Morning, I see alot of you lads talking about noble. I've only ever seen a pictures of him and no idea how good he is but do you not think he is in a similar position to shave fergusson at Newcastle where he will need to put some bulk on to deal with the rigours of this league. Especially as a striker going up against big centre halfs. Just how I see it mind and maybe why he is being used sparingly.
Not sure which game some of you were watching. Colback worked his b******s off, he was replaced because he was knackered. Even our glorious match of the day pundits picked him out as sunderland's manof the match. I think he has great potential, he is confident on the ball, gets stuck into opposition, has vision and makes some great forward runs. Alas, some of his colleagues (eg O'Shea) don't have the vision to see those runs. OK, I admit he doesn't get it right every time, but who dose?, and he needs a few lessons in finishing. Still reminds me of a young Scholes, but a better tackler!!
Thought Colback did OK defensively but he cannot pass a ball forward. 2 or 3 times he got the ball in a midfield area and had 30 yards of grass in front of him and he stopped and went sideways to a man under more pressure than he was when he should be running with the ball - all about opinions though this game isn't it!! I personally think he needs some time out of the side - even on the bench for a few games - Meyler and Cattermole are both better in that position IMO
I thought Colback did well, though probably not MOM (Vaughan gets that for me). When Colback got through in the 2nd half, he failed to shoot cos he got muscled of the ball by 3 spurs players. Only someone of Rooney's mass and centre of gravity would have been able to get the shot away. I also thought "why the **** didnt you shoot" until I say the replay of it.
Neill. It's a funny old game mate as someone once said and two people watching the same match will often see different things. I agree and have said, Colback was fantastic imo. Not sure about the Scholes thing mind just yet because the one thing young Jack isn't yet is a goal threat. Scholes was a regular 10 goal a season player even at 20. You wonder if Colback will be a 20 goal career. That apart though, he is well worth his place in the team imo and should not be dropped.
Cest and Welder, I'm not disagreeing with you I just cant see why we keep on playing Sess in the striker role because I think we may have got a draw yesterday with Sess on the wing and a second striker. What I have seen of Noble and heard about him I am lost why first Bruce and now O'Neil wont give him a chance. MON said after the game what we all know, we are making the chances just not putting them away but we have a natural who we dont play. There is somthing not right with the Noble thing and I wish someone would tell me what, we would be asking that question with Bruce so why not with O'Neil?
NOBLE: two seasons ago SAF didn't play Welbeck because he thought he was light weight, immature and 'not ready' for his United team - we saw Welbeck develop as a player, muscle up and gain in confidence with us. Look at Welbeck now! Perhaps, Noble needs to be playing regularly in the championship for a while, so lets send him out on loan for his own personal development. Then, go and buy the finished article, a proven goalscorer and someone with the mental strength to cope in the prem. Noble is NOT the answer to our needs yet! I would hate to see him ruined by thrusting him in too early - lets trust O'Neill to know what he is doing.
I'm not saying Noble shouldn't be playing either Syd and if if doesn't get a chance under Mon after a period of time then yes I will ask the question. However, Mon has been here 5 minutes mate and can't be blamed for not acting immediately to put right all the wrongs. If sessegnon is still the 2nd main striker on February 1st, I'll be as critical as the next man, even about the manager I really respect above all others. However, I have no fears on that level at all. We beat blackburn, lost at spurs and have 3 more games before if can change things. We are going to have to just grit teeth and get through them and into the transfer window mate. I'm a massive Noble fan and want to see him given a chance and I must agree, something is not sitting right as to why he isn't given one but this is just Mon first couple of weeks, not his 3rd season.
I agree syd - Me and Cest have been banging on about this lad for a couple of years now and he really does look that good... BUT... if you put him into a strugling team that needs a goal and he misses a chance it could affect him - so ideal scenario would be to put him into the side if we can get into the last 5 or 10 minutes with a 2 or 3 goal lead then there is less pressure if/when that chance presents itself. I certainly think Martin o'Neill knows a bit more about developing youngsters than I do!!!
I am almost certain that O'Niel said Noble was struggling for strength since his back injury. The problem is that if the back injury was caused by him growing, they wont want to send him down to the gym to do a lot of muscle work as that might increase the chances of injury problems throughout his career.
I guess you should always look to take positives from the game, however nil points is the crucial negative which swaps everything else. We all know that Sess is not good behind a striker and will hardly ever score so why play him there|! This was one of my arguments against Bruce, for heavens sake I reckon Rico plays better there and although his shooting is not great he is better than Sess. Other points were re-inforced Bendtner is hopeless, how somebody his size and built and as slow as he is thinks he is a winger is beyond belief. Wickham 'led the line' better than Bendtner, although similarly he also did not look as if he would score. The positive was we did look up for it and everyone buzzed around rigt to the end instead of giving up as we have done. But goals for us are as rare as virgins in the Bigg Market on a saturday night. Both Bruce and MoN have had a look at Ji and have decided he is not ready, similarly Noble. So my guess is we will play attacking midfielders who might score as a way on compensation. We did create chances and we must find someone who can convert, McClean came on and was not as good as we hoped he would be, my guess is he will get better the more experience he gets. So all I want for Christmas is SUnderland to score goals, c'MoN Santa grant me my wish
Wasn't suggesting you were Syd, my point was 'who do we drop to accomodate Sess on the wing?' I would prefer to see Sess dropped to make way for a striker, someone who can finish when the chances come their way. Sess is not a striker, never will be, he's a wide man but based on yesterday's performance i would struggle to drop either Larsson or Ricco. Never really seen anything of Noble so can't comment. I know there was concernes about him being a bit lightweight, but then again Owen wasn't exactly the hulk was he? If he's good enough then get him on.
Interesting thoughts lads. I agree about Sess I think he is better on the wing but for me Richardson has been a revelation since he was moved further forward. He seems to have much more confidence, his passing is much better and he is getting into the right positions to be a threat. If Larsons cross had not been behind him he would certainly have scored. I like Colback and Vaughan too. At the moment we have lots of good options in midfield its at the back and up front where we are a bit limited. I don't rate Ji or Bendtner. At the back OShea is ok but I would rather have Bardo there and a new LB personally. I think we are 2 quality players away from having a very good side, with some excellent back up. I don't see where Catts fits into things because Gardener and Meyler are superb back up for Vaughan and Colback. I also don't see a future for Bendtner, if we sign a new striker we still have Wickham, Noble, Campbell and Ji. Same goes for Gordon OUT Gordon Catts Bendtner IN LB CF The 3 going out should free up a nice amount of money to attract 2 new players with decent wages.
I can see Gordon staying if he proves his fitness, MON likes him and he is a good keeper. I can see Gordon and Westwood fighting for top spot and Mig being loaned out for a season.
