Watched the match at the Vale today. Lovely day for it, sun shining - but a bit cold Sean Morrison had an excellent game at the back and Sammy Ameobi and Dikaci both had an hour or so of game time. I hadnt realised that Rhys Healey was back from his loan spell at Dundee but glad he was as he netted a hat trick in a comfortable 4-0 win. Not sure who scored the other goal. City lie third in the Development League at the moment
Get Healey in the first team squad. He's a natural goalscorer & whilst Crewe at this level isn't championship standard, he is a striker whereas as has been plain for the past few games, Pilkington is wasted playing up front.
I read somewhere before Christmas that Healey had got an (ankle?) injury at Dundee that would keep him out of the side for around 6 weeks. Because he only had a month left on his loan and wouldn't play for them again before it was up, he returned to Cardiff early for treatment. I think they wanted to extend his loan and have him back up there after he recovered. Slade apparently refused and told them he wanted to bring him into our own squad - another one for the future? He is a natural goal poacher - doesn't do a lot else to be honest - but sticking them in the net is the key to winning games rather than drawing them.
Wonder if City will sign any before loan window shuts on Thursday? A striker would be useful given Saadi & Zahore are not seemingly up to it. I read that Sheff Wed are hoping to bring in Kyle Lafferty.
Dirty Leeds want Lafferty as well. I don't think Healey's ability to score goals at lower levels has ever been doubted however football at Championship and higher levels requires much more than that nowadays. You can't afford to have one guy stood upfront on his won just waiting for opportunities. You may argue that is what Aguerro does for Man City however if you watch him he covers a lot of ground and puts in challenges - his physical make up helps in this. From what I remember of Healey he is small and skinny and doesn't have much to put about and pressure defenders or defensive midfielders. Perhaps that has changed in the last 18 months in which case it could be worth putting him on the bench and giving him a run. Slade seems loath to do this with Saadi for some reason and Zohore hasn't set the world on fire with his run outs.
EDIT: - found that Scottish press article about Healey........... https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/...oanee-rhys-healey-unlikely-to-stay-at-dundee/
Good to see we have spys at Development Squad games although when BT sent me a text with our team details I thought it was 7 a side. His excuse was that he didn't know all our players and there were no team sheets handed out. If that was the spirit of investigative journalism at The Watergate then Nixon would have stayed in power!!!
Well I understand that from April you will be available to watch the Development games - most of which are held on Mondays. You can help me fill in the names on the teamsheet
I bet Wolves wished we had. He hasn't exactly hit the ground running up there and they'd be 3 mill better off. Sitting on the bench alongside Le Fondre is his normal starting position - 2 players who promised so much but delivered very little.
Have to admit As much as I liked Mason, his goal scoring touch was much to inconsistent. £3 million was far too much for him. Does Le Fondre's contract expire at the end of this season?
No - he is contracted to us until May 2017. Reading have expressed an interest in taking back for next season. I doubt there would be much of a fee involved and maybe we should cut him loose.
My Reading supporting friend suggested at the weekend that there were rumours he would go back to them. Think Alf is on fairly large wages, like most of Ole signings, so it certainly fits in with the current trend that we would let him go. Bet you he scores a ton for them as well even if his contribution at Wolves has been next to nothing.
Can we start a crowd funding exercise to pay his Megabus fare to Reading? He's not worth the cost of train fare. Can't even get on the Wolves bench at present as £3m Joe is taking his place. Actually I don't dislike the guy and he has a great record with Reading so probably the best place for him.
Is this the same Adam LeFondre who wanted to move to a club in the North to further his football career? Last time I looked Reading is due East from Cardiff.
