Yes I know that 'rest' is a euphemism here but is it time to remind the team that EVERYBODY needs to earn their place in the team, even the Captain? I think that it must be generally agreed that Jocko is not playing well.... he is no threat out on the left, he is not getting into his normal scoring positions, he seems a yardish slower than at the start of last season. Perhaps he feels that he is not a Champ quality player? Perhaps he feels that he is not a Champ quality left midfielder? Perhaps he is finding it difficult to lift himself after winning the league last season? I'm not sure but I do know there is presently a void out on the left wing which needs to be filled if we are going to finish mid-table or higher. With Taylor out and if Jacko were to be rested I would have Morrow as Captain with Hollands as his number 2. What's peoples views? AllHell P.S. This type of poll worked with Hamer last season with a much improved level of performance after a similar poll
Jacko's never had any pace anyway so that hasn't changed! It is true that he seems to have lost his goal threat which is a worry since we don't seem to have goals coming from any other part of the midfield. I'm not really sure where he's supposed to be playing, against Hull Hollands was often wider than Jacko. The Doctor wasn't complaining so he must have been playing to instructions. The midfield was the biggest worry at the beginning of the season and it is even more so now.
Who would you play on the left instead though? Cook? Evina/Wiggins? Kerkar? I don't think he's any less effective than the other 3 midfielders have been and you have to remember that he isn't technically a left-winger. Last year, when we were more likely to get a way with a 3 man midfield against inferior oppositions, it gave him a free role - hence the goal threat. And remember if Jacko is benched then that will severely impact Wiggins's game. But stick with him for now, it's too early to chop and change/tinker drastically. At the start of the season Left Wing would have been my priority in the transfer market - I cannot understand why Chrissy hasn't signed an experienced and hungry left midfielder. Looking at the squad and to get the best from it, I would argue that axing Pritchard from RM is the best way to balance the side - Green has to come in.
i'd switch to a 451 formation with bwp on the left and green on the right. then jacko, stephens, hollands in the middle. jacko does not have pace. in two games this season already i've seen him waving a defender forward when the ball stops between them, because he knows he wont get there before the attacker. this shouldnt be allowed as the defender is then out of place. unless he is bought into the middle he should be RESTED for someone with pace and can play wide
Two minds - he had a good game against Birmingham, decent against Leicester, and poor in the last two games. When we are in possession he is an asset as he is a very clever player and one of the better passers in the side. However if teams are on top against us he looks horribly slow and has been caught out of position too many times in the past 2 games. Rather than being a source of protection for Wiggins he has been a hinderance. But, I would start him against Palace. There is a lot to be said for dropping your captain against your nearest rivals. He will know how much it means to us, as well as how poor he was against Forest and really be looking to bust a gut to improve. If we were to discuss who to play instead though, Kerkar seems the more obvious option. I would hate BWP playing wide left (or right for that matter). However, my biggest concern isn't Jackson or the left midfield- but the central berth next to Hollands. If Stephens ''isn't right'' then we have a massive problem against CP. If you think JJ looks horribly slow on the left then I don't think putting him in the middle will be a solution as he will be having to run around hell of a lot more and Hollands will be doubled up on again.
The only game this season he's featured in, where he hasn't been the worst player on the pitch was Birmingham away, and even then he was anonymous throughout. I've been saying for more than a year now that we need to sign a new left-mid. It was the priority position last season, and again I feel it is this season. Not only has Jackson been woeful this year, he's very injury prone too. We should have signed someone like Aluko, a pacey, attack-minded, naturally left-footed winger. I'd even have been very happy with us signing Lee Cook on a permanent deal. I'd say give Kerkar a chance. I haven't been that impressed with him so far (he seems very good defensively, but thats not quite what I'd look for in a LM). Please no right-footed players on the left and certainly not our top scorer dropping to the wing.
I think the problem with Jackson may not be form, but fitness, and that may not be solvable. I am sure his spirit is willing enough but his body will no longer do what he tells it. I agree that Kerkar is the best of our limited options at present, as Evina seems resistant to playing LM, but I am surprised at your evaluation of him. I would have thought he is better creatively and weak in the tackle (though very willing) defensively. What do other posters think? Also I think both Jordan Cook and Kerkar are naturally right-footed, as are a whole string of others we have used at various times to fill the LM slot (Wagstaff, Lee Cook, Green, N'Guessan, Ephraim, Haynes, Harriott. Who have I forgotten?). In fact there has always been a dearth of genuine left-footers in British football. Look at the England team, for example. Some of it may be down to foreign clubs teaching players to use their left-foot more as juniors. George Best trained as a lad with a football boot on his left foot and a plimsoll on his right so that he would instinctively use his left more, but by definition he was also right-footed. There just seem more naturally left-footed players abroad.
Kerkar is very left-footed eddie. The problem with Kerkar, from the tiny bits I've seen of him, is that he is powderpuff, and lack of strength in the midfield was one of the main issues yesterday. He drives forward well, but would lose out in every aerial challenge you feel. If he and Pritchard were in the same midfield we would not be able to get a foothold in the game. Jacko is 30 - at that age, fitness should not be an issue, but it is. I don't doubt his quality, but he cannot allow himself to become complacent just because he is the captain. I'm not advocating dropping him yet, because we have no evidence that any of the other options are better, but he needs to improve.
Callum Harriott looked a prospect when he was given his debut about 16/17 months ago. I wonder whether he will fulfil his potential? I haven't read anything about him going out on loan, so how is he going to improve his game?
Hopefully the same as a clutch of promising youngsters we have of the same age, in the u-21 development league. That's precisely what it was created for and I think it is an excellent project. Much better education than going out to some Blue Square club and playing with a lot of cloggers. I stand corrected. Stick him in, then. He cannot do worse. But at least you agree with me that he has few defensive qualities, though always willing to chase back.
One thing I know of Rangers fans is that they generally aren't very complimentary to former players.[/QUOTE] That is very true! There is a rangers fans forum called the Bears Den. I read it from time to time. It is very entertaining. The abuse of those like Naismith who left during the administration saga is quite something.
Kerkar was very decisive when he came on with Fuller on Saturday and very left-footed. His twenty or so minute cameo against Sporting Lisbon was impressive, too. The virtual disappearance of Harriott has amazed me. When he came in for the last couple of games the season before last, defences didn't know what to make of him but then, nothing - although I seem to remember reading that he was crocked for a while. The beautiful interplay between him, Evina and RBI was a feature of the pre-season game at Welling.
He didn't even make the under-21 team this afternoon, although he did come on for Diego Poyet who has been stretchered off. 2-2 at the moment vs Colchester.
