Schneiderlin

[Saint Without a Halo]

He is young technically excellent and learning his trade! We need him!

[Hamilton Saint]

He reminds me of Anders S. Seldom seems to show his true potential. And never scores.

 

And his habit of taking needless yellow cards is irritating.

[Window Cleaner]

He reminds me of Anders S. Never seems to show his true potential.

 

And his habit of taking needless yellow cards is irritating.

 

all central midfielders get cards, so do defenders. Deano had 5 after about 10 games, Fonte now has 5 as does Morgan.

Tackling is a risky business, especially when you have to take one for the team to recover someone else's mistakes.

When Puncheon was playing in CM at MK Dons he got loads, something like 7 yellows and a red in the first half of the season, out of CM he got hardly any.When you tackle hard and contest a lot of ball cards necessarily follow,a lot of refs don't really know what they're doing in our league.

[VectisSaint]

Morgan is the same age as Bale and Walcott b1989- make of that what you will but I doubt the other two would struggle in the third division!

But they would probably struggle playing CM, especially in the defensive MF role. Bale might be good enough now as he has the physique and mental toughness, but Walcott no way, can't tackle for toffee. You can't compare wide players like Walcott and Bale with CMs like Morgan. Completely different type of player, and CMs need a completely different physique.

[alpine_saint]

He is a terrific player. He has Scholes-like abilities in terms of technique on the ball. He's still learning the game and we should do everything in our powers to keep him at the club. A few poor games does not make him a poor player. Hopefully five year deals have been put under his nose.

 

Sorry, comparing him to Scholes is simply ridiculous.

[Cabrone]

The guy is an average lg 1 midfielder, good at square balls in areas that cause no damage and makes the odd useful tackle. He doesn't make defence splitting passes because he can't - if he could he would.

 

Yes folks, this emperor really has no clothes.

 

He really reminds me of Anders Svensson, people always going on about him even though he did next to nothing (can't remember a host of clubs offering him contracts when he left us - they knew he was very mediocre).

 

I bet you if Chaplow made 10 sublime defence splitting passes in a game and Schneiderlin made just 1, people would be banging on about how brilliant Schneiderlin was whilst completely ignoring Chaplow.

[Window Cleaner]

He is a terrific player. He has Scholes-like abilities in terms of technique on the ball. He's still learning the game and we should do everything in our powers to keep him at the club. A few poor games does not make him a poor player. Hopefully five year deals have been put under his nose.

 

He wants away, lb told us so and I've heard it from inside the FFF (mind you from a much removed from much removed source)

Strange that he has played 0 cup games isn't it.

[VectisSaint]

He might be just 21, but the really good players do the business at that age.

Not in CM they don't, very few CMs are near the finished article at 21+3 weeks. For example Scholes only broke into Manure team regularly when he was 21. Not comparing Spiderman and Scholes directly, but different positions demand different types of player, and different qualities. Experience and physique are important in the role that he is asked to play.

[Smirking_Saint]

Sorry, comparing him to Scholes is simply ridiculous.

 

And there it is as predicted.....

 

With respect though Alps, you can't really pass judgement on the boy unless you watch him play regularly.

 

The guy is an average lg 1 midfielder, good at square balls in areas that cause no damage and makes the odd useful tackle. He doesn't make defence splitting passes because he can't - if he could he would.

 

Yes folks, this emperor really has no clothes.

 

He really reminds me of Anders Svensson, people always going on about him even though he did next to nothing (can't remember a host of clubs offering him contracts when he left us - they knew he was very mediocre).

 

I bet you if Chaplow made 10 sublime defence splitting passes in a game and Schneiderlin made just 1, people would be banging on about how brilliant Schneiderlin was whilst completely ignoring Chaplow.

 

Completely and utterly wide of the mark, and TBF how does anyone bar Anders and his agent know how many contracts he was offered ??

[Andy_Porter]

We have to do everything within powers to keep him at the club.

 

I also think it's about time we gave him some responsibilty and told him to sit infront of the defence and be our defensive midfielder, then play Hammond or Chaplow ahead of him.

 

Fantastic player, as good with the ball at his feet as anyone we've had at the club for a long time.

