Don't know if anyone else is watching the under 21s but he started up front on his own and looked pretty isolated so he was moved to the left where he hasn't been much better. Early days and yes I know he's young but I think it's a good job we signed Bentdner cos this lad is wayoff pl standard. He's reluctant to take anyone on, only passes backward, and has given away several fouls. Not having a dig at the young lad just saying I don't think he's ready yet. Hopefully he'll prove me wrong second half.
I actually thought that sending him out on loan was a pretty good idea, but whether it'd be good for his confidence, maybe not. I think Championship clubs get a mini 'loan window', or they used to. A month or 2 at a god Championship club may be a sensible move.
Wickham, hmmm. Looked excellent on youtube. Bruce didn't have only youtube evidence to go on though. Hopefully he's made the right call on this lad, because he'd be a very expensive mistake. He's still only 18 like. He needs to toughen up, and i'm sure he will. He's not a LW, like.
It's not exactly quality opposition either, a bunch of Azerbaijan lads who are scared to jump near him in case of getting clattered. On another note, Hendo playing well and is captain, scored a cracking goal.
Let's give the lad time to develop eh...I watched him very closely when he came on against Swansea, and he made some excellent runs into the box which would have almost certainly resulted in a goal or two had he received the passes his runs deserved.
Just been subbed for Waghorn now, he certainly won't struggle physically but not technically good enough atm (has a long throw in though).
The only way Wickham will develop as a player is by playing games not sitting on the bench while we play a team full of midfielders. He needs to be given time however time is something we don't have the luxury of, maybe with Bendtner coming on loan for a year he'll get the time needed lets hope so. Still think he'll come good sooner rather than later also think SB bought him just to get one over on Liverpool.
Honestly - The LAD IS 18!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He has played about 30 mins of football if that for us and people are making their minds up already! Honestly
Mr Wonderful is a mag so at least he has an excuse...However when I see our own fans not giving him the lickings after a couple of bit part appearances, it does make me cringe with embarrassment..
I'm not having a go at Whickham, not by a long shot, but with Bruce stating he didn't plan on using him much this season, i think a loan move for the lad is surely the best option. Forest, Derby , Leicester, a good Championship club would be a big help to the lads development.
He has played a lot of championship football now thought, mate, i'm not sure a loan to play more championship football would help a great deal? He needs to make the step up at some point. More importantly, he's needed here because he's probably 3rd in line out of the strikers. We have to take into account also his style of play, 18 is very young for a player of his kind. We may not see the best of him until he's about 21. I'm an impatient bugger me though! ha. We see Rooney, Fabregas, Barkley making waves very early but that's because their game is based on pure talent, IMO.
All fair comment mate, but if he ain't gonna get game time, that is of no benefit at all. He needs to be getting 15-20 mins reguarly as a minimum, but are we gonna be in a position to offer it? I firmly believe, if handled correctly, Whickham will be a wonderful player in time, but if he ain't playing first team football, it's gonna backfire on us. Guess we need to see in a few weeks how much time he's getting on the park.
Can't argue that. You wonder how often we can offer him football should Bendtner work well. Thing is, Sunderland will rarely be cruising in a game (VERY rarely) where we can just hoy on a few young lads to give them some time. We're always out of the cups quick time, we're never in europe. There's little chance to just give lads like Wickham and Laing minutes on the feild when there's so much pressure on getting results. People often harp on about young players shouldn't go to big clubs too early and blah, blah, blah, but it's at these clubs, such as United, where they have so many games and are so often in a position where they can throw on some young lads. You look at the time Wickham has had already, intense pressure where we've got to a desperate point in a game - naturally he has struggled. Imagine he was at United, it's some european game against some eastern block team and United are cruising 3 nil up, it's so easy to throw on Wickham and he might help himself to a goal, boosting his confidence massively. Maybe coming to a team like Sunderland isn't the ideal situation for a young talented player like Wickham. We kind always need the here an now. Anyhow, i'm just rambling.
Perhaps we should look at loaning him to a "lesser" EPL club then? I'm sure he would get gametime at, say, Swansea or QPR?
Ideal scenario, but the Premier window is gone till Jan, i'm sure the Championship clubs can loan for a wee while longer.
