Reserve ratings

[Thracian]

If Kaebi and Djeziri had come through the youth setup Thracian would never say a bad word about them.

That's true only to the point that l avoid criticising any young player beyond a token amount up to the time they've got a professional contract and even then I take into consideration their level of experience.

That means that novices like Garner, Burns, Rowe-Turner, Cox etc would get a little more licence than, say, McKay, Odhiambo, Ashley Chambers and they in turn would get more licence than Stearman, Wesolowski, Mattock etc.

I don't suppose everyone would agree with that approach but I think it is fairly responsible and reasonable. Kaebi has 50 international caps and is touted endlessly as being a first team prospect. Garner has no caps and is not. I would expect the one to perform better than the other at this stage and at reserve level.

Reserve team and Academy matches are not all about winning. Yes, everyone wants to win, but there are other considerations, not least of which is taking the opportunity to give people experience.

I don't think it is my place to be overly critical of a young player feeling his way at a new level. As time goes on I look for a bit more. Anyway, that's my thinking on the subject. Accept it or reject it.

If you think either Kaebi at full-back or Djiziri are good enough for the first team I am sure you will make your case.

[LENNY GLOVER]

what happened to mckay ,injured still think he could make a difference clever football brain

[Thracian]

haven't got a clue which game you were watching thracian, but I was sitting in line with walsall's 18 yard box second half and their goals weren't kaebi's fault, a slide in from 6 yards in the middle (how is that a left back's fault) a header (ditto) and a fantastic through ball down the middle (ditto again)

I don't think Kaebi is a born left back, he'd be much more comfortable left mid, harldy his fault playing out of position. Chambers and Newton are shite in midfield, but everyone says - maybe rightly - "it's not thair fault, they don't play centre mid, give them some slack" so why not the same for kaebi. Seems you have some personal grudge against him Thracian.

Chambers was utter crap, came on ran around all over the place, lost the ball, gave it away, waste or time and you give him 7???

Also Djeziri had a good game, ok he should maybe pass a bit more but he obviously has some natural skill and great pace, flair and ability something we are sadly lacking. Both he, kaebi, hayes, odiahiambo and hellings were passing the ball around better than out first team last night, in fact one of the best games of football (not hoofball) I have seen at the walkers this season sadly.

The slide in came after a move developed down the right and the header came from a ball passed directly behind Kaebi who failed to track the runner. By all means watch the video if you get chance but the right-flank source of the goals is confirmed by the Mercury's This is Leicestershire site if you care to look.

There was no way Djeziri had a good game. He was a bit better than usual, that's it. Times he showed no determination whatsoever and his attacking contribution was nominal.

As for Chambers I said two or three times that he was not at his best - but he still had two last two assists plus two damn good chances - and that is what being a forward is all about.

It is not about clever back flicks or other fancy touches, though they might pay dividends on occasions, it is about being in the right place at the right time to have an effect and then doing just that.

I don't even think our passing was particularly good last night apart from the goals. In fact a fairly ordinary Walsall side passed the ball better for much of the time. To compare our passing with the first team's is folly anyway. Championship football is considerably faster and tighter.

People like Hayes, Odhiambo and Hellings did their cause no harm but I cannot remember a single meaningful pass by Kaebi - nothing at all that threatened the opposition defence. Yes he retained possession comfortably enough on occasions - but not always - and I was pleased he restrained hmself from charging about all over the place.

Had it not been for the last 20 minutes he'd had earned an average mark of 6. But Walsall carved our right flank apart near the end. There were others who had to accept esponsibility as well as Kaebi I hasten to add but the tactics employed were glaring and they can be used by any other manager who comes up against Kaebi as a left back.

It really is time to try him further forward where the strengths of his game might be put to better effect.

[danny.]

