Reedy

[Cyprus Blade]

For me Coutts' big problem is receiving passes - they have to go right to his feet or he very often misses out. Its very rare he runs on to collect due to pace issues. A bit better than he was due to Brayford playing RB I think but he still slows play down. Passing wise he is ok at short range in comparison with Hammond and Basham but I have seen precious little medium to long range passes and, for me, he is not that effective defensively or in the final third. Added to that I don't think his fitness has come on as much as I would have hoped. He's not one I would build a team around. Those players are few and far between.

Reed is raw and appears to have some remaining confidence issues at times and can disappear in matches as a consequence. Added to which his physique doesn't tick Adkins' boxes. Cuvelier is recovering and I'm still not sure what he offers but, especially if the play-off hopes disappear entirely, I would give either of these a go ahead of Coutts who I doubt will improve much on where he is now.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Club Website: "Louis's progress pleases Boss" - Adkins praises Reed's performances these past 3 games and says they "believe in him".

FGS. Reed has hardly played as a starter this season, Clough played him more. Bad judgement in my view, looking at the form of our midfield.

I understand 4-4-2 makes it hard to play Reed, but that's the point. Adkins should have played a system to play to the squad's strengths. We have hardly any players suited to central midfield in a 4-4-2, haven't had since June last year when Adkins was appointed. Hammond arriving did help but we haven't found him a partner in 4-4-2.

That's why I've been banging on about 3-5-2 - it plays to this squad's strengths, in particular Reed, Scougall, Brayford, Woolford, Wallace,Flynn, Baxter especially (academic now) , Coutts, Freeman, Adams even. We ended up playing Basham. Coutts, Hammond and Woolford for a few games just to persevere with 4-4-2 - talk about 'progressive football', absolute rubbish.

 

[Sharrowblade]

Just a few weeks ago, it saddened me to read so many willing to write Reed off. How he hadn't progressed etc etc.

Primarily, he's a member of the U21s squad, but he kept getting drafted into the first team squad to sit on the bench, and make the odd cameo role for 5 minutes here and two minutes there and more often than not, not at all. Under those circumstances its difficult to see how a young player would progress.

The club has to either back him, and say 'Listen Louis, we're going to push you to start 1st team games' or 'you're going to play U21 games' or 'you're going to go out on loan and play games'.

Whichever it is, It should be 100% commitment to one of those strategies for the remainder of the season because youngsters need game time

Its not a case of 'he's one of our own' and all that. but IMO Reed should be given an extended run in the 1st team, that in itself builds confidence and belief,

it cannot be easy sitting and watching the majority of so called experienced professionals who have failed time after time.

He can't possibly do any worse. Give the kid a chance, fire that belief and maybe we will all benefit.

 

[BushBlade]

Just a few weeks ago, it saddened me to read so many willing to write Reed off. How he hadn't progressed etc etc.

Primarily, he's a member of the U21s squad, but he kept getting drafted into the first team squad to sit on the bench, and make the odd cameo role for 5 minutes here and two minutes there and more often than not, not at all. Under those circumstances its difficult to see how a young player would progress.

The club has to either back him, and say 'Listen Louis, we're going to push you to start 1st team games' or 'you're going to play U21 games' or 'you're going to go out on loan and play games'.

Whichever it is, It should be 100% commitment to one of those strategies for the remainder of the season because youngsters need game time

Its not a case of 'he's one of our own' and all that. but IMO Reed should be given an extended run in the 1st team, that in itself builds confidence and belief,

it cannot be easy sitting and watching the majority of so called experienced professionals who have failed time after time.

He can't possibly do any worse. Give the kid a chance, fire that belief and maybe we will all benefit.

He's only 18. He doesn't necessarily need extensive game time yet, it may be more beneficial to stay with us, play first team occasionally and benefit from the better coaching we can provide (compared to a L2 club).
We don't need to force his progress.

 

[Woodwardfan]

He's only 18. He doesn't necessarily need extensive game time yet, it may be more beneficial to stay with us, play first team occasionally and benefit from the better coaching we can provide (compared to a L2 club).
We don't need to force his progress.

I sincerely hope you are right about the "better coaching" in S2.

Not that it's relevant, but I reckon he'd learn a hell of a lot more if he were in a top 4/5 club in L2 than he would with us in our present state.

Don't suggest Portsmouth, they're way out of that frame.

 

[Alfreton14Blade]

While not claiming Louis is Dele Alli standard, DA had an in-&-out season in 2013/14 before fully establishing himself at Franchise as a week-in-week-out player in 2014/15 if I remember rightly.

He's still very young. Plenty of time for him to flourish (as I'm convinced he will) yet.

Be very good for him though if he gets an extended run in a three-man midfield between now & the end of the season though. All as preparation, hopefully, for a breakthrough season in 2016/17.

 

[BushBlade]

I sincerely hope you are right about the "better coaching" in S2.

Not that it's relevant, but I reckon he'd learn a hell of a lot more if he were in a top 4/5 club in L2 than he would with us in our present state.

Don't suggest Portsmouth, they're way out of that frame.

You're assuming he'd get into a top L2 side.

That's only going to happen if one of them gets an injury to a first team player. If a club had a Reed shaped hole in their midfield I doubt they'd be in the top five.

 

[Woodwardfan]

You're assuming he'd get into a top L2 side.

That's only going to happen if one of them gets an injury to a first team player. If a club had a Reed shaped hole in their midfield I doubt they'd be in the top five.

I think you under-rate him probably but I take your point about Northampton, Oxford, Plymouth, Accrington and Wimbledon in their current form, they wouldn't want to change much at present.