Gradel Watch

[sdb]

go mark-alain!

[Geo V]

go mark-alain!

I dont think he could have possibly been more involved in that game

[Thracian]

If he scored and made goals would he be coming on loan to an average Championship Club?

So what's his purpose?

[Thracian]

After seeing him play in pre-season at left back I disagree.

I cannot see why people even persist with the idea. Especially as Sheehan helped keep a clean sheet at an unlikely place Saturday and actually has an excellent results record during his time in the first team. Not only that, but the team has conceded less than a goal a game when he's played yet they concede more than a goal a game on average.

We have only failed to score twice when he has played in 10 official first team matches and generally we fail to score more often than that. Finally if you were to include first team or free-selection friendlies, Sheehan has the best results record of any player who has made 16 appearances or more.

I'm fairly sure he's been on the losing side just twice, against Bolton in the Cup when City actually won the part he played during extra time and against Kilmarnock.

On top of all that Chambers has been unimpressive at left-back every time I've seen him there. Excellent right back though.

I know the facts won't please everyone because some folk would rather manipulate the side to include people they see as our best players. But, though I'll stand correcting, I think the stats are correct.

[lildave3]

I cannot see why people even persist with the idea. Especially as Sheehan helped keep a clean sheet at an unlikely place Saturday and actually has an excellent results record during his time in the first team. Not only that, but the team has conceded less than a goal a game when he's played yet they concede more than a goal a game on average.

We have only failed to score once when he has played in 9 official first team matches and generally we fail to score more often than that. Finally if you were to include first team or free-selection friendlies, Sheehan has the best results record of any player who has made 16 appearances or more.

I'm fairly sure he's been on the losing side just twice, against Bolton in the Cup when City actually won the part he played during extra time and against Kilmarnock.

On top of all that Chambers has been unimpressive at left-back every time I've seen him there. Excellent right back though.

I know the facts won't please everyone because some folk would rather manipulate the side to include people they see as our best players. But, though I'll stand correcting, I think the stats are correct.

I can think of twice, both 0-0 away at Plymouth?

[Thracian]

I can think of twice, both 0-0 away at Plymouth?

Sheehan has only play once against Plymouth as far as I can recall.

[lildave3]

Sheehan has only play once against Plymouth as far as I can recall.

What about his debut?

[Milky]

What about his debut?

Yeh, i can remember Sheehan making his debut at Plymouth. Twas the last game of the season.

[lookwhaticando]

Indeed it was... Sheehan has featured in two 0-0 draws against Plymouth (away) now.

He made his first team debut on the last day of the season in 04/05... along with such other luminaries as Lars Hirschfield... because Levein had told several players to go away before the season even ended.

[Thracian]

Indeed it was... Sheehan has featured in two 0-0 draws against Plymouth (away) now.

He made his first team debut on the last day of the season in 04/05... along with such other luminaries as Lars Hirschfield... because Levein had told several players to go away before the season even ended.

I stand corrected, having not taken account of that season. All altered now - doesn't harm the record though.

[lookwhaticando]

I stand corrected, having not taken account of that season. All altered now - doesn't harm the record though.

It improves them slightly, too, in the defensive sense... One more clean sheet!

[Manwell Pablo]

I cannot see why people even persist with the idea. Especially as Sheehan helped keep a clean sheet at an unlikely place Saturday and actually has an excellent results record during his time in the first team. Not only that, but the team has conceded less than a goal a game when he's played yet they concede more than a goal a game on average.

We have only failed to score twice when he has played in 10 official first team matches and generally we fail to score more often than that. Finally if you were to include first team or free-selection friendlies, Sheehan has the best results record of any player who has made 16 appearances or more.

I'm fairly sure he's been on the losing side just twice, against Bolton in the Cup when City actually won the part he played during extra time and against Kilmarnock.

On top of all that Chambers has been unimpressive at left-back every time I've seen him there. Excellent right back though.

I know the facts won't please everyone because some folk would rather manipulate the side to include people they see as our best players. But, though I'll stand correcting, I think the stats are correct.

It's just all bollocks and coninsidence, and as I've already called you up on, when he does play at left back and we do conceed about 70% of the time it's from Sheehans.

I personally think you should count Crewe in your defeats seeing as we were 1-0 down when he got sent off and we were a better team without him on the pitch.

[Fez of Mahrez]

I am considering going to watch Max on Saturday at Orient. Need my football fix.

[Thracian]

It's just all bollocks and coninsidence, and as I've already called you up on, when he does play at left back and we do conceed about 70% of the time it's from Sheehans.

I personally think you should count Crewe in your defeats seeing as we were 1-0 down when he got sent off and we were a better team without him on the pitch.

Does that mean we can count Bolton as a win seeing we won the bit he played in and he had a minor assist for our goal and very nearly a major assist for an equaliser at the death?.

[Manwell Pablo]

Does that mean we can count Bolton as a win seeing we won the bit he played in and he had a minor assist for our goal and very nearly a major assist for an equaliser at the death?.

A minor assist, he laid the ball off to Gareth Williams who cracked it from 25 yards! Do you not see why people have problems taking you seriously when you clutch at straws like this.

[Thracian]

A minor assist, he laid the ball off to Gareth Williams who cracked it from 25 yards! Do you not see why people have problems taking you seriously when you clutch at straws like this.

You neglect to mention his final cross which Dublin should have despatched for the equaliser. And it was you why raised the issue of manipulating the stats not me. You have always found fault with the guy which wouldn't matter except that we've had such awful left-backs, particularly from an attacking point of view.

