The Eastwood Enigma (4 Viewers)

[johnniericoh]

Looking through SBT posts referring to players we should off load or retain there seems to be a large shout for Freddie Eastwood to try new pastures. When FE signed for CCFC he had a track record for prolific scoring in the lower divisions and at £1.1m appeared a snip. First appearances showed us a player that was two footed with a dream first touch (almost as good as MK) and a shrewd football brain. Where did it all go wrong?? Maybe it could be that a large part of his career at CCFC appears to be either spent injured, on the bench or played out of position. I was at first an avid fan of Freddie but of late am frustrated with his body language on the park which is not compatible with the current work ethic and commitment of his team mates. What do we do with our Freddie - let him go or hope that AT can spin his magic to fulfill his (apparent) true potential.

 

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[sw88]

I think he'll be kept on as a squad player myself, and think Thorn will work his magic (atleast im hoping!!)

 

[Cobi Jones's Dreads]

I think he'll be kept on as a squad player myself, and think Thorn will work his magic (atleast im hoping!!)

He's a liability or in another words good one game shit for twelve get rid and quick i say can't have deadwood like him on a budget and tight squad like ours.

 

[Danny]

Looking through SBT posts referring to players we should off load or retain there seems to be a large shout for Freddie Eastwood to try new pastures. When FE signed for CCFC he had a track record for prolific scoring in the lower divisions and at £1.1m appeared a snip. First appearances showed us a player that was two footed with a dream first touch (almost as good as MK) and a shrewd football brain. Where did it all go wrong?? Maybe it could be that a large part of his career at CCFC appears to be either spent injured, on the bench or played out of position. I was at first an avid fan of Freddie but of late am frustrated with his body language on the park which is not compatible with the current work ethic and commitment of his team mates. What do we do with our Freddie - let him go or hope that AT can spin his magic to fulfill his (apparent) true potential.

I think the only way eastwood could stay on is if he took a pay cut otherwise I'd let him go like you I can't stand his body language of late on the pitch

 

[rob9872]

Never good enough. Has a great touch and decent natural ability but doesn't work hard enough and never looked comfortable at this level. Amazed we courted him for so long gave him such a lengthy and lucrative contract. Don't try and sell him but give him away to save the wages. I can accept lack of ability, mistakes and even indiscipline but not trying is unforgivable in my book.

 

[Disorganised1]

I don't know - he's played a lot of games on the wing, I'd like to see what happens when we play him where he should be, and give him the balls he wants.

 

[SkyBlueUSA]

I think it is mainly a lack of consistent playing time...both game to game and in the proper position. His best performances have been as a starter and at striker. As long as I can remember, he has either been brought on as a sub in the waning minutes of the match and thus never really gets a chance to get into the flow of the game, or when he is in the starting 11, he is put in the midfield. JMHO

 

[rob9872]

Three or four managers have chosen not to select him consistently. He also failed at Wolves before that.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but I think he has had enough chances and in his rightful position too now. I would love to see if anyone has any genuine stats that can prove me right or wrong. I'm happy to apologise if I am wrong but I would think he has had plenty of starts now through the middle and this is an excuse that is wearing thin.

 

[skybluesteve76]

He started the season really well, scoring a few goals and
Looking like a pretty decent player. He then got injured and never really got a look in when Marlon started playing. I don't know what I'd do with him really. Probably get rid I suppose, there must be better out there on smaller wages?

 

[Snozzer]

Eastwood will be gone over the summer, not AT's cup of tea

 

[covcity4life]

if theres one player i want to see under thorns new style its freddy!

with ball to feet i think he could be huge for him

offload platt/o donovan but please keep freddy!

 

[rob9872]

Off-load all three

 

[Skyblueloyal]

He's a liability or in another words good one game shit for twelve get rid and quick i say can't have deadwood like him on a budget and tight squad like ours.

Could not have put it better Ma Ma Ma, thought at the start of he sky blue carear he'd be a good signing but more and more over I thought what did we see in him ?

 

[oldskyblue58]

Never been a big fan of his, yes has the talent but doesnt have the application to use it.

It is all very well saying that he played out of position, but tell that to Crainie who has done that often and been one of our best players. Doesnt get the chance because he played mid field out on the left people say ..... well look at the number of shots he has had (its in the stats) he has had plenty of opportunities to score and hasnt. Also tell plenty of other players who regularly play wide or even central midfield that they would only score 18 goals in 119 appearances (inc sub) from 191 shots and provide 11 assists in three seasons .............. i think they would be disappointed

In far too many games he has let the game pass him by, been on the periphery. Frankly I have found his attitude shocking in some matches especially recently when the team was actually playing a style he should have liked. He was not prepared to put the effort in.

Watch him play, a good striker anticipates the pass or knock on just as King does, but Eastwood waits for it to happen then reacts. Is that lack of confidence, lack of thought or lack of effort. When he plays with King they play in isolation, you can see King getting frustrated by it. Watch King & Juke play together ...... key word together..... there is an understanding developing there. I havent seen Eastwood actually play "with" another forward.

