Just wondering if things had been different at the time. Big hoo-haa amongst fans when Huds was told he wasn't wanted the start of last season and by all accounts he's done pretty well at Huddersfield since then. Would he be a serious first choice option at CB for us now that we've got Manga, Morro and Connolly vying for the spots, quite apart from the injured Turner and now this Tamas bloke? Maybe his captaincy skills on the pitch if he'd been with us last season rather than giving the job to Marshall in goal would have made a difference? If so, would it still make him a valid option right now - I wonder?
It was a big mistake (one of the many made by OGS) to offload him last season when we needed a leader on and off the pitch. However, time has moved on, he is now 33 (shares the same birth date as me as it happens), he was never the quickest and is only likely to get slower. Yes, he reads the game well but that only works so far and much depends on who partners him at the back. I don't think Marshall was the greatest choice to replace him as captain as keepers are too far removed from general play but there weren't a lot of choices at the time. That has changed this season with Morrison doing a good job until Marshall returned and is possibly still the main voice out field. I think he would struggle to make the team now but it is all hypothetical. I will welcome him back on Saturday (he was our captain in the promotion season after all) but hope he has a mare on the day - but wish him well in every other game other than the return at Huddersfield.
I tend to agree Bluey. His best is probably behind him now, and other than his two seasons under Malky, it wasn't particularly good anyway. His captaincy however is without question and he was sorely missed on the pitch last year. We may not get the chance to welcome him back on Saturday. I think he came off injured at half time in their last game - not sure how bad it was or whether the international break has given him time to get over it.
I watched Tamas play in the Development match against Bolton yesterday. He is a good solid centre back and marshalled the defence well . Will be good cover for our first team squad, particularly as Ben is still out.
According to WoL Turner going to be out for another couple of months. Good news though, Macheda is close to fitness. Stevo will be happy.
Yay, been waiting for normal service to be resumed, even though the Wales campaign has been exciting. Pity we couldn't have snuck a goal in the Israel game, we were well on top. Regarding OS's OP, Hudson was a better captain that he was a player, but often that is what is needed (Mike Brearly as England cricket captain anyone?). A solid enough performer though prone to the odd costly lapse, I'd have his time over, though as people have already said we have moved on. Interesting to read that Slade now has what he considers his first team squad down to 26 players with 11 senior (and 3 development team) players out on loan and possibly two more to follow. It will be the end of next summers transfer window before the OGS debacle in the transfer market is finally resolved. Looking forward to the day to day footy returning. Just need to get a few more posting on here regularly.
Hudson should have been captain under OGS. I read that Kennedy and Ajayi possibly to go out on loan. I had thought Kennedy would have featured this season, given he ad some bright moments last season but now with Ameobi and Pilkington featuring (and with Noone not even able to get a start), it looks unlikely Kennedy will feature. Ajayi should no even had been brought in. What is the point? City have Manga back, Turner in the wings and Tamas signed up. Any idea what has happened to that Everton loanee last season, Connor McAlum (?) who looked a cut above? He would enhance our somewhat staid central midfield now..
It was Connor McAleny Nin. I know he got rave reviews in a pre-season Everton friendly ( Ithink it was against Swindon) and was hailed as the next big thing at the club. Since then I don't think he's even making the bench for Prem games. If that's the way he's perceived, perhaps Martinez will let us have him again before the loan window shuts.
Bluey - I've never really taken to loan players on principle and I've said so in the past, but if McAleny was on offer I'd rather have had him than Ameobi. McAleny has all the skills required to play in the hole and looked sharp toward the end on his loan spell last season. When he came to us I don't think he was fully up to speed and it all seemed a waste of time half way through the season when we could have blooded our own signed up players. McAleny was always going to go back to Everton and Slade playing him in those final dozen games when were effectively safe was a waste of chances for others. Maybe it's just because of his height but Ameobi always looks like Bambi on ice to me. I remain unconvinced on the limited exposure he's had so far but hope he can get his head (and body) around what it means to battle in the Championship. McAleny would have been a better option for me and would still be if he was allowed to come for the whole season, not just a few cameo roles until Christmas.
Agreed in part, Ameobi tends to drift in and out of games. His build does not suit the rough and tumble of the Championship. However, in his favour, when he gets some space he effortlessly covers ground and leaves opponents in his wake. We haven't had him on the pitch for enough time to see him do this regularly or to maximise with an end product. McAleny certainly gets stuck in more and has some good skill but, for me, he lacked a little in pace. If nothing else he would be a good variation on what we have and if Kennedy and Ajayi are loaned out maybe it will free up some of the wage bill to get us a quality loanee. I would still like to see us borrow Rantie from Bournemouth to give us real pace up front. I will keep rantieing on about that until there is no chance.
His record certainly suggests that's the case. Save the budget for January imo. We've got enough to stay competitive until then. If we're in with a decent chance go and really try to add some quality in Jan anywhere we're short due to injuries/loss of form.
True, but his pace and ability to draw in defenders would create space for others who are more adept at finishing like.................. Okay, fair point. KWJ being the only real exception at the moment. Although maybe Macheda could be your man? Come on Stevo, back me up here.
Ready?........ Ok, unsurprisingly I'm going to bat for Macheda here. Fitness is a massive worry but from the football side of things lets see him fit in a decent passing side. Were were terrible last season, his and KWJ's ratio's were all the more impressive considering the dog **** service they and all our other strikers received. He'll score, the intelligence of his movement is top class, he has a decent touch and will fit into a passing side without issue. My tongue in cheek comment about no one wanting him was just that, I honestly believe Slade rates him. But the biggest issue still is whether he can be got up to fitness, if he can he could be a very important player but as he hasn't managed a full season in his entire career so far. I'm not holding my breath tbh.
Stevo, I don't necessarily disagree with you really but my concern is that these days football is a 11 man game and he just doesn't do enough off the ball. If he got enough chances per game, I'm pretty sure he'd put away his fair share but City still don't have the midfield creativity to feed him. City just do not have a Stephen Mcphail for example.
