Probably wasn't a bad thing to see just how far away we are from having a side capable of surviving in the Prem. West Ham were worthy winners on the night but I think they will struggle should they go up unless they make significant investments in the squad. So where does that leave us? - I've tried to be dispassionate in my preformance ratings but have also commented on my view of likelihood to make it longer term in the Premiership. Kasper - Did most things well - did well to get even a hand to Collison's quality strike. PREMIERSHIP - Yes I think so - keepers tend to get better with age and he has potential Konchesky - gave the ball away too many times and seems vulnerable when confronted with and real skill and pace - more worryingly always likely to make a rash challenge in and around the penalty area. PREMIERSHIP - Not a longer term option for me - for reasons given - and as Liverpool soon found out. Morgan - Solid, robust performance - wonderfully timed tackle on Carlton Cole in the first half. PREMIERSHIP - yes; will hold is own. Bamba - loved it when he moved into midfield - gave us more competitiveness and a couple of his runs proved very dangerous and hard for West Ham to cope with - reminded me a little of a younger version of Patrick Viera (admittedly still needs a lot of development). PREMIERSHIP - again a yes - not least for his versatility. Peltier - far better going forward than he is defending but is young and can improve that side of his game. Arguably our most pptent arial threat at set pieces. Should have stuck a leg out to stop the crss for their first goal (St ledger did succesfully - if a little worryingly (OG all over it) in the second half. PREMIERSIP - is young and has potential - a maybe. Drinkwater - combative and seems a good prospect. PREMIERSHIP - I think so with more experience. King - off the pace currently but has a proven record of getting goals from midfield. PREMIERSHIP - with some beefing up and the right players around him - yes in time. Wellens - OK at this level - unlucky injury last night. PREMIERSHIP - not a long term solution for me. Marshall - gets better with every game. Good close control and, what I really liked (Lloyd Dyer take note) looked up and picked out his man for Beckford's goal - on a plate. PREMIERSHIP - a real gem - great big Yes Beckford - took the goal well but his last minute 'cross' was a typical example of his limitations as a footballer. Can score if played to him in the right areas but we need to be well on top in games to justify his inclusion given his limitations everywhere else on the park. PREMIERSHIP - not for me - would he be first choice forward in any current Prem side? I don't believe so. Nugent - had an excellent season for us at this level - but temds to be anonymous when we come up against the better opposition - e.g West Ham and Chelsea. PREMIERSHIP - I think he can help get us there - but I would fear for his effective ness at the next level. Subs etc: Dyer - I love the guy - just wish he had a final pass PREMIERSHIP - his pace and trickery can trouble even the best defenders - he needs to be more cnfident in his own ability and to improve his delivery - if he can then he may stll be an effective option at that level Danns - PREMIERSHIP - yes Mills - PREMIERSHIP - doubtful - distribution lets him down - as a ball winner paired with a more skillful partener - perhaps Waggy - good cameo yesterday - showed in that brief spell that his control and movement are far superior to Beckford - PREMIERSHIP - Yes in time Schlupp - PREMIERSHIP - potentially? Yes. St Ledger - Did well after he came on - PREMIERSHIP - questionable. Just my opinions - would welcome those of others.
you state that most of your players could cut it in the premiership yet you lie mid table in the championship. Danns a resounding yes to being premiership material?!?. I thought this article was entitled Reality Check!
I personally think your being a bit generous there, my opinion is that: Prem: Kasper, Bamba, Nugent, Konchesky (if he learns to tackle better, cause Young would get about 5 penalties against him) Future / Potential Prem: Drinkwater, Marshall, Waghorn, Schlupp, Peltier, Danns, Beckford (deserves another chance there imo) Not Prem: King, Wellens, Howard, St Ledger, Gallagher, Vassell, Dyer + anyone else i havn't mentioned. Undecided on: Morgan, Mills
If you had read it properly you would have noticed the caveats on many of the players that you feel I have said can cut it - words and phrases like 'potential' 'longer term' 'maybe' 'yes in time' etc - that is hardly an assertion of Premiership quality currently .. in fact the only ones that I was bullish about in a current context were: Schmeichel - supposedly the subject of a summer bid from Spurs Morgan - Bamba - reportedly subject of a bid by Everton during last closes season Marshall - who came from a prem side who did not want to sell (Stoke) and Danns - possibly our best player over the last quarter of the season prior to injury So yes - I do believe that the perspective is very realistic - I suspect that most Leeds fans would come up with more than 5 from their current squad.