What is it 4 managers here and McCarthy at Wolves all didnt rate him enough..... they saw him every day in training, which is far more than we do, are they all wrong ?

At a time when the club is scrapping for every penny Eastwood is a luxury we can not afford, would far rather we tried to use his salary to try keep King.

Would let him go on a free and save the wages for someone who wants to play for us!

 

[dojer]

It is all very well saying that he played out of position, but tell that to Crainie who has done that often and been one of our best players. Doesnt get the chance because he played mid field out on the left people say ..... well look at the number of shots he has had (its in the stats) he has had plenty of opportunities to score and hasnt. Also tell plenty of other players who regularly play wide or even central midfield that they would only score 18 goals in 119 appearances (inc sub) from 191 shots and provide 11 assists in three seasons .............. i think they would be disappointed

In his defence, it is a strange expectation that if you put a striker in midfield then he will definitely score tonnes of goals. Some players can play in a number of positions fairly easily, some players are masters in one particular position, some players are defensive and some are attacking. What I'm trying to say is that Freddy Eastwood is a player with the specific talent of finishing when the ball comes to him in the box. What hasn't suited him is the styles that Coventry have played as in a long ball tactic his positioning isn't good enough to find himself in the box where he wants to be, in the new style then he's required to do too much work outside the area than he is used to.

I still believe that he should be sold as this type of striker at this level now is out of date, it's not enough to have someone up front who's only prepared to put the effort in when he's in the area. You need someone who's able to put the effort in to press defenders even if there's no direct benefit or you need someone who's movement drags defences out of shape or sometimes you just need a tall man to offer your team an out-ball. Eastwood provides none of this and it isn't worth keeping him here if he's unwilling to change, even Michael Owen has admitted that he needs to change his game to find in with modern football, when he's not injured.

 

[We'll_live_and_die]

I think the only way eastwood could stay on is if he took a pay cut otherwise I'd let him go like you I can't stand his body language of late on the pitch

How do you know how much he is on? You must have some idea that he is overpaid (footballing wise) to make this statement.

 

[rob9872]

Where is this talent of putting the ball in the net derived from? It certainly wasn't at this level. Robbie Simpson was prolific at non-league level and couldn't step up, Andy Morrell never really given a rightful run, but clearly not a star at Championship as he was at L2 and Freddie has only ever proved himself at league one and below.

 

[rob9872]

Rich, I of course am only specualting but I too heard it was lucrative and when he signed on somethng like a 3.5 or 4 year deal it was reported at close to £12k p/w which is why imo he will be difficult to off-load unless we write off his transfer fee and move him on for nothing

 

[oldskyblue58]

sorry but I dont see his talent in finishing....... he scored 18 goals in 191 shots a conversion rate of 9.4%. The point I am really making is plenty of people say he hasnt had the goal scoring opportunities at CCFC but the shooting stats say he has but wasnt very good at it. The thing that really irritates me about him is his lack of effort...... think most players hated the AB style of play but most sweated their hearts out to try make it work.

but i do agree with your comments about the type of striker at this level, and we both agree that he has no place any more at CCFC. Can you see anyone paying a fee for him though ? More likely a fee to get off the wage bill

 

[smileycov]

We may not have the luxury of choice, if King goes who we left with? Platt o'donnavon, i think i would rather have freddy given the chance with Juke under AT than either of those 2.
We do not appear to have any money to buy new players so we may well have to hope AT does his magic on our Gypsy friend......and soon.

 

[Sky Blue Sheepy]

Not only is he not as talented as he thinks, but I find him lazy - plain and simple. I've levelled the same criticism at Carl Baker this season but he puts in effort when hes got the ball and Thorn has got him tracking back too so for me Eastwood should be allowed to leave.

 

[ccfctommy]

Get rid

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

Eastwood has talent but is lazy never does anything off the ball, too inconsistent, bad attitude and body language. I thought when Thorn introduced the new formation he may have been giving a go at the tip of the diamond behind the two strikers though. So frustrating when you see players with arguably less skill in Juke busting his balls off every game and Eastwood just walking around the pitch head down.

Verdict: SELL

 

[Great_Expectations]

I am a fan of Freddy but it has been hard to defend his actions recently his performances has been lacklustre to say the least, and his attutude is disappointing to see he doesnt even try to hide it anymore!

The earlier comment about him not being AT's cup of tea is probably pretty accurate, Platt has been selected over him the last few matches be it as a sub or as a starter. Surprisingly really as with the style Thorn plays you would expect Eastwood to fit in.

Saying that I would like to see him given a chance in the hole behind the front two at the tip of the diamond, even if it is just for the last half hour of a game. That could be a perfect position for him with his technical ability and vision - when he can be arsed that is.