Seems to be a subject where the vote is pretty much split. This season Connor has had limited chances. His recent outings as far as I can remember United away - came on and held the ball up, looked strong. Reading at home - came on and nearly scored, played well. Bolton away - came on and changed the game, and kept us in the fa cup. Bolton at home - started and did little. For a 19 year old lad, 3 out of them 4 games he's offered us something. He has one bad game, and apparently he's not good enough. He's been banging them in for u21s and reserves, but MON refuses to give him a real chance, and I really feel for Connor. He needs games, and in my eyes should be loaned out, and I think he will flourish with games, I think MON is hindering his career at the moment. There's not much to play for this season, why not give him a couple of starts and lets see what we've got.
You've missed out the 2nd half of Norwich away which he came on and did very well and where we played probably the 2nd best football we have all season (West Ham at home being first); also he played the full game and played well against Chelsea and didnt get pushed around or look intimidated by Luiz and Cahill.
I still think he will come good. Unfortunately with MON at the helm it will not be with us. I think someone is going to get a damn good footballer who will score goals, and be responsible for many assists.
thats the risk ,i firmly believe he will progress to a full cap internatinol and it should be with us,and in agreement with gil on this
I think he may be best suited as an impacr sub atm. As players are fatiguing, who better to come on than a 19 year old thats built like a brick **** house?
I just hope MON is working with the lad behind the scenes and keeping his attitude good. I suspect he probably is, but I'd like to see some evidence of it in more regular appearances. Wickham definitely has a big upside and hopefully it will come out with us.
The lad is going to be class.He's just scored again for England U21's...I think,and hope,that MON realises that he has quality potential and is just looking after him for the future.
The OP was about opinion being split on the lad, and what to do with him - Give him a run of games, use him as an impact striker from the bench, loan him out next season or move him on for another team to reap the benefit. I dont see why quoting Fowler, Owen, and Rooneys' age, then saying 'need I go on ?' is relevant. Apart from the Bolton game, I don't think he's done badly, but we were all gash that night. He's impressed me with his brief appearances coming on, and is holding the ball up a lot better now than when we 1st saw him, so seems to be taking instruction from the staff on board. He is going to be a top player - for who remains to be seen.
No you don't need to go on. Your talking about 3 world class players in their respective times. It's very rare to become a top quality player at such a young age. Theo Walcott - only just started to show his true quality, now 23 Ronaldo - started to be a top player around 22-23. Arron Lennon - only just become consistent, now 25. My point is mate, it takes time and experience to become a consistently good player. At 19 you cannot be a world beater in the best league in the world, not enough game time or experience to do so. If you think otherwise, you don't really have much of a clue about football FU KING
Got to say I feel a bit sorry for the lad, had he stayed with Ipswich he would have been playing week in week out & would have had the chance to develop more than he has since joining us. Suppose it's a chance that all footballers take at some point during their careers & he choose us. Wonder how long he has left on his contact cos it's got to have been a couple of years he's been here now.
ian Wright - turned pro at (approx) 23? Or, my personal favourite - Didier Drogba - only started playing in Ligue 1 at 23. Only moved to the EPL at 26.
the thing is, contrary to those saying he isn't getting a chance to develop, he is. he gets one on one coaching which is clearly benefiting his game as we see it when he comes on. and he's knocking them in for the U-21s. But he is not ready for a full run in the side - he misses more times than he scores, probably 1 in 4, v Fletcher and Graham that is not good enough to warrant a starting place unless our tactics significantly change. i'd love to see a front 3 of this lot but that is unlikely right now. impact sub for me, and for a while yet. also let's not forget he had these shin-splint growing pains last couple of years (apparently) so we need to take it easy with him
CONNOR Wickham has been given the go-ahead to move to the Championship on a short-term loan deal after dropping down the pecking order following the arrival of Danny Graham, writes Chris Young. Wickham has made significant strides this season and Martin O’Neill is anxious to ensure that progress is not halted by a lack of first-team action after Sunderland’s attacking ranks were boosted by the £5million deadline day capture of Graham. The emergency loan window for Football League clubs opened yesterday and several sides have made enquiries about taking Wickham, who could potentially depart Wearside as early as today. http://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport...and-s-connor-wickham-can-go-on-loan-1-5391294
I'd like to see the lad loaned out so he can really develop... it's about time we were developing our players for the future like this... look at Danny Welbeck now and his run with us helped him get to that point.
