...............in January to Norwich or Bournemouth as rumoured, and bring in Kadeem Harris to the matchday squad. I've not seen Noone do anything to justify the faith Slade has put in him this season, in fact he's been a poor overall. We've already got Matty Kennedy kicking his heels and Harris is now back playing well with the development squad - either or both deserve a chance at first team level if only off the bench.
Sparks - from what I've seen of Harris, he hasn't got what it takes. We've had him for at least 3 years and on his rare opportunities he has not made much of an impression other than a poor one in his positional sense. Kennedy - I don't know. Looked good last season, seems to have put on a few pounds in the summer and has clearly done something to warrant Slade not using him much. He has more to offer than Harris though. Agreed, Noone hasn't reached his previous standards. Not been the same player since his injury last year. Seems to have lost that extra bit of pace to leave defenders in his wake. or is it just 3rd year syndrome and he needs to move on for a fresh challenge? You forgot Ameobi. Best forgotten in my view. A butterfly who flits about the park. Can add a little decoration but not often enough. Apparently his performance can be affected by his asthma. Didn't we know that when we signed him?
Ameobi has been one our worst loan signings of recent years and that is a list with some serious competition! He's a waste of time and destined for L1 or worse imo. I'd really rather we didn't let Noone go. The side has a nice balance with him and Pilks on the wings.
Pesonally Stevo, I don't think it's balanced at all. Noone is not essential to the team. He's provided very little or nothing this season. The mention of Harris and Kennedy to fill Noone's spot was in the assumption that dinosaur man would want to stick to a 4-4-2. With Watt on board roaming across the front I'd rather play narrow and use Pilks on his own with Fabio/Malone providing more width down the flanks (don't think it would work with Peltier). If we played an extra true midfield guy in there prompting events (Whitts would be my choice), chances would be created for Jones/Watt/Pilks at the sharp end. Time and time again this season I've sat and waited for Noone to create or finish something - and I'm still waiting. Time for a change of personnel or tactics. Yes I know Slade has got us into 6th spot with the current setup but this game is all about evolving, recognising problem areas and addressing them. Having now watched the vids of the Bolton game I'm amazed how much room we were given in midfield - they were hopeless in the centre of the park but still scored 2 goals to our 3. Gunnar and Ralls probably couldn't believe their luck but not many other sides (if any) will give us such an easy ride - Derby springs to mind.
Harris. No way. I did advocate the introduction of Kennedy here recently. Noone has certainly lost his zip, and is a one trick pony who has not scored since day one. I though cannot see him dropping Noone. Our first goal on saturday was superb from the first pass to the finish. Mason would never have been able to do that. City should make every effort to sign Watt permanently in January. Saadi also should be back then. Ameobi should be sent back and replaced with a stronger sort of attacking wide midfielder.
Nin - Harris has never been given a proper chance at a run in the side. When Rosler had him on loan from us at Brentford, he gave him regular games and he developed well. Since then he's been farmed out on loan for a few months elsewhere and has suffered as a result. Noone has played in 17 of our 19 league games so far and barely produced anything - in fact very disappointing. All conjecture I know, but if Harris had had that sort of a run, we could have had a few more goals and points on the board by now. Now back from Barnsley he's playing well in the development side at the moment and either he or Kennedy is worth considering wide right (if we need one). Ameobi should never have been brought in by Slade. He's not cut out for Championship football and was totally the wrong type of player for us.
Development side versus Championship A huge difference in standard, quality and match toughness. I know Harris has had few opportunities with us but I don't think he is up to Championship level from what i have seen. Loan at Brentford - wasn't that in Div 1? I would be happy to see Kennedy given a chance though. Looks like we're all agreed on Ameobi!!!
