LEVI PORTER

[Dr The Singh]

It wasn't the old way but if you're going to have a squad you've got to use and involve them. Otherwise they get disgruntled. which has a negative effect on team spirit and they lose match fitness which makes them no damned use to anyone.

A squad should basically involve players of equal or comparable ability and you won't easily get decent reserves to join you and/or want to stay if all they're doing is warming a bench.

Porter is a case in point but there are similar problems elsewhere. King and Oakley in midfield have done well. Despite the gloom merchants we've got an excellent playing record this season and every player has contributed significantly.

But three games a week for the same two central midfield players is daft, or at the very least, risky. And where's the cover for Gilbert or the alternative strikers for Howard and Howard who are shouldering the same workload as the midfielders I mentioned without any chance of relief or of us trying something different.

This isn't about finding people to replace existing personnel. It is about using players to supplement what we've got so that everyone stays fit, sharp and, hopefully, on top of their game. And about creating genuine squad unity and team spirit.

I personally think his career at city is virtually over, my brother played against him a feww weeks ago when city reserves played Oadby Town in a friendly and he said he looked dissinterested and dejected!!! I hope the lad gets a chance from the bench to prove his worth but I think he will get constantly over looked!!!

[Munzie]

It wasn't the old way but if you're going to have a squad you've got to use and involve them. Otherwise they get disgruntled. which has a negative effect on team spirit and they lose match fitness which makes them no damned use to anyone.

A squad should basically involve players of equal or comparable ability and you won't easily get decent reserves to join you and/or want to stay if all they're doing is warming a bench.

Porter is a case in point but there are similar problems elsewhere. King and Oakley in midfield have done well. Despite the gloom merchants we've got an excellent playing record this season and every player has contributed significantly.

But three games a week for the same two central midfield players is daft, or at the very least, risky. And where's the cover for Gilbert or the alternative strikers for Howard and Howard who are shouldering the same workload as the midfielders I mentioned without any chance of relief or of us trying something different.

This isn't about finding people to replace existing personnel. It is about using players to supplement what we've got so that everyone stays fit, sharp and, hopefully, on top of their game. And about creating genuine squad unity and team spirit.

It's difficult to comment on team spirit other than on what we see at the games. Watching the occasional interviews on LCFC World, you can tell that the players are media trained and don't give too much away. Looking at pre-match warm-up and the subs at half time (with the banter they have with each other) coupled with the dispays during the game, I would say we are not far off what a good team spirit should be like.

It will always be fustrating for a player not to get a seat on the bench or even to spend the majority of the game warming up and not be called upon if they were one of the chosen five. That's part and parcel of their career.

I suppose there is a fine line in choosing a winning side week in week out to tinkering with the squad to appease players. The life of a manger is a difficult one whether they are winning or losing. Maybe this is the reason for the short term loans we are seeing this year. As you say, keeping the players fresh, match fit and happy is always going to be the main priority.

[RowlattsFox]

I don't think we'll see him play for us again unless we have a serious run of injuries, obviously Dyer is first choice and I think Pearson sees Berner, Mattock, Gradel and Adams as the other alternatives ahead of Porter and Porter will never be considered for centre midfield. However if he isn't in Pearsons plan I would have expected him to go out on loan by now like others have, unless no-one wants him of course. There should be a League 2 side atleast interested and give Porter a chance to impress, he has played once for us this season if I remember correctly and was poor that day, I just don't think Pearson fancies him.

I grew up playing against Porter quite a lot and I've never liked him so I have biased opinion of him but if he was to leave I don't think we'd lose out on much.

[Koke]

A loan spell would be very beneficial for him, and would probably kick start his career.

On a personal level, I've never liked the lad. My brother went to school with him, and quite frankly he's an arrogant streak of piss.

As a player, I've got nothing against him. He needs first team football for the sake of his own career and I'm wondering whether Pearson is looking at a loan deal for him.

[Thracian]

I've said several times that he should leave for his own sake and tend to agree that his future here seems bleak.

Reading some of the above comments I now understand where so much of the animosity towards him is coming from.

The two people I've spoken to who know him well both like him and speak highly of him.

But they are both women.

Me, I don't care about his personality I just care about his football.

But I'd hardly find arrogance in a footballer or, indeed, any number of talented people especially unusual anyway.

I might find some who hide it more than others but it's there in many because professional football, like so many competitive disciplines, is about believing in your ability and trying to be better than those competing with you.