[Andy_Porter]

The guy is an average lg 1 midfielder, good at square balls in areas that cause no damage and makes the odd useful tackle. He doesn't make defence splitting passes because he can't - if he could he would.

 

Yes folks, this emperor really has no clothes.

 

He really reminds me of Anders Svensson, people always going on about him even though he did next to nothing (can't remember a host of clubs offering him contracts when he left us - they knew he was very mediocre).

 

I bet you if Chaplow made 10 sublime defence splitting passes in a game and Schneiderlin made just 1, people would be banging on about how brilliant Schneiderlin was whilst completely ignoring Chaplow.

 

Same Anders Svensson who played 100+ times for Sweden.....

 

That last sentance is ridiculously wrong, actually quite funny.

[Andy_Porter]

I wonder if pardew would have played morgan as much last season IF we had chaplow then..?

 

Of course he wouldn't.

 

Thinking back someone like Chaplow probably would have been the signing that could have made the difference last season.

 

We really missed Scheniderlin and Hammond when they where injured/suspended. As much as James and Wotton tried they couldn't give the same sort of performances the first choice pair where putting in every week.

 

Shame.

[Deppo]

Sorry, comparing him to Scholes is simply ridiculous.

 

There you go again, 'painting over the Banksy'.

[benjii]

He's alright but he really is nothing special. Why people make out he's some sort of technical genius, I have no idea.

[Turkish]

A very poor player akin to the schit anders svensson.

 

I can only assume that this is a wind up or you know absolutely nothing about football. You dont win over 100 caps in a decent national side, by being a vey poor player, neither do you become a French U21 international.

[Cabrone]

Same Anders Svensson who played 100+ times for Sweden.....

 

That last sentance is ridiculously wrong, actually quite funny.

 

Sorry, Anders was ordinary (except that Spurs(h) game in the FA cup 3rd round when he was superb).

 

Didn't he go back to Sweden? Was it Gothenburg? I'd have thought he'd have been snapped up by Man U\Barcelona\Milan\Real Madrid going by some of the gushing praise he got on here.

 

Back to Morgan......I can remember someone on here a few months ago describing his performance in the previous game as (and I quote) 'world class'. That gave a me a right good laugh and just about sums the delirious reaction he seems to engender on here.

 

Looking at his stats again:

 

Appearances as starting in the lineup - 72

Goals - 1

Assists - 3

Shots on - 21

Shots off - 38

Hit woodwork - 1

Fouls - 121

Yellow cards - 16

Red - 1

 

= Very average.

 

Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike him - he's an OK league 1 midfielder but that really is it.

 

I guess you'll have your opinion and I'll have mine.

 

It really doesn't amount to a hill of beans as I'm sure NA wouldn't listen to either of us anyway .

[Turkish]

Morgan is the same age as Bale and Walcott b1989- make of that what you will but I doubt the other two would struggle in the third division!

 

totally different players, you cant really compare. Their game is built around pace, of course they'd rip all L1 full back to pieces, they are both international players FFS! Only a fool cannot see he isn't a good player, but the way we play and the nature of league one means we wont get the best out of him. Unfortunately the best players dont always make the best team.

Edited 27 November, 2010 by Turkish

[Turkish]

Sorry, Anders was ordinary (except that Spurs(h) game in the FA cup 3rd round when he was superb).

 

Didn't he go back to Sweden? Was it Gothenburg? I'd have thought he'd have been snapped up by Man U\Barcelona\Milan\Real Madrid going by some of the gushing praise he got on here.

 

Back to Morgan......I can remember someone on here a few months ago describing his performance in the previous game as (and I quote) 'world class'. That gave a me a right good laugh and just about sums the delirious reaction he seems to engender on here.

 

Looking at his stats again:

 

Appearances as starting in the lineup - 72

Goals - 1

Assists - 3

Shots on - 21

Shots off - 38

Hit woodwork - 1

Fouls - 121

Yellow cards - 16

Red - 1

 

= Very average.

 

Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike him - he's an OK league 1 midfielder but that really is it.

 

I guess you'll have your opinion and I'll have mine.

