Levi Porter

[Rich Fox]

We have two wingers who are better than levi all I hear on this forum is levi levi levi he aint that good.

[Thracian]

We have two wingers who are better than levi all I hear on this forum is levi levi levi he aint that good.

Nothing I've seen of Dyer so far suggests he's in as good as Porter never mind better. Perhaps there's more to come from the new boy but in any case, on Saturday, it wasn't Dyer or Gradel who should have gone off if we were doing all we could to win the game, it was Oakley, who had started to struggle with his recovery towards the end.

But there seems a strange reluctance to use Porter in central midfield and I wonder why. It's well known that he can play there.

DavieG would know how long Porter's contract has to go but I don't think it's that long and I wonder if Knowitall has any information on whether he's perhaps stalling on a new one.

Even though he was returning from injury, Porter had an excellent pre-season when given the chance but it wasn't enough to get him in the side so I'm just wondering if he perhaps thinks, like Sheehan, that he's the easy fall guy and that his future lies elsewhere.

I don't think Porter would have any trouble getting a place in a Championship set up so I really cannot imagine him fancying being sidelined in Division One for long. Surely the whole of last season will have been quite sufficient spectating for the lad.

[Kilworthfox]

Nothing I've seen of Dyer so far suggests he's in any way better than Porter. And on Saturday, it wasn't Dyer or Gradel who should have gone off if we were doing all we could to win the game, it was Oakley, who had started to struggle towards the end.

He is quicker, that is the 1 thing better!

Other than that Porter is much more dangerous IMO

[JoeyB]

Nothing I've seen of Dyer so far suggests he's in any way better than Porter. And on Saturday, it wasn't Dyer or Gradel who should have gone off if we were doing all we could to win the game, it was Oakley, who had started to struggle towards the end.

The Lloyd Dyer song suggest he is better than Levi, now that is a Tune

[Candidcamera]

Perhaps no bad thing that Porter is eased back after injury but he will be a regular as he is a talented and strong player. Dyer will have to play well to keep him out of the team. I would go so far as to say that it was instrumental to our woeful season that he got injured.

[Hullfox]

Nothing I've seen of Dyer so far suggests he's in as good as Porter never mind better. Perhaps there's more to come from the new boy but in any case, on Saturday, it wasn't Dyer or Gradel who should have gone off if we were doing all we could to win the game, it was Oakley, who had started to struggle with his recovery towards the end.

Why then mark Gradel 5.5 and Oakley 6.25 in your ratings for that game?

But there seems a strange reluctance to use Porter in central midfield and I wonder why. It's well known that he can play there.

Is it really though? When has he played as a CM in the first eleven?

DavieG would know how long Porter's contract has to go but I don't think it's that long and I wonder if Knowitall has any information on whether he's perhaps stalling on a new one.

I'm convinced that Porter signed a new 3 year contract last year

Even though he was returning from injury, Porter had an excellent pre-season when given the chance but it wasn't enough to get him in the side so I'm just wondering if he perhaps thinks, like Sheehan, that he's the easy fall guy and that his future lies elsewhere.

For god's sake Thrach, We are two league games into the season. If any player is of the opinion that they are being hard done to at this stage then maybe it i their attitude that is wrong. More so one who is probably still recovering fully from a serious injury.

I don't think Porter would have any trouble getting a place in a Championship set up.

Which is why no doubt that the likes of Bimingham and Crystal Palce are fighting for his services.

Porter is a good player, no doubt about it. Before he was injured however he was worked out by the opposition. It is now up to NP to ensure that his game matures to be able to show more sides to his ability. What will not help him though is the unrealistic blowing of smoke up his arse announcing him as the new Cesc Fabregas.

[dilko2008]

Levi is good given time he will be back just remember how many months he was out last season

[Bert]

Well they obviously wernt doing very well because it was 0-0 at stockport

You're already a goon.

Any news on the emergancy loan deal of Danny Cadermateri for the Fulham game?

Now theres a left winger.

Aleksander Tunchev DU DU DUUUU

On a side note, Porter will get his chance this year.

[Thracian]

Why then mark Gradel 5.5 and Oakley 6.25 in your ratings for that game?

Is it really though? When has he played as a CM in the first eleven?

I'm convinced that Porter signed a new 3 year contract last year

For god's sake Thrach, We are two league games into the season. If any player is of the opinion that they are being hard done to at this stage then maybe it i their attitude that is wrong. More so one who is probably still recovering fully from a serious injury.

Which is why no doubt that the likes of Bimingham and Crystal Palce are fighting for his services.

