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Reply | Departures in the development squad
at 12:42 31 May 2024
Slightly surprising, but two things;
- he is 20 now, and it looks like we are prioritising younger (long overdue)
- he is also very slight, and it looks like we are prioritising robustness / physical stature, if not explicitly height (also long overdue) |
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Reply | End of Term 23/24 – Attack
at 11:06 27 May 2024
Those figures jump out at me in the context of why Les may have presided over late developers (holding onto dev squad players until 22, 23, 24) in our own setup based on his own experience |
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Reply | End of Term 23/24 – Attack
at 15:48 26 May 2024
Yeah, I can only assume Dykes is effective over a longer distance when his long stride clicks into gear. Chair is definitely not quick, and regularly gets caught up, and has to check back. Freeman was the same.
Both can never really get away, unlike Eze for example, who just pulled further and further away in full flight. What chair is good at is acceleration over over small 10 metre sprints. It’s the longer distance foot race where he struggles, although I have seen some improvement this year. |
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Reply | End of Term 23/24 – Attack
at 15:08 26 May 2024
Fair enough. We all see things differently. What is interesting is that Lyndon Dykes is 3rd or 4th quickest player at the club. That’s from a player who told me he regularly clocks top 3 in sprint drills. I would never have believed that. The fastest player at the club before he moved on this summer was Arkell-Jude Boyd. |
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Reply | End of Term 23/24 – Attack
at 14:47 26 May 2024
Kakay did have a good turn of pace, he was rarely beaten for speed. But nowhere near as fast as Sinclair of course. He was strong, physical, a good speed. All physical characteristics.
And not a direct comparison, no. More so, the physical / athletic nature of Kakay significantly outweighed his technical characteristics and natural footballing talent. Not too dissimilar for Armstrong for me. |
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Reply | End of Term 23/24 – Attack
at 12:35 26 May 2024
I think it’s a valid argument that a more developed Sinclair Armstrong at 23-24 could be a different player, but for me I think it’s unlikely.
For instance, he scores a high 9/10 on athletic attributes - pace, power, strength. But a low 4/10 on technical footballing attributes like touch, technique, skill.
In my opinion, he needs to get those core attributes up to 7/10 minimum to make it as a starting striker this level (not a super-sub nuisance), and I just don’t see him doing that. I think it’s too big a jump for him.
He reminds me of Osman Kakay in that sense. Ozzie also had pace, strength, athleticism. But lacked the technique, touch, and skill. And he never was able to develop these characteristics to the level required because he was coming from too low a base to begin with.
That said, more than happy to have him continue with us and see if he can step up - the upside is significant if so, but it needs to be on a wage that works for the club, bearing in mind he is still very much a development project.
With only 1 year left on his deal, the club have a decision to make and so does he. |
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Reply | End of Term 23/24 – Attack
at 17:00 25 May 2024
On the topic of Armstrong as a winger, you need to able to beat your man with skill, or a drop of the shoulder, at the very least. But he has neither. The idea that you can burn through your opposite number with pace alone has a Sunday league vibe for me.
He’s a striker, just not a very good one. I think you have to play him up up top in a two, to make it work. But it’s rare these days. Or you just consider him a super-sub, like Smyth. Which would be my preference.
But that’s not what his agent thinks, or what he wants in wages. So I half wonder, given the contract situation, if the club transfer list him as a result, shake hands, and reinvest. Wouldn’t be against it [Post edited 25 May 17:02]
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Reply | End of Term 23/24 – Attack
at 16:56 25 May 2024
“When Neil Warnock briefly became the short-odds favourite for his Seventeenth Annual Farewell Tour you could almost hear him: “He's a lovely lad Chrissy. I tried to sign him you know, at Boro, and you buggers wouldn't let me have him. But I've got him now and he's a smashing player. I said ‘come on Chrissy lad let’s get us bikes out and go round Richmond Park’. He said ‘gaffer I don't have a bike’. I couldn't believe that, me. Young lad without a bike. This day and age I suppose. Anyway he borrowed our William's and we just set off through t'woods and talked it all through. I've told him I'm going to start every game for me this season regardless.”
This is just superb 
Great write ups Clive. Enjoyed them all. |
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Reply | Departures in the development squad
at 17:31 20 May 2024
Tend to agree. Balancing the job of CEO and DOF is surely time consuming enough without having to think up soundbites and work with marketing for players who have barely made 10 first team appearances.
It’s a question of value and time management, but it’s his call. From my fan perspective, it looks like overkill |
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Reply | (No subject) (n/t)
at 22:33 19 May 2024
He’s a mobile back to goal type, one of which we haven’t had in years. Can understand why they took a punt on him. Clear upgrade on the outgoing Kargbo. But not a great benchmark to be fair |
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Reply | Departures in the development squad
at 22:16 19 May 2024
This is an academy that has produced nothing of note for years. And you think released players may suddenly make it at this level?
Have you watched our academy at any length? Or seen where our u18s finish season upon season?! |
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Reply | Departures in the development squad
at 22:03 19 May 2024
Always one smart ass.
Chair might be small, but he does not have a slight frame, he is both stocky and an exceptional technical talent.
The numerous tiny and featherweight players we have accumulated for far too long in our academy are not. As an academy watcher for a long time, the clear change in policy is well, well overdue. |
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Reply | Departures in the development squad
at 21:13 19 May 2024
Has some talent, but not enough to make up for his tiny frame. Yet another one who is 5ft nothing and no chance of making the physical grade at championship level. |
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Reply | Departures in the development squad
at 11:44 13 May 2024
they need to make space for the 4-5 that will be promoted from the u18s - there were 4 last year, kolli, talla, sackey, petrie (where is he?). the rest presumably from successful trialists |
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Reply | Departures in the development squad
at 11:28 13 May 2024
yeah pretty standard fare Dave, its largely a clear out of the older ages.
Pedder, Kargbo, Rendall, Ajose, all 22; Jude-boyd, Woodman both 21.
that said, the club have been getting more ruthless with the U21 squad - no longer racking and stacking older age lads for one. started last summer |
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Reply | Andre the friendly ghost departs
at 15:56 11 May 2024
“Forever grateful” a term usually reserved for a player who has given great years of service or is a club legend…
And “difficult decision in January was made” - really? So difficult in fact, that you’ve now released him?! |
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Reply | Players we should have kept
at 14:20 10 May 2024
Think you’ve got to be an exceptional talent if you are on the light side - iniesta being a good example. More on our level, chair is a good example, but he’s stocky and well built. It’s a big difference. Watched Bansal-McNulty many times, talented but powerpuff which is why he didn’t make it |
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Reply | Players we should have kept
at 13:54 10 May 2024
I don’t think he is even in the professional game anymore?
Had skill and talent, but much like Pedder, and far too many others we take on, far too lightweight for the men’s game. Was never going to make it in my view. The academy needs to start prioritising talents who have the right physical stature needed to succeed at championship level. |
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Reply | Palace put price tag on Eze
at 22:12 6 May 2024
Wharton is absolute mustard and it was obvious to anyone who watched him play for Blackburn. 20m a steal. As was Eze. Palace continuing to do great recruitment, but it’s far from rocket science. Think many prem clubs underestimate the top young talents in the champ. Kudos to palace for that. |
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Reply | Ainsworth 'Titbit' via the Stevenage Forum
at 18:33 6 May 2024
I agree but it wasn’t relevant to the question that was asked. The question was why over 10 years at Wycombe was GA successful, but not at QPR?
It was a backwards looking question, not current day or future. But in terms of looking forward, yes I agree, the future looks very bright for the Chairboys and they will no doubt be a totally different club. |
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