What is the point of Matty Harriott

[Railway Blade]

The lad has been on the bench all season. We have lost our main defensive midfielder to a 3 game ban and shipped the other one to Australia so surely it was his chance. Instead we use a right back in centre midfield first half and an attacking midfielder/right sided midfielder second half as our defensive midfield option. The lad made his first team debut a few years ago, perhaps its time to give him a go. If not then send him out on loan to gain more experience and get someone in who can do the job now.

 

[SwissBlade]

Wilson seems reluctant to throw him in just now.

I say give him a go

 

[UnitedBlade]

The lad has been on the bench all season. We have lost our main defensive midfielder to a 3 game ban and shipped the other one to Australia so surely it was his chance. Instead we use a right back in centre midfield first half and an attacking midfielder/right sided midfielder second half as our defensive midfield option. The lad made his first team debut a few years ago, perhaps its time to give him a go. If not then send him out on loan to gain more experience and get someone in who can do the job now.

He is a neat little player and quite good going forward but I don't think he's ready to do the defensive midfield work required at first team level. The one that is Elliott Whitehouse still has a plastic boot on.

Harriott and McFadzean played central midfield versus Huddersfield U 21s and were completely outplayed.

I think Harriott probably does need to go out on loan.

 

[TopBoy]

I always struggle to see the value in playing players out of position when you have a highly rated youngster who may I add, has a squad number so must be good enough, waiting in the wings. Harriott made his debut more than 1 1/2 years ago now so on that basis he's gone backwards in terms of ability and how close he is to regular 1st team football.

 

[boo radley]

My that stutter has got bad!

 

[ghandi]

Wilson seems reluctant to throw him in just now.

I say give him a go

Must admit that Wilson doesn't seem to want to give the youngsters a go and if he believes they are not good enough why keep putting them on the bench then never bringing them on.

 

[Bergen Blade]

We have done very little to make Harriott ready for tomorrow's game, and the same goes for Chappell and Tønne. We haven't dared playing them, not even thrown them on as late subtitutes, and therefore the task of them coming into the side in a tense and important derby game seems too risky.

Saturday was a fantastic chance of giving either of them a game. It's a year ago since Erik Tønne came on, looked superb and scored against Bury at home. 12 months later he was considered too risky to play in the same fixture, and so we brought in another loan player.

Jordan Chappell was the only available out and out right winger on Saturday. As we chose to play Gallagher on the left (a cutting in type), we were desperate for someone to provide some genuine width on the right. By all accounts Chappell had played well and scored in the reserves' 5-1 win over Barnsley a few days before, so his form should be good.

Instead we tried a central midfielder and a right back, with the result we created nothing down that flank either. How much worse could it have been, playing Chappell? Why not even have him on the bench, rather than the sixth striker?

When these youngsters are constantly being told they aren't good enough and Wilson doesn't believe in them, when it's blatantly obvious that the management will go to extreme lengths to avoid picking them, it's going to be so tough for them to hit the ground running if - eventually - the management see no other option than putting them on. It won't be "I believe in you son, use your ability and enjoy yourself", more like "we haven't got anybody else now, sink or swim, kid!"

Could Cressy do a job in central midfield, I wonder?

 

[JohnDenver]

Could Cressy do a job in central midfield, I wonder?

In a word?

 

[Grecian2000]

Could Cressy do a job in central midfield, I wonder?

I believe he could, in much the same way as I fill in for Brad Pitt when he's unavailable for red carpet events.

 

[UnitedBlade]

Rumour on Mad that Paul McKenna might be coming in on loan ?

Defensive central midfield is the crucial midfield position to fix.

I have no idea if this is true but I wouldn't be surprised if Wilson is looking for short term cover

 

[alcoblade]

I think we should remember that Wilson sees an awful lot of these players and knows there strengths and weaknesses. He wouldn't need to see me play at BDTBL to know that I'm crap, if he'd seen me in training.

I don't agree with the argument that if they've got squad numbers, or we've kept them on the books, that they should be tried now. It's feasible that we know they aren't ready but that we're too thin on the ground to send them out on loan, because they might become the least worst option.

Didn't, for example, Eric Tonne fail to impress at York?

The idea that people would give youngsters lots of time doesn't work for me, either. Given 5 bad results on the bounce they'd be cruciufied like anyone else.

UTB

 

[TopBoy]

Rumour on Mad that Paul McKenna might be coming in on loan ?

Defensive central midfield is the crucial midfield position to fix.

I have no idea if this is true but I wouldn't be surprised if Wilson is looking for short term cover

Are we now resorting to hypnosis?

 

[Bergen Blade]

I think we should remember that Wilson sees an awful lot of these players and knows there strengths and weaknesses. He wouldn't need to see me play at BDTBL to know thatI'm crap, if he'd seen me in training.