sorry but to me bamba is a liability at the back and shouldnt be considered for that position he didnt offer much in the reshuffled midfield either. Morgan was my clear man of the match last night and I cant see West Ham winning the playoffs. Crowd last night was 23000 and those cheeky buggars sang your grounds too big for you--------------I cant wait to see their fans bouncing around the olympic stadium
glynak Have sympathy with your view of Sol in defence but he did make a difference to our competitiveness when moved into midfield - he also went on a couple of mazy runs that had the West Ham defence in a real panic - the fact that he can also play central defence is a bonus - don't forget he played every game for the Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations without conceding a goal - in a competition with forwards the like of Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse, Gyan, Kalou, Drogba etc
The only players i think we have who can cut it in the prem right now is Kasper Schmeichel and Sol Bamba Players like Morgan, Nugent, St. Ledger, Peltier, Danns, Dyer will always be very good players but this is as high as they can go Schlupp, Waghorn, Drinkwater, Marshall, Mills, King all have the potential to be prem players Konchesky and Vassell have esablished themselves in the prem before but i doubt they could ago. Age is catching up with them
I think we should be careful when it comes to judging players' value based on their potential ability in the Prem. I would say the likes of Norwich have proved that you don't need outstanding individuals to succeed in the PL and it's more about how they bed into the team.
Not sure what you mean by 'value' in your post - presumably not monetary?- I take the point that a 'team' can often surpass the sum of its individuals and that there will always be some individuals that are 'unsung heroes' - but it is often the case that you get found out sooner or later i.e Hull and Blackpool (in recent times) if you lack overall quality. Norwich have done well - Swansea have done better, in my mind, - because of the way they play (seems a no brainer to me that the more possession you have the more likely you are to score and therefore win) - but both teams have some decent individuals that would likely go for significant sums if put up for transfer - I see Hoffenheim have put a £10 million valuation on Gylfi Sigurdsson - who I think is a smashing player). Currently we are a long way behind both but another season could see development of our good younger talent - hopefully to the point that at this time next season, we ae in with a chance of promotion and with a solid core of players that with some additions won't merely be looking to survive, but to giving real games to the top clubs like Swansea and Wigan (recently) have been doing.
Yeah, sorry if I didn't make it clear - it was value in terms of what they can offer us in the Premier League. And, for me, the second paragraph is spot on. It also fits NP's transfer policy pretty well in that it'll be mainly younger players with points to prove (Drinkwater, Marshall), supplemented with a bit of experience (Morgan). It's what's served the likes of Norwich and Swansea well this season and I think it'll be the same case for Reading next season. Whilst they might not have the individuals of West Ham, they're a better team. I do think players like Konchesky, Wellens and Gallagher - as squad players - will do a job for us next season and then hopefully we'll improve on them should we get promotion rather than making wholesale changes again this summer which I think is the worst thing we could do.
I think we are on the same page ... what I would like to see over the summer is for NP to bring in a mix of experience and potential for the forward line - partly because we do not keep the ball as much as we should in the last third - hence I'm hoping he might pick up Heskey on a free (and at a reasonable wage) plus one of Vardy or Rhodes (the latter named more in hope) - I think Bruno could still do a real job at this level (if you could keep him fit) plus Waggy and Schlupp can learn from him in terms of hold up and linking play -with a supply line from Marshall, Dyer, Drinkwater, King and Danns (particularly Marshall) I think we would move forward considerably in terms of consistency and conversion of chances ...
though im very fond of heskey, he would spend more time on the treatment table than the pitch, you couldn't build a stable team on 12 games a season from him im afraid.
I was watching the goals back on TV and the first goal was absolutely shocking defender from Peltier. First he didnt get out to his man and then he didnt get in line with the crosser. Then he just stood there and watch the cross come into the box. I think that really annoys me about Peltier is his doesnt ever run with the ball. He jogs everywhere and when ever they close him down he cuts inside and plays the safe option. Once in a while i want him to take on the player. Kyle Naughton was doing that all season and terrorised every player he ran at. I think we do need some decent competition at right back next season as I dont think Peltier is good enough to be first choice on his current form
I want Moore to play next season. Looks like the new Micah Richards. Well built, fast, direct and committed.
