Calvert-Lewin

[AlanWrightsShinyHead]

I really don't see what all the hype was about with this lad. I've seen him play 4 or 5 times now for the first team and he's done very little to impress.

I first saw him when he came on as a sub at the back end of last season and he looked atrocious, but I put it down to the fact that he'd been thrown in at the deep end with no first team experience in a hostile atmosphere and surrounded by players bereft of confidence. Since then he's had 6 months of first team experience in a relatively successful loan spell and I was excited to see the difference in him on his return. But he just looks so lost on the pitch, lacks power, anticipation and positional sense.

Perhaps I'm being too harsh on the lad. Maybe it's more down to the players around him and we may see an improvement from him next season. I hope I'm wrong but from what I've seen so far he's looking like being another Joe Ironside rather than a Harry Maguire.

 

[UnitedBlade]

He's still young, he turns 19 on Wednesday but I think he needs to fill out, be more aggressive and work on his movement.

He is decent in the air and that's an attribute we've missed up front.

He did do one great turn in the box on Saturday but his touch was too heavy and it ran out of play.

However, I've been a bit disappointed. Maybe with a good pre-season he could do a job next year but I suspect we'll replace Sammon and bring someone in with a bit more experience and presence.

 

[Tyler Durden]

I thought his display at Doncaster was among the best I saw from anyone that day. He looked steady and competent on Saturday as well.
There's plenty of first-teamers who have failed to deliver all season whereas he's getting better every time as far as I can see.
Give him a role in the first team for the rest of the season and he'll become more refined.

 

[Trigger Blade]

But he just looks so lost on the pitch, lacks power, anticipation and positional sense.

I want the lad to be good and succeed and he might become stronger. However, I don't think he's got an instinctive football brain. There were a couple of times on Saturday where it seemed obvious he needed to go one way and he didn't. That's the anticipation and positional sense you mention and I'm not sure how much of that can be learnt.

 

[Deleted member 875]

He is still only 18, so there is plenty of time for him to develop and get to grips with first team football.

Because the play offs are effectively out of reach barring some miracle, results aren't as critical so i would give him some game time between now and the end of the season to give him some experience and hopefully this will aid his development.

Any road, i remember Jagielka being the same age and thinking he was nothing more than an average midfield plodder, whilst i also remember Nick Montgomery at the same age and he looked like he had been a first teamer for years.

 

[UpTheClough]

He is still only 18, so there is plenty of time for him to develop and get to grips with first team football.

Because the play offs are effectively out of reach barring some miracle.

You really think the playoffs are gone ? No one can string any sort of run together Barnsley were bottom not so long a go. I don't think it will take a miracle maybe 5 wins and a couple of draws will do it. Everyone is so inconsistent and anyone can beat anyone if we are going to have a good spell this season I hope its now and we get into the play offs on the back of a good run. We have usually gone into the playoffs having missed out on 2nd or always being guaranteed of a place with a few games to go. It would be nice to scrape into the play offs on the back of a good run and see how we fair. So as far a I'm concerned pick the team that will win games don't pick Calvert Lewin if he isn't good enough.

 

[finlaytheblade]

He's still young, he turns 19 on Wednesday but I think he needs to fill out, be more aggressive and work on his movement.

He is decent in the air and that's an attribute we've missed up front.

He did do one great turn in the box on Saturday but his touch was too heavy and it ran out of play.

However, I've been a bit disappointed. Maybe with a good pre-season he could do a job next year but I suspect we'll replace Sammon and bring someone in with a bit more experience and presence.

Yep I've followed him through youth and 21s ,I was expecting a bigger impact from him after his loan spell.He's not showing up like I expected him too ( kind of dipping his toe in the water ):but ime sure it will come ,he went to cobblers for experience and I think that will show through when he settles back into our squad.He's still a bit lightweight for a centre forward but he will bulk up a bit., I think.He could be a real quality player if he's handled properly but he definate ly has to show more aggression if he's to make it as a player in the hurly burly of pro football.