 

It really doesn't amount to a hill of beans as I'm sure NA wouldn't listen to either of us anyway .

 

Probably the same person who said Lambert should play for England, Saints would beat England and Alex Chamberlain is better than Walcott was at the same age.

[Window Cleaner]

Probably the same person who said Lambert should play for England, Saints would beat England and Alex Chamberlain is better than Walcott was at the same age.

 

Anders Svensson was totally misunderstood by Strachan as was TinMan.

[PaulGilchrist_76]

Technically gifted, but you really have to ask yourself what he contributes. His passing skills are goog, but over all the time he has been with us, have produced next to nothing in goals or assists. Defensively he does not bust a gut to get the right side to be of use and will cost goals because of this. Has improved his tackling but can't let his emotions get him carried away into the hand bags.

 

He's one of those players who shows plenty of promise, never really delivers and you are eternally waiting for him to make the break through.

 

Spot on!

[Turkish]

Anders Svensson was totally misunderstood by Strachan as was TinMan.

 

Agree, but what has that got to do with someone saying Morgans performance at league one was "world class"?

[Window Cleaner]

Agree, but what has that got to do with someone saying Morgans performance at league one was "world class"?

 

nothing probably

[up and away]

Originally Posted by Thedelldays

I wonder if pardew would have played morgan as much last season IF we had chaplow then..?

Of course he wouldn't.

 

Thinking back someone like Chaplow probably would have been the signing that could have made the difference last season.

 

We really missed Scheniderlin and Hammond when they where injured/suspended. As much as James and Wotton tried they couldn't give the same sort of performances the first choice pair where putting in every week.

 

Shame.

 

Just how could he have played someone he would never have brought in. He even had the opportunity of bringing back Gillett from Doncaster, but allowed him an extension up to sometime in the January window.

 

This midfield position was the biggest problem we had all season and it never even got addressed in the closed season. I really cannot understand why Pardew just let that go on and on.

[Steperki]

I agree with the OP. I think he is the sort of player who would be much more suited to playing in a higher standard where the movement of those in front of him is better.

 

With respect to the Anders comparison, I've always thought he has the same sort of style to Xabi Alonso (obviously not in the same league as yet). The sort of player who keeps the team passing, retains possession but tends to sit too deep to regularly get on the score sheet. One way or another, I believe that we will miss him if he leaves, like when Liverpool sold Alonso. But whether with us or someone else I do think he will end up playing in a top division somewhere.

[Julian H. Cope]

I've got a poster of him in my van.

[doddisalegend]

There are only three people in my humble opinion that would take us through to the prem and Morgan is one of them. I fear that finesse is not a word in Adkins vocablary and he will encourage cloggers to get him out of this league and keep his job. For a young player, I like the originator of this thread, have enjoyed Morgans vision ,skill and undoubted talent and we will be the poorer if he is sidelined until his spirit is crushed and he goes.

 

When Nigel came in everyone was saying that his style of football would be a quick passing game, keeping it on the deck and passing our way through teams. Morgan should thrive in that sort of team style shouldn't he?

[derry]

Schneiderlin plays in his comfort zone and often just unloads the ball to the nearest player. He plays a lot of valueless passes that do nothing for the momentum of a move. Often a move that is developing crisply with movement from players starting to drive forward is stopped in it's tracks by Schneiderlin playing a silly little sideways possession pass or even turning away and playing a backwards pass. Okay we still have the ball but the momentum is stopped and the often inevitable result is the ball back to a defender thence to Davis and a big punt forward.

 

Does he have talent? yes, does he use it properly? no. He may get forward but never drives forward, he lacks a cutting edge because of playing comfortably. He shows no determination or even good decision making if forward again opting for the easy pass that allows defenders time to continue consolidation. When he is forward he has to pick the killer pass which he is capable of doing but chooses not to often just unloading the ball. FFS Gobern just trying to get the measure of the game had the ball in the net twice yesterday.

 

Will he ever be any good at the top level? IMO unlikely. Is he ever going to be as good as the likes of Sammi Nasri? again unlikely, because he lacks their intensity, pace and cutting edge. I would like to see the club try and get him to add a cutting edge, if that is not possible his ball playing ability is going to waste because of the negative comfort zone he plays in.

