I hate to bring up old ground (well not that much) but earlier in the season didn't you say JWM that you'd drive him to Villa if they offered £3 million for him? I know Tommy has been superb this season but I think Cresswell has been our most consistent player throughout the course. He's usually a 7/10 every match. I think in the past his been overly criticised defensively and even sometimes going forward because he really hasn't had a great deal of support on that left wing, often it's like he's expected to run that entire side himself!! What a young promising back line we could have in the making though!! Hewitt, Cresswell and Smith and Chambers isn't exactly old!!
Yes I did PTC and to be fair I think a lot of us would have done the same thing but he has improved just like Tommy and Chambers have. Cresswell is by no means the finished article but he is now showing real promise and Mick knows that he's got a very good player on his hands.
Definately! A very good replacement for Edwards down that Right Hand Side. He showed some good quality against Villa earlier this year and I am sure we will see him more often next season. Very exciting times when you consider that we have Loach, Cresswell, Tommy, Chambers, Hewitt, Hyam, Wordy & McGoldrick now providing the core nucleus of the team. A few key additions like Stearman who is the most important target imo plus a Striker and a creative CM and we will be a force next season.
I have to say I don't see any difference in him now as to what I did before, I've always thought he played well. It's just now we've got a much better defensive unit so he is less exposed. I mean he's not the best defensively but I think he's decent enough and has been overly criticised for this part of his game!! As with Cresswell I think Hewitt is a full back not a winger, although I'm sure both could play as a wing back.
Well he obviously decided to only play gash when I watched him earlier in the season! There is no doubt he is improving but I have to say that when Villa allegedly put in the £3 Million offer for him I would have taken it. This is the thing about football, it is a constantly evolving thing as it changes all the time. Another example is Tommy Smith! Who would have had him down for player of the season at the beginning? Most of us were ready to write him off and now he is just awesome!
True JWM, I remember you not being to complimentary about Tommy either. He did have some pretty awful performances at the start of the season but again I always thought he had showed enough in the past for there still to be a decent player in there, although I don't think anyone could've predicted how good he's been since Micks been here, he;s been awesome
I think we should stick with Loach as number one. People have criticised his kicking and coming for crosses but there is no doubt that he is a good shot stopper. This for me is the most important aspect of being a 'keeper, and he's good at it. I think he just needs to build some confidence and knowing that he is first choice will help that no end. That confidence will give him the belief to come for crosses more often. At the moment you feel that he just doesn't want to make a big mistake and be put out in the cold again.
I'm with you San Diego on loach. Since he's had a run in the team his confidence has come on and with a now quite stingy defence in front of him he can show the promise that had him in the u21's. as for cressy I liked the lad from day one and will only improve
I'm not so sure about Loach. I think he's been unlucky to loose his place this season and I don't think it's an absolute priority position to strengthen but I'm not overly sure he's got what it takes to be our long term No.1, he's just not confident enough coming off his line!!
I really don't want to lose any of our defence, but if we got an offer like the Wickham deal it would be crazy to turn it down. It will be 2 steps forward 1 step back if we always end up selling our best/most promising players but with FFP coming in then if we can sell 1 player to bring in 2 or 3 decent ones it might be our best shot at giving us more depth in the squad. Loach I think is a decent shot stopper, but he just doesn't catch the ball enough! It would make me feel a LOT safer if he could just hold on to it. His kicking is weak, but that always comes second to his ability to keep the ball out of the net! I think purely for the fact he is a true blue and would play his heart out for the club I will give him the benefit of the doubt and hope he can keep his place. He is still young for a GK so has plenty of time to improve.
Always our problem wrighty. Big enough money offered for our best players it's almost impossible to turn down. The ffp may bring some parity but I'm assuming those relegated from prem will still have parachute payments.
