I don't know everyone elses opinion on the matter but I for one have been very pleasantly surprise by the work rate and performance of Antonio recently. He has come back from the brink as I don't think anyone could have seen us keep him after him not playing much for us at all and being sent out to Northampton. However with 2 goals in 2 games, when I try to pick my best eleven German is probably not in it yet but certainly comes into my thinking. Clearly last year his attitude was just not acceptable as it is in the article attached but maybe this year he will finally deliver on potential, what do we think? A reborn player or a flash in the pan? http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/sport/german-pushing-for-place-20737/
Having seen very little of him playing and not knowing him to speak to I would find it hard to judge his attitude, he was young with potential when he came to us and might have been badly managed or he could have adopted a poor attitude to training and work ethic but without insider knowledge I can only guess. I'm happy to give him a clean slate and hope others will do the same, his chance looks to be coming and it's up to him whether he takes it or not.
I think it's more a case of fnding his level against the teams we've played so far. He misses far too many chances and ingeneral his end product is consistently poor.
I think he's too similar a player to Cody but isn't as assured in his finishing. It was quite clear that when he initially came to us on loan he was confident and proved to be a real nuisance. When he struck the bar from 30 or so yards out I thought he could be a real asset but his consistency proved to be his undoing, when you have a player like Cody who can always pop up with a goal there needs to be something concrete to displace him. Whilst I agree German appears to be doing better you have to ask if you would play him over Norris, Keds and Cody. We'll see how he does against Ipswich to see if he can continue his scoring against a bit more of a solid defence.
I might be missing something here and if that is the case I apologise, haven't all the strikers been getting 45 minutes per game, haven't all the strikers played the same lower league opposition, hasn't German outscored the others in open play, so why is he the weak link? so why do we not ask the question, should we play Norris, Keds, Cody ahead of German?
just playing devil's advocate when making comparisons between Cody and German, the former had an assistant i'm not sure German ever received the same style distribution. Cody's delivery man has gone and Cody's goals have dried up pre-season. In regards to the other two, Norris i cannot comment but Keds is physically capable of holding his own over the other three. That leads to who would I choose first....ain't a clue.
You have failed to mention Cody is also rubbish and living off former glories. Now that is how to play Devil's advocate
Cody is a proven finisher - and at least will 'chase' the ball. Akinfenwa may well have gone - but if we are to get the most out of McDonald's natural goal scoring ability, we need for his 'partner' to be reasonably close to him. There have been too many occasions when Kedwell and McDonald have been paired up - only for the two of them to be miles apart. I appreciate that on some of those occasions Cody was pushed to the wing or back into midfield ( I really could not understand the sense in these tactics of Taylor ) - and, quite honestly Cody was ineffective in those areas - and despite my 'preference' of him, it was virtually pointless him being on the pitch under those circumstances.
BSG that's not devils advocate that's just ridiculous. So 16 goals last season from open play in a team that just stayed up is a failure?! Get a grip seriously. Not concerned by his lack of pre season goals, from his past SUCCESSES he always starts slow before hitting form come late September, fine by me if he hits another 16 with more support all round this season.
Why does this keep being perpetuated as if Cody can only score with Bayo alongside him? Unless Cody's delivery man was someone else. Last season Cody scored 17 goals. 9 of them, count them, 9, thats over half of his goals, were scored when Bayo was not on the pitch. He was either not playing, or on the bench (subbed off, or not yet on) when Cody scored. Took me 10 mins to get this info on soccerbase. So how the heck does it work that he needs Bayo there? Arguably you could say he scored fewer goals when Bayo was with him (just 8). So he should get even more this season. Not having a go at you particularly here brb. I keep reading on all our forums that Cody needs Bayo alongside him. It just doesn't make any sense to me. Unless we are harping on about 4 seasons ago when Cody & Bayo played together and Cody got 25. But maybe he'd have scored those with someone else there anyway. We'll never know.
