Well I have only watched 20 mins of the under 23's and I have seen enough to think Gelhardt is worth a go at 10 instead of Roberts.
You’ve watched more onF gelhardt than me, then emu but the snippets I see of him... he looks like a class act thing with the 23s is it’s boys football, the step up to men’s football is huge from a pace and physicality perspective - but looking forward to finding out if he’s ready to make the step up.
He likes to drop deep. Could easily play Pablo role. He's got great energy, picks up intelligent positions between the defence and midfield. Likes to turn and run at people and always looks to pass it forward. Physically he looks like a young Rooney (just not quite at that quality level though). The lad never stopped chasing and harassing defenders and the goalkeeper.
Great player is young Joe and could play in the 1st team this season without doubt. Sam Greenwood played better today and now has a hat-trick to his name and I suspect he and Gelhardt will be trading goals all season. Was hoping to see Jimmy Summerville today but Jacko decided not to bring him on. We play Boro on Friday so could see him then
Sunderland are now praising Greenwood as one of their own and saying the best 2 players on the park were Sunderland players, Greenwood and Diamond. We forget that Greenwood left Sunderland for Arsenal ....
For large chunks of last season Pablo was average, he shone towards the end of the season but that’s just my opinion and forums are just a place to share and discuss them, I don’t expect everyone to share the same thought. I honestly believe he is too injury prone and too old to ever be a force for us again. He is just going to be constantly fighting for fitness, we can’t afford to have a 20 minute player on the bench. When do you bring him on, when we’re losing to the big guns? He hasn’t got what it takes to be a PL player, I just don’t see it. If you have a bit of flair and creativity you can look world class in the Championship but if we have players like Rodrigo and De Paul or Cuisance or whoever it is going to be then even off the bench, he isn’t going to be getting a chance. I hope you’re wrong on this one because if we are winning then the likes of Alioski and Shackleton are brought on to shore things up, you’re saying bring him on as an impact sub, so you mean when we need a goal or are behind against a lowly team. Also why play him, our aim this season is to remain in the PL, to bring along some of the younger talent, to get the new signings up to speed. To prepare a team to compete more next season, Pablo has had his time, put him out to pasture now
And exactly my previous point, develop these kind of players off the bench, not Pablo for 20 minutes here and there. We’ll be past 40 points before the old guy is fit enough to play again
