Edworthy in

[morris1234]

solid singing this. just wait for the haters. hes too old. he should be scoring 90 yard over head kicks with his knee cap while reading the match day programme.

[keefox]

marc edworthy ?? him and chris 'dinosaur' powell at the club. Do they get free bus passes ?

[dandannieldanok]

From Gilbert and Mattock to Edworthy and Powell. I liked what he was doing but Pearson is clearly cracking under the pressure, already.

My sentiments too, I'd much rather have someone like O'Neill or Cox there if we're desperate. Kishishev used to be a right-back too and I'm sure he'd be willing to slot in. I don't care whether this is just for 2 months, the bloke retired so obviously didn't think he was good enough to carry on, or have the desire to. I'd laughed at the Powell signing but fortunately I was wrong to some extent on that one, this signing for me is so poor I can't even bring myself to laugh.

[Koke]

At least give him a chance rather than judging him before he has even kicked a ball.

We all made the exact assumptions about Chris Powell, and look how he ended up biting us in the arse.

[Stuliasz]

What better could we have done in the short term? The transfer window is closed, we have no cover for right back, its a short term contract, I can't see the problem.

[C-man]

Why?

An experienced right back, when for the last 3 games we've had a big centre half with the pace and skill of a truck playing there.

Pretty sure you all said the same about Chris Powell, and he's done a solid Job in my opinion. We've missed Gilbert massively these last few games and back up like this is vital.

Good signing Nigel.

Well said Tom Moore.

I remember Pearson saying that Chrissy P had a great attitude when he was training with us before he signed, and he's turned in solid performances every game and looks proud to wear the shirt. If Nige is right about Edworthy's attitude I'm sure he'll be valuable cover for Disorderly.

[C-man]

My sentiments too, I'd much rather have someone like O'Neill or Cox there if we're desperate. Kishishev used to be a right-back too and I'm sure he'd be willing to slot in. I don't care whether this is just for 2 months, the bloke retired so obviously didn't think he was good enough to carry on, or have the desire to. I'd laughed at the Powell signing but fortunately I was wrong to some extent on that one, this signing for me is so poor I can't even bring myself to laugh.

Someone please provide a link other than wikipedia to suggest that he actually announced his retirement. Just because he didn't have a club doesn't mean he retired, he's simply a free agent.

As for desire, if he didn't have any then why the fuck would he train with us for a month to earn a short-term contract?

[iancognito]

What better could we have done in the short term? The transfer window is closed, we have no cover for right back, its a short term contract, I can't see the problem.

Exactly.

For the last two or three weeks, people have moaned that Hobbs isn't a right back, we've got no cover, our weaknesses are being exposed etc etc and now when Pearson signs a player who has played most of his career as a good, solid right back, people are still moaning. Luke O'Neill has played for the first team rarely but when he has it's been obvious he's not got the quality we need there at the moment, Kish would probably be dependable there but he's another square peg solution.

We need a right back, the Neville brothers, Micah Richards and that Belletti bloke aren't available so we take on Marc Edworthy. It's hardly a crisis.

[Austin]

see what happens I guess, if he does well ill back him regardless!

[Daggers]

Is it April 1st already?

[Salieri]

Is it April 1st already?

If only that was the case....

Apparently, Paulo Wanchope has been linked with us now!

[Unabomber]

It's like Rob Kelly all over again. Get the experience in.

[Alexikokopops]

It's like Rob Kelly all over again. Get the experience in.

Surely you mean Mickey Adams?

[Unabomber]

Surely you mean Mickey Adams?

Yeah whatever but for some reason I had Andy Johnson and Geoff Horsfield on the mind.

[Bert]

Is it April 1st already?

No, it's the second now.

[carterfox90]

It's like Rob Kelly all over again. Get the experience in.

i hear city are getting the zimmer frames with wheels on them just to give our full backs a little bit of speed !

what a joke do we really want promotion this year or what?????????

[Jonezy]

Meh. Thought we were giving youngsters a chance in this league, but no we re-sign retired players when we have injury worries. He will probably do a decent job in the few games he'll get, but I would have preferred Cox or O'Neil to try some first team football instead. Is the step from our academy to third tier footie really that big....?

[Mr Happy]

I see we've not lost any lack of ambition with our latest signing

For this league though this is a decent signing especially as back-up to Gilbert. I personally don't think we should be signing any 'short term fixes' we should be looking long term because if we acheive promotion then these types of players just won't cut it in the championship and we'll end up struggling in a relagation battle again.

That said, it worked for Adams so why not for Pearson?

[Thracian]

Meh. Thought we were giving youngsters a chance in this league, but no we re-sign retired players when we have injury worries. He will probably do a decent job in the few games he'll get, but I would have preferred Cox or O'Neil to try some first team football instead. Is the step from our academy to third tier footie really that big....?

It's disheartening for our young players.

Edworthy made a sound start for us yesterday but I didn't see too much wrong with Lee Cox either. Quite similar in several ways. It's just that Cox is a decade and a threequarters younger, rather like the unused King compared to Oakley and Hendrie last season.

I feel sorry for today's Academy players.