[derry]

Of course he wouldn't.

 

Thinking back someone like Chaplow probably would have been the signing that could have made the difference last season.

 

We really missed Scheniderlin and Hammond when they where injured/suspended. As much as James and Wotton tried they couldn't give the same sort of performances the first choice pair where putting in every week.

 

Shame.

 

With due respect that is more a reflection on two players not up to the mark than the ability of Hammond or Schneiderlin.

[doddisalegend]

Schneiderlin plays in his comfort zone and often just unloads the ball to the nearest player. He plays a lot of valueless passes that do nothing for the momentum of a move. Often a move that is developing crisply with movement from players starting to drive forward is stopped in it's tracks by Schneiderlin playing a silly little sideways possession pass or even turning away and playing a backwards pass. Okay we still have the ball but the momentum is stopped and the often inevitable result is the ball back to a defender thence to Davis and a big punt forward.

 

Does he have talent? yes, does he use it properly? no. He may get forward but never drives forward, he lacks a cutting edge because of playing comfortably. He shows no determination or even good decision making if forward again opting for the easy pass that allows defenders time to continue consolidation. When he is forward he has to pick the killer pass which he is capable of doing but chooses not to often just unloading the ball. FFS Gobern just trying to get the measure of the game had the ball in the net twice yesterday.

 

Will he ever be any good at the top level? IMO unlikely. Is he ever going to be as good as the likes of Sammi Nasri? again unlikely, because he lacks their intensity, pace and cutting edge. I would like to see the club try and get him to add a cutting edge, if that is not possible his ball playing ability is going to waste because of the negative comfort zone he plays in.

 

ummm they played like that for most of yesterdays match and Morgan wasn't even playing thats how the Nigel wants them to play. It must be becuase thats how we play a lot now (Morgan or no Morgan). Yesterday in the second half the players where pressing forward then passing all the way back to Bart who would punt it up to Oxo to win it in the air for goodness sake.

[benjii]

Schneiderlin plays in his comfort zone and often just unloads the ball to the nearest player. He plays a lot of valueless passes that do nothing for the momentum of a move. Often a move that is developing crisply with movement from players starting to drive forward is stopped in it's tracks by Schneiderlin playing a silly little sideways possession pass or even turning away and playing a backwards pass. Okay we still have the ball but the momentum is stopped and the often inevitable result is the ball back to a defender thence to Davis and a big punt forward.

 

Does he have talent? yes, does he use it properly? no. He may get forward but never drives forward, he lacks a cutting edge because of playing comfortably. He shows no determination or even good decision making if forward again opting for the easy pass that allows defenders time to continue consolidation. When he is forward he has to pick the killer pass which he is capable of doing but chooses not to often just unloading the ball. FFS Gobern just trying to get the measure of the game had the ball in the net twice yesterday.

 

Will he ever be any good at the top level? IMO unlikely. Is he ever going to be as good as the likes of Sammi Nasri? again unlikely, because he lacks their intensity, pace and cutting edge. I would like to see the club try and get him to add a cutting edge, if that is not possible his ball playing ability is going to waste because of the negative comfort zone he plays in.

 

Exactly right.

[DrunkenSaint]

I think ppl should stop saying he's not scored enough, he's a defensive midfielder which he is captain of the under 21's french team. NA was the one who told him to shoot more hense the reason for him in shooting alot more now but thats not his game, AP let him play his type of game last season and he was great for us. why do ppl say they would rather have chappers instead of morgan? has anyone considered Hammond being our weaklink? Chappers in the middle tackling and getting forward with morgan behind him doing the creative stuff would be our best bet. But i would change formation and use the 4-5-1 since RL is useless atm then we can have hammond/morgan and chappers all in the middle.

