I don't really see an issue with discussing who each user thinks shoulds start Gemini and although i've firmly been in the Cody camp and in disagreement with BSG, I don't ever remember reading a personal dig to Cody. Whatever is written on here is opinion, and given most discussions this time of year are around team selection then obviously people are going to state who they wish to start! However although my backing has been with Cody, if German was to start or anyone else to that matter then they will have my full support for the MK Dons game and every game thereafter, and i'm sure i speak for everyon on here in that regard.
I agree, football in general tends to put players in that stardom, or fans favourite category thing. Then other players get overlooked, hence I just merely try to address the balance.
Agree with that brb, and in general you always want the player in form picked in the team. But I still think Cody's 'form' of 17 goals in League 1 last season shouldn't be overlooked in favour of someone who's scored 4 goals v Faversham & Welling (or whoever). Good on Antonio, and he's putting his name forward. But if I were one of our better players over a long period and was then dropped just because someone had a blinder v sunday park X1 I'd be fuming. I think that would send a far worse message to players than just having to wait your chance then seize the opportunity when it arises. And in games that matter. As I said earlier, how many top scorers from last season do you honestly think won't (or shouldn't) start for their teams this season? I know I'd pick my top scorer.
Overall, it's good news that German is scoring. Whether or not he displaces Cody is for PT to decide but Cody to me is a player that can pull the rabbit out of the hat in an otherwise uneventful game; I give you his two touch bicycle kick against Wallsall last year. There isn't a need as such to chastise individual players but documenting one's weaknesses is a core part in speculating a starting XI. I'm sure we all want a squad where no matter who starts up front, if we pick up a knock or make an early sub we put someone on who has a similarly dangerous goal scoring input. PT has constantly mentioned bulking the squad and he has done that well, if he has managed to get German, a player who hadn't set league 2 on fire at Northampton last season, playing on full cylinders then I doff my cap. Personally I would always have Cody on the pitch until he's injured or run into the ground, I wouldn't object to German pairing him if Kedwell's style of play doesn't coincide with the opponents weakness'. I've been on long shifts throughout the week and haven't been able to post, things got pretty heavy in this thread eh?
I don't understand why the "quality of opposition" matters, all of the strikers have been facing the same quality and some have scored, some have not. Are we suggesting that certain strikers haven't put in the effort and only perform when it suits them or they have fitness issues, Ipswich were strong opposition and whilst no strikers scored German was by far and away the best performance of the group. I do appreciate what Cody and Keds have done in the past but this is the present, how long do we give people to perform before making a change, how long before the confidence of the benched players becomes an issue. Taylor will have the final word and I will support whoever he chooses, I just hope he chooses players on current form and not past sentiment.
I really hope that Cody scores tomorrow so people lay off his back. He is our key striker, proven over a period of time therefore we should do what we can to service him. In the friendlies i've seen so far he's hardly had a shot on goal so something isn't right with the service. When German has been playing, service was better, i couldn't tell you why but that's what happened! Dismissing Cody, the goalscorer, FACT, for German who has had a good pre season is ludicrous. I seem to remember Dack scoring 5 last pre-season and 6 the season before, did we start with him up front against Colchester last year? No. Cody will hit form as he always does at some point, and when that happens, i'll be happily watching (along with a couple of others on here) knowing i was right.
Firstly no one is getting on any ones back, this isn't about criticism of any players but picking the players on form. As for Dack starting up front after scoring in pre-season he is a mid-fielder not a striker, and Colchester was perhaps a bad choice of game, remember we lost at home without scoring.
Of course, but clearly you understand the point I was making. Pre-season means very little, only fringe players ie German will give their everything against lower league opposition, others will be praying not to get injured (remember Birchall) Taylor would have used the opportunity to sort formations and get the fitness back up, let's see how we shape up after 5 or 10 games.
Its about time we had a lively debate here, its been a bit quiet this summer! I haven't seen any pre season matches and I am pleased to see German in good goalscoring form, but I am also an advocate of the old adage Form is temporary - Class is permanent and Cody's record suggest's he has a little bit of class, but to me he does appear to come back a little heavy and take a while to get up to speed, so to my mind he gets an hour in the opening game (longer if he scores or is looking really good) and Antonio gets 30 mins to make an impression. But in the end its a good dilemma for the manager to have and I for one don't envy him, but I wholeheartedly agree that whoever is picked should be given our full support and that if the more inexperienced German is selected we must not get on his back if the first few balls into him don't stick.
German has scored goals a plenty in pre-season but let me remind you all of Luke Rooney who had a terrific pre-season with us before being quite the opposite when it came to the league 2 campaign in which he eventually left. My point is that the proof of all these claims will come when our campaign starts, fair play to German as he has certainly come back with a better attitude and has done all he can to stake a claim, however Cody is proven at this level and his goalscoring record for Gills is impressive to say the least. I also agree that Cody is the only player in that team who I believe has the ability to create something from nothing.
I seem to be the lone voice swimming against the current but what the hell. Luke Rooney did have a good pre-season and was then so poor he earned us a nice £300,000 when he moved too Swindon. I have no problem with Cody getting a start against MK but how many games does he get if he is not scoring, last year we were poor in pre-season and carried that over into the league, can we really afford to do the same again. Remember when talking about Germans previous form "he is only 22 years old" Torres had an unbelievable scoring record at Liverpool but has failed to live up to the hype since, past form can be a good indicator but also it can be just history.
I think everyone wants to see Cody banging in the goals and hope he hits a bit of form sooner rather than later. He has got a very good goalscoring record but for whatever reason he has dropped off recently and was a little inconsistent last season. Hopefully it want be long before he gets back to his best but what is the problem giving a young upcoming player in good form, a couple of starts while Cody gets back to his best? People have said give Cody 60 minutes and German 30 minute to prove himself, but currently I feel it is Cody who needs to put the work in training and prove himself. Of course if German doesn't cut the mustard we can always turn back to Cody.
