listened to What the Falk podcast ( which is one of the better ones) and made good points If we go up, is it time to sell LoN? we cant keep players for sentimental reasons, has he gone as fas as he can with us? his antics wont cut it in the PL,
This is a really tough question, as I completely agree with the sentimental point, yet at the same time would LOVE to see him achieve his goal of playing in the Premier League. I'd probably keep him as a good bench option to bring on when defending a lead. I don't think he should be starting Premier League games but I do think there's a place for him, even sentiment aside. I said exactly the same about him when we got promoted to the championship and he proved me totally wrong. So who knows.
Aye he's there, got a few good young players at the minute. I think he's more of a left back/wing back but can sort of play anywhere on that flank. Unfortunately means might still be after Tommy in the summer.
Fair point but there can't be many who can fill in, for injuries, etc, and put their hearts into it. RLB seems to feel he's important to the way we play so we'll see. The fabulous first touch, from Le Fée, has overshadowed his role in our third goal. He was brave enough to run into the Boro half, sidestep a player and managed to get the ball to Le Fée before Boro could retreat. It was the speed of O'Nien's thought that changed the direction of play and the result. Whatever the case I'd hope he becomes part of the club whether that's coaching or some other role ... ... Mepham may be a better CB but he'd scare kids during Christmas hospital visits
Yeah it is a weird one ain't it, I think he has value as a member of the squad and as a person. Think he'd the kind of character you want around when it gets tough which it inevitably would be, ability wise yeah probably a level too high for him. I think id be wanting to sign 1/2 left sided centre halves and keep him in the squad as a second or third choice at LB, LCB, RCB, RB. However... Maybe he can step up and be great, first step get there.
Thing is everytime we've stepped up this question has been asked of LON and everytime he has upped his game and still been part of the squad. It might be a step too far but I can guarantee you he will have a bloody good go at stepping up.
Exactly that's what I said too, it always seems like now is the time to move on but he steps up each and every season. However I'm not totally sure he would there's just no chance id be selling him in case he can.
No, he just moves to third or fourth choice centre back and remains a dressing room leader and guide to the younger lads. If he wants to leave so be it but think he would want to stay as back up for 12 months to experience the premier league and its big days.
There are players who have gone from 3rd division to PL with the same clubs. For what he's done at the club he should at least be given a chance to savour it. Hypothetical atm tho.
Aren't we getting a bit ahead of ourselves in sorting out 09s future in the Prem? However I do like the positivity
Interesting that it is 09 is picked out as the one that may have gone as far as he can. Ballard has had a really iffy season, all be it disrupted by injuries, but when he has played he looks shaky to say the least. Has he reached his ceiling and is struggling to maintain the levels from last season? Lets just concentrate on getting up to the Premier League first, some of these players will continue to surprise us when we go up
This. Given we have doubted his ability to step up/change from a midfielder to a cb etc... he deserves the chance to give it a go but we also can't risk him not stepping up!
I'd be keeping O'Nien in a promotion scenario tbh. That versatility and grit can't be overlooked - not to mention the example he provides to the rest of the squad. If we do manage to get up (assuming we keep the current squad together) I'd only be looking at a concentrated number of high talent players. Mostly down the spine but with an additional top class winger who can play either side. There's enough upside in the rest of the squad to say that we should see how they get on. If the model gets us up, then the model deserves a shot at keeping us there.
It will be important we keep the core that got us here. All these clubs going up forget that, and that's why they suffer imo. The lads that get us up will be hungry to do well in the PL. If we go up and get rid of them all you end up with players that don't have that same fight and hunger as the lads that got us up do. We are lucky we have a squad of young players who will get better year after year so they could develop into a PL player by the time we make it. It'll be important we do supplement the squad with better young talent and also a few premier league experienced players, too as it's important to have people with experience of that league to help the lads out.
He's had question marks over him pretty much since the day he's signed and imo hes answered all of them pretty much - I think he deserves the chance to see if he can do it in the premier league. He'll work harder than he ever has imo to try and prove himself. I think we'd keep him around just as he can be a mentor for some of the younger players.
I think they are coming from he has been here for 7 years, and in the back he is possibly the weakest link, and with more money that may come avaiable that is where we need strengthen up, the shirt pulling will get picked up every week with VAR but this is an interseting talk and something I think will rumble on until he leaves or retires there are some that just love him some that dont some that appreaicate what he has done but feels he needs has got as far as he can with us, some feel he shouldnt be starting each week
Yeah and that's why he'd stop doing it, he's not stupid. He does it now because he can (mostly) get away with it, he always pushes to the edge of what's allowed and with the introduction of VAR the boundaries would shift and he'd shift with them.
Definitely wouldn't sell Luke if we're promoted, there are still plenty of variables such as if Mepham stays, if Ballard stays, where Seelt and Hjelde are in their development, they're all young lads and could develop quickly into top defenders, think of Jobe and Mayenda last season compared to now to see the difference 12 months can make. As for Luke specifically, firstly he has utility in terms of being able to cover multiple positions and other clubs would pay to have a player like that on their bench, secondly he is arguably one of the best centre backs in the league at linking play, his ball out to Enzo for our winner against Boro and the surging runs he makes have contributed to a lot of great plays we've made this season, Ballard and Mepham do not have that. Finally, and I'm sorry to be thinking this way, but clubs go up these days to come back down and use those funds to make a better go at it second time around, LON can do a job in the longer term if you view things with a longer term time horizon.
Any of the first team that are replaced to me would then be the back up. If they’re happy with this then keep them if not they’ll move on. And yes it’s getting a bit too far ahead but we’ve also got to think about the season after, there’s more chance of going down than stopping up, we’d need the loyal ones that got us up again.
