Ratings versus Coventry

[Thracian]

Experience counts for a lot and I know that the only way to get experience is to play games, but I think it'd be a huge risk to throw in O'Neill. He's yet to face a real defensive test in his couple of appearances to date.

I'm not talking about throwing anyone in. I'm suggesting introducing them gradually.

Defensively I think Morrison's the best we've got right now - and said that from the day I could never understand his replacement by Neilson for the Ipswich match.

But Morrison has his limitations. In the end, if we are to be an ambitious club with any hope of competing at a higher level we will have to find fast, mobile, defenders and full-backs in particular.

Best to get used to it now than later. According to what I was told Mattock's coping well enough at West Brom so we're not really asking the impossible of someone like O'Neill getting cameo appearances at the very least with Leicester to see how he adapts.

It's not as if we have any genuine attacking alternatives unless we adapt a player like Gradel and I don't suppose that would get much support although I've seen dafter ideas work. And someone else did forward the idea earlier today.

Gradel is fast, fit and far stronger than he looks. He's even reasonably good in the air and on either foot. Whether he'd discipline himself to do the simple things in possession I don't know but I'd sure find out. I wouldn't simply settle for what we've got.

We saw the value of pace today and it is no less valuable in defenders as attackers.

[Mikey]

Weale - 7.5

Morrison - 6.5

Hobbs - 8

Brown - 6

Berner - 5.5

Gallagher - 6

Oakley - 6.5

King - 7

Dyer - 7

Yann - 7

Fryatt - 6

Subs:

DJ - 6

Waggy - 7.5

Howard - 7.5

[Corky]

Weale- 7

Morrison- 6

Hobbs- 7

Brown- 6

Berner- 6

Gallagher- 6

Oakley- 5

King- 5.5

Dyer- 7.5

Fryatt- 6

Kermo- 5.5

Howard- 7.5

Waghorn- 8

Campbell- 6

[Cobbo]

Weale 7

Morrison 7

Hobbs 6

Brown 6

Berner 6

Dyer 7

Oakley 6

King 6

Gallagher 6

Fryatt 6

Kermorgant 6

Waghorn 8

Howard 8

Campbell 6

The Scow and I drinking in my living room agree with these.

It has been a good day.

[David Guiza]

Weale - 8- Couple of great saves, didn't put a foot wrong, looking a great buy.

Morrison - 7- Has looked much better then Nielson against Boro and Cov. Solid today

Hobbs - 6- Solid in the air but distribution was terrible, but solid at the back

Brown - 6- Dito

Berner - 7- Usual game from Berner got beat a couple of times by Best but recovered well.

Gallagher - 6- Just didn't happen for him, would have been a superb goal in the first half.

Oakley - 6- Average didn't do alot wrong but nothing special.

King - 6- Got back well but still to weak on in possesion

Dyer - 7- Best game of the season by far, unlucky not to score in the first half.

Fryatt - 6- Still in Wheaters pockett after tuesday i think.

Kergamont - 6- Would be intresting to see him with another strike partner, some good touches but Fryatt wasn't exactly brilliant helping him.

Howard - 8- Looks better now he's got competition IMO

Waghorn - 8- Back to how he was at Swansea chased lost causes and hassled defenders as well the goal.

Dj - 6- Looked bright but didn't see alot of the ball, he did get Clingan injured which changed the game alot.

[RowlattsFox]

Weale -7- Some good saves, but seems very reluctant to roll the ball out.

Morrison -6- Improved second half but I thought first half he was quite poor.

Hobbs -6.5- Gave the ball away a lot but defended pretty well.

Brown -6- Better than the last couple of times I've seen him.

Berner -6- Struggled up against Best, especially in the air but stuck to his task well.

Gallagher -5- Unlucky not to score with the shot but you can see him getting more and more frustrated playing on the wing.

Oakley -5- Gave the ball away a lot.

King -6- Didn't do an awful lot but didnt do much wrong either.

Dyer -6.5- Always looked liked creating something but I don't recall him actually doing it.

Fryatt -5- Couldn't get into game, but tried.

Kermogant -6- Did ok, think he'd be good with Waghorn with them little balls over the top.

Howard -7- Definitely came on and improved us, I seen more of his flick ons going to blue shirts today then I've seen for a while.

Waghorn -7- Great goal, pace and underated strength are excellent.

Campbell -6- Seems to be getting a bit of praise but I didn't think he did too much.

[davieG]

The Scow and I drinking in my living room agree with these.

It has been a good day.

I'm indeed honoured by your illustrious agreement

[MPH]

Convincing solutions are not apparent.

It has surprised me that our improving manager has not given more experience and involvement to the former Academy right-back Luke O'Neill who certainly looked promising enough at Macclesfield in the Cup recently and at Hartlepool in the Cup last season.

