What a player, his high crossing ability is better than Sinclair's & Dyer's between them and his assists statistics for this season are incredible especially when you remember he played a few games early on in the season in a central midfield role. His ability to switch wings is also impressive too I doubt Dyer would play THAT well on the left, likewise Sinclair on the right, but Routledge was the best player at Anfield whilst playing on the left wing. Personally I'd like to see Routledge on the left & Dyer on the right.
he's done well since dyer's been out, he must be due another goal now, that would certainly give brendan a few headaches, i would give sinclair a breather when dyer comes back.
Sinclair has definatly struggled in some games, his touch is the poorest in the first 11 and it is highlighted alot more in the prem league. There seems to be alot going on with him,maybe rosie is wearing him out !! All things considered though he has still played a massive part and contributes every game, i think we were expecting the same player as last season and i think scott was expecting that too,it hasnt quite worked out that way but next season he might well feel alot more comfortable at this level and he will know what he has to work on to improve. I am a big routledge fan and was dissapointed to see him take stick on this board early season, nobody took into account the fact he was learning a different system,with new team mates and playing a different position!! he has immense ball skills and talent but is far more economical than nathan dyer. Routledge produces end product and Nathan produces all action around the field, they both have major strong points, in fact there isnt much between the three of them but they all do something a bit different. I would like to see us play routledge and dyer for a couple of games just to see how that works out, scott sinclair is less explosive up front because he is doing such great defensive work and we must not forget this. We are lucky to have routledge at the club,and in fairness he hasnt seemed to have thrown his toys out of the pram either,just got on with it, well done wayne and try and keep that first team spot it will only make us stronger !!
Let's be clear. Routledge got stick because he was rubbish in the beginning. But that's not unusual for players settling into our system and style of play. He couldn't get past players and he couldn't keep possession. But I can see your argument, NJ. I'm sure it's a headache that Rodgers is happy to have. Routledge was brilliant again yesterday and was instrumental in us winning the game. Sinclair has been frustrating this season though fair play to him he's still willing to have a go at defenders but must have learned by know that ghosting past them is not so easy at this level. I get the feeling that our team has raised itself to his high standards this season. Thing is, Sinclair is one of Rodgers' favourites for a reason. He has it in his locker to win you a game so it's difficult to leave him out. As you rightly say his defensive work is often forgotten and we have conceded when he's been substituted.
Pretty sure Sinclair & Dyer will start most . Routledge is cover , great cover these days but cover just the same . I think Routledge's poor start had more to do with Buck pushing him into the middle than anything . Monk , Jazz , Gower & Routledge have been amazing when called upon & we would have been in deep poo poo without them at times this season .
Was routledge crap or was he just finding his feet and adapting to a new team,new position and new environment ?? which ever way we slice it the boy took unfair stick, not uncommon i know but when dobbie was played the general line trotted out was that he needed time to adapt, for some reason the same logic wasnt applied to routledge ! I think there is no reason why wayne cant stay in the first team for the rest of the season, contract talks may mean that sinclair starts regardless of how well he plays so i see it between Dyer and Wayne for the starting place, the competition can only be good for SCFC !! We touched upon Rodgers and his favourites earlier on in the season and i posted an article about it, it has to be said though that his favourites have made an impact when needed so he pretty much got it spot on, i think he also learned that playing Josh Mc was a mistake, and this was probably the biggest and most touted favourite of brendens,credit to him for realising early on that the boy has alot to work on and is not ready for first team action unless he works off the ball and does the same spade work as the rest of the team. Rodgers has learnt alot this season IMO
Well, Routledge has had more game time than Dobbie. A lot more. Just proves the point. If you persevere with a player they can come good. Routledge was given his opportunity after a poor start. Graham was given 6 opportunities after missing a clutch of sitters before he scored. Nobody in their right mind can argue that Dobbie has been cut the same slack because he hasn't. We can argue (and have done) whether Rodgers was right or wrong about that but it's a fact. I think Yankee hit it on the head recently when he said that Dobbie probably doesn't fit in with way we now play which is unfortunate for him. But if that's right Rodgers should have let him go out on loan imo.
