Joe Mattock

[lildave3]

I'd pay 10 million pounds for you.

I get the feeling you're not great with money.

Still,

[Flynny]

I get the feeling you're not great with money.

Still,

I'm glad you've agreed. I'm pretty desperate for someone to work in my chocolate factory since all those little orange fellas died.

(It was a setup all along I win.)

[lildave3]

I'm glad you've agreed. I'm pretty desperate for someone to work in my chocolate factory since all those little orange fellas died.

(It was a setup all along I win.)

You're a sick piece of work.

Although if you're paying me 10 million i'll gladly join your workforce.

Unless you're paying me chocolate money. Which i'd made.

I've got you sussed.

[Steven]

Bale had impact because he scored goals, spectacular ones at times.

... and much as I rate Mattock (not enough to spell his name right first time round ), when Bale is fit he currently a much better player.

[Flynny]

You're a sick piece of work.

Although if you're paying me 10 million i'll gladly join your workforce.

Unless you're paying me chocolate money. Which i'd made.

I've got you sussed.

Shit.

And I'd have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for your seeing right though my entire plan! I mean uhh... those pesky kids!

[Flexx]

Keep. He's started to improve a lot recently, I remember against QPR away he was diabolical, and was rightly 'injured' so had to come off.

Since he's came into the U21's he's had a lot more confidence on the pitch, for someone his age, maybe something Stuart Pearce has told him or just genuinely improving.

Would sell for about £3.5 Million though, at the end of the day football is not a sport, it's a business.

[Thracian]

Keep. He's started to improve a lot recently, I remember against QPR away he was diabolical, and was rightly 'injured' so had to come off.

Since he's came into the U21's he's had a lot more confidence on the pitch, for someone his age, maybe something Stuart Pearce has told him or just genuinely improving.

Would sell for about £3.5 Million though, at the end of the day football is not a sport, it's a business.

To me he made a similar mistake when he came on against Hull as he did in the opening minutes at Blackpool - getting caught by a high pass into space behind him which found both he and Kisnorbo (I think it was) indecisive while the Hull forward nipped in unchallenged to score.

In possession he's fine although I still don't think he gets forward as effectively or as often as Stearman. He can do it, no question, as I've seen on many occasions at a lower level. But, for now, he's still work in progress.

[Thracian]

Holloway has gone on record, worryingly, as saying he doesnt like to expose youngsters to the first team too much but let them learn in the reserves..... Now i am not sure i like the sound of that for everyone and certainly not for the likes of Mattock.. But, to be honest... if someone bid £5m for him then i would take that.. it would be ahrd not to...

the £1.5m thing from Villa seems like a typical opening of the stakes by Villa or an agent. I can see them agreeing on £4m and then we will have the usual " couldnt stay in the lads way" " fantastic opportunity for him, ect.

I don't like the sound of it either.

a) The reserves haven't been playing anyway foir nearly a month and have been used for all sorts of nonsense that has nothing to do with serious, match-winning football, especially before Christmas.

Even after Christmas there's been no reward for those who've done well in the reserves as Holloway suggested there would be.

That King and Beswick have simply not been promoted while Laczko gets yet another chance is typical City. All King got when fully fit and bang in form was to sit and twiddle his thumbs on the bench. Big deal.

b) It shows Holloway's underlying caution.

c) It smacks of a basic lack of faith in our young players and an underlying instinct to rely on experience which I don't see as justified by events at City either this season or in previous seasons.

Holloway has improved our personnel, there's no question of that, but we've still underperformed dramatically and no wonder with some of his team selections and tactics.

[Bryn]

When was Andy King ever bang in form?

[Thracian]

When was Andy King ever bang in form?

King has been outstanding for the reserves in the few games they've had since Christmas, scoring goals and helping control midfield. When Laczko played in the reserves he did alright but no more.

[Lisburn Fox]

I'd keep him for the future but silly money is silly money 5 Million (for a young lad could get us 3 decent lads and Fulop if Keane gets real) + Milans extra bits could get us pushing for the play offs next year.

Ever the optomist.

On another point we should stick with the Manager.

[Candidcamera]

Agree entirely. Mattock and all the youngsters.

[lildave3]

Keep. He's started to improve a lot recently, I remember against QPR away he was diabolical, and was rightly 'injured' so had to come off.

Since he's came into the U21's he's had a lot more confidence on the pitch, for someone his age, maybe something Stuart Pearce has told him or just genuinely improving.

Would sell for about £3.5 Million though, at the end of the day football is not a sport, it's a business.

Certainly not a bad person to have looking over you. I'm sure he can help his game no end.

