Our Midfield (5 Viewers)

[Captain Dart]

TM unlike SP is building a solid defence and midfield first.

No more trying lots strikers only for them to be discarded after a few months when found wanting.

Better++

 

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[junglej13]

Midfield needs some goals in there. Hopefully this is the next area TM will address. Absolutely key to our success.

 

[Hobo]

TM unlike SP is building a solid defence and midfield first.

No more trying lots strikers only for them to be discarded after a few months when found wanting.

Better++

TM will also not be afraid to give people a very specific role. Martin last game of the season, all he was asked to do was head and kick the ball away at CB, others were expected to play the passing and distribution game. Keep players in their comfort zone if they are limited, but get the most out of them.

a bit like Alf Ramsey picking Jack Charlton for the World Cup squad. "now Jack, don't go thinking you are the best centre half because you are not. But there is a specific role you can do for me."

good managers balance out the strengths and weaknesses of players available to them.

 

[shy_tall_knight]

John Fleck is only 23 years old. He has many years ahead of him and I believe when given a more attacking role he will flourish and produce the goods. He has great technical ability and can pick a pass out of nowhere. With the signing of Vincelot I'm hoping we will see Fleck further forward and with an addition of a good pacey striker or two I'm sure Fleck would link up well with them.

Fleck is 24 next month I still think many cov fans are giving him the benefit of the doubt based on his potential which he has yet to show at CCFC. Goal scoring is only one of many attributes you want from a midfielder but 1 goal in 2 seasons despite being an ever present is poor and don't think he is rated that highly as he is still with us and no other club in a higher league or with better prospects have been tempted by him.

 

[ccfc92]

I have seen nothing breathtaking in Finch so far,but he is now a year more experienced and probably bigger and physically stronger, he was thrown into the team to early last year and struggled for it.

Lets see how he goes this year.

Agreed. Will see how he goes this year.

But not being able to pass to a team mate 10 yards away has alarm bells ringing. We will see though.

 

[Hincha]

Those mentioning Jacobs, the Birmingham Mail are reporting that Jackett wants him to step up to the first team this season.

 

[johnniericoh]

Now we have a defensive midfielder will Fleck be playing more forward? I think when Mowbray first came in and Fleck was a lot further up the pitch he played a lot better and was making runs into the box.

Even with licence to attack seems reluctant to shoot despite great left peg !!

 

[fernandopartridge]

Fleck has never convinced me. No more so than Thomas.

Thomas' best attribute is his positional play and reading of the game, I wouldn't write him off just yet.

 

[LJC_CCFC]

Fleck has never convinced me. No more so than Thomas.

Thomas' best attribute is his positional play and reading of the game, I wouldn't write him off just yet.

So sitting in a deep central position whilst at the same time being too scared go over the halfway line translates to good 'positional play and reading of the game'. Goalscoring aside - which isn't actually the defining attribute of a midfield player - Fleck has shown his superior passing ability on numerous occasions, whereas Thomas is consistently anonymous in every department.

 

[fernandopartridge]

So sitting in a deep central position whilst at the same time being too scared go over the halfway line translates to good 'positional play and reading of the game'. Goalscoring aside - which isn't actually the defining attribute of a midfield player - Fleck has shown his superior passing ability on numerous occasions, whereas Thomas is consistently anonymous in every department.

Can distinctly remember Thomas being involved in the build up to 2 goals last season by being in the opposition's half. For a football writer I think you need to watch the game a bit more, friend.

 

[ericagradus]

So sitting in a deep central position whilst at the same time being too scared go over the halfway line translates to good 'positional play and reading of the game'. Goalscoring aside - which isn't actually the defining attribute of a midfield player - Fleck has shown his superior passing ability on numerous occasions, whereas Thomas is consistently anonymous in every department.

Maybe you don't notice Thomas, because he doesn't spray the ball cross field like Fleck does, but Thomas is a great reader of the game and is positionally one of our better players. He is also not scared of a challenge. Calling him consistently anonymous in every department is incorrect.

 

[jassie78]

I would like to see pacey wingers to create opposition problems and free up fleck for through balls to feed strikers

 

[ms639]

Fleck has never convinced me. No more so than Thomas.

Thomas' best attribute is his positional play and reading of the game, I wouldn't write him off just yet.