Well routledge was actually reverted to his prefered positon, and he thrieved . Dobbie i agree wasnt given as much time as some would have liked but maybe it was clear to buck that he wasnt up to it ? DG again was new to the team,same with wayne. dobbie knew his positon and knew the players he also knew what was expected of him in the team so there were no suprises on that front. The glaring thing for me was how slow and pondourous he looked at this level, maybe some can pick up the pace and some cant?? I agree he could have been given more time but maybe the manager knew he wasnt cut out for it. We all love the Dobster and hope he will get some games,there is still time for him to make a bigger impact than Luke moore
There's time, NJ but Rodgers won't play him imo unless we get injury ravaged between now and the end of the season.
KJ - Do you see Dobbie fitting in to this team nowadays ?? i think the team is evolving at a rapid rate and the more i watch us the more i think he wouldn't fit in with the way we close down opposition players. It was glaring when Josn mc wasnt putting his foot in and running around closing down, Buck hasn't really picked him since, i think this may be the issue with Dobbie,thoughts?
I agree. Dobbie, for whatever reason, has been left behind and I can't see us using him again which is a shame. Still I think we all agree the team comes first. I only hope that he goes somewhere where he gets his chance, either on loan or sold because imo he's got immense talent and deserves better than reserve football even if it is in the Prem.
I seen all I needed to see from Dobbie in the Spur game ( I think that's the game he started ) , looked a bit lost .
I think there will be plenty of clubs after Dobbie come summer time, i wouldnt be suprised if one of them is a newly promoted premier team either, that will really make the Dobbie issue run and run !!
He actually had a good game, Breezy - and almost scored. I think the biggest complaint most of us have is his lack of opportunity when others have been cut some slack. As has been suggested, it may be that unfortunately for him he doesn't fit in with our style any more.
both are good, dyer has lightning speed but routy gives better crosses, we are lucky that we can call on anyone of them to produce the goods....
If you think of Dobbie's role at the end of last season he currently is a distant second choice behind Sig and perhaps behind one other, who knows Rogers' assessment. But he is a good player to have in the squad. From a practical point of view we have to have enough players on hand to give Rogers' coaching staff enough bodies to run various drills and practice games. Going forward there are always going to be a set of senior players that will never likely see a place on the bench never mind a start. They will be payed appropriately, expected to be first team ready in terms of fitness and preparation, but they have a role within the club and at each contract renewal they can choose to resign or go hunting somewhere else. Dobbie at this point is probably in that role; he is what we loosely call depth. He is designated depth. Not bad depth to have around. Orlandi is probably another in the same role. So is Gower or at least he is likely to be next season, as is Tate, Monk, etc.
Yankee- Well summed up, Dobbie unlike others maybe feels like he can contribute better elsewhere and should be given the chance to move in the summer but not before then, he will get his move if thats what he wants but it has to be what works for us not him, i think rodgers was right to stop any loan move, maybe he will feel different in the next coming days i dont know but i understand the logic behind keeping him here, its about whats best for the club and nothing else. Orlandi,Gower,Monk and Tate are indeed what you describe as depth they are a vital part of our squad and all have proven they can come in and do a job,even the dobster has a done a job when needed, some will want to move on and that will be sad but as i said earlier every time you move up a level you need to move on players its normal that some will not be able to step up to the level consistantly,they probably know this more than anyone.
there will be a few players moving on in the summer thats for sure. boddie will be retired,dobbie surplus to requirements and a few others will move on as not up to standard for the way we play, tate,monk and probably orlandi will stay as cover and depending on caulks and siggs on whether they will be with us or not then we will bring in 3-4 players of the right quality.....we will be that little bit stronger next season for sure.....