[doddisalegend]

I think ppl should stop saying he's not scored enough, he's a defensive midfielder which he is captain of the under 21's french team. NA was the one who told him to shoot more hense the reason for him in shooting alot more now but thats not his game, AP let him play his type of game last season and he was great for us. why do ppl say they would rather have chappers instead of morgan? has anyone considered Hammond being our weaklink? Chappers in the middle tackling and getting forward with morgan behind him doing the creative stuff would be our best bet. But i would change formation and use the 4-5-1 since RL is useless atm then we can have hammond/morgan and chappers all in the middle.

 

Didn't we try that against Carlisle didn't work very well.

[Window Cleaner]

I think ppl should stop saying he's not scored enough, he's a defensive midfielder which he is captain of the under 21's french team. NA was the one who told him to shoot more hense the reason for him in shooting alot more now but thats not his game, AP let him play his type of game last season and he was great for us. why do ppl say they would rather have chappers instead of morgan? has anyone considered Hammond being our weaklink? Chappers in the middle tackling and getting forward with morgan behind him doing the creative stuff would be our best bet. But i would change formation and use the 4-5-1 since RL is useless atm then we can have hammond/morgan and chappers all in the middle.

 

Yann M'Vila who plays the same role for France's full side has never scored in a League Game or in fact any game at club level, probably played 50 or 60 times at Rennes.Deschamps scored 2 or 3 times in 400 odd games. It's not the player that's wrong it's the role he's been given of late.Still he probably should be more flexible I guess.

[Stu Man Do]

Does anyone else think the fact that at the time he had "rejected chelsea,arsenal" etc to sign and play for us has given some people and unrealistic view on his actual worth.

 

Undoubtably the boy could turn out to be something good but seems to me he generally lacks direction in his game play. He is neither an attacking mid in that he doesn't really get ahead of the game or provide the superb range of passing he managed to do in some meaningless pre-season friendlies e.g West ham He, to my mind at least is also not a good defensive midfielder, he marks space, he bottles tackles and lacks the required level of up and at them which we all seem to love in the English game.

 

At present I'd far prefer chaplow in there. I think he needs to be given a more settled role in the team so he doesnt run around making a hash of both sides of his game.

[benjii]

Does anyone else think the fact that at the time he had "rejected chelsea,arsenal" etc to sign and play for us has given some people and unrealistic view on his actual worth.

 

Yes, almost certainly.

[doddisalegend]

Does anyone else think the fact that at the time he had "rejected chelsea,arsenal" etc to sign and play for us has given some people and unrealistic view on his actual worth.

 

Undoubtably the boy could turn out to be something good but seems to me he generally lacks direction in his game play. He is neither an attacking mid in that he doesn't really get ahead of the game or provide the superb range of passing he managed to do in some meaningless pre-season friendlies e.g West ham He, to my mind at least is also not a good defensive midfielder, he marks space, he bottles tackles and lacks the required level of up and at them which we all seem to love in the English game.

 

At present I'd far prefer chaplow in there. I think he needs to be given a more settled role in the team so he doesnt run around making a hash of both sides of his game.

 

Quite. Dovers striker who scored twice yesterday is apparently an Arsenal reject bet no one would expect anything from him if we signed him up though. Surely it was only the clubs PR machine that said this though did Arsenal every admit to wanting to sign Morgan?

[benjii]

Quite. Dovers striker who scored twice yesterday is apparently an Arsenal reject bet no one would expect anything from him if we signed him up though. Surely it was only the clubs PR machine that said this though did Arsenal every admit to wanting to sign Morgan?

 

The Arsenal thing never made any sense at all. We were skint at the time and in all sorts of turmoil. If Arsenal had been interested he would've joined Arsenal and been loaned out.

[doddisalegend]

The Arsenal thing never made any sense at all. We were skint at the time and in all sorts of turmoil. If Arsenal had been interested he would've joined Arsenal and been loaned out.

 

Yeah I think it was just club PR to make the fans feel good.

[saint1977]

Morgan has decent ability but in my opinion - and lots of people will disagree with this - he only controls games for small cameos whereas Chaplow has already bossed a number of games since arriving. Hammond looks a far better player alongside Chaplow as well. I've moved to Devon recently and caught a couple of Exeter games and Ryan Harley is the player we want. Contract is up in May so we'll have competition but with him and Lallana in he same team, we'd rip opponents to shreds, particularly with a couple of decent strikers up top as well. He also outplayed Morgan comprehensively at SMS last Boxing Day and that was with 10 men as well.

