It seems that everyone has had a decent 'run-out' so far but since the Hertha Berlin game he hasn't featured (even Francomb featured v MK Duds). Is he injured or just not part of CH's future plans?
He is a good prospect but I feel he will never really be premier standard. Maybe another season on loan in the champ will change this... If he gets regular games. Thing is we have Fox, Johnson, Hoolahan, Howson, Butterfield etc who are all ahead of him. Plus id like to think we will bring in a DM replacement for Crofts?
hes here hes there hes every ****ing where Korey Smith was great in L1 and a few CCC games, hopefully get himself a move to get his career moving
What is the point in sending him out on loan - he will be out of contract when he comes back and can walk away for nothing. He is not up to standard and will never get a game in front of all the midfielders we have. Sell him now for whatever we can get for him and the same goes for Chris Martin and Tom Adeyemi.
I always thought he had the potential to be a cracking right-back, wonder if we've ever tried working on it on the training ground?
Agree with that, think he has good energy and can put a tackle in when he wants to which would definitely suit that position.
Sorry Munky - I don't usually disagree with you but do we really need another RB with Whittaker, Martin and Francomb especially as Elliott Bennett can play wing back if we play a central 3 and also bearing in mind the clamour for Naughton to be signed.
Have to say 1950canary I think Francomb will probably be loaned out again, he was good against MK and if Ayala has been loaned out I would probably see him also loaned out, as well as that I don't like idea of Bennett playing right back often because he is so effective on the right wing. It would be a good idea because if Martin had to cover at centreback, Bennett played on the right wing. Than we would only have Whittaker.
Using your arguement - Why would we want to loan out a youngish specialist right back and at the same time try and convert a youngish surplus to requirements midfielder to provide cover for Whittaker at right back. My views on Russell Martin are quite simple - he is a right back who can play CB IN AN EMERGENCY and as Whittaker is injured he will start the season in that position. I also never suggested that Bennett was a right back - I said he could play wing back IF we played a back 3. I also cannot understand this continual idea of loaning out especially when players are nearing the end of their contracts. By all means loan out 18 year olds to lower league sides to get experience or slightly older players to Premiership or top Championship sides whilst you are waiting for a place to open up in your own squad but Smith, Adeyemi, Francomb and Chris Martin do not fit into either category. If they are not good enough to push for a place in our squad at 21 years of age they are not going to justify a new contract following another year on loan at Barnet, Oldham, Bradford etc. Either put them in the squad or let them go and try and get a few bob for them now rather than pay part of their wages to play in a lower league and then walk away on a free.
I agree about the loan thing but I think Francomb is slightly behind on Korey Smith. I think a loan spell will help him at this stage. Korey Smith has been a part of the team already and is probably more ready for first team and can put up much more of a challenge, similar to Ayala, who I don't know if you've seen I am very against him going out on loan. Personally I think Russell Martin is better at centre back. Although it's pretty evident that he will be at rightback after where he has played this pre season.
I was also against Ayala going out on loan and generally am against the current use of the loan system. I can understand Arsenal loaning out 17 and 18 year old youngsters like Wiltshire to Bolton for the season but I am firmly of the view that if you are not good enough to be in the squad at 20 or 21 years of age you never will be and should move on as a loan spell to a lower league club will only prove that you can play at that lower level but not prove that you can play in the Premiership. I stand by that point of view in relation to Korey Smith, Francomb, Adeyemi and Chris Martin.
You might be right about Francomb, he played well against MK Dons but has he played at the level to challenge the first team? He hasn't but he has done well at levels where he has played. It's a difficult one. Big year for him either way.
