Odhiambo

[Geo V]

Joe Mattock has been sheer quality in the past 2 games for a lad of 17. In a 5-3-2 formation, Clive Clarke would let us down as going forward he's never been good enough.

Clarke is a proper defender and the main focus on that position is to defend and link up with the left-midfielder on occasions. The onus is on the midfielders and strikers to do the majority of the attacking play and Clarke in a 442 would perform better IMO. Im not saying that Mattock wont come good as he to me is the one with the most potential from the younger lads with the exception of Weso but from the games I have seen him play, he isn't good enough to rely on over a long season. I admittedly wasn't there at Stoke but by all accounts he played well so heres hoping that he continues but for me, he needs to improve and I wouldnt be surprised if we ended up signing a left-back on loan to help Mattock out.

[Ric Flair]

Clarke is a proper defender and the main focus on that position is to defend and link up with the left-midfielder on occasions. The onus is on the midfielders and strikers to do the majority of the attacking play and Clarke in a 442 would perform better IMO. Im not saying that Mattock wont come good as he to me is the one with the most potential from the younger lads with the exception of Weso but from the games I have seen him play, he isn't good enough to rely on over a long season. I admittedly wasn't there at Stoke but by all accounts he played well so heres hoping that he continues but for me, he needs to improve and I wouldnt be surprised if we ended up signing a left-back on loan to help Mattock out.

But as i've said, Megson seems intent on the 5-3-2 formation and therefore, Clarke would be a waste of space at left wingback. You'd soon see that, he's non-existant going forward. As a left back, Clarke is steady.

[Thracian]

But as i've said, Megson seems intent on the 5-3-2 formation and therefore, Clarke would be a waste of space at left wingback. You'd soon see that, he's non-existant going forward. As a left back, Clarke is steady.

Just about sums it up.

[Joe.]

To be honest I'd have to agree that Clarke would be very ineffectual as a wing back.

From what I've seen recently of Mattock I've been vey impressed, I'm sure with more games his confidence will imrpove and so will he.

[mancunianfox]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...utd/7026709.stm

Not sure if this has already been posted but for anyone who cares Odihambo is staying on loan at Southend for another month.

[Manwell Pablo]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...utd/7026709.stm

Not sure if this has already been posted but for anyone who cares Odihambo is staying on loan at Southend for another month.

Good, be good for him. He's not going to get a look in here, although having said that Campbell and Cort haven't done much to deserve their places.

[Ric Flair]

Good, be good for him. He's not going to get a look in here, although having said that Campbell and Cort haven't done much to deserve their places.

Odhiambo's not overly big though, so I don't see him making much of an impact in our current style alongside Hume or Fryatt. Sappleton is probably worth promoting to the bench though, I think his pace and strength might be more useful than Cort at the minute.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Odhiambo's not overly big though, so I don't see him making much of an impact in our current style alongside Hume or Fryatt. Sappleton is probably worth promoting to the bench though, I think his pace and strength might be more useful than Cort at the minute.

Really? Not seen him play.

[Manwell Pablo]

Really? Not seen him play.

I've only seen him for about 10 minutes actually. Didn't look overly quick but it was pre-season.

[Ric Flair]

Sappleton has pace.

[Geo V]

Lets hope they give him more than the one start and 3 sub appearances he has managed so far. With players like Leon Clarke there (who is on loan from Sheff Weds) who has already managed 5 in 5, he`ll struggle to get much football IMO. It may be best to send him to a club that will give him more than a bit part in the first team though?

[Stuliasz]

There was a chap behind me bashing Mattock left right and centre during the Wolves game. He didn't have his best 90 admittedly but ffs, he's SEVENTEEN years old.

[Fez of Mahrez]

There was a chap behind me bashing Mattock left right and centre during the Wolves game. He didn't have his best 90 admittedly but ffs, he's SEVENTEEN years old.

You weren't at the back of F1 were you? There were two blokes doing that near me.

[Ric Flair]

I thought Mattock had a decent game on Tuesday as well, second half especially.

[Fez of Mahrez]

I thought Mattock had a decent game on Tuesday as well, second half especially.

I agree completely. Playing left wing-back, marking a player like Kightly, being expected to get forward to support a non-existent central midfield and put perfect crosses in to strikers who weren't exactly getting into position... some of our fans are complete ****nuts.

[Manwell Pablo]

Mattock just seems to get a torrent of unwarranted abuse in general. **** knows why.

[Geo V]

There was a chap behind me bashing Mattock left right and centre during the Wolves game. He didn't have his best 90 admittedly but ffs, he's SEVENTEEN years old.

As much as we want him to do well as he is a local lad and we can see talent there, it isn't unreasonable for someone on this forum to state the obvious that he isn't the best defender in the world and to also say that at this stage in his career, he may not be ready. I don't agree with people having a go on matchdays but if we put all the stuff about his age aside for a second, the fact is he was ripped apart a few times and it could have easily led to a goal or goals.

MA spotted that he has potential as did Wortho towards the end of last season but MA did the right thing by bringing in a more solid and experienced player in Clarkey and he gave us a much more solid look. I still am not convinced that as a defender, he is good enough for this level of football and that would be one of the positions I`d hope we end up bringing in a loan player over the next two weeks. Maybe that player could also help him in training to improve things like positioning because he does need to work on that part of his game.