 

Morgan is a reasonable player and could thrive elsewhere but we have to focus on automatic promotion and players like Ryan Harley will serve us better in that regard. Ditto with Rickie, if he doesn't pick up form over Dec it's better to bring in Fryatt and maybe Le Fondre to ensure promotion because we over-rely on Barnard.

[doddisalegend]

Morgan has decent ability but in my opinion - and lots of people will disagree with this - he only controls games for small cameos whereas Chaplow has already bossed a number of games since arriving. Hammond looks a far better player alongside Chaplow as well. I've moved to Devon recently and caught a couple of Exeter games and Ryan Harley is the player we want. Contract is up in May so we'll have competition but with him and Lallana in he same team, we'd rip opponents to shreds, particularly with a couple of decent strikers up top as well. He also outplayed Morgan comprehensively at SMS last Boxing Day and that was with 10 men as well.

 

Morgan is a reasonable player and could thrive elsewhere but we have to focus on automatic promotion and players like Ryan Harley will serve us better in that regard. Ditto with Rickie, if he doesn't pick up form over Dec it's better to bring in Fryatt and maybe Le Fondre to ensure promotion because we over-rely on Barnard.

 

I imagine he'd be more of a replacement for Adam than having them in the same team. No way can I see us hanging on to Adam after this season he's to good for us and he must know it after games like yesterday.

[Charlie Wayman]

Is it a coincidence that we seem to win/score more without him, We were relegated when he played in almost every game of the season.

 

He looks the part i.e easy on the eye but is his sideways/backward passing any use to us.

 

Why oh why will he always shoot from 20+ yds and miss time after time, 2 goals in almost 3yrs.

 

He frustrates me and I would rather have Chaplow over him any day.

 

Thats my personal opinion.

 

 

Well i don't agree with you and IMHO your views are grossly unfair. You don't get to play for France U21 without prodigious gifts. Maybe it would be more balanced had you suggested that crap kick-and-rush, up-and-under, long ball, head it anywhere, third division crap is far too basic for the sort of imaginative football he will have been schooled on.

 

If Saints cannot utilise his obvious gifts as promotion pretenders then they are nowhere near ready enough to step up to the plate.

 

Only Saints would cast aside one of its most valuable footballing assets; let's be honest he will go in January 'cos he must be effed off by now.

 

As for fans against Schneiderlin, "there are none so blind that have no wish to see!"

[Trader]

Sorry, but I think he's pants.

 

Emperor's new clothes somebody said - spot on.

 

No doubt someone will come on here telling me I know nothing about football, but its only my opinion - he's just another sideways midfield merchant a la Ray Wilkins.

 

Funny how no big club has come in with a big money offer if he's such a genius - must be the subtelty.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Schneiderlin plays in his comfort zone and often just unloads the ball to the nearest player. He plays a lot of valueless passes that do nothing for the momentum of a move. Often a move that is developing crisply with movement from players starting to drive forward is stopped in it's tracks by Schneiderlin playing a silly little sideways possession pass or even turning away and playing a backwards pass. Okay we still have the ball but the momentum is stopped and the often inevitable result is the ball back to a defender thence to Davis and a big punt forward.

 

Does he have talent? yes, does he use it properly? no. He may get forward but never drives forward, he lacks a cutting edge because of playing comfortably. He shows no determination or even good decision making if forward again opting for the easy pass that allows defenders time to continue consolidation. When he is forward he has to pick the killer pass which he is capable of doing but chooses not to often just unloading the ball. FFS Gobern just trying to get the measure of the game had the ball in the net twice yesterday.

 

Will he ever be any good at the top level? IMO unlikely. Is he ever going to be as good as the likes of Sammi Nasri? again unlikely, because he lacks their intensity, pace and cutting edge. I would like to see the club try and get him to add a cutting edge, if that is not possible his ball playing ability is going to waste because of the negative comfort zone he plays in.

 

This. And also that he does not compliment Hammond. Compare him to Chaplow and I would take Chaplow over Schneiderlin everytime.

