Despite a predominantly "Brit pack" on display at last night's Resorves match, our ex-Colchester £2.25M striker was called 3 different names (and that was only from on the pitch - I won't say what Clarky called him). I don't know who the various culprits were, but names shouted to the young lad included:
Lua
Lomano
Tressor

Is it any wonder we don't seem to be a coherent side when this sort of thing happens? I can imagine what Ormondroyd would make of it. Almost as funny as the "Two Andy Goram's" chant ;-) As for his performance - well, from what was on display last night, he has more chance with Billy Smart than with Bobby Robson.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

Answers

Do assistant managers stand or fall by their recommendations?

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

I thought he worked hard and is keen enough. For a player with a reputation for close control and dribbling skills I can't remember him ever skinning anyone.
I think Gavilan is a duffer sadly. I'd like to see them on a flat and perfect pitch but.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

He's only young and very untried. When he's been on the pitch in a Premierhsip match he hasn't looked that much out of sorts with it all.

It's not his fault we paid silly money for him. He should have this season and next in the reserves then we can think about promoting him.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

Clarky raised an interesting point during the game last night. "What are the club doing to enhance these players (Lua x2 and Gavillan)?"

I remember when Lua was signed, it was stated (by YBR I believe) that he was raw, had great individual skills but lacked "teamwork". Hardly surprising seeing as he only started playing football relatively recently. However, the question is still there. Just what do you do to increase a player's team contribution? Is it just a matter of games under the belt, or is there a specific training regime which can be undertaken?

I've seen all Lua's home appearances for the firsts and 3 or so Resorve matches. In all, the one predominant impression I came away with is of someone more prepared to try the harder rather than the easier thing. Backheels, flicks and overhead kicks etc etc. Should he be told to cut these out until he has a more fundamental grasp of the game. Keep it simple Bonnie Lad - at least until you're doing the biz.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

He needs games in the reserves where sooner or later he will try one trick too many on the wrong person at the wrong time and he'll get a good kicking for it.

Investment in the first team squad should mean Lua-Lua and Ameobi are fringe players and therefore a period on loan would possibly benefit them both. They've got time on their side.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

They do have time on their side DB, but the question I was musing on with Screacher was precisely how will the club go about developing the skills and teamwork of these, and indeed other talented young players. Just playing in the Reserves, or going out on loan, will only extend their experience-base - it will not necessarily make them better players.

I've seen Gavilan now three times this season, and it looks to me as though has made zero progress since he came here - in fact he doesn't look half the player we first got glimpses of.

I actually felt sorry for LuaLua last night - he looked competely and utterly lost, unhappy and frustrated.

I would have thought costly young players like this would have highly individual, specific development programmes that they follow under a specific Coach and mentor, but you really have to wonder.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

Perhaps this is their thinking behind the introduction of Beardsley as a 'forwards coach'.

We can only speculate on Beardsley's role at the minute, if indeed he is appointed, but I would want him to work with any of the strikers depending on their circumstances.

As for the other players like Young Caldwell, we have to assume they are worked on by the current coaches at the club, they have to do something!

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

Who knows DB.
On my occasional visits to the Riverside, I've only ever seem the goalies working separately their Coach. Everything else has been stretching/loosening up, mass sprinting/turning/dribbling- type drills, passing/crossing/shooting drills, practice matchs, rehearsing defending corner/FK's before a game including discussing who will mark who on the opposition, and practicing FK's and penalties.

While it doesn't mean it isn't happening, but I haven't noticed any specific individual coaching taking place - other than the keepers.
Adding Pedro to coach the young strikers seems a great move to me, and hopefully Gavilan and LuaLua will benefit from his efforts.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

I read one report that Beardsley was meeting Stonehouse or Cushing to sort out his employment yesterday. No announcement to date!

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

Too much is being put on the shoulders of the likes of LuaLua and Gavilan. That's not to say their success is guaranteed - far from it. But it takes time to adjust to the Premiership, and unrealistic expectation will have a negative effect. Let's take Arsenal as an example, as in the Wenger era they are huge exponents of the purchasing young talent approach (as opposed to youth team development). How long did it take for Ljungberg to start making an impression? And even Henry? At least a season - with the advantage of making substitute appearances within an organised framework
I admit to a bit of hypocracy in that injuries have allowed the younger players a chance, but because of the desperation for success, those chances have not come in any sort of stable, balanced framework. Ameobi has made the most of it so far, but personally I think he'll struggle to maintain his form, now that so much is expected of him.


-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

Good points, Windy. The words "Michael" and "Owen" come to mind re Shola.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

Applying that sensible logic, Kieron Dyer is only young yet we all expect him to perform week in week out to an excellent level.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

Windy, Arsenal is a great example.

Take Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry. Bergkamp took two full seasons before he hit form - he only managed 4 goals in his first season.

Henry was very disappointing for the first 4 months of last season (when he signed) but Wenger stuck with him and he ended up with 26 goals in the final 6 months of the season which was pretty good going. If he'd been in that sort of form since the start, Arsenal would have finished top no doubt.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001