I might agree had you said "quality" Championship players, that is to say those who are outstanding at this level. Except I would delete Jacko on fitness grounds and I might also temporarily strike off Wiggins (just to appease Vol-au-Vent) until he is back to his best (hopefully within a month or two). But if you mean "Championship quality" players then I would define that as those who deserve to hold a regular squad place in an average Championship team like Ipswich, Huddersfield, Birmingham, Derby, Blackpool, etc. And on that basis I would have to add Hamer, Morrison, Wood, Cort, Wilson, and Church plus Stephens if he maintains his recent form. Still not enough, I agree, even for an average Championship side. We need at least six more of that level. Maybe Cousins, Pigott, Harriott and Evina will oblige, plus Devite who is young for a central defender and hasn't played a massive amount of first-team football.
I would say that the only genuine Championship level players we have got...I am talking about players who could get into a top 6 Championship side and hold their own, are Yann and Solly. Jackson was definitely technically good enough, but injuries and Father Time have taken their toll. I would say Morrison, Wiggins, Hamer, Wilson, Church , Stephens and Wood are lower Championship / League One standard. Each will have 10-15 good games this season, but are prone to inconsistencies and howlers. Harriott, Piggot and Cousins have great potential given the right handling, although CH has plateaued a bit this season. Gower has reached the end of the line, IMO. Pritchard deserves a five year contract with Dagenham and Redbridge. Dervite and Cort are decent back up.
Why are you and Jimmy the Addick defining "Championship level" as "top six"? "Championship level" should mean "average Championship level" or "mid-table Championship level". If you accept that, there is little difference in our player assessments.
Defining a player's ability-I don't accept that it's an exact science. A lot can depend what team he plays in. For instance John Fashanu was a top 6 first division player, because in that team his assets of strength, tenacity and bravery(plus the odd elbow or two) made up for his lack of technical ability. Our own talisman was a failure at Leicester, our own manager went through most of his career before Sven saw his international class. Lawrie Madden confounded me and many others by getting a free from both us and Millwall before becoming an established first division player at Wednesday. Michu was plucked from obscurity by Laudrup and look at him now. Tom Brown was taken from junior football in Scotland to becoma an integral part of the Kilmarnock team which won the Cup in 1991. etc....etc...etc.....
You lost us with your last example. Excellent examples, but I still think they are rare cases and players, once over 22, quickly find their own level and rarely depart from it. Sometimes they have a wonder season where everything goes right and they are briefly transported to a higher level, but they soon sink back down to their "natural" level. In other words I think the remarkable thing is how rarely it happens rather than the few cases when it does. Different story up to 22 though. Which is why u21 football is organized separately and why I despair at people who are too quick to jump on Harriott, or Pigott, and now Cousins, or Zaha, or Sterling, or Townsend, etc, etc. as the next big thing. Get off the kids' backs and give them time to develop at their own speed. I think Sir Chris understands this. Up to 22 these young men are still developing physically and mentally (some quicker than others) and it is extremely hard to predict which will ones make it. Which is why we are willing to give a chance to u21 players other clubs rejected. We tried last season with Ashton (from Chelsea) and Harris (from Fulham) and eventually realised why the other clubs let them go. Now we are trying again with Munns (from Spurs) and Daniel (from Palace). And maybe with Hippolyte from Brentford?
I started watching the under-18's when the reserves were disbanded, and there were 3 players I was certain would make it- Shelvey, Solly and er, Mambo.
Two out of three isn't a bad record, Billy. Most professional scouts and coaches would be happy with that.
I did not say top 6, i said Championship quality. I feel the only players who can hold their own in this division were the ones i mentioned. Only Yann and Solly are top 6 material though, that i do agree with