The slide in came after a move developed down the right and the header came from a ball passed directly behind Kaebi who failed to track the runner. By all means watch the video if you get chance.

you can trace any move back X number of steps to make it look like it's a players fault. Surely every player in a certain run of play has to be accountable if it leads to a goal, why just single out kaebi?

[Thracian]

you can trace any move back X number of steps to make it look like it's a players fault. Surely every player in a certain run of play has to be accountable if it leads to a goal, why just single out kaebi?

I don't, as I mentioned in my last post. But Kaebi is the one being mentioned as first team material as a full-back.

[Thracian]

what happened to mckay ,injured still think he could make a difference clever football brain

Definitely injured - pulled muscle or something when he tried a clever flick I believe.

Quite agree with you. He's fast, takes up good positions, plays off the back of defenders and never stops working.

Has good close control, good vision and shoots fast, with accuracy too.

[Bert]

I don't, as I mentioned in my last post. But Kaebi is the one being mentioned as first team material as a full-back.

A right full back. Not left.

[danny.]

I don't think he should play in the first team as a full back.

Right mid on the other hand...

[Jimmy]

no opther options at left back? what about Alan Maybury he isn't exactly playing regular 1st team football now is he?

[davieG]

no opther options at left back? what about Alan Maybury he isn't exactly playing regular 1st team football now is he?

He's never a left back though, did you not see him attempt to play there or is your memory short?

[Fez of Mahrez]

He's never a left back though, did you not see him attempt to play there or is your memory short?

As opposed to Kaebi??

[Jimmy]

He's never a left back though, did you not see him attempt to play there or is your memory short?

i remember that every well, when he 1st came here he had to play there and scored a cracker coming up from left back, he may be rubbish there but he's played it a damn sight more often then Kaebi

[davieG]

As opposed to Kaebi??

i remember that every well, when he 1st came here he had to play there and scored a cracker coming up from left back, he may be rubbish there but he's played it a damn sight more often then Kaebi

Well I wouldn't play Kaebi at left or right back, unless we change to 442 I can't see him Ferreira or Djeziri getting anywhere near the first team.

Kaebi may be able to play wing back after a season or so in this country.

[Jimmy]

Well I wouldn't play Kaebi at left or right back, unless we change to 442 I can't see him Ferreira or Djeziri getting anywhere near the first team.

Kaebi may be able to play wing back after a season or so in this country.

i still think he is worth a place on the bench, his pace coming on late in games on the right flank would cause the oppersition problems and give us a great outlet

[davieG]

i still think he is worth a place on the bench, his pace coming on late in games on the right flank would cause the oppersition problems and give us a great outlet

We don't play with a right flank do we?

[Jimmy]

We don't play with a right flank do we?

when you bring him on he plays in the RWB role but doesn't have to worry too much about defending, is how i'd use him (ie. help out defensivly but his main job is to get forward and put balls into the box)

[Milans Foxes]

I referred to that Kaebi/Djiziri flurry on the touchline but I think you'll find we'd lost the ball when Chambers stole possession back and burst through for his shot, but it matters not really.

As for whether Kaebi's performance was better than some we've seen in the first team I might be inclined to agree at first glance. However when you look at consequences ... and the same might have been said when we played WBA Reserves and lost 6-1 - I'm genuinely sorry but I can't see it. To me, despite his ability, he is far too easily exposed.

Two first teamers have played in the reserves defence this season - Stearman and Kenton. Both looked on top of the job.

Kaebi has looked vulnerable, and not for the first time or even the second.

He needs to be tried further forward. However he's up against it. Chambers, even below his best, had two assists tonight and has been scoring goals generally. Odhiambo, below his best, had two goals and has long proved his worth. Hayes had a goal and an assist to go with his goal last week.

Injuries might offer an attacking opportunity for Kaebi, but sadly, I don't think we're too well off for alternative left-backs in the reserves, or defenders in general.

