Jonson Clarke-Harris scored for Blackburn reserves today (7 Viewers)
- Thread starter Otis
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shy_tall_knight
Well-Known Member
Having seen Shaun Jeffers (who is over 2 years older than JCH) play against Saints, it is clearly a waste of a squad number, Jeffers performed even worse than Bigi in that game, looked like he was new to football. Its alright defending the kids cos its not their fault as they shouldn't be playing but JCH seems to know where the goal is, Jeffers found it once at Cheltenham on loan.
Nick
Administrator
Any proof of that?
Have I missed something here? What were the "behavioural issues"?
SkyBlue_Bear83
Well-Known Member
He wasn't even offered a contract by the club, when asked why he wasn't offered a contract Thorn said he couldn't go into the reason as to why he wasn't offered a contract. The telegraph then suggested it was disciplinary issues.
Grendel
Well-Known Member
Come to what if clubs like Reading were looking at him. Are you saying we should have kept hold of Sturridge? How?
stupot07
Well-Known Member
What makes you think JCH could make the step up? He scored goals at youth level (daniels was top score btw) ?Jeffers was top scorer at youth level. Was it cus he scored in a reserve game? Jeffers scored in all bar 1 or 2 of the reserve games this season, in fact he was our reserves top scorer.
I'm not trying to say Jeffers is great or is gonna make it, I'm just trying to point out that youth (and reserve) football is completely different.
shy_tall_knight
Well-Known Member
Nimley is the same age as jeffers although has a poor goal scoring record contributes plenty on the pitch and is way ahead of Jeffers who has failed to make an impact in div 4 with Cheltenham, ran around like a headless chicken against saints, not saying JCH is the answer but Jeffers isn't. If he was half decent he would have been used by AT more considering the squad was threadbare.
Spence CCFC
New Member
Careful, you're in danger of implementing a degree of logic into the discussion.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
In an ideal situation, the likes of Bigi, Thomas and co wouldn't be anywhere near the first team and would be learning their football out on loan or in the academy (or next season, in the U21/reserve squad). As reality dictates we must, we've had to use them week in week out when inevitably they're not cut out for it-these are *kids*, and people seem to forget that when they judge them in the same light as seasoned professionals. Clarke-Harris is succeeding at youth level because that's probably the right level for him at the moment; and this is a worrying side-effect of SISU's cost cutting-throwing talented youngsters in at the deep end and expecting miracles off them does nothing for their development and, on the contrary, hinders it.
Felt sorry for the likes of Roberts and Henderson being chucked against Saints-it was difficult to watch.
Felt sorry for the likes of Roberts and Henderson being chucked against Saints-it was difficult to watch.
kingharvest
New Member
Hmmmm...so Reading didn't fancy signing him either?
Weird...
Weird...
Nonleagueherewecome
Well-Known Member
Well said, agreed: although I will say that I thought those two and Jordan Willis can be very proud of themselves. Especially Henderson, who wasn't considered ready for the Nuneaton team!
What a baptism of fire-the side 2nd, full of goals, needing a win to gain promotion, against a relegated and injury crippled side? You don't get much tougher than that. As Thorn says, he didn't want to use them, but they will get a lot out of the experience hopefully. At least, if they get support from us they might: if we carry on our record of deciding that our youth players are shit (Turner, Clarke, Gael, now Jeffers), then they'll probably only really fulfil their potential after they've left us and we realise how good they were!
Nonleagueherewecome
Well-Known Member
Get off the lads back, he's only just turned 20 years of age! People seem to think he's a 22-23 year old, but he deserves as much as patience as all the other youngsters! Players need experience, and many top players don't play games before the age of 22-23. Oh and don't use Wiki for stats. I could represent his career stats at Cheltenham as 2 in 5 starts, which is as good as Cody: http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10269~48202,00.html
And he was VERY young when he played those games. At that age, Cody would have been on a building site still. He's obviously improved a lot since then-why can't Jeffers?
farawayblue
New Member
would like to know what the alleged discipline issues where? Can't see it being anything big enough not to offer the kid a contract when you look at some of those that have been offered deals.
TheParsonsHose
Member
Would we not get something as a percentage though for developing him???
shy_tall_knight
Well-Known Member
teenagers making their debut is nothing new Keane, nuddy, Livingstone, Sheffers, Gareth Evans, boothroyd, hatley. All in the top flight as well. I called Jeffers as I have seen him play twice now he is 20 older than when those above made their debut. Nothing convinces me that he has anything to contribute now or in the future for CCFC. He's been in and around Cov and lower league clubs and failed to make an impact anywhere, his age is ceasing to be a reasonable excuse.
kingharvest
New Member
Ndlovu - god i loved that man. My first game was in 88 - and we didn't really have anyone genuinely exciting till he came along, maybe David Smith
But Ndlovu, there was a player who got you out of your seat. For a period there, he was just amazing. Well thats what my childhood brain remembers anyway - those of you who watched him when you were grown ups might say he wasn't all that.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Agreed, Willis impressed me and to be honest, none of the kids disgraced themselves-but I still felt for them being thrown into a lost cause like that. A glance at the academy table tells you we have real talent there-I just hope it isn't jeapordised by them being chucked in too early!
stupot07
Well-Known Member
Jeffers is actually a school year younger than nimely and Norwood. Jeffers turned 20 last month, Norwood turned 21 last month and Nimely's 21 on Friday. In fact he's only 5 months older than Christie. He was only 18 when he went on his two loan spells. If he doesn't make an impact next season I agree that it may be time to move him on.
And players develop at different rates - you can't compare players as if they are like-for-like.
Astute
Well-Known Member
Ndlovu - god i loved that man. My first game was in 88 - and we didn't really have anyone genuinely exciting till he came along, maybe David Smith
But Ndlovu, there was a player who got you out of your seat. For a period there, he was just amazing. Well thats what my childhood brain remembers anyway - those of you who watched him when you were grown ups might say he wasn't all that.
You are right. He wasn't that. He was that plus more. About the most skillful player in a City top I have ever seen. Skillful and very quick. When he was on song he was worth the entrance fee alone. The problem was his team mates were not quick enough to keep up with him so he would have no choice but to go alone.
stupot07
Well-Known Member
I was gutted when we let him go, he really was exciting. Has anyone scored a hatrick against Liverpool at Anfield since?
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
stupot07
Well-Known Member
Arshavin scored 4 there a few years ago
Ah......the time when Arshavin was pure class.......seems so long ago!
SkyBlueScottie
Well-Known Member
I have heard about the supposed disciplinary issue and its clear signing him would not work as it would have had a major effect on the dressing room.
As for Jeffers, Thorn has admitted he should have been out on loan this season however he had to keep him around the place as cover up front was very very light, all in all Jeffers is still a youngster and has had a few reserve team games, still very early in his development.
shy_tall_knight
Well-Known Member
the trouble with having a lot of gifted youngsters like our current crop is that fans might assume that all our young players are capable of making the step up. I listed earlier a load of strikers that were playing for us as teenagers, now some non-strikers tony Dobson, Steve Sedgeley, David Smith, Marcus, Davenport, Lee Fowler, Issac Osbourne, Kev thornton, Cyrus, Jordan Clarke, all played for us as teenagers. Jeffers went to Cheltenham hardly got a look in - if any of the list above went to a div 4 team I'm sure they would have been starting every game. After his jaunt in div 4 he spent 6 weeks at a mid-table conference team and guess what didn't get much a game there either. Do you think Thorn seems something in him that others are missing, but come to think of it Thorne even when desperate didn't play him either.