Porter is a good player, no doubt about it. Before he was injured however he was worked out by the opposition. It is now up to NP to ensure that his game matures to be able to show more sides to his ability. What will not help him though is the unrealistic blowing of smoke up his arse announcing him as the new Cesc Fabregas.

a) There was nothing particularly wrong with Oakley's performance, hence his goodish mark. He was just running out of steam towards the end. Gradel wasn't running out of steam he was constantly being assaulted in a blind alley and we needed to pose our threats from more quarters and to give Grael the freedom to roam which would have been perfectly possible with Porter's involvement.

b) Porter's played lots of times and well in central midfield and has nver been given the chance to demonstrate that ability in the first team as you well know. It seems perfectly obvious that, as captain, Oakley is likely to be a fixture for important games which means his opportunities will be limited and probably fleeting.

c) You may be right.

d) Two games or not Porter's form didn't warrant him being the fall guy at all. I've seen no signs of post-injury problems and he's clocked up a fair amount of football. If you'd had a season off and your club had been relegated while you watched are you saying you'd want to sit on a bench some more?.

e) Neither you nor I know who might be interested in him if he were to leave. I don't see the teams you mentioned as anything special anyway. But I have not the slightest doubt that Porter would compliment a Championship squad.

f) Funny that Gradel also seems to have been "worked out" by the opposition. You would think we'd have learned by now that you don't combat man marking by having players restricted to their selected place on the wing. They need the freedom to move across the line and that means we need to pick flexible players. As you well know. You've played the game at a decent level and as a defender. I imagine you'd be delighted to be faced with an opponent who remained fairly static in one area of the field. I wonder whether either Porter or Gradel were ever given advice about what to do if they were man-marked.

[Jaspa]

You're already a goon.

[Thracian]

You can say it was maybe a wrong decision to put Dickov on the right, but in a way it worked....we improved as an attackive force but just couldn't score.

I don't disagree that we attacked more and can think of various reasons why but none of them feature Dickov. Perhaps you'll explain what I've clearly missed.

[Stig the Lawnmower]

a couple of seasons ago we were all raving about levi, now max is 'the new kid on the block'. to my mind they should both be first choices. levi needs to be playing

[Thracian]

Perhaps no bad thing that Porter is eased back after injury but he will be a regular as he is a talented and strong player. Dyer will have to play well to keep him out of the team. I would go so far as to say that it was instrumental to our woeful season that he got injured.

I'm 100% sure we wouldn't have been relegated had he been available for even the second half of the season.

[Bert]

a) There was nothing particularly wrong with Oakley's performance, hence his goodish mark. He was just running out of steam towards the end. Gradel wasn't running out of steam he was constantly being assaulted in a blind alley and we needed to pose our threats from more quarters and to give Grael the freedom to roam which would have been perfectly possible with Porter's involvement.

b) Porter's played lots of times and well in central midfield and has nver been given the chance to demonstrate that ability in the first team as you well know. It seems perfectly obvious that, as captain, Oakley is likely to be a fixture for important games which means his opportunities will be limited and probably fleeting.

c) You may be right.

d) Two games or not Porter's form didn't warrant him being the fall guy at all. I've seen no signs of post-injury problems and he's clocked up a fair amount of football. If you'd had a season off and your club had been relegated while you watched are you saying you'd want to sit on a bench some more?.

e) Neither you nor I know who might be interested in him if he were to leave. I don't see the teams you mentioned as anything special anyway. But I have not the slightest doubt that Porter would compliment a Championship squad.

f) Funny that Gradel also seems to have been "worked out" by the opposition. You would think we'd have learned by now that you don't combat man marking by having players restricted to their selected place on the wing. They need the freedom to move across the line and that means we need to pick flexible players. As you well know. You've played the game at a decent level and as a defender. I imagine you'd be delighted to be faced with an opponent who remained fairly static in one area of the field. I wonder whether either Porter or Gradel were ever given advice about what to do if they were man-marked.

Oakley will be a permanent fixture because he is the best central midfielder we have at the club. No two ways about it.

Porter had never really started to be the fall guy, It's pretty clear that Dyer was always going to be the #1 left winger.

[Thracian]

Oakley will be a permanent fixture because he is the best central midfielder we have at the club. No two ways about it.

Porter had never really started to be the fall guy, It's pretty clear that Dyer was always going to be the #1 left winger.

He's been considerably better this season so far, but generally Oakley's disappointed me.

And while Pearson does indeed seem to favour Dyer, and I don't say he's necessarily wrong, I have yet to see a single reason why.

However, after what you've said I look forward to celebrating a magical performance from the new lad tomorrow.

[Bert]

He's been considerably better this season so far, but generally Oakley's disappointed me.

And while Pearson does indeed seem to favour Dyer, and I don't say he's necessarily wrong, I have yet to see a single reason why.

However, after what you've said I look forward to celebrating a magical performance from the new lad tomorrow.