 

[finlaytheblade]

You really think the playoffs are gone ? No one can string any sort of run together Barnsley were bottom not so long a go. I don't think it will take a miracle maybe 5 wins and a couple of draws will do it. Everyone is so inconsistent and anyone can beat anyone if we are going to have a good spell this season I hope its now and we get into the play offs on the back of a good run. We have usually gone into the playoffs having missed out on 2nd or always being guaranteed of a place with a few games to go. It would be nice to scrape into the play offs on the back of a good run and see how we fair. So as far a I'm concerned pick the team that will win games don't pick Calvert Lewin if he isn't good enough.

Quite surprising how many blades have given up with a quarter of season to go ,as you say Barnsley have come from no where (they may have shot there bolt now though).We have yet to have a purple patch , it might not happen but if it does we would have a great chance of taking the prize.

 

[JackSUFC]

Centre forward is probably the toughest position for a youngster to play breaking into the team, especially at this level if you're a bit lightweight - which DCL seems at the minute.

Anyone remember Joe Ironside? He was a striker and when he featured never looked like he had anything about him, mainly because it didn't seem like he knew what type of forward he was.

With DCL some of the signs are there though - he wins aerial battles, makes runs off the ball and obviously he scored goals out on loan. It looks like he'll be given game time from now till the end of the season, so let's see what happens.

18 and one of our own, he's something to get at least a bit excited about, especially during this miserable season.

 

[AlanWrightsShinyHead]

He did do one great turn in the box on Saturday but his touch was too heavy and it ran out of play.

There were a couple of times on Saturday where it seemed obvious he needed to go one way and he didn't. That's the anticipation and positional sense you mention and I'm not sure how much of that can be learnt.

That's exactly what I mean by lack of anticipation, yes it was a good turn but Done was clearly expecting the return pass which would have presented a scoring opportunity from the edge of the box. (I particularly remember that moment as as I had a fiver on bloody Done to score!! )

 

[Whiston Blade]

No one can string any sort of run together Barnsley were bottom not so long a go.

Make your mind up.

 

[Barney]

Yep, I have said it all along with him. Unfortunately his contract doesn't run out this summer. Hopefully we can find someone to take him but I wouldn't hold out much hope at all.

 

[west_yorks_blade]

A few comments here about him only being young. Rooney was 17 when he became a regular first team player and he could hold his own against rufty tufty centre backs. I know that is an unfair comparison to make but the point is that youth is no excuse.

For me he is too gangly and prances around like a baby giraffe. The lad has no presence and surprisingly not much pace from what I could see. He looks well out of his depth.

Note - I would love to be proved wrong. I really would.

 

[loyalblade95]

You really think the playoffs are gone ? No one can string any sort of run together Barnsley were bottom not so long a go. I don't think it will take a miracle maybe 5 wins and a couple of draws will do it. Everyone is so inconsistent and anyone can beat anyone if we are going to have a good spell this season I hope its now and we get into the play offs on the back of a good run. We have usually gone into the playoffs having missed out on 2nd or always being guaranteed of a place with a few games to go. It would be nice to scrape into the play offs on the back of a good run and see how we fair. So as far a I'm concerned pick the team that will win games don't pick Calvert Lewin if he isn't good enough.

and we still have to play most of the teams in and around the playoffs millwall, barnsley, southend, coventry, walsall, scunthorpe on the last day.

 

[boo radley]

DCL, Furniture at rock bottom prices. Everything must go in our end of season sale

 

[LoughboroBlade]

A few comments here about him only being young. Rooney was 17 when he became a regular first team player and he could hold his own against rufty tufty centre backs. I know that is an unfair comparison to make but the point is that youth is no excuse.

For me he is too gangly and prances around like a baby giraffe. The lad has no presence and surprisingly not much pace from what I could see. He looks well out of his depth.

Note - I would love to be proved wrong. I really would.