[AussieDog]

Sorry, but I think he's pants.

 

Emperor's new clothes somebody said - spot on.

 

No doubt someone will come on here telling me I know nothing about football, but its only my opinion - he's just another sideways midfield merchant a la Ray Wilkins.

 

Funny how no big club has come in with a big money offer if he's such a genius - must be the subtelty.

 

 

 

How do you know we haven't had offers from "bigger" clubs? We've been told we're not a selling club, so why should we sell him (or even publicise the fact)

[brmbrm]

Looking at his stats again:

 

Appearances as starting in the lineup - 72

Goals - 1

Assists - 3

Shots on - 21

Shots off - 38

Hit woodwork - 1

Fouls - 121

Yellow cards - 16

Red - 1

 

= Very average.

 

 

I agree, plus 2 stats are missing:

- pass completion rate

- tackles won

 

I think he's OK, but that's about it. He seems to make showy, low percentage and low upside passes too much: its fine if you complete 25% of your passes if those 25% have vision, split the defense and put someone through, but not if its a cross-field ball that puts you back where you were.

 

Oh well, you pays yer money, you takes yer choice.

[hughieslastminutegoal]

I think ppl should stop saying he's not scored enough, he's a defensive midfielder which he is captain of the under 21's french team. NA was the one who told him to shoot more hense the reason for him in shooting alot more now but thats not his game, AP let him play his type of game last season and he was great for us. why do ppl say they would rather have chappers instead of morgan? has anyone considered Hammond being our weaklink? Chappers in the middle tackling and getting forward with morgan behind him doing the creative stuff would be our best bet. But i would change formation and use the 4-5-1 since RL is useless atm then we can have hammond/morgan and chappers all in the middle.

The bold bit is exactly the point - and I'd agree with you if only he could add the creative part.

[hughieslastminutegoal]

Not in CM they don't, very few CMs are near the finished article at 21+3 weeks. For example Scholes only broke into Manure team regularly when he was 21. Not comparing Spiderman and Scholes directly, but different positions demand different types of player, and different qualities. Experience and physique are important in the role that he is asked to play.

Even if you are right, how long do we wait until he becomes really effective? And more to the point, if we put him on the back-burner, will he wait?

Horses for courses - he's not what we need right now, and NC will be mightily unhappy if we fail again this season.

 

Also I don't accept your point that CM somehow needs to be physically more developed - I remember young forwards who had to compete physically agains Norman Hunter and his ilk, and young defenders who had to do the same against battering ram centre-forwards. If they are good enough they are old enough. He doesn't do what's required in this division, so he's a luxury we can't afford.

Edited 29 November, 2010 by hughieslastminutegoal

[Trader]

How do you know we haven't had offers from "bigger" clubs? We've been told we're not a selling club, so why should we sell him (or even publicise the fact)

 

He was here before the Liebherrs arrived, and we would have sold him like a shot had we had even a reasonable offer.

 

He was meant to be an Arsenal player-in-waiting when he first came here - I don't notice Wenger showing any interest now.

 

Bet he's interested in Chamberlain though.

[Chez]

Sorry, but I think he's pants.

 

Emperor's new clothes somebody said - spot on.

 

No doubt someone will come on here telling me I know nothing about football, but its only my opinion - he's just another sideways midfield merchant a la Ray Wilkins.

 

Funny how no big club has come in with a big money offer if he's such a genius - must be the subtelty.

 

You certainly are entitled to your opinion, but its a strange analogy seeing as Wilkins played for Chelsea, Man United, AC Milan and England. No big offer for Lallana either by the way, is he pants?

[West End Saint]

He is young technically excellent and learning his trade! We need him!

 

I agree he has the qualities to be a top player great touch and control he & Lallana are technically our best players he is still learning & will have been brought up playing a slower game in France.

 

At the moment his positional sense isnt good enough he can go missing and be caught out of position he also neede shaking up he was to sure of his place Chaplow makes him look a better player and he can learn a lot from him.

 

There is no doubt he is a proper player and we will do well to hang on to him he has time on his side and could go on to be a very important player for us.