[Manwell Pablo]

You neglect to mention his final cross which Dublin should have despatched for the equaliser. And it was you why raised the issue of manipulating the stats not me.

Mines a better example than yours it's not based on a 10 minute cameo in which he managed to pass a ball sideways and deliver a half decent set piece that we didn't score from, all of which took placewhile he was fresh and everyone else had played 110 odd minutes!

[Thracian]

Mines a better example than yours it's not based on a 10 minute cameo in which he managed to pass a ball sideways and deliver a half decent set piece that we didn't score from, all of which took placewhile he was fresh and everyone else had played 110 odd minutes!

That's certainly an interesting new precedent - discounting any contribution from a substituted player cos he's fit, fresh and has an advantage against tired opposition. I had given Fryatt hopes of a comeback until you said that.

[Manwell Pablo]

That's certainly an interesting new precedent - discounting any contribution from a substituted player cos he's fit, fresh and has an advantage against tired opposition. I had given Fryatt hopes of a comeback until you said that.

110 minutes is very different to 60 minutes. In fact it's nearly two 60 minutes times two!

[Raj]

Why dont you two just get a room!!!

[Thracian]

110 minutes is very different to 60 minutes. In fact it's nearly two 60 minutes times two!

Not backtracking on the idea already, surely.

[Geo V]

Like so mant of our players, Gradel, Sheehan, Levi, Mattock and the rest have plenty to prove to us that they deserve a regular run in the first team. They seem to be blowing hot and cold but that may be due to their age/inexperience but none of them are good enough yet for us not to even be thinking that the new manager wont be coming in and instantly looking for some loan players.

Clarke wont be playing football for ages so we need a new left back. Ferriera looks like he could be the wide player we need but as yet its unclear on whether he will be playing from the left (I hope so as we are well covered on the right). I know the young Danish lad Djeziri signed but we are unsure of how good he is at this stage.

I still think we need one or two more players in because many of the youngsters aren't quite ready.

[Thracian]

Like so mant of our players, Gradel, Sheehan, Levi, Mattock and the rest have plenty to prove to us that they deserve a regular run in the first team. They seem to be blowing hot and cold but that may be due to their age/inexperience but none of them are good enough yet for us not to even be thinking that the new manager wont be coming in and instantly looking for some loan players.

Clarke wont be playing football for ages so we need a new left back. Ferriera looks like he could be the wide player we need but as yet its unclear on whether he will be playing from the left (I hope so as we are well covered on the right). I know the young Danish lad Djeziri signed but we are unsure of how good he is at this stage.

I still think we need one or two more players in because many of the youngsters aren't quite ready.

You seem to mean 'like so many of our "young" players'.

With you though it is always the youngsters who are "inconsistent". Never the Campbells, Newtons, Fryatts (yes I know he's young but you didn't mention him, did you?), DeVries's, Kishishevs.

This season I've had youngster Wesolowski as our best player to date. Last season Porter and Mattock were okay and not nearly as bad as several I could mention.

I wonder underneath if you would ever actually have the courage to use any youngsters if you were a manager. Or would it always be "when they're ready" but they never would be because they'd never get any chances. It's a bit like the idea of attacking football. People theorise about it being risky but there's never any evidence because we never try it more than briefly.

I don't disagree with what you say about consistency. But why do the Campbell, DeVries, Fryatt, Kishishev and Cort escape your criticism? Different criteria or what?

We had loan players last season. They stalled the progress of our youngsters and added sod all to our team that I could see.

Explain to me what use Horsfield, Jarrett, Yeates and Glombard were? Are you seriously saying they were better than Dodds, Andy King, Gradel and anyone you care to name cos I've no idea where Glombard was supposed to shine anyway.

And who are these wonderful potential loanees whose Premiership clubs don't think are quite good enough now but who are better than the lads who have won the youth league play-offs? Look at the superstars we've brought in over the summer.

Has Kishishev really shown himself better than Andy King? Or Campbell better than Dodds or Odhiambo. Or Newton better than Gradel?. Or Clemence better than Wesolowski?

Everyone I've mentioned is an okay player on his day but is one better than the other?. Or more consistent? I just don't see the evidence.

[TheBlinding]

Gradel getting a mixed reaction so far.

Several decent passes were played wide to Cummings and Gradel only for possession to be wasted. Unless our wide players can start to offer genuine end product soon...

Not been at all impressed with Gradel in two games I have seen him start

Max has huge potential, but is too selfish a player right now.

The kid needs to be given some very simply instructions. Then we might see the best of him and for the team.

1. Take men on and run TOWARDS goal, not towards the corner flag.

2. Hold onto the ball for a minimum of 4 touches and then LOOK TO CROSS.

Gradel looks good when he can beat his man but turns back on himself too often

I thought he was our best player on Sat against Vale, and I wasnt the only one

from what I've seen, no way is he good enough for the championship.

At least Gradel tracks back, runs all day, and tackles pretty well.

I think he shows great promise, can beat full-backs and get good crosses in but he does seem to allow himself to get wound up a bit too easily

[filbertway]

You neglect to mention his final cross which Dublin should have despatched for the equaliser. And it was you why raised the issue of manipulating the stats not me. You have always found fault with the guy which wouldn't matter except that we've had such awful left-backs, particularly from an attacking point of view.

Thrac, use the Dublin set up as a way of promoting his ability then, at elast it shows he can put ina decent cross. Mentioning a 5 yard pass in his own half as an assist doesn't really do you many favours.

On a side note, we should get Stewart back