Whenever you criticise Kaebi, you always bring up the 6-1 defeat that apparently Kaebi was at fault for a number of the goals. Now, I wasn't at the match and so stand to be corrected but according to the match report, Kaebi was subbed off after 28 minutes. At this point we were ONLY 1-0 DOWN and that was a 30 yard shot, which you cannot blame on a full-back as a goal from that distance would come from the centre of the pitch. http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Lates...1124917,00.html

You have also said that Kaebi was at fault for the goal from the corner. I can't understand that because he is barely more than 5 foot tall so can hardly be expected to win headers in the box. The play did come from their right leading to the corner but they were piling forward on the counter and Kaebi used his blistering pace to get a block on the cross which would have yielded a goal anyway before it went out for the corner.

You have mentioned that Kaebi doesn't shine in the reserve games. But, a full-back is not going to shine. Thats the job of the midfielders and strikers. Beaglehole made Kaebi sit deep all game. He was always the last man and I could hear Beaglehole shouting for him to get back. So a player who is known for going forward and running at players is being asked to sit deep. What is he supposed to do? To me, a player at full-back "shines" by putting in hard tackles and blocking crosses, which he did yesterday at least a few times.

Sorry to seem argumentative. I've agreed on everything you said about the rest of the team (apart from Chambers) but in the role the guy has been given, he has done as good or better than any of the full-backs in the first team. Stearman is a joke and has been at fault for many more goals than Kaebi probably has and although Sheehan is worth having for his left foot, he's hardly been great defensively.

Odihiambo was playing right wing, so why not try Kaebi at left-wing in place of Djeziri and play an academy player at left-back??

[Thracian]

Whenever you criticise Kaebi, you always bring up the 6-1 defeat that apparently Kaebi was at fault for a number of the goals. Now, I wasn't at the match and so stand to be corrected but according to the match report, Kaebi was subbed off after 28 minutes. At this point we were ONLY 1-0 DOWN and that was a 30 yard shot, which you cannot blame on a full-back as a goal from that distance would come from the centre of the pitch. http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Lates...1124917,00.html

You have also said that Kaebi was at fault for the goal from the corner. I can't understand that because he is barely more than 5 foot tall so can hardly be expected to win headers in the box. The play did come from their right leading to the corner but they were piling forward on the counter and Kaebi used his blistering pace to get a block on the cross which would have yielded a goal anyway before it went out for the corner.

You have mentioned that Kaebi doesn't shine in the reserve games. But, a full-back is not going to shine. Thats the job of the midfielders and strikers. Beaglehole made Kaebi sit deep all game. He was always the last man and I could hear Beaglehole shouting for him to get back. So a player who is known for going forward and running at players is being asked to sit deep. What is he supposed to do? To me, a player at full-back "shines" by putting in hard tackles and blocking crosses, which he did yesterday at least a few times.

Sorry to seem argumentative. I've agreed on everything you said about the rest of the team (apart from Chambers) but in the role the guy has been given, he has done as good or better than any of the full-backs in the first team. Stearman is a joke and has been at fault for many more goals than Kaebi probably has and although Sheehan is worth having for his left foot, he's hardly been great defensively.

Odihiambo was playing right wing, so why not try Kaebi at left-wing in place of Djeziri and play an academy player at left-back??

a) I have never said Kaebi was at fault for a number of goals against WBA. Only that he had an awful first half and was subbed off.

b) I didn't say Kaebi was at fault for the Walsall goal that came from a corner. Just that the move which developed before the corner was down the right side. I said he was at fault for their third goal and may well have been partly to blame for the second as that too developed through his territory. I hope having said it three times in various places that's all perfectly clear.

c) Of course full-backs shine or at least show their class. Over the last two years I could name three or four players who showed their class when playing in the reserves. Kaebi has rarely stood out at all. And if it is true Kaebi had been told to play a restricted role it should have ben even easier than usual to show that ability.

