves some small purpose at least. What the fook is Rab Douglas doing? Andy Johnson? They're either completely surplus to requirements or just fooking useless.

Those two are well ahead of Elvis in the 'who should be shown the door next' race.

Rab Douglas was never *that* bad. Granted, I agree he probably shouldn't be our #1... but come on... he does have some quality and when he was in goal, he played most of it behind PM and PK (whilst both went through one of their more indifferent periods). That is to say, he's not shocking. Elvis Hammond technically is awful.

As far as Andy Johnson... I wouldn't really like to comment. He has the touch and the ability but unfortunately he no longer has the legs. He shows brief moment of hunger and of ability, but these are too brief and too infrequent.

As for Hammond... you never think 'oooh, that was good'. It's more... Oh look the defenders fallen over, Hammond has a chance here or he's got a lucky ricochet making it look like he's taken someone on and beaten them... etc etc.

To summarise... RD is probably surplus to requirements but is far from useless... AJ is coming to the end of his career ( a good career) and has something to offer but probably doesn't show it anywhere near often enough to bear persevering with (get rid).. and Elvis Hammond who never has been good, isn't good and never will be good.

It's all elementary though... I think RD will go, sooner rather than later. AJ seemingly has the unending support of RK, who clearly does see the ability there and has ignored his lack of stamina/hunger which is evident MOST of the time. EH... well, how do you get rid of him? We paid good money for him... he'll be on decent wages... I fear we're stuck with him.

[dandannieldanok]

Rab Douglas was never *that* bad. Granted, I agree he probably shouldn't be our #1... but come on... he does have some quality and when he was in goal, he played most of it behind PM and PK (whilst both went through one of their more indifferent periods). That is to say, he's not shocking. Elvis Hammond technically is awful.

As far as Andy Johnson... I wouldn't really like to comment. He has the touch and the ability but unfortunately he no longer has the legs. He shows brief moment of hunger and of ability, but these are too brief and too infrequent.

As for Hammond... you never think 'oooh, that was good'. It's more... Oh look the defenders fallen over, Hammond has a chance here or he's got a lucky ricochet making it look like he's taken someone on and beaten them... etc etc.

To summarise... RD is probably surplus to requirements but is far from useless... AJ is coming to the end of his career ( a good career) and has something to offer but probably doesn't show it anywhere near often enough to bear persevering with (get rid).. and Elvis Hammond who never has been good, isn't good and never will be good.

It's all elementary though... I think RD will go, sooner rather than later. AJ seemingly has the unending support of RK, who clearly does see the ability there and has ignored his lack of stamina/hunger which is evident MOST of the time. EH... well, how do you get rid of him? We paid good money for him... he'll be on decent wages... I fear we're stuck with him.

Agreed on the most part, Douglas isn't bad but never really showed consistent form. Hammond is poor but at least can make simple passes unlike bloody AJ. I disagree that he has still got the ability. I can honestly say I have never witnessed a moor poor performnace than that of AJ at Hillsborough.

Hopefully, within the next week, all three will have gone and MM's cash will have borought us a couple of decent replacements. I can dream.

[davieG]

The big problem with Hammond is that he's just not value for money. When you think of the players we cannot afford and then you look at how much he cost

[Thracian]

He scored didn't he?

I posted before he kicked a ball that Cadamarteri would start well. He'd done it before. His problem has been in keeping it up. I hope he does but will believe it when I see it.

[Thracian]

And how can you make that assumption given the only forst team action he has seen was in the Conference?

Because from all I've seen of Dodds - which is lots - I cannot imagine him scoring at that pace even if he was asked to play at England level.

[Thracian]

To be fair Thracian Fryatt is improving a great deal in the last few games he has played and the partnership of him and Hume is startin to come together again.

Maybe Dodds would do better than Elvis, it's not exactly hard but in my opnion he shouldn't be ahed of Fryatt.

You might well be right - there has certainly been improvement - but the statistics don't help your case one bit.