Is this a joke? Connor Thomas is genuinely one of the worst players i believe we have ever had, if he was a chocolate bar he'd be a blue riband, if he was a crisp he would be asda eady salted, if he was an item of clothing he would be a jizzy sock. He literally offers nothing, defensively shocking, poor in the air, doesn't make runs into the area honestly one of the biggest travesties since we signed Robert Jarni that he has made it through the academy and plays for the first team. He wouldn't get into my sunday league side and one of the lad's who plays CM there is 5 foot 4 and weighs 16 stone

 

[LJC_CCFC]

Can distinctly remember Thomas being involved in the build up to 2 goals last season by being in the opposition's half. For a football writer I think you need to watch the game a bit more, friend.

I'm not your friend, pal.

 

[ms639]

Can distinctly remember Thomas being involved in the build up to 2 goals last season by being in the opposition's half. For a football writer I think you need to watch the game a bit more, friend.

I distinctly remember Connor Thomas being consistently shite ever since he broke onto the scene, you can't claim that shitting himself anytime he goes past halfway is good positional play

 

[Nick]

Can distinctly remember Thomas being involved in the build up to 2 goals last season by being in the opposition's half. For a football writer I think you need to watch the game a bit more, friend.

that Bradford game still gives me rage where he kept the ball in for no apparent reason

 

[shy_tall_knight]

Thomas has been poor for the last 3 seasons but Fleck has been a huge disappointment and if he was as good as people on here think he is, then why is he still here. Maddisson to me looks a genuinely good player and a threat when going forward. Fleck can play the champagne pass but he often just plays the simple pass. Whilst its not all about goals his stats make sad reading
2012/13 35 games 3 goals 7 assists 42 shots
2013/14 43 games 1 goal 5 assists 38 shots
2014/15 44 games 0 goals 4 assists 42 shots

Its fair to say when he shoots he rarely scores.

 

[fernandopartridge]

I'm not your friend, pal.

Soz, friend.

 

[simonregis]

We need a player like Baker. I think TM would have liked him and wouldn't have let him go.

 

[Adge]

What the fuck is Thomas still doing hanging around like a bad smell? Lets not forget we are talking about a player who has now played around 100 or so games-if he hasn't produced by now, i'm afraid it's not going to happen.
Yet another one of the shite productions from our "fantastic academy". Should close it down a.s.a.p as all it produces is piles of shit like Finch.........

 

[Gint11]

Thomas is shite.


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[mrtrench]

Yet another one of the shite productions from our "fantastic academy". Should close it down a.s.a.p as all it produces is piles of shit like Finch.........

Don't feed the troll boys

 

[Esoterica]

I'd give Thomas another year. Can't be costing much, still only 21 and got a decent defensive midfielder to shadow this year, along with a manager that can actually help him develop if he's able.

 

[JulianDarbyFTW]

I'd give Thomas another year. Can't be costing much, still only 21 and got a decent defensive midfielder to shadow this year, along with a manager that can actually help him develop if he's able.

He's on a heck of a lot more money than you'd think. Not as much as Michael Doyle was on, mind...

 

[Adge]

Don't feed the troll boys

Really? Just giving my opinion based on what I have seen squire.

 

[Deleted member 5849]

He's on a heck of a lot more money than you'd think. Not as much as Michael Doyle was on, mind...

Noody could be on the £40k pw we were paying Doyle...

 

[Gint11]

I don't think Thomas is good enough and has had enough time to improve. In saying that under a 'proper manager' he may flourish more than before so we will see.


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[Hobo]

What the fuck is Thomas still doing hanging around like a bad smell? Lets not forget we are talking about a player who has now played around 100 or so games-if he hasn't produced by now, i'm afraid it's not going to happen.
Yet another one of the shite productions from our "fantastic academy". Should close it down a.s.a.p as all it produces is piles of shit like Finch.........

You don't really mean close the Academy down do you? It has produced Wilson and Maddison amongst others. Finch is too early to judge as he was pitched in before he was ready.

Thomas is on a make or break season I admit. But going back to Wolves away he was instrumental in us holding our own that day. Both clubs were a credit to League 1 football that day and looked the two teams everyone would have to beat.

Wolves kicked on and we went backwards. Thomas has lost form and confidence due to being overplayed; probably from taking a battering from fans like you.

I wouldn't like to rely on Thomas, but back as a squad player; if he can get back on track to where he was in the Wolves game we will have a good player on our hands. Not flash, but one that reads the game, keeps it simple and gives people simple options and tidies up when necessary.

He is worth sticking with for this season.

 

[junglej13]

Thomas is on a make or break season I admit. But going back to Wolves away he was instrumental in us holding our own that day. Both clubs were a credit to League 1 football that day and looked the two teams everyone would have to beat.

I think he could surprise a few people this season. Lets be honest under Pressley last season the midfield was completely bypassed. Mowbray's style of football could bring out the best in him.