I don't suggest that he's the final or the lasting solution but he might represent an attack-capable alternative to what we've got, something it is imperative we find soon.

Otherwise, and presuming McGivern is a left-back rather than a right back, it seems that close scrutiny of the loan options might be the best option.

you absolute spoon.

you make a mockery of the fact you were a coach by your blind love for the youth.

[Thracian]

you absolute spoon.

you make a mockery of the fact you were a coach by your blind love for the youth.

And why is that?

Because I believe in involving a player a bit at a time so that he feels his way into the pace and demands of first team football gradually.

Morrison is not an ideal right back. He has defensive qualities in abundance but coinsiderable limitations when it comes to surging forward.

He might also get injured or be needed to replace an injured centre-back.

What would you suggest? That we bring back Neilson? And hope that his limitations mysteriously disappear?

It is you that seems to be blind.

It doesn't actually matter one bit whether our right back is 18 or 38. What matters is that they can defend well and show the athleticism, control and positional awareness to get forward purposefully when we have the ball. Because in a narrow set up it is vital that someone creates width reasonably consistently.

Far from "loving" anyone I don't actually care if it's Oakley, Gradel, O'Neill or an unknown loanee who steps forward to give us that option. I forwaded those names because i was interested in people's views on the subject. Because the full-back I describe is and will be needed.

[MPH]

And why is that?

Because I believe in involving a player a bit at a time so that he feels his way into the pace and demands of first team football gradually.

Morrison is not an ideal right back. He has defensive qualities in abundance but coinsiderable limitations when it comes to surging forward.

He might also get injured or be needed to replace an injured centre-back.

What would you suggest? That we bring back Neilson? And hope that his limitations mysteriously disappear?

It is you that seems to be blind.

It doesn't actually matter one bit whether our right back is 18 or 38. What matters is that they can defend well and show the athleticism, control and positional awareness to get forward purposefully when we have the ball. Because in a narrow set up it is vital that someone creates width reasonably consistently.

yeah of course... we are bottom of the league and struggling... heaven forbid we get up to 7th after a tricky away tie..

for all his limitations Neilsen will be an adequate back up

just keep on making a fool of yourself... dont let me stop you...

[Fox92]

Weale 6.5 - Should have done better with their free kick, but was ok again.

Morrison 6.5 - Steady performance.

Hobbs 7 - Solid again. Has to cover Brown constantly. Best defender we have, best defender in the league.

Brown 6.5 - Solid. Like Brown, but made a few mistakes which led to yet another booking.

Berner 6 - Worst performance from Berner this season but didn't really do much wrong.

Oakley 6 - Not poor, not great. One ball back to Gallagher should have been along the floor.

King 6 - Impressed compared to his recent performances at this level, sat in midfield nicely, performing key defensive duties and blocking the midfield off. Then again, didn't really shine that much.

Dyer 6.5 - Middlesbrough may have gave him a confidence and it showed, played well.

Fryatt 5 - Up front on his own, therefore, never really got going.

Gallagher 6.5 - Got angry towards the end of his game, but was avarage. Unlucky not to score but not too sure about the handball decision that went against him.

Kergormant 5 - No way a replacement for Stevie Howard. Plays abit to deep for my liking, which icsolated Matty Fryatt too much.

Subs:

Howard 7.5 - Point to prove with him being on the bench, vital flick on and won more headers than what Kermogrant did all game.

DJ Campbell 4 - Poor. Weak. Missed a chance or two. Waste of time I think.

Waghorn 7.5 - Ace. Lots of pace, put defenders under pressure and scored a superb goal.

[Thracian]

yeah of course... we are bottom of the league and struggling... heaven forbid we get up to 7th after a tricky away tie..

for all his limitations Neilsen will be an adequate back up

You cook your own goose really.

a) We all know where we are in the League but both Pearson, myself and a good many other fans on here also recognise that we've dropped points unnecessary and not always done ourselves justice. The manager has made that official.

b) Why should we have a back up with limitations built in rather than developing talented young players who do not have such set limitations? The youngsters are fit, fast and likely to keep on improving. With Neilson, from what the Scottish fans have said what you see is what you get.

[Joe.]

Weale 7.5 - Another good game with two impressive saves, no chance with the free-kick.

Morrison 7 - Did fine.

Hobbs 7

Brown 7 - SHORT PASS WAYNE.

Berner 5.5 - Caught out numerous times over the top, a little shaky.

Gallagher 6 - Unluckly with his first half effort, but I'm still massively unconvinced about him if he's going to be playing out wide every game.

Oakley 5 - Very poor game by his standards, bar one beauty of a ball to Howard which he handled. Probably would have had a great chance to get a second if he hadn't.

