The Players We Sign

[Lovejoy]

Was having a conversation with my Dad after the game today and he came up with a good point. He thinks we should be signing players on small contracts who are moving up the football ladder and have something to prove.

Now admittedly when we sign players like Oakley and Howard who have had good careers, the fans quite rightly are excited to see the impact these proven players have on our team. But these players have had their day, and jump at the sign of Milandaric's chquebook! It's a nice opportunity to boost their bank balance and have one last crack at playing for a "big club".

They then proceed to feed the press with the same old bullshit about how much of an honour it is to play for Leicester City, how great the fans are, etc. only to follow this up with minimal effort come Saturday afternoon. Granted this doesn't apply to every single player, but it does to a significant number.

The two players who stood out today were Wesolowski and Hume. Weso has come through the academy and is looking to establish himself in the first team. Hume came from Tranmere having played there all his career previously. I'm prepared to bet that these players are on lower deals than the likes of N'Gotty, Oakley and Clemence! And I know who I prefer playing for my team!

Admittedly experience is vital for a team to flourish, but look at Hull for instance. Their captain Ian Ashbee played one Div1 game for Derby before moving to Cambridge then Hull. He is their lynchpin, their inspiration and carries a desire to reach the promised land of the Premiership that his younger team-mates can take inspiration from.

I'm not saying Ian Ashbee is the answer to our problems, but players with a point to prove may be a better bet than those who have peaked. It would also be considerably cheaper. Some on here are saying Ollie can't motivate many of the has-beens on our team. To be fair, I don't think Jose Mourinho could motivate some of our players!

[Ultra]

We do have some talent coming through the reserves.

Gradel, Beswick, King, Sappleton and Ashley Chambers should all have chances to prove themselves next season.

[Nationwider]

I think that's the crux of our problem this season, well argued.

I'm sure someone will reel off the Martin O'Neill signings in due course, to hammer the point home.

Still, only three more years of Steve Howard, eh?

[Tilley]

I think that's the crux of our problem this season, well argued.

I'm sure someone will reel off the Martin O'Neill signings in due course, to hammer the point home.

Still, only three more years of Steve Howard, eh?

[dandannieldanok]

Was having a conversation with my Dad after the game today and he came up with a good point. He thinks we should be signing players on small contracts who are moving up the football ladder and have something to prove.

Now admittedly when we sign players like Oakley and Howard who have had good careers, the fans quite rightly are excited to see the impact these proven players have on our team. But these players have had their day, and jump at the sign of Milandaric's chquebook! It's a nice opportunity to boost their bank balance and have one last crack at playing for a "big club".

They then proceed to feed the press with the same old bullshit about how much of an honour it is to play for Leicester City, how great the fans are, etc. only to follow this up with minimal effort come Saturday afternoon. Granted this doesn't apply to every single player, but it does to a significant number.

The two players who stood out today were Wesolowski and Hume. Weso has come through the academy and is looking to establish himself in the first team. Hume came from Tranmere having played there all his career previously. I'm prepared to bet that these players are on lower deals than the likes of N'Gotty, Oakley and Clemence! And I know who I prefer playing for my team!

Admittedly experience is vital for a team to flourish, but look at Hull for instance. Their captain Ian Ashbee played one Div1 game for Derby before moving to Cambridge then Hull. He is their lynchpin, their inspiration and carries a desire to reach the promised land of the Premiership that his younger team-mates can take inspiration from.

I'm not saying Ian Ashbee is the answer to our problems, but players with a point to prove may be a better bet than those who have peaked. It would also be considerably cheaper. Some on here are saying Ollie can't motivate many of the has-beens on our team. To be fair, I don't think Jose Mourinho could motivate some of our players!

I agree completely.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

We do have some talent coming through the reserves.

Gradel, Beswick, King, Sappleton and Ashley Chambers should all have chances to prove themselves next season.

Sappleton should have his chance NOW considering how he's been scoring for reserves and youth.

Especially as some of the first team couldn't buy a goal at the minute.

[dandannieldanok]

Still, only three more years of Steve Howard, eh?

My god he is going to be horrendously bad in 2/3 years time

[Tilley]

Sappleton should have his chance NOW considering how he's been scoring for reserves and youth.

Especially as some of the first team couldn't buy a goal at the minute.

I would take ANYONE over Howard.

[Joe.]

For starters, good post mate.

For the most-part I agree with it, possibly not to the extent of always going for unproven players but I definitely agree with the general idea.

If you look at some of our better players this season: Hume, Kisnorbo, McAuleyand Stearman (eventually), none of them have the reputations of Howard, Oakley, Clemence and N'Gotty. Yet the "proven" players I've just mentioned have all been largely disappointing this season and showed little signs of the quality that we should have seen.

The youth that we've put into the first team this season have hardly disgraced us, and it's been the ones with the previous good reputations that have been the ones to let us down bigtime.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I would take ANYONE over Howard.

. I just reckon that Sappleton / Chambers will be really boosted if they get a crack in the first team (especially against Stoke) and their prolific scoring recently means that their confidence will be on a high.

