The Samir Carruthers Mystery

[FinchleyBlade]

Duffy and Brooks, simple as that.

 

[Stretch]

Looked quality in flashes last season and started well this one. I hope he gets some game time soon because he is clearly talented and much better than Lundstram going box to box. Long season though eh and he could be a useful assett as tiredness kicks in later on.

 

[SwissBlade]

After 5 Championship appearances, totalling 220 minutes. Blimey

Yeah always makes me smile when people write players off so quickly

 

[snootyfenooty]

Coutts on the other hand is more like Rachel Riley, the thinking man's crumpet.

Are you kidding me? I'd shag her without a thought.

 

[bonobo]

Given that Wilder and Knill consistently get the best out players, then I think there is a lot of potential there. However, he would need a run of games and where that comes from I don't know. Although he regularly played in a deeper role for his previous teams, I don't recall Wilder using him at all in those positions. Also, like others, I got the impression Wilder saw him as our AMC at the start of the season, but the issue is not just Duffy's form, but we are now going to be looking for players for a promotion challenge....not sure Carruthers is there yet. Personally if Duffy was rested/injured, I'd like to see Carruthers play. it would disrupt our style less.....he's a possession player...happier with Brooks upfront or out wide, as he's learning. I also thought he could come in for Fleck, but no indication Wilder thinks the same, none of our CMs are natural defenders, but Lundtsram and Couts are big strong physical presences and Felck much more combative...

 

[vorpal blade]

Going back Alan Roberts, Paul Wood and Paul Ifill were players who were tipped to be integral post promotion but for different reasons they we’r and moved on. Much of this can be the approach of the player himself and their own self-belief or lack of.

and strange managerial decisions.

 

[RammyBlade]

Samir Caruthers is the footballing equivalent of the stereotypical dense fake page 3 girl. Sure they would be great to look at, and show off with. But would you want to rely upon them when you really need them? Coutts on the other hand is more like Rachel Riley, the thinking man's crumpet.

Samir has strength and great feet and can do some incredible stuff, but he lacks a footballing brain, making the wrong decisions constantly.

Yes but you could have a lot of fun with a dense fake page 3 girl ........... and Rachel Riley for that matter !

 

[GrayBlade]

I think Samir has looked decent enough and at times entertaining, and I fully expected him to play a big part in this season prior to Brooks emergence. I think he was bought as Duffy’s cover or replacement, not Flecks, that would have been Leonard if he’d signed, Fleck’s is probably the only position that we’ve not covered adequately at present.

I’m sure that there’s a good player in there from what I’ve seen when he has played, but he needed to improve his positional play and his fitness levels to play the way we do. He’ll only do that by playing first team games, we’ve seen the positive effect that playing games regularly has had on Clarke, and the only way Carruthers will kick on is by doing the same. There are now 2 possibly 3 players ahead of him and it’s hard to see that changing unless he can at least get a few cameos, and Brooks is current filling the late entertainment role most games.

It’s a quandary really where to go from here for both Wilder and Carruthers, If nothing changes, I could see him on his bike in January

 

[RammyBlade]

For me he isn’t good enough and will be moved on in January to probably make room for Ryan Leonard who will be a cut price from whatever he cost in the summer.

He does a lot of nothing and hasn’t stepped up to a consistent Championship standard. It’s a shame as there is a player in there, but I don’t think he has the end product or defensive responsibility for a central role nor the pace for a wide role in this league.

Or even a deal with Charlton for Ricky Holmes ? Scouse Karl loves Samir ..

 

[AWetFlannel]

Think Samir is definitely seen as challenging for the CAM role more than for the CM spots. Was first choice at the start of the season and didn't play too badly, Duffy and Brooks have just been outstanding. I expect to see him back in soon and coming off the bench.

 

[stringer]

Or even a deal with Charlton for Ricky Holmes ? Scouse Karl loves Samir ..

What a poor move that would be.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Was first choice at the start of the season and didn't play too badly, Duffy and Brooks have just been outstanding.

I personally think Brooks has been excellent when playing off the main striker, but in the Duffy role he’s been at best ok. I’m not convinced he’s yet able to be a like for like replacement from the start for Duffy, as positionally he doesn’t seem as well suited to it as Duffy. In that respect there’s an argument that when Duffy is rested, Carruthers should still be the first to take that role.

 

[Ginger Gnome]

Dumping Carruthers in January and bringing in Leonard or Holmes would be a stupid move, we should be aiming for better players than them now and only bringing in players that are a step up from what we've got (Leonard would be OK as an extra body if we can get him cheap, not as a Samir replacement)

 

[HoodedClaw]

Dumping Carruthers in January and bringing in Leonard or Holmes would be a stupid move, we should be aiming for better players than them now and only bringing in players that are a step up from what we've got (Leonard would be OK as an extra body if we can get him cheap, not as a Samir replacement)

Are you meaning players better than Fleck, Coutts and Duffy or just better plays than their "Backups"?

 

[Grappler]

Carruthers is a tricky, creative player, best playing behind the strikers. Good lad to have on the bench. Lundstram is a physical presence and won't shirk a 50/50 tackle, going in hard. CW and AK have not done us wrong in their team/squad selections, most of the time.

 

[Slim Man]

After 5 Championship appearances, totalling 220 minutes. Blimey

And what’s your point?

 

[Slim Man]

Or even a deal with Charlton for Ricky Holmes ? Scouse Karl loves Samir ..

