Snaggs - I'll ignore the last couple of Jacks, and talk about our club with you rather than respond to them. Sorry matey (re your last post), but we're a million miles away from that. The three I mentioned could do a job, but not all at the same time for a start. At Championship level, you only need one weak spot for the opposition to exploit and it can cost you dear. When Connolly got his fifth yellow and we played McNuggs at right back against Peterborough, it was all too apparent. Nuggs had a mare and we lost the game - not all his fault admittedly, but he certainly didn't help matters. Nugent can do a job at the back and he's proved it. Ralls is good enough to compete for a spot in midfield, and I'd have no objection to giving Declan a bash if Tayls got injured, but that's it. Up front though, both Jarvis and Velikonja are nowhere near Champ standard on the evidence of yesterday. To close this season out, we need additional proven quality players. I'm not saying hoards of them - maybe just a strker, but I'd bolster the wide defensive players as well.
It's a point I made a while back. Individual changes are one thing, wholesale changes another. There were a number of players on show yesterday that I think would make a fist of it if put into the 1st team individually. The first 11 with Jarvis or Eti the ONLY change would be a fairer assesment of their abilities. We know Little Ben and Ralls can do a job in the 1st team. Are there others? The only way we'll know is to play them as individual changes.
Sparks Agreed McNuggs had a bad game against Peterboro but he did well against Palace in particular and Millwall so is still a vital part of Malky's team, while not first choice rb. We know he can play lb too but another full back will be needed. Any idea why Lappin went back to Naaarwich other than his loan was up? 2 games and 2 wins so didn't do badly. I was disappointed in Veronica's performance yesterday - he had his chance and blew it, although i don't know what sort of service he had - and Jarvis was no better than I expected. It looks like Harris didn't shine either but he has had very few games and will get more chances. You can see from my previous posts that I am unconcerned at yesterday's loss and I feel that if we acquire 2 quality players in the window we will be fine.
However remote you could argue that since this is pretty much the Developmental Squad they have been playing together all season and therefore you can't make the excuse of wholsesale changes as they should know each others games well enough. Obviously an Delvelopement Squad game is no substiute for an FA Cup match in terms of experience and competitiveness.
Yup Bluey - it may seem to others like sour grapes after the event saying we don't really care, but I totally agree with you. I would have preferred to have won it no question, but if that loss demonstrates to Malky (if he didn't know already) that we need additional quality players till the end of the season, it will have been well worth it. I loved the performances form Rallsy and Declan on the left hand side and little Ben was sound. I'd be more than happy to include them in the side one at a time - anyone else, no chance.
I agree with you sparkey, I thought ralls, john and nugent were the stand out performers. Let's not lose all hope on the rest of the boys playing though, there were a lot of teenagers there who still have a few years of developement to go. Has anyone else seen the comments of the game on the bbc site? Some of the people on there need to chill out! Fair enough macclesfield won and they can only play what's in front of them, but the game would have been a lot different if we had the likes of noone, bellers and whittingham playing. They way some of the comments come across you would think they were playing.
i for one was happy and relieved that we went out early, now we can get back to what really matters to us, and thats continuing to sweep almost all before us in the league. the players would have enjoyed the weekend off the recharge their batteries and get ready for the next match at home to ipswich. over the years, we more than most know that cups are a day out, the league is whats most important and thats what malky would have learnt from last seasons exploits in the league cup. happy new year to all city fans......
Spot on Arwr - no question at all about losing hope about the youngsters. They showed a lot of grit against mature if less skilful players with 10 years more experience. They've got a lot to give over the coming years - but not right now which is what we're all talking about. I particularly like Coulson and Oshilaja. A few more years bringing them on will benefit the club for the future, but at the moment lets put the near future on hold and get "Back To The Present".
