I watched all of the reserve game last night and was interested how MON stood back and ran the show, did he give us some clues for Sunday. On 60 minutes the camera was focused on MON, he said something to his assistant who disappeared and seconds later Gardner and Vaughan came off. Had he seen enough, a 60 minute work out then ready for Sunday? Next off came Bramble, was that a sign that Bramble will be back or a sign that he had a poor game IMO. Then we come to young Noble, I have heard a lot about him but this was my first 90 minute viewing and, does very little during a game part from being in the right place and scoring goals, now who does that remind me of? Put it another way think of all the top goal scores you know and think how many do little but have that luck of being in the right place. Can Noble cut it in the premier league, only one way to find out. I just hope and pray we are not setting ourselves up for a massive fall on Sunday with basally the same team giving the same performance. Everything says this time will be different, but, so many false dawns over so many years kind of leaves me with that fear and doubt, right at the back of my mind. Do you have it, bet you do.
Bloody hell Syd. You forgot to mention Noble got four goals!! "The striker's quadruple takes his tally to 11 for the season in just five games, including three hat-tricks in his last four outings." That's one hell of a strike rate at any level of Football. It must have been one hell of a game.
The thing that impressed me with Noble was no spectacular goal, he is just in the right place time afte time after time, you cant teach that. A certain G Linaker comes to mind
Agree with what you say syd and, Noble is exactly what we are missing at the minute a poacher type player who can get his foot or whatever on the end of a cross, miss kick or bad clearance and stick it away. We'll only know if he is given a try out, as for Bramble I think we may have seen the last of him.
Never seen Noble play yet, but I am getting very excited about this lad. I'm sure O'neill will know exactly how to handle him as well. I'm really looking forward to Sunday.
The finest goalscorer I've seen was one Brian Clough and if young Noble is half as good as what "Ole Big Ed" was then that will certainly do for me. I just hope MON gives the lad more than a couple of minutes so he has time to show people what he's about.
Think the bigest clue there is.. Gardner and Vaughan coming of early...MoN saw enough to realise they are good enough.
Mclean sounded good from the report. He couldnt have done himself any harm. Westwood Bardo, O'shea, Brown, Ricco Larsson, Vaughan, Gardner, Mclean Sess Ji With Noble to play 30 minutes in the second half?
Ryan is the real deal lads. Iam not kidding. If he does get a chance in the first team Sunday, I'll guarantee you all now that in 12 months time, the managers phone will be red hot from a dozen interested clubs. He is a goal scorer. Simple as that and whilst it would be total folly to say he is a direct replacement for a proven top striker like Bent just yet, he is already a far better all round footballer imo.
McLean ain't ready in my opinion. I was there for the first 60mins and although he does show moments of skill, he does an Elmo pretty often and cuts back onto his wrong foot rather than take somebody on. I thought Gardner looked decent as did Noble, Only caught his first goal mind. It was bloody freezing.
Me and you have been banging this drum for quite some time haven't we Cest... Let's hope we finally have a gaffer willing to take the plunge on this lad - he's confident to the power of infinity (off the pitch as well as on!!!) He's like Bent at the moment IMO - He's a scorer - doesn't need to do anything else but score - hope we don't play dans formation as this has proved to fail this season - Sessegnon is not a "second striker" and O'Neill (historically) doesn't do the "one up top" - we'll see
I'm happy to see McLean given a game, he can't do worse than any of the players who have featured in most of the games and he'll be full of confidence, something lacking from a senior player at the moment. Don't see what Ji has done to deserve a place over Noble as well to be honest. I'd chuck Noble in at the deep end and get his boots muddy.
Goalkeepers and strikers don't need to be good players. if the goalie keeps everything out and the striker puts everything in, you take the points. That's what matters.