d) I fail to see how you can say he's done as well as first team full-backs. Those first teamers have collectively kept goals to a minimum. Yet. even at a lower level Kaebi has had just one good game that I can recall and the reserves defence has leaked goals like a sieve. Kaebi in his season for the reserves has not scored at all and not made more than one goal. Sheehan in the first team has scored two, made four officially, had a couple of assisted goals disallowed and featured in any number of near things.

e) I would certainly like to see Kaebi at right midfield. Odhiambo can as easily play striker or attacking midfield. However, short of asking Maybury or Kenton, neither of whom are left-backs anyway, I've no idea who could reasonably be asked to play there unless they go back to Lathanial Rowe-Turner and have Stearman/Kenton at centre-back. Whether the club would wish to do any of these things is another matter. Perhaps Odhiambo fancies being right midfield for the first team!

[Thracian]

i still think he is worth a place on the bench, his pace coming on late in games on the right flank would cause the oppersition problems and give us a great outlet

Okay, so having never seen him play there, what evidence is there to say Kaebi would be better on the right flank than regular marksman Eric Odhiambo, the rightful heir Max Gradel, if we ever get him back, or another fairly consistent scorer/goalmaker Ashley Chambers?

I'll be happy to see him show what he can do but nothing has been seen yet to demonstrate he'd be an improvement because he's never played the position for any length of time in a match here, at least that I can recall.

[danny.]

Whenever you criticise Kaebi, you always bring up the 6-1 defeat that apparently Kaebi was at fault for a number of the goals. Now, I wasn't at the match and so stand to be corrected but according to the match report, Kaebi was subbed off after 28 minutes. At this point we were ONLY 1-0 DOWN and that was a 30 yard shot, which you cannot blame on a full-back as a goal from that distance would come from the centre of the pitch. http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Lates...1124917,00.html

You have also said that Kaebi was at fault for the goal from the corner. I can't understand that because he is barely more than 5 foot tall so can hardly be expected to win headers in the box. The play did come from their right leading to the corner but they were piling forward on the counter and Kaebi used his blistering pace to get a block on the cross which would have yielded a goal anyway before it went out for the corner.

You have mentioned that Kaebi doesn't shine in the reserve games. But, a full-back is not going to shine. Thats the job of the midfielders and strikers. Beaglehole made Kaebi sit deep all game. He was always the last man and I could hear Beaglehole shouting for him to get back. So a player who is known for going forward and running at players is being asked to sit deep. What is he supposed to do? To me, a player at full-back "shines" by putting in hard tackles and blocking crosses, which he did yesterday at least a few times.

Completely agree. I think it's pretty obvious Thracian is bias against Kaebi.

[lildave3]

Screw this Kaebi nonsense, Sappleton scored.

Meanwhile, where has this: and come from?

[mmarkie]

I know mate, Cheers... Already been corrected in a later post

I think the Chill got to me..

ahhh soz mate didnt recognise

[Thracian]

Completely agree. I think it's pretty obvious Thracian is bias against Kaebi.

I'd love someone to explain the logic to my being biased against anyone. To explain why I shouldn't want the best players possible for our side.

If for some obscure reason I didn't like this guy, why would I plead for him to be tried out further forward and why would I tell his interpreter to be patient?

I've heard this sort of thing before though.

Cries of "get him in team" go out for almost anyone who turns up on City's doorstep these days we're so sodding desperate...

This season we've had: Nielsen, Djeziri, and Kaebi.

Last season there was Low, Horsfield, Jarrett and Johnson

Before that there was Sylla and Peter Gilbert. One or two even flew the flag for Joe Hamill.

It's like opening a Christmas present really. People just can't resist. Hope springs eternal in days of despair.

I just thought the bar might be lifted this season. I really did.

[Thracian]

Screw this Kaebi nonsense, Sappleton scored.

Meanwhile, where has this: and come from?

Sapp was pretty good.

[BigGibbo]

Screw this Kaebi nonsense, Sappleton scored.

Meanwhile, where has this: and come from?