I don't agree with the argument that if they've got squad numbers, or we've kept them on the books, that they should be tried now. It's feasible that we know they aren't ready but that we're too thin on the ground to send them out on loan, because they might become the least worst option.

Didn't, for example, Eric Tonne fail to impress at York?
UTB

Did he see David McAllister and Daryl Westlake provide width, pace and trickery at right wing in training the last week?

We can never have discussions about team selections if suggestions are being met by 'the manager always knows best'. It's perfectly fine with me Alco, if you think McAllister and Westlake are the best options, but then I'd prefer to hear your arguements for them to be selected.


Don't really know what happened with Tønne at York. Think he played at left back in one game that he started and was match winner in the other. Saw this post on another message board:

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This idiotic line gets trotted out every time Tonne gets mentioned.​

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York signed him as cover when they had a few injuries, but were in good form, so a spot in their team simply never opened up for Tonne.​

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On the few times he did get a game he did well, but sensibly York stuck with players who were in form, contracted to them and were going to be there this season.​

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Flipping it around the other way, did a player who looked very promising in his appearances for United before going out on loan really degrade that much over a few months that he wasn't even good enough to play in the Conference?​

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His loan clearly didn't work out as planned because he didn't get much game time, but it doesn't make him a bad player. Maybe he won't turn out to be the answer, but I don't get why some people are so keen to dismiss him as an option based on a loan move to a side that got promoted without him.​

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[judge]

I always struggle to see the value in playing players out of position when you have a highly rated youngster who may I add, has a squad number so must be good enough, waiting in the wings. Harriott made his debut more than 1 1/2 years ago now so on that basis he's gone backwards in terms of ability and how close he is to regular 1st team football.

You're really struggling with this aren't you ? I can tell

 

[Bladesman]

Rumour on Mad that Paul McKenna might be coming in on loan ?

Defensive central midfield is the crucial midfield position to fix.

I have no idea if this is true but I wouldn't be surprised if Wilson is looking for short term cover

Not sure what good a hypnotist is to us.

Although McKenna the footballer might be a useful signing.

 

[alcoblade]

Did he see David McAllister and Daryl Westlake provide width, pace and trickery at right wing in training the last week?

We can never have discussions about team selections if suggestions are being met by 'the manager always knows best'. It's perfectly fine with me Alco, if you think McAllister and Westlake are the best options, but then I'd prefer to hear your arguements for them to be selected.


Don't really know what happened with Tønne at York. Think he played at left back in one game that he started and was match winner in the other. Saw this post on another message board:

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It's not my intention to stifle debate with "the manager knows best". I respect your opinion, and you should always question in the way that you do. But I didn't say "the manager knows best", only that he doesn't have to see players play on the home turf to form an opinion about their worth to the side.

UTB

 

[Foxy]

If I'm being ultra-critical, from what I've seen of Harriott pre-season and this year he's not looking the player he was a couple of years ago.

Form is temporary though and I'm being ultra-critical when I say that as he's been far from poor, just not the same assured confident player he looked. Seems to get a little more frustrated and rush a bit more of late.

If we aren't going to throw him in, then a loan would be good, or at the very least bring him on in games we can afford to change the middle of the park late on to get him some game time.

McFadzean I'd have stuck in right at the start of the season and I'd still give a chance, the problem is, he seems unable to play a few games in a row at the moment, not sure if the foot complaint is ongoing.

McAllister, whilst having improved that side of his game a bit, is still a bit too lightweight for a central pairing with anyone other than a Doyle/Monty type, which is why while he's not a natural winger I think he's done better on the wing. His main strength to play on in my eyes is his energy in driving forward/driving into the box.

Tønne, you all know how much I rate him, but he needs to improve his consistency/show more strength in possession before I think Danny will consider giving him a run. I hope he does this soon as I think he could be a real asset if he can push his way into the team.

Chaps, I'd say it's a little early, keep giving him a bit of time from the bench or get him a loan where he'll be a regular starter.

I don't see a lot wrong with what Wilson tried on Saturday, it would have probably looked a lot better if the majority of the team hadn't had poor matches individually.

 

[davidpinder]

its the blades way to play players out of position all our former managers did and now DW funny thing is it never works.

 

[stannyblade]

Ironic that we are looking for a defensive midfielder yet we just got rid of one

 

[sheffielder]

Have to admit to getting a bit fucked off with all of this now. Wilson knew the score when he ended up staying on this summer, if he doesn't want to play the kids he can jog back his sun lounger in Spain and we can bring someone in who will give the players confidence. Not sure how much confidence these young kids get with some of the comments he comes out with this season. He was told he failed last year because he brought nobody through and nobody else has progressed this year.