The better ones have no reserves team to play in and the Under 18 side, which is their only regular source of real matches, is nothing like the one which the likes of King, Mattock and Gradel graduated through.

With every old timer we sign that's another bolt on the first team door for the youngsters.

Of course I accept that Cox - as arguably our brightest current prospect - might not make the transition to our first team. He might just be a bit too slow.

But I do remember his outstanding performance in the Academy play-off final against a damned good opponent and he

seemed every bit as good as that yet far stronger when I watched him yesterday.

But Pearson will have no Academy finals to watch our team play in this season, nor any proper reserve games. And, as usual it is easier and safer - albeit short-sighted - to rely on the tried and trusted.

[dandannieldanok]

It's disheartening for our young players.

Edworthy made a sound start for us yesterday but I didn't see too much wrong with Lee Cox either. Quite similar in several ways. It's just that Cox is a decade and a threequarters younger, rather like the unused King compared to Oakley and Hendrie last season.

I feel sorry for today's Academy players.

The better ones have no reserves team to play in and the Under 18 side, which is their only regular source of real matches, is nothing like the one which the likes of King, Mattock and Gradel graduated through.

With every old timer we sign that's another bolt on the first team door for the youngsters.

Of course I accept that Cox - as arguably our brightest current prospect - might not make the transition to our first team. He might just be a bit too slow.

But I do remember his outstanding performance in the Academy play-off final against a damned good opponent and he

seemed every bit as good as that yet far stronger when I watched him yesterday.

But Pearson will have no Academy finals to watch our team play in this season, nor any proper reserve games. And, as usual it is easier and safer - albeit short-sighted - to rely on the tried and trusted.

Agree with those sentiments, Edworthy was steady but I've said in the ratings thread, yesterday's game presented Pearson with perhaps the best chance we'll get this season to bring in a youngster and give them a go. I saw nothing from Edworthy to suggest he did a better job than either O'Neill or Cox would have done.

[lcfc81]

I don't buy into this 'Edworthy keeping the youngsters out' argument.

He was playing Hobbs at RB ffs!!!

Now that suggests 2 things to me,

a) Pearson doesn't think the youngsters are ready yet.

b) Hobbs wasn't doing a good enough job.

Edworthy will be around for a season.

If we're luck we will sign Gilbert and have Cox et al as second choice next season.

On another note Edworthy looked good (against weaker opposition) but more importantly he looked like he still had

his legs.

[Thracian]

Agree with those sentiments, Edworthy was steady but I've said in the ratings thread, yesterday's game presented Pearson with perhaps the best chance we'll get this season to bring in a youngster and give them a go. I saw nothing from Edworthy to suggest he did a better job than either O'Neill or Cox would have done.

The other thing to mention about Cox is that he's not just a right-back. He's a bit of a midfield enforcer. The "get-stuck-in" brigade will love him because the recipient is likely to know about every tackle.

There's nothing especially subtle thereafter. He just gives the ball short and simple to feet. But one clash yesterday was a classic. The ball was just off the ground. Cox and a Bristol player homed in on it at the same time and the collision was audible 20 yards away.

There was nothing unfair about it but Cox is built like a pocket battleship and the Bristol lad finished rolling around in a big heap afterwards. It's perhaps an unfortunate phrase but there was never any chance of Cox pulling out!

[JoeyB]

Put it this way if Pearson thought that Cox/ O'Neil were up to it they would be in the 16. Pearson played his trade as a defender and knows what it's like he will bring them in when he feels when they are ready. Thracian you may think there ready but your not a football manager (no offense meant) and they will get their chance when Pearson or the manager thinks the time is right.

Edworthy was solid yesterday.

[davieG]

Put it this way if Pearson thought that Cox/ O'Neil were up to it they would be in the 16. Pearson played his trade as a defender and knows what it's like he will bring them in when he feels when they are ready. Thracian you may think there ready but your not a football manager (no offense meant) and they will get their chance when Pearson or the manager thinks the time is right.

Edworthy was solid yesterday.

So how do you explain his playing of Hobbs at RB when it was obvious he was totally inadequate, so bad it affected his normal ability to head the ball.

Some of the worst performances I've seen at RB and against the weakest oppositions we've encountered.

PS This is not a Pearson out statement, just to say that he's not infallible.

[Thracian]

Put it this way if Pearson thought that Cox/ O'Neil were up to it they would be in the 16. Pearson played his trade as a defender and knows what it's like he will bring them in when he feels when they are ready. Thracian you may think there ready but your not a football manager (no offense meant) and they will get their chance when Pearson or the manager thinks the time is right.

Edworthy was solid yesterday.

a) I didn't say he was ready. I said he might be. But, due respect to Edworthy, I'd have found out before signing another veteran.

b) I've heard the line about the manager knowing best so many times and only wish that our history in recent seasons suggested it were true. How many managers have we had and what division are we playing in?

c) So Pearson's playing experience makes him an expert on selecting defenders? Fine, then explain why we've just spent a torrid month or so changing our defensive approach from football to hoofball with embarrassing consequences?.

Pearson has done okay for us as a manager, especially in the time he's had, but don't make out he's above making mistakes because he's not.

PS: Sorry so much of the above has been covered by DavieG writing at the same time!