[Thracian]

According to Barber Mattock stuck in 3 beautiful crosses yesterday during the first half, and a lot of people marked Mattock a fair bit higher than you did. I'm not trying to make a point, but it sounded to me like he had a good game.

Through the season I think he's looked a lot more comfortable going forward, I don't know if you agree. He gets right up to support the midfielder and if they drift inside and we're in an advanced position he's comfortable moving up into their space if the situation allows it. Hopefully soon we'll have the sort of full-back you won't have to compare groan-inducingly unfavourably to a certain someone.

I marked Mattock 6.5 which reflects a slightly better than average game and which seemed to be about the norm flicking through the other ratings.

He deserved credit for helping us keep a clean sheet and he was marked as high as I marked the central defenders. The mark reflected a reasonable attacking contribution but not one which actually resulted in either a goal or an assist and was lower than Stearman because he did have an assist and was more persistent in his attacking.

I've never doubted that Mattock can function as an attacking full-back because I've seen it countless times. What I've not seen is him doing it with the that much end product or same conviction in the first team as he with in the Academy.

However I do thing the conviction is increasing as his confidence grows - as is his stamina and consistency. Occasionally his decision making lets him down but that's to be expected. His awareness of how to support and use space to move into is a feature of his game and something I've seen him do so well with Beswick.

I've never seen Shush! and Mattock as the same sort of players but, yes, if Mattock develops his attacking contribuition as I'm certain he can, he will fit my idea of a full-back which is a guy who is capable of supporting attacks seamlessly and purposefully in the same way as the Manchester United full-backs.

The very idea of a full-back being "just a defender" simply isn't acceptable to me. As I'm sure it isn't with you.

[Flynny]

The very idea of a full-back being "just a defender" simply isn't acceptable to me. As I'm sure it doesn't with you.

Not at all. Unfortunately at the start of the season neither of our left-backs were entirely competant defenders at all. Mattock's improving, Shush! looks lost to us and hasn't been around.

[Thracian]

Not at all. Unfortunately at the start of the season neither of our left-backs were entirely competant defenders at all. Mattock's improving, Shush! looks lost to us and hasn't been around.

Unless the situation changes, which I cannot imagine it will, I see little point in talking about Shush, even on the back of two clean sheets which hardly suggest he's anything like as bad a defender as some people like to make out.

What interests me is how our left side shapes up, especially in the absence of Hendrie.

[Bert]

I marked Mattock 6.5 which reflects a slightly better than average game and which seemed to be about the norm flicking through the other ratings.

He deserved credit for helping us keep a clean sheet and he was marked as high as I marked the central defenders. The mark reflected a reasonable attacking contribution but not one which actually resulted in either a goal or an assist and was lower than Stearman because he did have an assist and was more persistent in his attacking.

I've never doubted that Mattock can function as an attacking full-back because I've seen it countless times. What I've not seen is him doing it with the that much end product or same conviction in the first team as he with in the Academy.

However I do thing the conviction is increasing as his confidence grows - as is his stamina and consistency. Occasionally his decision making lets him down but that's to be expected. His awareness of how to support and use space to move into is a feature of his game and something I've seen him do so well with Beswick.

I've never seen Shush! and Mattock as the same sort of players but, yes, if Mattock develops his attacking contribuition as I'm certain he can, he will fit my idea of a full-back which is a guy who is capable of supporting attacks seamlessly and purposefully in the same way as the Manchester United full-backs.

The very idea of a full-back being "just a defender" simply isn't acceptable to me. As I'm sure it isn't with you.

If Shush! Had've whipped them 3 balls in you would've gave him an eight.

[Thracian]

If Shush! Had've whipped them 3 balls in you would've gave him an eight.

Doubtless one would have led to a goal then.

[Joe.]

Doubtless one would have led to a goal then.

Not if Matty Fryatt's on the end of them!

[Thracian]

Not if Matty Fryatt's on the end of them!

Hat-trick perhaps?

[The Stig]

HANG ON TO HIM MILAN.

[Jimmy]

If Shush! Had've whipped them 3 balls in you would've gave him an eight.

if it had been Shush! he'd of got a 10, we won and kept a clean sheet, of course the other 3 defenders and keeper had nothing to do with any of that you understand it would of been all Shush!

[Thracian]

if it had been Shush! he'd of got a 10, we won and kept a clean sheet, of course the other 3 defenders and keeper had nothing to do with any of that you understand it would of been all Shush!

They're your words not mine. I'd immediately imagine that all the defenders performed well to keep three successive clean sheets - not everyone except Shush! as you suggest.

[jonw88]

Alan Sheehzz scored last night for Leeds in their 1-0 win, think it was a free kick, looked like one of his trademark free kicks but thats all he can offer, he's a shit LB.