[Manwell Pablo]

As much as we want him to do well as he is a local lad and we can see talent there, it isn't unreasonable for someone on this forum to state the obvious that he isn't the best defender in the world and to also say that at this stage in his career, he may not be ready. I don't agree with people having a go on matchdays but if we put all the stuff about his age aside for a second, the fact is he was ripped apart a few times and it could have easily led to a goal or goals.

MA spotted that he has potential as did Wortho towards the end of last season but MA did the right thing by bringing in a more solid and experienced player in Clarkey and he gave us a much more solid look. I still am not convinced that as a defender, he is good enough for this level of football and that would be one of the positions I`d hope we end up bringing in a loan player over the next two weeks. Maybe that player could also help him in training to improve things like positioning because he does need to work on that part of his game.

Ignoring the double heart failure and fact he may never play again. You can't play Clive Clark at left wing back. We have no other option unless you want Sheehan back in the team.

[Fez of Mahrez]

As much as we want him to do well as he is a local lad and we can see talent there, it isn't unreasonable for someone on this forum to state the obvious that he isn't the best defender in the world and to also say that at this stage in his career, he may not be ready. I don't agree with people having a go on matchdays but if we put all the stuff about his age aside for a second, the fact is he was ripped apart a few times and it could have easily led to a goal or goals.

MA spotted that he has potential as did Wortho towards the end of last season but MA did the right thing by bringing in a more solid and experienced player in Clarkey and he gave us a much more solid look. I still am not convinced that as a defender, he is good enough for this level of football and that would be one of the positions I`d hope we end up bringing in a loan player over the next two weeks. Maybe that player could also help him in training to improve things like positioning because he does need to work on that part of his game.

I'm still not having that, Kightly could destroy anyone in this league. We didn't lose 4-1 like last season and they didn't score any goals. We shouldn't be criticising players for things like that when there are so many greater faults in the team.

[Fat Ron]

I am very much a Joey Mattock fan and I find it unbelievable that in a season with very little to cheer about there are people not giving this young fella the credit he deserves.

Best player on pitch against Stoke and I though he held his own against Wolves.

He has great ability, solid drive and the most important thing, he is a passionate Leicester fan. Why you would want to berrate him is beggers belief.

He is no where near the finished article, agreed but he is as good if not better than most in the side at the moment.

[Geo V]

Ignoring the double heart failure and fact he may never play again. You can't play Clive Clark at left wing back. We have no other option unless you want Sheehan back in the team.

I'm not saying that Mattock wont develop into a very good player, its just that his naivety at his young age may well cost us goals as he isn't a very good defender now. As for Sheehan, he is another who has shown ability in spells but I`d personally still go for Mattock from whats available. However as previously stated, I`d look to bring in a more experienced left-back on loan if someone of better quality was available.

As for Kightly, yeah I agree he is a good player but whenever I have seen Mattock he seems much better going forwards than he is a defender. His main job is to stop the right-sided players from getting crosses in and making goals and any attacking focus is a bonus.

[mancunianfox]

Mattock just seems to get a torrent of unwarranted abuse in general. **** knows why.

I'm still not having that, Kightly could destroy anyone in this league. We didn't lose 4-1 like last season and they didn't score any goals. We shouldn't be criticising players for things like that when there are so many greater faults in the team.

Sensible post Fez. I don't think the defense really warrants much criticism at the moment, especially not Mattock and certainly not when he is playing against Kightly. There aren't many defenders who are going to look good against him, especially not one who has to perform attacking and defending roles by himself. Mattock's looking very good considering that he is a seventeen year old lad.

[Manwell Pablo]

I'm not saying that Mattock wont develop into a very good player, its just that his naivety at his young age may well cost us goals as he isn't a very good defender now. As for Sheehan, he is another who has shown ability in spells but I`d personally still go for Mattock from whats available. However as previously stated, I`d look to bring in a more experienced left-back on loan if someone of better quality was available.

As for Kightly, yeah I agree he is a good player but whenever I have seen Mattock he seems much better going forwards than he is a defender. His main job is to stop the right-sided players from getting crosses in and making goals and any attacking focus is a bonus.

Well I can't comment as I've not seen a game since Forest and he looked perfectly capable then, we'll see on Saturday.

[FrankieWorthoYaggedMyWife]

I'm not saying that Mattock wont develop into a very good player, its just that his naivety at his young age may well cost us goals as he isn't a very good defender now. As for Sheehan, he is another who has shown ability in spells but I`d personally still go for Mattock from whats available. However as previously stated, I`d look to bring in a more experienced left-back on loan if someone of better quality was available.

As for Kightly, yeah I agree he is a good player but whenever I have seen Mattock he seems much better going forwards than he is a defender. His main job is to stop the right-sided players from getting crosses in and making goals and any attacking focus is a bonus.

Ashley Cole is better going forward and he's not too bad?!

[Ric Flair]

What's all this bollocks that Joe Mattock can't defend, from what I can see he's about the best defensive full back we currently have. Kightly gave him the run around a bit on Tuesday, but he stuck to the task and usually forced Kightly to have to cut inside and take pot shots from distance. There were times in the 2nd half where Mattock's last ditch tackling was time to perfection, they were that precise that he'd take the ball of the player, and be upfield with the ball within a few seconds.

I'd say if anything, Mattock isn't as good going forward as he perhaps could be. Defending wise, i'm very impressed. If he could work on his deliveries in to the box and making sure he doesn't run it out of play when he does go on a dazzling run, then we've got about the most complete wing-back you could possibly want. At 17, that's special.