[Fez of Mahrez]

I don't think there's enough pace in the midfield and we could do with one of those perennial Championship strikers who constantly bang in 15 goals a season despite looking shite for most of it (Stern John, Clinton Morrison, Ricardo Fuller) simply because they have bit of everything - strength, height, pace, finishing - instead of just one quality.

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I don't think there's enough pace in the midfield and we could do with one of those perennial Championship strikers who constantly bang in 15 goals a season despite looking shite for most of it (Stern John, Clinton Morrison, Ricardo Fuller) simply because they have bit of everything - strength, height, pace, finishing - instead of just one quality.

We had one of those. His name was Collins John. I got excited when we signed him. He was lazy. He couldn't finish. He looked uninterested...

...But I'd still take him over most of our current seniors.

[Lovejoy]

For starters, good post mate.

For the most-part I agree with it, possibly not to the extent of always going for unproven players but I definitely agree with the general idea.

If you look at some of our better players this season: Hume, Kisnorbo, McAuleyand Stearman (eventually), none of them have the reputations of Howard, Oakley, Clemence and N'Gotty. Yet the "proven" players I've just mentioned have all been largely disappointing this season and showed little signs of the quality that we should have seen.

The youth that we've put into the first team this season have hardly disgraced us, and it's been the ones with the previous good reputations that have been the ones to let us down bigtime.

Sorry if that's how it came across, what I actually meant was that instead of having so many has-beens, one or two hot prospects a season would be good for the squad imo. Take Bell for instance. We're the biggest club he's played for (with respect for Luton and Rushden) and I think he's impressed most people so far. He has a bit of quality, and seems interested in the games.

[Mr Happy]

My god he is going to be horrendously bad in 2/3 years time

Surely at league 1 standards he won't be that bad?! A neat figure of 30 goals from him will see us promoted in our 1st season outside the top 2 leagues

I reckon Ollie should of tried out some members of our academy today as they couldn't of done any worst than the shi te already on the pitch, with the exceptions of Hume, N'Gotty n Weso, which i'm hoping will be here next season as they are an experienced nucleaus which we can build upon whilst introducing the new youth players.

[Aeropars]

Who gives a crap? we're going down and if you have any energy left after today, save it for the summer... have a BBq or something. Venison burgers at the height of fashon this summer.

[Basingstoke Fox]

Surely at league 1 standards he won't be that bad?! A neat figure of 30 goals from him will see us promoted in our 1st season outside the top 2 leagues

I reckon Ollie should of tried out some members of our academy today as they couldn't of done any worst than the shi te already on the pitch, with the exceptions of Hume, N'Gotty n Weso, which i'm hoping will be here next season as they are an experienced nucleaus which we can build upon whilst introducing the new youth players.

Yeah but if he did bring in some young players and they all played crap then people would go What the hell is he doing he should have gone for experience. Not having a go at anyone but that is what would happen.

[Chimp]

Was having a conversation with my Dad after the game today and he came up with a good point. He thinks we should be signing players on small contracts who are moving up the football ladder and have something to prove.

But, didn't we try that with Levein? Almost his entire squad was comprised of players with 'something to prove'. Sure, this may have been a hollow excuse for 'all we can afford' but I think it illustrates that desire and motivation can't make up for everything in footabll.

That said, I do agree that, whatever league we play in next season, we need a good clean out of the dross from this club, starting with the manager and the several 'senior' players that have consistently underperformed since they arrived.

[Thracian]

"Was having a conversation with my Dad after the game today and he came up with a good point. He thinks we should be signing players on small contracts who are moving up the football ladder and have something to prove. "

You're dad makes a good point but I'm sure I read somewhere that there is pressure on clubs to employ a reasonable proportion of older footballers - part of the anti-ageist drive. You couldn't make it up.

I think I'm right in saying there's the same obligation put to football clubs as other employers that if an older person is as good as a younger one they shouldn't be overlooked because of their age.

Of course, the politicians aren't ploughing the money in and it isn't their business that's suffering - as usual. Otherwise the rules and recommendations would be quickly amended or they'd quickly be get exemption on some "special case" pretext.

[MikeyT]

I think that's the crux of our problem this season, well argued.

I'm sure someone will reel off the Martin O'Neill signings in due course, to hammer the point home.

Still, only three more years of Steve Howard, eh?

[brookfox]

I had exactly the same conservation (though not with your Dad!).

For me this is the only area where Milan has to take some blame. He talks of a three year plan, but then you get the feeling puts pressure on his managers for instant success. So the manager thinks, well I could build for the future with some hungry up and coming players, but if it doesn't work out soon I won't be here to enjoy it. Hence the Howards, N'Gotty's, Clemences et al come in for the quick fix.

[Narborough Bod]

I had exactly the same conservation (though not with your Dad!).

For me this is the only area where Milan has to take some blame. He talks of a three year plan, but then you get the feeling puts pressure on his managers for instant success. So the manager thinks, well I could build for the future with some hungry up and coming players, but if it doesn't work out soon I won't be here to enjoy it. Hence the Howards, N'Gotty's, Clemences et al come in for the quick fix.

Back page of Saturday Mercury, the first game of the season. 'I want it now'.

No pressure then.