I think you're underestimating the work rate and direct threat Noone provides. He's pretty much the only player in our squad who can beat his man consistently. We've been terrible from open play, give the 2 wingers a run of games with Ralls in the middle and if he still doesn't produce I'll agree. To be honest if we keep scoring and he keeps putting a shift in then it's not really an issue. As I've seen you mention loads of times on here Sparks we're horribly slow in midfield at times. Swapping Whits in for Noone would only compound that issue. I'd be much happier selling Whitts before Noone, the obvious problem with that idea is that there are people who want to buy Noone.
..........but I thought Slade liked league 1 standard - he bought Doyle and Revell didn't he?........ Expressed my feelings about Ameobi very early in the season to the point of boredom - glad to see I'm not on my own now.
Agree with this. I dont think Noone in a 442 gives us balance. Against the likes of Bolton maybe. A good side like Derby will give us all sorts of problems the way we set up. 2 central midfielders and Noone cutting in and losing the ball and is a recipe for disaster. Even Bolton should have scored at least 2 more. I wouldnt sell Noone because im worried about who our manager would bring in. If the club has any sort of ambition then the next window should be given to someone new. Bellamy seems to want it - I say bring him in.
If you're gonna play 4-4-2 (which Slade is) then it's all about your number 10 and his work rate. He needs to drop in and make the 3 midfielder whilst KWJ stands and watches the game like the rest of us By balance I was talking more about from an attacking point of view. Pilks and Noone compliment each other in terms of style and play imo. Obviously playing 2 out and out wingers will leave you more exposed defensively than 4-5-1 but as I say its all about work rate from those players in a 4-4-2. Noone and Pilks work hard even if Noone can be a little naive whilst defending at times.
OS my old china, I thought Harris last season when he had a few games was useless. If Noone is going to be dropped, doubtful, but if he is then only Kennedy IMO is a realistic contender. In fact he should have played a lot more this season. We agree on Ameobi
He's never impressed me either in the past to be honest Nin, but something needs to be done wide right if Slade is going to stick to 4-4-2. Why he hasn't had a shot I don't know, but Kennedy would be my choice right now. I've already said I'd prefer to take out Noone and not replace him altogether, but that means changing the system - I can't see it happening either. I suppose if we were 6th from the bottom instead of 6th from the top, the argument might carry more weight. We got away with it against Bolton, but our 4 man midfield system will surely suffer a different fate against better teams - that's what needs to be addressed and why systems have to be tweaked. I don't advocate showing opposition too much respect, but he needs to be more realistic. Is Slade capable of adapting our system and tactics for individual games because against Derby we were overrun.
Is Slade asking too much of Noone in covering defensively and so leaving him a little short in the legs (no pun intended) when attacking, particularly later in games when a nippy winger should be turning defenders inside out - as Burke used to do? I ask as on more than one occasion he has been last man in the defense when everyone troops upfield for set pieces. Sparks - would your view on Noone change if he started to play as he did 2/3 seasons ago? Looking at it a different way, have defenders worked him out? I think he will benefit the more we play the midfield of the last 2 games with Ralls and Gunnar (possibly Dikgacoi if fully fit) in the centre. Whitts distribution has become far too slow to give Noone the early advantage he needs.
I would grab any sensible offer for Noone. I said earlier in the season I don't know what Ameobi is meant to be. He is not a striker or a winger at Championship level. I would send him back if there is any kind of get out clause in the loan deal.
Bluey - Noone is nothing like he was when Malky finally decided to play him in the Prem after leaving him out in the cold for the start of that season. He took his chance and really impressed everyone at the time, but whether because of his groin injury or not, he has not been the same since. His pace off the mark and confidence have gone. He often chooses the wrong option and loses the ball as much or more than he uses it. If he gets back to that earlier form he'd blow this division away, but at the moment he looks a long way off it.
Its the same old chestnut, as much about the formation as it is the personnel. Russ has surprised us by first moving whitts to the wing and then to the bench. Not holding out much hope for him surprising us with the formation. 4141 with Manga in front of the back 4 or 451 with the two wingers pushing on to morph into 433. I live in hope...........
so will DJ, but it was more exciting than what we're currently getting, and with much less overall talent at his disposal.
