Indeed, but he was deemed ready to play and now isn't, supposedly. It doesn't really stack up that he was able to play that emergency role then but is unavailable entirely now. He hasn't had a major injury and it's been months. Since then, Belloumi has been eased back from his ACL, injured his hamstring and then recovered again. I doubt anyone thought when Williams signed that he'd need to spend a third of the single season that he's contracted with us for, playing in the U21s to get his fitness up, and if that had been mentioned at the time it would have raised a few eyebrows. Surely there is something else to it, and with his history you have to wonder whether it's something attitude related.
I’m not aware that Williams has ever had a poor attitude on the pitch - he’s been a bit of a twat driving around at high speed pissed and gassed. My sense is that other players, notably Famewo, are ahead of Williams in the pecking order, except for one game when we dipped a long way down that pecking order. I’m speculating that Williams’ place is down to match fitness, that seems to me to be more likely than your suggested poor attitude - I’ve seen no suggestion of the latter.
I'm only guessing, and maybe that's unfair. But I think there has to be more it than him perpetually building up his fitness. At the weekend we had three centre backs on the bench ahead of naming him, so he really is way down the pecking order. We must've had more in mind for him when we signed him than that.
It’s a strange one. I was optimistic with Williams that he might get his career back on track with us and offer us a decent full back option. I guess there’s still time and in Sergej I trust.
Giles is ensconced on the left back position. Drameh and Coyle are battling for the right back position. Famewo on the bench with Drameh/Coyle and sometimes Ajayi depending on if he starts. Serg likes his offensive options on the bench so who are you dropping from the squad to include Williams? Maybe it's just a numbers thing.
Youd have thought he’d have some game time though, even coming on for Giles in the back 5 recently once he’s tired. I would assume we’ve had a relatively cheap punt for a potentially top player at this level but it’s not worked out for one reason or another.
He should be ripping it up here by now. He can play multiple positions. Great as a sub option if Serg didn't want to upset any applecarts in the starting XI (since when was that actually a thing for a decent manager?). Should be far too good for the Championship. He hasn't even looked anything special for the U21's (that's an understatement btw). As PLT suggests, there surely has to be something more going on. However, we've got to hope that he does eventually come good as he should either significantly strengthen our 1st team options or else earn us some decent money for having taking the (albeit small) risk on him.
Yeah, I know. You would think if as I said "we've got to hope he does eventually come good" then we'd offer to extend his contract and he'd accept it. Maybe there is even an option in our favour in his current contract. I wouldn't like to think that he'd use us for a season then bugger off for free only to smash it somewhere else.
we have an option i think after the year but to be honest, unless gilesy gets injured, he starts every game, love the turnaround
Destan was crap in his game for the u21s (I know it’s one game) but his whole performance on sat was unplayable on Saturday so I wouldn’t read too much into senior players in u21s
I wonder how hard it is to get fired up for the U21s after putting in a standout performance and scoring in front of 23k people 3 days earlier?
Think the plan is for Williams to go out on loan in January. He’s just not ready for championship football yet and needs to develop his game.
Hmnn. He was good, but hardly unplayable!! Let's keep it real! Not quite as poor as the Big Billy v Joseph comparison ... but .....not a great one. Destan, never played in England before. Getting to grips with a new country and a new club. I thought he was poor for U21s and his performace thankfully pleasantly surprised me on Saturday. Vs Williams. Born n bred in England, brought up playing here.
Cathal McCarthy is the obvious one. If you wanted to have a backup left back on the bench and trusted Williams, you'd surely put him on there ahead of having three centre backs. But the simplest explanation is that for some reason we don't trust Williams. Maybe because he's lacking fitness after working on it for three months, or maybe something else.
McCarthy is on there as central midfield cover though. Take him out and that would only leave Gyabi, which is very weak in probably the most crucial position on the pitch.
Williams has as much if not more experience playing CM as McCarthy! Covers RB, lb, wing back, wide attacker at a push, CM midfield (like McCarthy at a push).
