Aaron Kuhl

[WAZZOCK]

I believe he was on the cusp of a loan move on the deadline day (possibly to Walsall), but it fell through. Not sure what his contract status is but he really needs a season at League 1/2 level.

[ZacNaloen]

I believe he was on the cusp of a loan move on the deadline day (possibly to Walsall), but it fell through. Not sure what his contract status is but he really needs a season at League 1/2 level.

Club dithered on allowing it, presumably because of injuries, by the time the deals could be done Walsall and Preston who were both interested had already done their business elsewhere.

[Royal Ginger]

I believe he was on the cusp of a loan move on the deadline day (possibly to Walsall), but it fell through. Not sure what his contract status is but he really needs a season at League 1/2 level.

Didn't know that, but tend to agree. I recon Cooper could use a decent loan too.

[John Smith]

I believe he was on the cusp of a loan move on the deadline day (possibly to Walsall), but it fell through. Not sure what his contract status is but he really needs a season at League 1/2 level.

Definitely agree. Just shows that those calling for him to be given the armband are way wide of the mark

[handbags_harris]

There's definitely something about him. I think the club have done right by him so far, his introduction to the perils of first team football early last season was enough to give him an eye opener and understand where he needs to improve his game. Absolutely it was needed given the injuries at the time, but I think any more exposure could have killed his game. You very often see this - a bit of exposure, a good start followed by some innocuous performances after being "found out" so to speak. Good players tend to come back stronger having been given the incentive to improve. Kuhl appears intelligent enough to know where his game needs improving to withstand the rigours of first team football, so hopefully he'll get the chance to showcase his skills in League 1 or 2 this season on loan before coming back a significantly more savvy player.

[Ian Royal]

At the moment he's too close to the first team to loan out and likely to see plenty of pitch time. Even if we sign Quinn there's not much depth without him.

Norwood, Kuhl, Taylor
Williams, Akpan, Tshibola

He's about third choice and Quinn would make it 4th.

[WAZZOCK]

I disagree, out of the following I would make him 7th choice (6th at a very big push).

Norwood
Williams
Quinn
Akpan
Taylor
Tshibola
Kuhl

The top 4 are streets ahead when it comes to experience, as is Taylor for the large part. Tshibola has the benefit of playing a very good half a season at a level that hopefully Kuhl will get the opportunity to play at.

I reckon SC agrees with the above too. I don't want to right him off, and it wouldn't be too much of a surprise if he surpassed those ahead of him, but at this current stage I would say he's way down the pecking order.

[Hoop Blah]

I reckon SC agrees with the above too. I don't want to right him off, and it wouldn't be too much of a surprise if he surpassed those ahead of him, but at this current stage I would say he's way down the pecking order.

Well there's no way that Clarke rates Norwood as his best midfielder considering he avoided playing him as much as possible last season.

I can't see Taylor being used ahead of Kuhl in the middle of the park either, out wide perhaps but not through the middle where Clarke seems to like a more defensive player than Taylor will ever be.

Kuhl vs Tshibola in the queue? I'm not sure on this one. I'd still say Kuhl would be the one he turned too first because he just seems that bit more stead and reliable but after his rave reviews on loan you could be right there.

I'd say Clarke would look at it as Williams, Quinn (hopefully), Norwood, as his first three with Akpan just ahead of Kuhl and Tshibola at the moment.

[Samrfc01]

No way should Taylor be ahead of Kuhl, he's an awful player.

[Pepe the Horseman]

And he's not a central midfielder.

[WAZZOCK]

I reckon SC agrees with the above too. I don't want to right him off, and it wouldn't be too much of a surprise if he surpassed those ahead of him, but at this current stage I would say he's way down the pecking order.

Well there's no way that Clarke rates Norwood as his best midfielder considering he avoided playing him as much as possible last season.

I can't see Taylor being used ahead of Kuhl in the middle of the park either, out wide perhaps but not through the middle where Clarke seems to like a more defensive player than Taylor will ever be.

Kuhl vs Tshibola in the queue? I'm not sure on this one. I'd still say Kuhl would be the one he turned too first because he just seems that bit more stead and reliable but after his rave reviews on loan you could be right there.

I'd say Clarke would look at it as Williams, Quinn (hopefully), Norwood, as his first three with Akpan just ahead of Kuhl and Tshibola at the moment.

I must clarify, I don't rate Norwood the best just because I put him at the top of the list, it was just who I thought of first. Whilst Clarke didn't play Norwood much to begin with, he did turn to him more in the final half a dozen games, and he played well.

We could argue until the cows come home about Kuhl vs X or Y, but the reality is he is at the very best 5th choice and would benefit more from a loan move than by sitting around occasionally making the bench here. That way he gives himself the best opportunity to regularly play football and hopefully break into the team on his return.

[Ian Royal]

I reckon SC agrees with the above too. I don't want to right him off, and it wouldn't be too much of a surprise if he surpassed those ahead of him, but at this current stage I would say he's way down the pecking order.

Well there's no way that Clarke rates Norwood as his best midfielder considering he avoided playing him as much as possible last season.

I can't see Taylor being used ahead of Kuhl in the middle of the park either, out wide perhaps but not through the middle where Clarke seems to like a more defensive player than Taylor will ever be.

