Much has been written and spoken about this lad and I have to say I'm a huge fan. He looks to have really knuckled down this season and worked hard on his game and attitude. When he has come on recently he has made a difference imo and wouldn't let us down if Fletcher was injured. Personally I would be gutted if we sold him and don't see the benefit of a loan deal, as he already has over 60 games for Ipswich in the Championship and 13 goals so he doesn't need the experience some of the other young players may need. Personally I think this is the year he has to make his move with us and get into the managers thoughts. He could be exactly the man we are looking for and be a great partner for Fletcher. That old adage of a good bigg'n and a good littl'n still holds with me and I think at 25 and 22 years old they are perfectly matched. What is the consensus of opinions about the lad? Yes or no?
Keep him and play him as much as possible. The kids is hungry, he is a goal scorer and is just what we need. I don't see the benefit of loaning him out at all. I also don't see the benefit of giving him 5 minute cameo roles at the end of games we are chasing. we need to give the kid a run of games to get his confidence. Play him along side Fletch' it will bring the best out in him and in Fletch.
Keep definately. He's looked a good option and Fletcher is the only other striker in your squad I would be happy to rely on (don't think its controversial to suggest Saha doesn't seem top be able to play all of every match and Ji and Campbell aren't as good). Selling is an option if it was to bring in one or two others in his place but for the money you'd get (£5-6m I'm going to say as an entirely unbased and layman guess) you're unlikely to bring in world-beaters. If you sent him out on loan I think even O'Neill supporters may start to question the purpose, it would pretty much be commiting to playing one up front all season and if anything happened to Fletcher you'd be in unnecessary trouble. He looks good, needs more time either subbed on for Fletcher, playing in cups or (shock horror) playing both of them at the same time!
If he ain't gonna play this season, we MUST loan him out. I'd send him to any one of Boro, Leeds, Hull, Derby or Ipswich, he can help any of those clubs either fight for promotion, or stay clear of the drop, and come back bouncing for next season. I think he's been treat very badly by MON, I mean REALLY badly. I did hear, and it could be bollocks, from a pal, that he'd said in a bar 'I don't care if I play or not, my pay is the same'. If that was truth, I'd want him sold, and it could answer a few questions. The lad in question is a Boro fan so I put it down to that.
Feel pretty strongly about this and if I were manager he would be starting every game with Fletch. First signs of his improvement for me were in pre-season, there's an interview somewhere where Connor says he asked Mon what he has to do to get in the team, he goes away for the rest of pre-season and works on what he is told, improve your first touch bring others into play etc. I saw firsthand at Hartlepool preseason he had improved. Season then begins and the lad is stuck in the reserves and England U21s but still works hard and starts smashing in goals for fun this eventually earns him a place on the bench. We then see against Norwich he is a real handful an in the game after that was up against Luiz and Cahill and gave them a good game we even arguably look a better team when he is leading the line then Fletch. When Fletch is fit again Connor drops to the bench which I thought was fair enough as you cannot argue with Fletchs goal record. But it's whats happened since that peeved me off. Mon decides to bring Campbell, Vaughan and James flipping McFadden on before the lad at the end of games when we are trying to get goals to get back into games. What is that all about? Has he fallen out with Mon or something like Noble? Who knows. Every week that passes while he is sat on the bench is stunting this kids development and I still believe he is one of the brightest young talents in England. Wouldn't be surprised if e wants out at all tbh and I wouldn't blame him one bit if he left. Rant over.
He was superb v Norwich, absolutely superb, but if we are to stick to 4-5-1 no matter what, then the lad has a problem getting in the side.
he's my back up for Fletch. needs games as fletch needs a rest. until we sign another striker keep him. sign a striker then we need to loan him out. 3rd choice is no good for his development.
sorry to but in Cest, I would loan him out to maybe a tophalf championship club, keeping his fitness level up to match standard and giving him real pitch time with the proviso he can be recalled at anytime all the best guys
Maybe he'll pay a full 90 minutes against Bolton, bag a couple and then it'll be a different scenario with him playing regular ... I hope
But in all you want kidda. Would be a ****e place if people didn't. Decent lads from other teams are always welcome. It's the bell ends that are not. It would be a month maximum just for fitness and Boro would be my choice so if isn't relocating again.
This is how I feel don't think it will be long before the lad wants to go he will get game time at another club and you watch he will shine , if we sell we lose out ,maybe a short term loan ,but if I was oneil I would just play the lad. Thing is and I keep saying it oneil very set in his ways won't change formation and won't change the players he starts with I love oneil but...these things do my head in
Keep him and PLAY HIM!!!! PLEASE!! He has impressed me every time I have seen him for us this season - much better at holding the ball up than Fletcher - I think Fletchere should be moved into the Sessegnon role and sess out to the wing at the expense of McClean: Johnson ------------------------------- Sessegnon ------------------Fletcher------------------------- ----------------------Wickham--------------------- That's how I would like our "3-1" from the "4-2-3-1" formation
Find a place in the team for him. If Sess isnt doing it, drop him. If AJ isnt doing it drop him. likewise for mcLean, Seb, JC or anybody else. lets mix it up a bit and give the lad game time. The 3 times he has been given a chance this season he has stood out with he's 100% commitment and he certainly hasn't lacked in the skill department either. With more game time imo he will only get better which benefits SAFC.
Originally Posted by flandersmackem Keep him and play him as much as possible. The kids is hungry, he is a goal scorer and is just what we need. I don't see the benefit of loaning him out at all. I also don't see the benefit of giving him 5 minute cameo roles at the end of games we are chasing. we need to give the kid a run of games to get his confidence. Play him along side Fletch' it will bring the best out in him and in Fletch. Not just that but it would help Fletch out massively. Connor looks ready for a crack and no-one knows what he has in his locker. Fletch could do with the help because he's starting to look tired now. Must play him against Bolton and he will score....
As others have said, keep him, play him. If he's not going to get gametime here this season then loan him to a top half championship team or possibly even someone like wigan or qpr (both of whom I think he would be massive asset to at this stage) as long as they can guarantee him playing time. I saw enough in the norwich and chelsea games to convince me the lad has a big future ahead of him, it would be a crime to stunt his development by letting him rot on the bench / in reserves. He should start against bolton imo, give fletch a much-needed rest. The lad is more than god enough to be trusted to lead the line against midtable championship oppo.
