Carruthers and the next three games

[Harry's Game]

Come on, let’s be honest, how many games has he started on the bounce? Hardly any so let’s be realistic and give a very good player a chance eh?

Just because Wilder hasn’t been able to pick him doesn’t mean he’s shite, it’s because our players have been in terrific form for the most part of his tenure and those saying he hasn’t proved himself are talking absolute bollocks because he hasn’t had the chance to.

He got the shirt at the start of the season, did nothing to keep it and was replaced by the much better Duffy. From that point we rose to the top of the League.

 

[wizadry]

He got the shirt at the start of the season, did nothing to keep it and was replaced by the much better Duffy. From that point we rose to the top of the League.

He played well against Brentford and we won, he played ok at Boro and we got robbed, he apparently wasn’t in the game at Cardiff from what I can remember from reports and we lost.

We won our home game against a good side and lost both the away games to two of the best home sides in the league, again, is that a fair crack at the whip? Should we bin him off on those games where Wilder and the whole club were adapting to the quickness of the league? I think not.

 

[1889]

Like to see how Reagan Slater would perform tbh, he's going to be a great asset and at 18, with Coutts and Fleck unavailable he should be on the bench.

Think he'd be at least, equally affective as Carruthers substitute appearances

 

[PittsburghBlade]

Tell you what some of you are right fucking experts here.
The lad was brilliant for us in his role off the bench and starting a few last year, barely played and could've easily left in the summer I think he'll do really well and anyone judging him on his cameo roles this season has clearly never felt the difference in their own body between being on the bench and playing every week.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Caruthers is mates with Barry Bannan.

He should be reprimanded for that for a start.

 

[Hartley Hare]

Get shut.

Flattered to deceive.

HH

 

[Tyler Durden]

Unplayable at his best maybe, but unselectable on current form.

Our current form has been terrible anyway, and he's had very little input in that. In the absence of Fleck and Coutts, some creativity in the middle is desperately needed.

 

[loyalblade95]

tbh when he came on against brum i thought he changed the game for us seem to remember him barging past players and whipping crosses in a few times

 

[I should coco]

He's a Right Wing Back and anyone with even half a brain cell can see it .

I know you like a good wind up, but surely no-one (apart from yours truly) will bite at that?

The first essential for a RWB is an ability to defend and ideally win the odd tackle. Hmmmmm.

Secondly you need pace to bomb down the line. Hmmmmm.

You need superb physical fitness, as the wing backs are proabably the hardest working players on the pitch. Hmmmmm.

You need desire and drive to put your body on the line to beat a man and break into the box at pace. Hmmmm.

So apart from the above, Carruthers looks ideally suited to me.

 

[ucandomagic]

I agree totally with Harry’s Game above, Carruthers should only play in Duffy’s role and no deeper, and as Duff is in top form Sammy should be the Duff sub around 70 minutes.

In the last 2 games when he has been on he has tried things like Cruyff turns on the edge of his own box and lost it - not what we need as we look to rebuild our progress.

I feel similarly that Brooks should only come on to replace Billy and no deeper.

Bash and Lundy at CM for me with Sammy and Brooks on around 70 for Duff and Billy.

With CCV and Jake at the back I think we would then have a really strong side and 2 aggressive substitutions, to push for the third goal in the last 20!

Magic Choices

 

[stringer]

Question is - Do you trust Carruthers away to Preston. I struggle if I am honest. I would even prefer to give the lad Slater a start and leave Bash at the back, but I think bash will be in midfield and CCV will be back.

You wouldn’t trust Samir to start at Preston but would have no qualms throwing in teenager Slater, with 0 league games under his belt?

The first essential for a RWB is an ability to defend and ideally win the odd tackle. Hmmmmm.
/QUOTE]

Is it? I’d argue the prerequisite is more about going forward than defending, which is why Basham - as good a go as he gave it - didn’t look a natural there. And boy can he win the odd tackle

 

[joe casey]

Carruthers is a tough one. He's the only player, apart from brooks, who I feel is capable of running at people from midfield. Fleck does it occasionally to good effect but not enough for my liking. I agree Samir loses the ball a lot but he is at least having a go and does have that something special in him to beat a man.

For me I'd start him with Lundstram as Bash is crucial to playing three at the back effectively. But if it doesn't work I can see him leaving sadly.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

I'd start him alongside Lundstram with Duffy just in front.

The side is unsettled enough as it is without changing the defence to move Bash into midfield. Keep changes to a minimum and give the lads coming into the side time to bed in.