How have i said anything to lead you to think that?

[Tommeh]

How have i said anything to lead you to think that?

Can Rob young airways pick me up for the game tomorrow? Please.

[Hullfox]

a) There was nothing particularly wrong with Oakley's performance, hence his goodish mark. He was just running out of steam towards the end. Gradel wasn't running out of steam he was constantly being assaulted in a blind alley and we needed to pose our threats from more quarters and to give Grael the freedom to roam which would have been perfectly possible with Porter's involvement.

b) Porter's played lots of times and well in central midfield and has nver been given the chance to demonstrate that ability in the first team as you well know. It seems perfectly obvious that, as captain, Oakley is likely to be a fixture for important games which means his opportunities will be limited and probably fleeting.

c) You may be right.

d) Two games or not Porter's form didn't warrant him being the fall guy at all. I've seen no signs of post-injury problems and he's clocked up a fair amount of football. If you'd had a season off and your club had been relegated while you watched are you saying you'd want to sit on a bench some more?.

e) Neither you nor I know who might be interested in him if he were to leave. I don't see the teams you mentioned as anything special anyway. But I have not the slightest doubt that Porter would compliment a Championship squad.

f) Funny that Gradel also seems to have been "worked out" by the opposition. You would think we'd have learned by now that you don't combat man marking by having players restricted to their selected place on the wing. They need the freedom to move across the line and that means we need to pick flexible players. As you well know. You've played the game at a decent level and as a defender. I imagine you'd be delighted to be faced with an opponent who remained fairly static in one area of the field. I wonder whether either Porter or Gradel were ever given advice about what to do if they were man-marked.

Firstly, I like Porter. I really do. However he is not a footballing genius. He is a young man still learning his craft and he doesn't need promoting above his capabilities.

Your first point could be right. Porter may well have made a difference but that is not how the management team saw it and you and I (and Porter if as you suspect if he feels he is being made a scapegoat for a reasonable start to the season) have to accept it. Playing the victim or setting him up as so will not aid his future. If any player is not willing to fight for his place at this stage of the season then he has no place at the club.

Alas Thrach my defending days only came about with the onset of age and weight, I was in fact the opponent remaining static most of the time.

[smokey]

Whats happening to little Levi, he was one of our hot talents a couple of years ago, now hes sitting on the bench!

He as mainly sat on the bench for more than that.........does that tell you something Spatzic????

[Thracian]

Firstly, I like Porter. I really do. However he is not a footballing genius. He is a young man still learning his craft and he doesn't need promoting above his capabilities.

Your first point could be right. Porter may well have made a difference but that is not how the management team saw it and you and I (and Porter if as you suspect if he feels he is being made a scapegoat for a reasonable start to the season) have to accept it. Playing the victim or setting him up as so will not aid his future. If any player is not willing to fight for his place at this stage of the season then he has no place at the club.

Alas Thrach my defending days only came about with the onset of age and weight, I was in fact the opponent remaining static most of the time.

I don't doubt for a second that he's willing to fight for his place but he deserves a level playing field in doing so and I'm not at all sure he's getting one.

None of this is meant to be anti-Dyer, anti-Oakley or inded anti-anyone. May the best man win or may all of them win together. I just don't like the way the dice seem to be unfairly stacked against some people through no fault of their own. I guess it makes me want to defend their corner.

:D Sorry to have seen you so late in your career and to have assumed you were a dyed-in-the-wool defender! At least you can still get out there on the pitch and I envy you that. Golf's a great game but nothing really replaces football.

[Father Ted]

Perhaps no bad thing that Porter is eased back after injury but he will be a regular as he is a talented and strong player. Dyer will have to play well to keep him out of the team. I would go so far as to say that it was instrumental to our woeful season that he got injured.

Anyway, I'm not a great fan of Porter but I have to admit that his form in pre-season deserves noticing and he does deserve more of a chance.

[Thracian]

How have i said anything to lead you to think that?

You said: "It's pretty clear that Dyer was always going to be the #1 left winger," and if that's to be the case I'll be a lot happier if he plays brilliaintly than otherwise.

[Bert]

You said: "It's pretty clear that Dyer was always going to be the #1 left winger," and if that's to be the case I'll be a lot happier if he plays brilliaintly than otherwise.

Yes, only on the fact that he was one of our bigger name signings and unlike Levi wasn't involved in any of the reserve team games.

[Candidcamera]

Porter played a blinder after coming on at Crystal Palace last year. I know someone who went to support Palace and he thinks Porter changed the game. If you remember it was a draw but we deserved the points. Apparently there were sniggers all around when Porter came on and only praise when he left the pitch. The Palace fans have always had a reputation for praise where it is meritted.

[richie8oy]

Porter starts today