Fair comment Sir Keefy, as i applied, i was playing devil's advocate as most appear to be a Cody lover, than a German lover for want of better words. Personally i have no favourite out of the two, i would only comment that both of them must be given the same amount of minutes on the pitch equally before applying who is better than whom. As for Bayo if i was pushed on the subject and told to get off the fence, then i would say, that unless Cody has another delivery man, then his weaknesses will be exposed. It's got to be about the whole team set up though, not just two players, as it nearly cost us dear last season. Cody never appeared comfortable without Bayo around last season or four seasons ago, I'd be absolutely surprised if Cody even denied my statement himself, that's how convinced i am. With just two weeks to go now and on reviews i've seen, who would i start for the first six games, German or Cody...my answer German. If he don't take his chances then bring Cody back in. But i already assume that PT will start with the fans favourite (Cody) and if German makes one mistake he will be lynched in the same way as was Davies in defence. Today's supporters eh?...not applying any of that at you Sir Keefy.
Just for you SirKeefy - you will see that Cody was only 'properly' assisted by Akinfenwa for 6 of those 25 goals. I also credit Bayo with being in the vicinity on about 4 other occasions - and on quite a few times his natural goal/making & scoring ability created goals or finished off chances for himself. I quite like German - but he isn't quite up to Cody's mark just yet -- however ( as I previously stated ) Cody does need for the correct tactics and 'close' partner for the attack to be progressive. I shan't be happy if Taylor puts him in midfield ( he might as well be subbed ) -- and NOW there is no excuse to use him as a winger. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JX6Np9CP7w
Yes his 16 goals were very nice last season, but out of our three recognised starting strikers, his goals per games ratio was the poorest. We can't afford to carry a player for the opening months of a season and given current form I would be disappointed to see Cody starting come the 9th
Sorry BSG. I can't agree with that. Cody has scored 42 goals in 82 (+10subs) appearances for us, including 17 last season. Top 10 in div1 last season I think. Antonio has scored 7 goals in 39 (+49?subs) which is not in the same league ....yet. On 'current form' he might have 2 pre-season goals to Cody's none, but I think it a bit silly if he was to start ahead of Cody, even if he was to get another couple this week. I also think he might just be behind Norris in the pecking-order too. But not basing that on anything solid.
SirKeefy - You're speaking logically, therefore BSG will struggle to understand. I will however, as i've said on another thread, say that German was good on Saturday, and if he goes on to be our main striker and bag 15 goals this season whilst Cody scores 2 then i'll happily eat my hat. But i think my hats can sleep easily for now.
In an ideal world Cody will get 15+ again, Keds will get around that mark, Norris and German will back up with 10 each and we'll have a shed load from the midfield. As I said.........in an ideal world Oh, I will add again though. It is brilliant that Antonio is being talked of in terms of being a decent prospect up front and playing well, scoring goals. Last year he was everyones favorite to go on loan to the Conference or shipped out altogether. Funny old game.
Just to clarify, I didn't suggest that German should be starting ahead of Cody, merely that given his current from I don't think he should be guaranteed a starting position. There are many alternatives; Keds up front on his tod with suppoort from wide via McGlashan and Dickenson (who seems to have an eye for goal) etc. It just seems to me that changing the system or personell or tactic or whatever; just to get the best out of a certain player than it probably not worth it. Also just as an aside; Gills-man-Ant-Dog, putting aside your petty insults, do you actually understand the concept of "Devil's Advocate"?
I don't think i've aimed any insults to you, just pointed out that your comments are complete tosh (Is that another insult?!) Understand it perfectly thank you, BRB was playing devils advocate, you were either just trying to wind people up or never actually watch us play.
"You're speaking logically, therefore BSG will struggle to understand" I think that would count as an insult, you are implying that I do not understand logic, hardly complimentary. I merely took brb's concept and took it its extreme, purely for discussion. As for winding people up, you appear to be the only one to disagree and feel the need to belittle. Anyhoo a serious question: If Cody was a new signing to the club; given his current form would you hand him a starting place come the 9th August?
