The Matt Smith move is a shame, but makes it very clear that Kit doesn't rate him. Perhaps it means that Taggart is close to first team fitness, or perhaps it's just that Kit has lots of confidence in Woodrow and Dembele as back up to Hugo. Either way, I'd have liked to have seen Smith given more of a chance.
Agree with you on seeing more of Smith. He and McCormack did after all share a few goals up at Leeds and successful partnerships is something we've been lacking for a while. I suspect you're also correct in saying that Kit has a preference (was going to say, 'blinkers' but thought that might bring on a specs joke) for Woodrow and Dembele. It may be also that he wants our system to be 'on the ground football' and feels that a 6'6" front man wouldn't suit that. However, if recent games are anything to by, our play has included a significant number of hoofs forward where we haven't had the presence or ability to win/retain possession. The Blackpool game was just one of those crying out for Smith to come off the bench. So, yes, shame.
I suspect he is regretting that rather ill-advised lunge on his debut. If he managed to get a few games under his belt he may have demonstrated some ability. However, we don't see him on the training pitch and maybe he just wasn't up to it, like several others Felix landed us with.
Load of our guys in action at the weekend, with Josh Passley's debut at Shrewsbury having to be the pick of the bunch. Here's the round-up from the Club: "Ryan Tunnicliffe played 90 minutes as Blackburn Rovers scored at the death to draw 1-1 away at Middlesbrough on Saturday. Boro looked to have won the game when Patrick Bamford saw his effort deflect into the back of the net on 83 minutes, before the visitors equalised in stoppage time in controversial circumstances. Home goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos looked to have been fouled at a corner as Rudy Gestede crashed the ball home in the fourth minute of stoppage time, but the goal stood and the points shared keeps both sides in the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off places. A day earlier in League One, Matt Smith made his Bristol City debut as a substitute in their 3-0 win at Peterborough United. Luke Freeman had scored either side of Aaron Wilbraham’s finish to put the visitors in control, before Smith replaced Kieran Agard with seven minutes remaining. The win temporarily sent City four points clear at the top of League One. The next day in the division, Stephen Arthurworrey played the entirety of Yeovil Town’s 2-0 defeat by Preston North End. Paul Huntington had broken the deadlock after just five minutes on his return to Huish Park, before Ryan Inniss was sent off for the home side midway through the second period for a two-footed challenge. Paul Gallacher then sewed things up as 90 minutes approached to leave Yeovil in the relegation places. Marcello Trotta scored his first Barnsley goal but it proved to be in vain as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat by Scun thorpe United at Oakwell. The Italian produced an emphatic first-time finish with his left foot to find the top corner on 29 minutes, but the lead lasted just 60 seconds when Paddy Madden capitalised on a defensive error to hook the ball in. And the Sc**thorpe striker grabbed what proved to be the winner in first-half stoppage time when he dribbled from the halfway line before coolly dispatching a strike into the far corner. In League Two, Josh Passley made a winning start to his Shrewsbury Town career as a late Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro effort saw them defeat Burton Albion 1-0. The 20-year-old took Jack Grimmer’s place at right-back for the Shrews. Manager Micky Mellon was pleased with his input, “Without exaggerating, he must have put in eight top-draw crosses and I’m disappointed that we couldn’t get on the end of them,” he told Town TV. “They were as good as I’ve seen here. He’s a great replacement for Jack who we lost midweek so we can keep moving forward.” In the Vanarama Conference, Lyle Della Verde came on for the final 16 minutes of Bristol Rovers’ 2-0 home win over Welling United. Nathan Blissett scored the game’s first goal eight minutes after the restart with a dinked finish, before United’s Jake Gallagher was given his marching orders following a foul on Lee Mansell. Matty Taylor then doubled the Pirates’ advantage from the penalty spot after he’d been fouled by Zac ***an, as Rovers made it six matches unbeaten.”
Like me Cottager you must have watched Josh many times, I personally rate him and with league experience could be a good future prospect, wishing him well at his stay with the Shrews.