Nah think that ship has sailed for Holmes but I think he’ll be sniffing round carruthers anyway

 

[Fanny magnet]

Carruthers will get his chance and I've a funny feeling he will take it and play an I.important role for us
It's unlikely Duffy will stay fit all season and no one else can really fill his shoes
Brooks didn't look comfortable I that role at QPR and is more a second striker /free role type player

 

[Tom Bott]

I heard two Blades fans discussing him after his first appearance.

" I like the cut of his jib" was the opening comment.

In all my years I've never heard that said about a Blades player before....

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Samir is being kept out because Duffy, Fleck and Coutts have been outstanding this season.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Not convinced ACM is Carruther's best position. For one thing his goal scoring record is rather poor, and he doesn't quite have Duffy's ability to be constantly on the move, always making himself available. But he's also shown weaknesses defensively, which is why I think Wilder has been reluctant to play him in place of Coutts or Fleck.


So maybe a tweak would be necessary for Carruthers to work well. Next time Duffy is unavailable maybe something like this:

GK
RCH CCH LCH
RWB - - - - - - - - - - - - - - LWB
Coutts
Carruthers - - - -Fleck

Clarke Brooks
​

 

[John Street West Terrace]

He’s definitely more of an attacking midfielder than an engine room type.
That’s how Wilder sees him too based on his tactics board:-

View attachment 32860

He started the season as first choice in the “Duffy” role but didn’t really take his opportunity..
Both Duffy and Brooks have been consistently better than him.
I don’t think there’s any great mystery personally.
I do think he’s a great option to have as third choice though and his time will come.

Wilder intended to sign Quina from West Ham as additional cover for Fleck/Coutts but his greedy agent reneged on the deal.

Yep SB as they say the writing is on the wall

 

[Iceybabey]

Carruthers competes with Duffy and tbf it's going to be a difficult job for Carruthers to get the shirt off him. Brooks also provides competition for the same position as well as the slot along side Clarke.

 

[Champagneblade]

I'd certainly keep Carruthers until the end of the current season at which point we and he will have a decision to make.

If either Brooks or Duffy gets injured or suspended, then he'll be back to getting minutes every game. He just happens to have put in a couple of mixed displays - he was giving the ball away a lot vs Boro - and then in stepped Duffy to be arguably player of the year so far - and then Brooks megged his way in from nowhere to make playing him in games a must because of what he's shown.

If you're chasing the game and you've already brought Brooks on, then the next move is probably going to be another striker. If Brooks is there already and you're winning then your next move is either going to be to take off Duffy or a forward and throw Lundstram in there to shore things up.

It's only if an additional midfielder needs to come off or you change formation, needing a further midfield option that he really gets a game.

Any time Brooks or Duffy dips out, he'll be getting minutes for sure. The case is definitely strong enough to keep him.

 

[stringer]

And what’s your point?

Is that enough time to write someone off as not good enough? I’d argue it isn’t. The point was pretty obvious, I thought

 

[Slim Man]

Is that enough time to write someone off as not good enough? I’d argue it isn’t. The point was pretty obvious, I thought

Id argue that having seen plenty of him last year and this I can write whoever I like off.
We have better options than Carruthers in centre mid and attacking mid. He doesn't have the end product of Brooks or Duffy, he doesn't have the defensive brain of Fleck, Coutts and Lundstram. It's okay in League One, but not the Championship. I think he'd do a decent job wide right in this division but that's not a system we play.

It's not fair to keep him if we aren't going to use him. He's a good lad, at an age he needs to be playing regularly, we should be looking to move him on for a profit if he has barely played by January.

 

[Grecian2000]

I think he was brought to replace Duffy as it was generally decided (on here as much as anywhere) that he wouldn't be stepping up to Div2 standard.

Well, Duffy has stuffed those predictions where the sun don't shine and Carruthers will have to wait a good while longer if that was the plan. Thought all last season, and much of this, that we look a better team with Duffy on the park. Even when he's not right at the top of his game (first half on Saturday for instance) most of our best work comes through him.

 

[stringer]

Id argue that having seen plenty of him last year and this I can write whoever I like off.
We have better options than Carruthers in centre mid and attacking mid. He doesn't have the end product of Brooks or Duffy, he doesn't have the defensive brain of Fleck, Coutts and Lundstram. It's okay in League One, but not the Championship. I think he'd do a decent job wide right in this division but that's not a system we play.

It's not fair to keep him if we aren't going to use him. He's a good lad, at an age he needs to be playing regularly, we should be looking to move him on for a profit if he has barely played by January.

With respect, even then you’ve seen him a maximum of 20 times if you went home and away. Still a fair gauge that he is not good enough? The kid has made FIVE league starts for United.

It’s also perfectly fair to keep him, to quite Pinchy it’s SUFC’s interests that are paramount. As exceptional as he’s been recently, the lad he will replace in the team is 32 years old.

 

[Slim Man]

With respect, even then you’ve seen him a maximum of 20 times if you went home and away. Still a fair gauge that he is not good enough? The kid has made FIVE league starts for United.

It’s also perfectly fair to keep him, to quite Pinchy it’s SUFC’s interests that are paramount. As exceptional as he’s been recently, the lad he will replace in the team is 32 years old.

I bow to your superior knowledge and have now decided to extend my original timescale on ‘when I’m allowed to think a player is good enough or not’ to 30 games from my previous 20 games.

When someone from the star speaks, you really have to sit up and take note.

 

[stringer]

I bow to your superior knowledge and have now decided to extend my original timescale on ‘when I’m allowed to think a player is good enough or not’ to 30 games from my previous 20 games.

When someone from the star speaks, you really have to sit up and take note.

A very mature and grown up way to deal with a converse viewpoint.