 

[pusb86"sweden"]

Steven Pressley destroyed Conor Thomas last season, lets not forget that the kid is only 21 years old and have already played more than 100 games for this club. Far to many in my opinion and I blame Steven Pressley for that..... I do think with Tony Mowbray as his gaffer, he could turn out to be a key player for us this season.

 

[Adge]

You don't really mean close the Academy down do you? It has produced Wilson and Maddison amongst others. Finch is too early to judge as he was pitched in before he was ready.

Thomas is on a make or break season I admit. But going back to Wolves away he was instrumental in us holding our own that day. Both clubs were a credit to League 1 football that day and looked the two teams everyone would have to beat.

Wolves kicked on and we went backwards. Thomas has lost form and confidence due to being overplayed; probably from taking a battering from fans like you.

I wouldn't like to rely on Thomas, but back as a squad player; if he can get back on track to where he was in the Wolves game we will have a good player on our hands. Not flash, but one that reads the game, keeps it simple and gives people simple options and tidies up when necessary.

He is worth sticking with for this season.[/QUOTE


Yes I do mean close it down. Lets think back over the years and think of the players who have done well from the academy, been sold for a decent profit and gone on to play regularly in the top flight. I'm not talking about the likes of Mcsheffrey or Davenport who played 5 or 6 games for West Ham, I mean regular top flight Football. I can only think of Kirkland and possibly Wilson this season maybe.
So on that basis it's a waste of time.

 

[stupot07]

Yes I do mean close it down. Lets think back over the years and think of the players who have done well from the academy, been sold for a decent profit and gone on to play regularly in the top flight. I'm not talking about the likes of Mcsheffrey or Davenport who played 5 or 6 games for West Ham, I mean regular top flight Football. I can only think of Kirkland and possibly Wilson this season maybe.
So on that basis it's a waste of time.

The success of an academy doesn't necessarily boil down to how many players player in the PL or how much money they make you, especially for a FL club. It should be about providing your club with a steady flow of players and at the moment we have:

Burge
Phillips
Willis
Haynes
Thomas C
Thomas G
Finch
Maddison

Who all featured in and around the first team last season with and additional 1 or 2 (Lawton and the centre back) pushing this season. It only costs us £500k to run the academy, but I'd bet that to bring in 10 ex. PL academy kids who are no better than the players listed above would cost considerable more than that by the time you've factored in compensation and their higher wage demands. And forgottibg about money, it's always nice to see local lads who support the club coming through into the first team.



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[mrtrench]

We're still feeding him. The opinion is so ludicrous it doesn't warrant a reply.

 

[Adge]

The success of an academy doesn't necessarily boil down to how many players player in the PL or how much money they make you, especially for a FL club. It should be about providing your club with a steady flow of players and at the moment we have:

Burge
Phillips
Willis
Haynes
Thomas C
Thomas G
Finch
Maddison

Who all featured in and around the first team last season with and additional 1 or 2 (Lawton and the centre back) pushing this season. It only costs us £500k to run the academy, but I'd bet that to bring in 10 ex. PL academy kids who are no better than the players listed above would cost considerable more than that by the time you've factored in compensation and their higher wage demands. And forgottibg about money, it's always nice to see local lads who support the club coming through into the first team.







If you are relying on the above names to progress and move forward it's just not going to happen. How many others have we seen who get into the first team in a blaze of glory and end up on the scrap heap?
Burge, Willis,Haynes,Phillips,C Thomas and Finch are all average at best. Jury still out on Maddison and G Thomas as we haven't seen enough of them.
Think Pead,McSheffrey,Whing,Thornton,Clark and feel free to add your own.

 

[stupot07]

If you are relying on the above names to progress and move forward it's just not going to happen. How many others have we seen who get into the first team in a blaze of glory and end up on the scrap heap?
Burge, Willis,Haynes,Phillips,C Thomas and Finch are all average at best. Jury still out on Maddison and G Thomas as we haven't seen enough of them.
Think Pead,McSheffrey,Whing,Thornton,Clark and feel free to add your own.

Mcsheffrey wasn't a failure. - got us £4m, won promotion to the PL as too scorer/assist maker for blues. A lot of the top PL clubs have failed to produce top players - How many graduates are playing for Man city and Chelsea for example, perhaps they should scrap their academies too.

Producing top footballers is difficult, not many clubs achieve a good production line, Southampton are fortunate that they have a lack of competition when scouting young players within the 90 min travelling radius, we have a lot of competition when scouting. Producing a player good enough to play league football is an achievement and whinyg, sheffers, pead for example have all had decent FL careers, recently Christie, Wilson, turner, grandison, have all had decent career so far.

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