by SCIAG »
06 Dec 2021 12:52
South Coast Royal Hound Zip
I get Vic’s comment about him not facing up to play when the ball was played through and hit the back of his legs....and then they scored but felt that was a bit of misfortune. I like him and he can do a job there.
wouldn't blame it at all for that tbh - was a half decent ball forward and he got a block in. Somebody in the midfield should have been closer to their goalscorer
I think you are looking to make a case for him but I felt that he was all at sea in that moment and to my eyes he doesn't look to be a natural defender which I guess he isn't and looks to be an attacking midfielder.
I hope he does well in time as we need him but I recall a few on here thinking that Ryan East and Olly Pendlebury would have a long career with us and 2 other little 'uns in Keown and Kelly but IMHO if you are small in the modern game you have to be extra quick or extra strong or extra skillful to make it.
Honeyman on Saturday, Kante of course,Lamptey,Ben Pearson and Barry Bannan come to mind but IMHO they are rare in English football.,
Presumably you mean Kuhl rather than Keown. Keown was not a little guy except in comparison to Jake Cooper!
I don't think hype over East was ever bigger than "maybe he could play a bit", he was never considered on Kuhl and Kelly's level. Kelly played nearly 100 times for us. Kuhl's career was ruined by a series of knee injuries. In most positions I'm not sure height is still relevant - we've certainly had our fair share of small players, including Rinomhota for example, Halilovic, Drinkwater, Richards, Olise, going back a bit you'd have Le Fondre, Barrow, Tabb, Karacan, Beerens, Convey... pretty much every Premier League side has a short player or two, even Burnley have Ashley Westwood. There are very few big guys around these days who aren't also extra quick or skilful, skill is a qualification expected of almost every player.