Kuhl vs Tshibola in the queue? I'm not sure on this one. I'd still say Kuhl would be the one he turned too first because he just seems that bit more stead and reliable but after his rave reviews on loan you could be right there.

I'd say Clarke would look at it as Williams, Quinn (hopefully), Norwood, as his first three with Akpan just ahead of Kuhl and Tshibola at the moment.

Kuhl and Tshibola? I think who gets picked first will depend on who they're replacing. Tish'll be more likely to cover for your Williamses and you Akpans. Kuhl more likely to cover for your Norwoods.

Agree Taylor's not really in the running in central midfield. Last resort type thing.

As for Akpan, I'd hope Clarke's seen enough now to realise he's just not very good. I don't think Akpan would play much better in the short-term and I'd expect Kuhl to improve the more he plays to the point he's clearly far superior to Akpan by December, if he gets minutes.

If Clarke's still going for brawn and spoiling in midfield, he's more likely to play Akpan than Kuhl even though he's not very good at it. I'd just hope Clarke is moving beyond that now he's not just trying to patch over deficiencies mid-season.

With the comments about Clarke getting frustrated with player's basic ability in training, Akpan is one that stands out as a likely offender to me.

[Nameless]

Saying Kuhl is 6th choice is meaningless when the list consists of players who aren't competing for the same place.
If we are going to play a 'quarter back' style midfielder the choice is Norwood or Kuhl, Williams or Akpan aren't even on the list. If you want a box to box workhorse then Kuhl isn't an option.
He'd probably benefit from a season on loan, ideally captaining whoever he goes to !!

[Lacoste]

[quote="Nameless"]Saying Kuhl is 6th choice is meaningless when the list consists of players who aren't competing for the same place.
If we are going to play a 'quarter back' style midfielder the choice is Norwood or Kuhl, Williams or Akpan aren't even on the list. If you want a box to box workhorse then Kuhl isn't an option.
He'd probably benefit from a season on loan, ideally captaining whoever he goes to !![/quote]

[handbags_harris]

No way should Taylor be ahead of Kuhl, he's an awful player.

If by "awful" you mean going about your business in a neat and tidy, unceremonioua manner not making many mistakes then yeah, I suppose he's awful

[Hoop Blah]

Saying Kuhl is 6th choice is meaningless when the list consists of players who aren't competing for the same place.
If we are going to play a 'quarter back' style midfielder the choice is Norwood or Kuhl, Williams or Akpan aren't even on the list. If you want a box to box workhorse then Kuhl isn't an option.
He'd probably benefit from a season on loan, ideally captaining whoever he goes to !!

I'd largely agree with that, apart from the ludicrous bit at the end, but I'm not sure Clarke would see it as two distinct roles in the team in that way. He seems a little more pragmatic than that and I think he will pick what he thinks is the strongest pair over just a like for like replacement.

It'll be interesting to see how it shakes up, but a good loan period for Kuhl would be excellent, partly because it will mean Clarke has sufficient options to let him go and play more regular first team football.

[sandman]

No way should Taylor be ahead of Kuhl, he's an awful player.

If by "awful" you mean going about your business in a neat and tidy, unceremonioua manner not making many mistakes then yeah, I suppose he's awful

He doesn't make any mistakes because he's hardly in the games when he plays. A few well taken goals were all that kept him in the side last season. Awful may be a bit harsh but he certainly isn't a championship standard player.

[SCIAG]

We've never sent an outfield youth player out on a season long loan who has subsequently gone on to play in the first team. The closest is Jake Taylor who was on loan from the end of September to the end of the season.

I think it is very unlikely that we will start now.

I make Kuhl third choice currently, fourth if Quinn signs. Last season would indicate that Tshibola is behind him in the pecking order. Kuhl was picked ahead of him, considered for loan to League One, kept at the club as injury cover, and selected by England. I can see him overtaking Norwood by the end of the season.

Taylor's role this season should probably be about the same as Andy Hughes' if we hadn't managed to sell him in 2005. He has a knack for scoring goals and he works hard defensively, and he's a great set piece taker, but he doesn't offer enough. Might take him ahead of Blackman but not Stacey, Fosu, Tshibola, Tanner, or Kuhl.

Akpan might have a tactical role to play if we're only concerned about increasing the average height, but he shouldn't be "ahead" of Kuhl or Tshibola. Agree with Ian, though I'm hesitant about whether Clarke actually wants to pick technique over brawn.

What I think will happen with Kuhl: he'll get some game time in August until we sign a midfielder. He'll then fade out of the picture through September. In October we'll send him on a month's loan in League One, maybe Walsall, maybe Doncaster, maybe Crewe. If someone gets injured we'll bring him back, otherwise he'll stay there until January. He'll do well, in January we'll bring him back and the RTGs will spin it as a new signing. At some point he'll take Norwood's place and will not look back. Now this is all made up bollocks but that's roughly how it usually goes.

[Pepe the Horseman]

I'll be surprised if Taylor plays for Reading again.

[Royal Ginger]

I'd not be surprised to see a Chelsea loan in to midfield and shipping both Kuhl and Tshibola out on loan.