Lyle Della Verde has had his loan spell at Bristol Rovers extended until Sunday 4th January 2015. please log in to view this image The midfielder initially joined the Vanarama Conference side in early November and made his debut in the FA Cup defeat away at Tranmere Rovers. Since then he's made five league appearances for the Pirates, and is yet to be on the losing side
Last night’s outings, and what looks like a nasty injury for LDV - ”Marcello Trotta played a little over an hour of Barnsley’s 1-1 home draw with Doncaster Rovers in Tuesday’s Sky Bet League One encounter. The Italian saw a half-chance fall his way following a second minute corner, but with a raft of defenders in his way he was unable to find the target with his shot. But the Tykes didn’t have to wait long for the breakthrough, as Lewin Nyatanga headed in from another corner three minutes later. Theo Robinson – who missed a penalty against Fulham in the Capital One Cup earlier in the season – restored parity shortly after half-time when he tucked home the rebound after his initial shot had been saved. The result moves Barnsley one spot up to 14th in the League One standings. In the Vanarama Conference, Lyle Della Verde was replaced after 24 minutes of Bristol Rovers’ eventful goalless draw away at Wrexham. please log in to view this image Lyle Della-Verde goes over on his ankle awkwardly following a heavy challenge. The Pirates played more than half the match without a recognised goalkeeper following an injury picked up by Steve Mildenhall late in the first half. With no keeper on the bench, defender Mark McChrystal donned the gloves. Wrexham had a setback of their own shortly after when Rob Evans was shown a straight red card for a dangerous challenge, but neither side could capitalise on the other’s frailties and were forced to settle for a point apiece. The draw moves Rovers up into third in the table.”
The weekend round-up and mixed fortunes in the Cup: Stephen Arthuworrey played the entirety of Yeovil Town’s 1-1 draw at Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup with Budweiser Second Round on Saturday. The Sky Bet League One outfit took the lead against the run of play on half an hour when Jordan Clarke got on the end of Sam Foley’s free-kick. Tom Aldred grabbed a deserved equaliser for League Two Stanley on 64 minutes when he kept his cool before firing a composed finish inside the far corner. Both sides had chances to snatch a winner, with the Glovers going closest through Arthurworrey’s stoppage-time header which was tipped over for a corner. The teams will now meet again in the Replay at Huish Park on Tuesday 16th December. Elsewhere in the competition, Josh Passley saw 90 minutes as Shrewsbury Town lost 1-0 at Preston North End. The hosts took the lead when Paul Huntingdon fired high into the roof of the net on 19 minutes, and they should have doubled their lead when awarded a penalty in the second half, but Paul Gallagher ballooned his spot-kick over the bar. Ryan Tunnicliffe came on as a 66th-minute substitute as Blackburn Rovers slipped to a late defeat by Sheffield Wednesday at Ewood Park in the Championship. The visitors had made the perfect start when Kieron Lee netted from close range, although Alex Baptiste equalised for Rovers just after a quarter of an hour. Tunnicliffe went close to breaking the deadlock with a fine volley that was pushed over the bar by Wednesday goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, before substitute Claude Dielna won it in the third minute of stoppage time with an effort from 25 yards that took a deflection on its way through. The result leaves Blackburn sitting in seventh spot, one point off the Play-Off places. On Sunday, Marcello Trotta played 90 minutes as Barnsley were held to a goalless draw by Chester City in the FA Cup. The Vanarama Conference side can perhaps even feel aggrieved that the tie will go to a Replay, having hit the crossbar, had two efforts cleared off the line and seeing a goal chalked off for offside. The Tykes’ best chance came when substitute Dale Jennings fired a yard wide after working space for himself in the area. The sides will now meet again in Chester next Tuesday.”
There seem to be various reports circulating that Kaca will be recalled in Jan. No point bringing him back and not playing him so he must be part of Kit's plans. Any thoughts? Left side of the diamond? In the Ruiz position if he goes? Or is a change of shape imminent?