Certain players develop at different years – if we'd have binned Lowton the moment he turned 21 he'd have left with only 2 senior appearances to his name, let alone aged 19. We're arguably seeing the best of Long now with him aged 22. Too early to write DCL off yet.

 

[Living In a Fantasy World]

You can't expect to see much from the lad with the odd sub appearance, he is also coming into a very very very poor United team.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Looks incredibly raw but does have some useful attributes. Adams is showing signs of learning the CF position as he gains more experience. Hopefully DCL will too in time. There's some potential to work with but an awful lot to learn.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

I really don't see what all the hype was about with this lad. I've seen him play 4 or 5 times now for the first team and he's done very little to impress.

I first saw him when he came on as a sub at the back end of last season and he looked atrocious, but I put it down to the fact that he'd been thrown in at the deep end with no first team experience in a hostile atmosphere and surrounded by players bereft of confidence. Since then he's had 6 months of first team experience in a relatively successful loan spell and I was excited to see the difference in him on his return. But he just looks so lost on the pitch, lacks power, anticipation and positional sense.

Perhaps I'm being too harsh on the lad. Maybe it's more down to the players around him and we may see an improvement from him next season. I hope I'm wrong but from what I've seen so far he's looking like being another Joe Ironside rather than a Harry Maguire.

Agree. He has been very disappointing. The thing that annoys me most is that he doesn't even appear to be trying. He makes half hearted attempts to close opponents down and seems to deliberately avoid any physical contact whatsoever.

 

[Fiery Blade]

I think he is as weak as dishwater !
Not Impressed at all !

 

[Ricky]

He's not looked good but to be fair I've barely seen him receive the ball to feet, which is to be expected in this team, especially when you're only getting 20 minutes or so from the bench.

He must have more about him than we've seen if he was getting games and scoring goals at Northampton.

 

[Bergen Blade]

It's good that we're trying to give the youngsters playing time. It hasn't quite worked out for DCL so far and maybe it could be a good time to give Diego or Wright some sub appearances instead.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Yep, I have said it all along with him. Unfortunately his contract doesn't run out this summer. Hopefully we can find someone to take him but I wouldn't hold out much hope at all.

Are you for real Barney to give up on a good prospect Dcl at 18 you must be joking.All young players don't come through the way Rooney did,he was a very physically mature young man as a 17 yrs most need time to grow into there body size and D c l
like most young men needs that time
and patience.
You could end up being right but would you like your son to be thrown
on the scrap heap at 18?. The coaches at the Lane rate him as I and a lot of others do, great prospect
one of a fair few we have coming through! but no guarantee any will make it.

 

[wizadry]

He is still only 18, so there is plenty of time for him to develop and get to grips with first team football.

Because the play offs are effectively out of reach barring some miracle, results aren't as critical so i would give him some game time between now and the end of the season to give him some experience and hopefully this will aid his development.

Any road, i remember Jagielka being the same age and thinking he was nothing more than an average midfield plodder, whilst i also remember Nick Montgomery at the same age and he looked like he had been a first teamer for years.

I would only start playing him more when we can't get in the playoffs, up until then we need to play our best team for each specific game we play. Unfortunately, imho, he's not quite ready for starting games yet but he has plenty of time and can certainly get game time off the bench in front of Sammon. We must go all out for the playoffs, anything else is nonsensical and very defeatist.

 

[eric_oulthwaite]

Nice to see people get behind the youngsters, giving them chance to develop!

 

[Barney]

Are you for real Barney to give up on a good prospect Dcl at 18 you must be joking.All young players don't come through the way Rooney did,he was a very physically mature young man as a 17 yrs most need time to grow into there body size and D c l
like most young men needs that time
and patience.
You could end up being right but would you like your son to be thrown
on the scrap heap at 18?. The coaches at the Lane rate him as I and a lot of others do, great prospect
one of a fair few we have coming through! but no guarantee any will make it.