 

[EmleyMoorBlade]

I'd start him alongside Lundstram with Duffy just in front.

The side is unsettled enough as it is without changing the defence to move Bash into midfield. Keep changes to a minimum and give the lads coming into the side time to bed in.

Agree Kozzy on your comment regarding the side being unsettled enough. Be an interesting team sheet this week as CW has thus far been a great exponent of the 'round peg in round holes' for players and Basham is in my view somewhat of a square peg in the middle field 'round hole'. The back four needs to be much more settled in terms of selections than it has of late. I really hope if Samir is given the nod he has a good game.

 

[sheffielder]

You wouldn’t trust Samir to start at Preston but would have no qualms throwing in teenager Slater, with 0 league games under his belt?

That’s what I said yes

 

[robbiez666]

He's only shown me this season , and some of last season, that he's all about Samir Carruthers and not about playing as part of a team. He's a 'look at me' kind of player who seldom puts a shift in, lacks concentration, makes dire decisions, overplays,, showboats and essentially does very little positive in terms of the way we play. Sure, he could maybe do something unexpected coming off the bench, but starting him is a huge risk.

It depends what Chris sees in training. He strikes me as someone who thinks a lot of himself. If he's putting the effort in but just not getting a chance, then give him a go. It might be a chance to give him an ultimatum. You have 3 games. Perform or bye bye. If he's not really bothered, then sack him off. I'd rather give a youngster the chance.

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

I`d be surprised if Basham is moved again. I`m not convinced by Carruthers so far but expect him to start, and, if so, hope he gets his head up and plays as a member of a team. Looking forward to it; should be a cracker with plenty of goals. So I better have a bet on a nil - nil.

 

[stringer]

That’s what I said yes

Fair enough

 

[Cerberus Blade]

The next three games could well decide this lads future at the Lane.
First of all it will be very interesting to see if Wilder even starts Carruthers on Saturday, if he is on the bench again I think we can safely say he is probably on his way out in January. Seen another thread in the ‘Rumours Section’ suggesting a deal with Charlton involving Holmes coming our way.
However if he is given a starting berth and he manages a good performance or, more importantly three in a row, maybe, just maybe, it might just give him until the end of the season to see if he can be an important player for us.
I have to say I have been very disappointed with his contribution recently, when he arrived last year he looked like he could be a really good player for us but just seems to have drifted and not shown the depth of desire to perform the rest of the players who have come in have done.
Be interested to hear others thoughts
UTB.

Well, first of all, you can ignore that thread in the rumours section - because it was me that wrote it and it's based on no substance whatsoever. It's just my personal opinion. I think Carruthers has not managed to carve out a place for himself in the team, I think that's mainly down to Duffy playing out of his skin, but also the emergence of Brooks without an e. I recall a few weeks ago Wilder mentioned that Carruthers had been knocking on his door and asking him "what's happening?" i.e. "why am I not getting in the team?" And Wilder's response was something along the lines of, "play your way into it". From this I take it that Carruthers is not happy at not being in the first team - and that's only natural. But if he can't get a midfield place now when we have Fleck and Coutts out then it really doesn't bode well does it?

We know that he played for Karl Robinson at MK Dons and that Robinson has publicly said how much he rates him.

We know that Wilder wanted Ricky Holmes.

I am speculating, based just on these bare facts, that if he doesn't get established in the team in the next few weeks he'll be gone. That's the first thing. And the second thing is, it wouldn't surprise me if Charlton was his next destination - which may suit us if we can use the deal to land Holmes. But this is pure speculation and not a rumour that I've heard anywhere.

Personally I don't want to see him go. I think he's not really had much of a chance tbh and I think now is his chance. But, imo, Wilder should utilise more as a wide player than a midfielder. He can take people on and go past them like they don't exist - but he tries doing that in a crowded midfield sometimes and loses the ball. He can be very frustrating! Play him more as a winger where he can beat a man and have acres of space around him and I think he'd be a revelation. Put Bash in the midfield and put him out right. That's what I'd like to see.

 

[sheffielder]

Fair enough

You didn't say whether you trust Carruthers to play the Coutts or Fleck roles? Not that I asked

 

[Bladesthorpe]

Our current form has been terrible anyway, and he's had very little input in that. In the absence of Fleck and Coutts, some creativity in the middle is desperately needed.

The results haven't been good but apart from Millwall away the performances have been very good.

 

[stringer]

You didn't say whether you trust Carruthers to play the Coutts or Fleck roles? Not that I asked

Yeah