As well as Matt Smith the other lads had a decent weekend. Performance of the day though has to be Stephen Arthurworrey’s against Man United. ”Stephen Arthurworrey played the full 90 minutes as Yeovil Town put in a brave performance on Sunday, only to go down 2-0 to Manchester United in the FA Cup Third Round. please log in to view this image Sky Bet League One’s bottom club held their own at Huish Park in the first half, and were presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead 10 minutes after the restart, but Kieffer Moore couldn’t get any power on his shot when the ball dropped to him in the box, allowing David De Gea to easily claim. It proved an important miss as United took the lead not long after. The ball sat up kindly for Ander Herrera and the Spaniard lashed in a stunning volley from 20 yards to put the 11-time competition winners in front. The Glovers refused to throw in the towel, though, and Joseph Edwards was unlucky to see his diving header cleared off the line by Angel Di Maria. But United wrapped things up in the final minute of normal time. With Yeovil attacking, Wayne Rooney got hold of the ball and launched it up field to send Di Maria through, and the Argentina international kept his cool to dink beyond home keeper Jed Steer. Despite the result, Arthurworrey won plaudits for his display, and facing the likes of Rooney, Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Juan Mata will no doubt prove to be great experience for the 20-year-old. In Sky Bet League Two, Josh Passley played the full game as Shrewsbury Town slipped to a narrow 1-0 loss at fellow promotion chasers Burton Albion. Defender George Taft half-volleyed in the game’s only goal on the hour mark, as Burton leapfrogged Shrewsbury into second in the standings. On the other side of the Channel, Maarten Stekelenburg kept a clean sheet as Monaco defeated Nimes 2-0 in the Coupe de France. Bernardo Silva opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark, with Valere Germain sewing things up in stoppage time at the end of the match. In Greece, Kostas Mitroglou hit the winner as Olympiakos secured a 2-1 win at home to Platanias. Delvin Ndinga had put the hosts in front with a brilliant first-time finish on 17 minutes, only for Platanias to draw level shortly after the interval through Juan Nunez Aguilera. But Mitroglou had the final say on 73 with an easy finish from close range, before being substituted five minutes before full-time."
Josh Passley has returned home after his loan deal with Shrewsbury expired, having made 7 appearances for them.
The Club have also confirmed that: Ryan Williams and Lyle Della Verde have returned following the expiry of their respective loan deals with Barnsley and Bristol Rovers. And that 18-year-old goalkeeper Marek Rodák has joined up with Conference South outfit Farnborough on a two-month youth loan. Boro currently sit just outside the relegation zone.
Already had a post about Matt Smith scoring freely last weekend. But so did Kostas Mitroglou. Here’s the Club note about him and how the other lads got on - ”Stephen Arthurworrey featured for the full 90 minutes for the Glovers, whose afternoon was made harder when Ben Nugent was shown a straight red card 26 minutes in following an altercation with George Waring. And it was on-loan Waring who made the breakthrough in the game when he tapped home just after the restart, before the Tykes wrapped things up through Conor Hourihane’s 75th-minute penalty after he’d been felled by visiting goalkeeper Jed Steer. There was a professional debut for Marek Rodák as he was named in goal for Farnborough’s 2-2 draw with Maidenhead United in the FA Trophy at York Road. Boro went in front with just four minutes played when Louie Theophanous crashed the ball in following a corner. They were dealt a blow just before half-time, though, when Darryl Siaw was contentiously shown a second yellow card and sent from the pitch. Maidenhead pushed for an equaliser which eventually arrived on 73 minutes when Reece Tison-Lascaris converted from a cross, before they went in front on 86 through Dave Tarpey. But Farnborough didn’t let their heads drop and the 10 men drew level just two minutes later through Adam Brice to force a Replay. It was a positive debut for 18-year-old Rodák, who made a number of saves to keep Maidenhead at bay throughout the 90 minutes. In Greece, Kostas Mitroglou scored twice as Olympiakos left Xanthi with a 3-1 victory on Sunday. The striker headed his side in front on 19 minutes when he connected unmarked with a free-kick from the right, before Mathieu Dossevi tucked in from Ibrahim Afellay’s cross after half an hour for 2-0. Mitroglou then just about managed to force the ball over the line from a corner shortly after the restart for his 12th goal of the season, with Adrian Lucero pulling one back for Xanthi late on. The result saw Olympiakos move above PAOK to the top of the Super League.”