King 6 - Slightly better than Oakley, but still looked extremely lightweight to me in midfield.

Dyer 6 - Not too bad from Lloyd today, did most things well enough.

Kermorgant 6.5 - Thought he was unlucky really. Won pretty much everything that went his way in the air, but there was never anybody there to latch onto anything. One of the better performers of the first half.

Fryatt 5 - Just couldn't get into the game.

Subs:

Howard 7.5 - A huge presence up front, helping us to win a point from the game.

Campbell 5 - Squandered his only real chance, but there are signs that he can still be a part of our plans for the future.

Waghorn 7.5 - I've said it since the first time I saw him; I really like this guy. His pace is ridiculous, and finishes like yeserday's are absolutely top drawer. Screaming for a start against Derby.

[Karljohn]

Weale - 6.5 - Steady, kicks a bit wayward, no much chance with the goal, Clingan scores free kicks for fun

Berner - 6 - Not his most commanding display, took him a while to get to grips with Best who fortunately blazed over twice.

Hobbs - 6.5 - Solid but let himself down by doing the hard work only to give the ball away cheaply

Brown - 6.5 - See Hobbs

Morrison - 6 - Steady, would have to have a major wobble for us to see Neilson again.

Oakley - 5 - Never got a grip on the game, poor passing and spent most of the game chasing shadows.

King - 5 - Anonymous, put his foot in a few times then went missing, assume he enjoyed his walk around Coventry.

Dyer - 7 - Lively, unlucky with a shot just clearing the crossbar in the first half, positive runs.

Gallagher - 5.5 - Unlucky with an effort against the bar, needs role clearly defined by NP.

Fryatt - 5 - Didnt get into the game, seemed to be bullied by Wright and Ward and didnt have a response.

Kermogant - 6 - Still too early to know whether he will have a role to play but thought he did reasonably well.

Howard - 7.5 - Huge contribution every time we got in their half.

DJ - 6 - Did OK, looked hungry, should have done better with first touch into side netting, and the chance he had.

Waghorn - 8 - NP sign this kid up, showed us why Sunderland rate him so highly, rooney-esque finishing to live long in the memory.

[Guest ttfn]

You cook your own goose really.

a) We all know where we are in the League but both Pearson, myself and a good many other fans on here also recognise that we've dropped points unnecessary and not always done ourselves justice. The manager has made that official.

b) Why should we have a back up with limitations built in rather than developing talented young players who do not have such set limitations? The youngsters are fit, fast and likely to keep on improving. With Neilson, from what the Scottish fans have said what you see is what you get.

Pearson is striving for perfection, but he clearly feels, seeing these players EVERY DAY, that our best chance this season is not having rookies like O'Neill and Gradel in the side.

[davieG]

Pearson is striving for perfection, but he clearly feels, seeing these players EVERY DAY, that our best chance this season is not having rookies like O'Neill and Gradel in the side.

I doubt whether their status as 'rookies' has anything to do with Max's non-appearance.

He's older (Nov 87) than Hobbs (Aug 88), King (Oct 88), Waghorn (Jan 90), McGivern (Jan 90) and a few months younger than N'Gussan (Aug 87) has been allocated the No 7 shirt and having played virtually a full season in League 1 with Bournemouth and 19 first team appearances with LCFC being substantially more experienced than Waghorn and McGivern.

[MPH]

You cook your own goose really.

a) We all know where we are in the League but both Pearson, myself and a good many other fans on here also recognise that we've dropped points unnecessary and not always done ourselves justice. The manager has made that official.

b) Why should we have a back up with limitations built in rather than developing talented young players who do not have such set limitations? The youngsters are fit, fast and likely to keep on improving. With Neilson, from what the Scottish fans have said what you see is what you get.

and just to point out your total conversion over to spooness, you mentioned about not throwing youngster in, but blending them in gradually..

aaaand i wonder what competition famous for youngsters playing in, a certain young RB has been played in so far?

yeah, our first few games in a new division... absolutely the best place to be trying youngsters...

[skinnydipper]

You cook your own goose really.

a) We all know where we are in the League but both Pearson, myself and a good many other fans on here also recognise that we've dropped points unnecessary and not always done ourselves justice. The manager has made that official.

b) Why should we have a back up with limitations built in rather than developing talented young players who do not have such set limitations? The youngsters are fit, fast and likely to keep on improving. With Neilson, from what the Scottish fans have said what you see is what you get.

I actually agree with you about O'Neill as from the little I've seen of him I was quite impressed and neither Morrison or Neilsson strike me as a long term fix for right back

But as for dropping points unnecessarily and not always doing ourselves justice - not a great persuader for your argument. We're hardly unique in those respects are we?