Unfortunately football is a ruthless game and if you're aren't up to it you aren't up to it. It isn't a game for fair weathers, otherwise every young kid growing up wanting to be a footballer would do just that, which you know as much as I that that is far from the reality. I am very confident in predicting that Reed and DCL will not make it above League One as regulars. You can hold me to that if you like.

 

[William Henry Foulkes]

It's good that we're trying to give the youngsters playing time. It hasn't quite worked out for DCL so far and maybe it could be a good time to give Diego or Wright some sub appearances instead.

I wonder if Adkins is persisting with DCL to take the pressure off. If you feel like you've got one or two games to impress then it's easy to either get nervous, or try too hard. If you give an implicit - or even explicit - vote of confidence by letting him have a run in the team then he might relax and show what he's capable of.

There was one time Satdi where I thought he had a golden opportunity: the ball was played into him in the box with his back to goal, from memory the defender backed off and he had a great chance to turn and either shoot or pass but instead the ball just drifted aimlessly out of play for a goal kick.*

I don't think this can be lack of ability as any half decent amateur could've made something of it.

I wonder if the next step for him is psychological.

A goal might work wonders.




*Might try to post a video when I get back.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Adkins says unequivocally that Lewin will make a top player. He has a duty to give him playing time with us if he hasn't seen fit to send him out on loan again. No doubt he wants to work with him day in day out for a period and therefore he has to back that up with time on the pitch.

I reckon Adkins sees him as one of his four strikers for next season.

I see a tall young man with a real athletes body. At his young age he has some filling out to do but have a look at him and picture the lad with another 12 pounds weight and a bit more muscle. He has real pace and can spring really high for the headers. When he has played in league games he has looked lightweight and not very assertive but so what? In pre-season friendlies he showed some real classy flashes.

 

[Sprite]

My job takes me around the country and I watch a variety of games. I have seen Lewin at Stalybridge and Northampton.
He was on fire at Stalybridge and was scoring regularly when that came to Cloughs attention he brought him back, unfortunately. The Northampton scenario was a little different, Chris Wilder worked wonders with him and he did well. Because united wanted a24hr. Call back clause it wouldn't work for Wilder, understandable.

Saturday was the first time united have played well in the last 5 or 6 games, you might say that is only because Oldham didn't! At Bury Lewin was the best player on the pitch , listen to what Keith Edwards said on R.S.and he was subbed. ?

The biggest problem we have is not Lewin, Reed or Adams it is the team mentality and to play specifically as a team and to be fully inclusive of every player.

Reed and Lewin are intelligent players ( that stood out a mile on Saturday as soon as they tuned in to each other ) who can produce results and need to be played,
What they need is support and encouragement and good management.

 

[sitwell]

My job takes me around the country and I watch a variety of games. I have seen Lewin at Stalybridge and Northampton.
He was on fire at Stalybridge and was scoring regularly when that came to Cloughs attention he brought him back, unfortunately. The Northampton scenario was a little different, Chris Wilder worked wonders with him and he did well. Because united wanted a24hr. Call back clause it wouldn't work for Wilder, understandable.

Saturday was the first time united have played well in the last 5 or 6 games, you might say that is only because Oldham didn't! At Bury Lewin was the best player on the pitch , listen to what Keith Edwards said on R.S.and he was subbed. ?

The biggest problem we have is not Lewin, Reed or Adams it is the team mentality and to play specifically as a team and to be fully inclusive of every player.

Reed and Lewin are intelligent players ( that stood out a mile on Saturday as soon as they tuned in to each other ) who can produce results and need to be played,
What they need is support and encouragement and good management.

I wont get involved in whether I think he will make it as he is still young and not had enough chance yet ,but if Edwards did say that about Bury ,he was taking the piss ,believe me it was one of the worst performances I can recall a Utd player ever having ,he hardly touched it and the one he did have were awful. I suspect Edwards was having a go at the team in general because we were so bad apart from Long ,either that or he was taking the mick out of DCL.