As suggested by Kit in one of his recent internal interviews, Cameron Burgess has joined Scottish Premiership side Ross County on loan until the end of the season. please log in to view this image "The 19-year-old broke into the Whites first team at the beginning of the campaign, starting the first four games. However, he has since only played Under-21 football and has now been farmed out to gain more experience. Burgess was born in Aberdeen and has played for Scotland Under-19s, but last year switched allegiance to Australia, where he lived from the age of 11. He joins a Ross County side who sit second from bottom in the Scottish Premiership, after just two wins in 20 league games."
With Bodorov, Hutchinson, Burn and (assuming he doesn't move on this month Amorbieta all ahead of him, this makes a lot of sense.
It does indeed Captain. And I've just read that he signed a new contract, taking him up to 30th June 2017, at the same time. Which makes even more sense. please log in to view this image Sounds as though we're firming up on that date for all the youngstars (that was meant as a pun, not a typo).
I having seen Burgess in many games both 1st team and under 21s I feel he could become our future long term centre half, and loaning him out can only improve his chances of making him a regular, maybe next season. ?
No goals this weekend for our strikers out on loan but both of their clubs are still topping their Leagues. Here’s the Club round-up - ”Matt Smith played 90 minutes as Bristol City won 2-0 at Scunthorpe United on Saturday, but the result was marred by two serious injuries suffered by both of the home side’s goalkeepers. First-choice keeper Sam Slocombe went off with a broken arm inside the first 10 minutes after punching a cross away from danger. His replacement Jamie Severn was beaten by Jay Emmanuel-Thomas’ 35th-minute penalty after Smith had been fouled. Severn then had to be withdrawn with an identical injury as he denied Smith who had burst through one-on-one. Defender Andy Boyce was forced to take the gloves but he conceded just once when Emmanuel-Thomas set up Luke Freeman who killed the game with a placed finish with five minutes left to play. The win keeps the Robins level on points with Swindon Town at the top of Sky Bet League One. Elsewhere in the division, Stephen Arthurworrey helped Yeovil Town to a crucial 1-0 win over Bradford City at Huish Park. The defining moment of the match arrived on 26 minutes when debutant Gozie Ugwu headed in from Kieffer Moore’s flick-on. The Glovers remain bottom despite the result, but are now just three points from safety. In the Vanarama Conference South, Marek Rodák was in goal as Farnborough Town were beaten 4-1 away to Hemel Hempstead. The Slovakian made a good save to deny Dennis Oli early on, but was beaten on 20 minutes when James Potton headed in from a corner. It was 2-0 shortly after half-time when Ryan Newman capitalised on an Ollie Treacher error, before Potton grabbed his second and Hemel’s third just after the hour mark. Zane Banton then made it four with a deflected strike, although Louie Theophanous grabbed a late consolation for Farnborough who sit 21st in the standings. In Greece, Kostas Mitroglou played the entirety of Olympiakos’ 2-0 victory at home to Panetolikos. The hosts went in front on 69 minutes through Mathieu Dossevi’s effort, before Giannis Maniatis wrapped things up in stoppage time as Olympiakos consolidated their place at the top of the Super League.
Yeovil are still struggling but the big lad seems to be getting a lot from the experience - "Stephen Arthurworrey helped Yeovil Town to an impressive 1-1 draw away to Preston North End in Sky Bet League One on Tuesday evening. please log in to view this image The Glovers went in front in first half stoppage time when Sam Foley’s free-kick was flicked on and Gozie Ugwu was in the right place to fire in his second goal in as many games for the club. Arthurworrey went close to extending the lead when he met Foley’s corner with quarter of an hour remaining, but he sent his header just wide. That miss proved costly as Preston equalised a minute later when Kevin Davies played Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in, and the striker kept his cool to round Town goalkeeper Jed Steer and slot the ball into the net. Yeovil remain bottom of the standings after the draw, but are now just two points off 20th-place Leyton Orient."