In regards to Harriott, let's see how he plays infront of Collins and alongside McDonald instead of in an u21 game playing along side a left sided midfield. People wonder what happened with Pemberton, well he probably lost the will to live beause the kids are not given a proper chance. Might as well bring in the fucking hypnotist than the Preston player

 

[sheffielder]

Ironic that we are looking for a defensive midfielder yet we just got rid of one

Really? Are we really going to miss Monty? (12k by the way)

 

[Foxy]

I'm sure picking an XI of the U14s tomorrow night would give them confidence for a short while, it doesn't mean it should be done.

People act like he flatly refuses to even consider playing youngsters, his favourite new strike force are 22 and 19, his first choice centre back is 19 and the bloke he threw into the middle instead of Harriot is only 21. The difference is, he's played 60+ games at this level. He didn't look fit mind, but you can see the logic in his decision.

Who decided to take the kids on the fringes on the pre-season and have them in and around the squad?

 

[sheffielder]

I'm sure picking an XI of the U14s tomorrow night would give them confidence for a short while, it doesn't mean it should be done.

People act like he flatly refuses to even consider playing youngsters, his favourite new strike force are 22 and 19, his first choice centre back is 19 and the bloke he threw into the middle instead of Harriot is only 21. The difference is, he's played 60+ games at this level. He didn't look fit mind, but you can see the logic in his decision.

Who decided to take the kids on the fringes on the pre-season and have them in and around the squad?

He had not choice to take them on tour. He is giving them mixed signals as none of them have gained any match experience since. He is now playing players out of position instead of playing the kids and the fact McFadzean or Tonne can't even get on the bench when we don't have any left sided players in the team was the last straw for me

So yes he is flatly refusing to stick to the job he was tasked with this summer for me. His demeanour is very down this year and it is showing

 

[alcoblade]

So yes he is flatly refusing to stick to the job he was tasked with this summer for me. His demeanour is very down this year and it is showing

If he was given the job of prioritising blooding the youngsters over picking what he sees is the best team to win on the day, then I hope he keeps it up.

UTB

 

[stannyblade]

Really? Are we really going to miss Monty? (12k by the way)

I would say yes we are if we continue to play out of position players in a role that Monty played regular.
Top and bottom of it is if we were getting shut we needed to bring someone in capable of covering for Doyle (and keep him on his toes performance wise) Same should be said about cover for Howard and also Collins/Maguire. There just isnt any therefore if they play crap they continue in the team regardless.

 

[Bergen Blade]

If he was given the job of prioritising blooding the youngsters over picking what he sees is the best team to win on the day, then I hope he keeps it up.

UTB

Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are examples of managers who often avoids picking what they see as the best team to win on the day, because they think giving youngsters playing time will develop them which will gain the club in the long term. Most United managers prioritise differently.

But let's be careful not to let team selection debates turn into supporting/not supporting the manager debates. They are so uninteresting and make people get defensive or overly critical. First and foremost these debates should be about composing strong, well balanced sides.

Anyway, Harriott, Chappell and Tønne all played for the U21s yesterday, so won't figure today. Doncaster's defenders are big and cumbersome, hopefully the quick feet of Blackman and Cofie will cause them problems. I also hope James Harper plays for them.

 

[Grecian2000]

Chaps, I'd say it's a little early

Indeed. 11pm minimum before I even contemplate putting mine on.

As regards playing for the U21's yesterday, does this automatically exclude them from tonight? I would've thought they could easily manage to play consecutive days at their age and level of fitness.

 

[super_pig]

perhaps if they were from Man Utd they'd get straight in the first 11
i thought (may be wrong) that macallister is more of a box to box midfielder.. why is he on the wing??
we seem to have this policy of finally almost grudingly giving these kids a game, out of position and then wonder why they don't set the world alight

 

[alcoblade]

Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are examples of managers who often avoids picking what they see as the best team to win on the day, because they think giving youngsters playing time will develop them which will gain the club in the long term. Most United managers prioritise differently.

But let's be honest, it's a completely different scenario managing ManUre to Sheff UTD. Ferguson has got lots of scope to weaken his side and still be better than the opposition. Wilson hasn't. I really doubt Ferguson would do any different to Wilson in the same circumstances (ie play the strongest side he can).

The debate about what is the strongest side we have is a relevant one though.


UTVB

 

[Wards]

I'd actually stick with Westlake in central midfield unless we can get a short term replacement in. I thought he looked better/more composed there than McAllister who seems to have gone backwards from when he was first introduced to the team in that relegation season. I'm really not sure whats happened to him but he looks weaker than before when you'd have expected him to kick on following his loan spell.

In terms of the wingers I'd stick McFadzean in and maybe switch Gallagher to the right. We were crying out for some pace and spark on Saturday which we were never going to get from McAllister, Gallagher or Westlake - McFadzean may just provide that. I hope he starts and is given the licence to run at the full back everytime he gets it, leaving Hill to do his own job behind him.

I'm unsure about Tonne from what I've seen of him. Seems lazy even for a winger though he has some undoubted ability. He's a player who really needs to impose himself this year given that he's made very few appearances in what is now his third season.