In light of the request for someone else to start the MDT other than Red Mist, I will take this burden (seeing as it’s almost a free hit) and given that no one is expecting too much.
Well the U21s got the day off to a good start, coming from a goal down to beat Bristol City 4-1. Goals from James, Bland and 2 from a trialist that came on for the disappointing Max Watters. Watters sat on the bench and watched his replacement score with his first touch. It’s difficult to see what we can do with Watters. It was a good game though. What was noticeable was the amount of moving and passing the team did, always looking to move forwards. Totally different from watching the first team. There was very little backwards and sideways passing. The team also comfortably changed formation to 4-4-2 mid-game. When you think that a lot of our U21s were missing (Marsh, Chapman, Jalo, etc) we really do have a good young team. Yoganathan, Atkinson, Makiessi and Bland in particular played very well together in the middle and James was excellent in central defence. They probably need bulking up a bit to be ready for League One, but it’s a shame they haven’t been gradually introduced into the first team squad. You do wonder why we made the loan signing of Grant, when we have a player as good as Atkinson in the U21s.
I highlighted this phrase in post, as I too wonder why we have not tried to blood more of the U21s. With a few exceptions, we seemed to give up after we were out of the EFL Trophy.
Max Watters will just likely keep taking the money and contributing nothing. Could we loan him out maybe….be L2 or lower though if we’re lucky.
If we were already guaranteed a play-off spot, I could see us playing some of them in the last few games - but we aren't and the manager can't risk it...
It's been said on many a thread that Max is useless in his current position. So instead could we not try to coach him for a different position and i don't mean left back in the changing room. It would make sense instead of throwing him on the scrap heap. If successful might save us money than buying someobe else. The question would be which position.
I must be off my head or something but i fancy us dominating tonight and 2-1victors. Cole netting a brace. First minute and late extra time last kick of the game to sour the atmosphere down there. Then I woke up for my night shift to find us 3 nil down with the second half to play.
That takes a lot of work from the player and the coaching staff, with no guarantee of success. Today he struggled with the basic things like controlling the ball and finding a teammate with a pass, so they really have their work cut out with him. Josiah Dyer played the full 90 today, Watters was taken off. His replacement, a trialist, scored 2 and came close to a hat-trick. If you had to pick players this afternoon you thought were worthy of moving into the first team, based upon their performance, he wouldn’t have been in the top 10. I suppose the one good thing for him was that the first team coaching staff weren’t there this afternoon to witness it. Quite sad really.
Portsmouth are available at evens. Personally, I've been sniffing glue and gone for Barnsley double chance and over 2 goals at 9/4