FWIW, I still stand by the current LOI being about as strong as it has ever been in terms of strength and depth, there just isn't 1/2 stand out teams running away with it, the bottom/middle clubs are the best they've ever been. We've the current 5th and 7th placed sides playing European playoffs next week. Europe is still a cup competition after all, so we will win games we shouldn't, and lose ones we should, all the time. The Derry result in Gibraltar is horrendous, but tbf they did dominate them at home with 10 men for over an hour, so there was a clear difference in ability, I'd blame coaching as much as the players for what's gone on at times. They're a bit of a weird team of LOI superstars closer to the end of their careers than the beginning.
A lot of football comes down to timing/luck and making the right move at the right time. It feels very common for Irish lads to get injured right when they move over, so I do wonder if one of the biggest issues is just how big and strong the average EFL player is, and the load that is expected to be put on their body. There's about as many lads going over and being successful as ones that aren't, and with different moves come potentially different results, but we will never know.
Coming home isn't always necessarily a failure, as said in many threads here recently, some have come home for family reasons while they still had offers in the UK, or because they're now being paid very well while getting to live near family, many people have very different priorities in life. Chris Forrester/Graham Burke are examples of players who came home years ago for those sorts of reasons, whatever about the younger recent moves.
As for Curtis, he was a center back originally, and ended up playing full back for Pat's because they didn't have any if I'm not misremembering things, maybe he needs to return more centrally now, I'm not sure if he's good enough to get away with not being any bigger thou. He's always been a strong athlete for his age, but there's only going to be more expected of him moving forward, it has been the guts of a year since he's played regular football, so maybe he just needs time, I definitely wouldn't be sure that Sheff United were the best place for him to be in the 2nd half of last season.
Last edited by Acornvilla; 16/08/2024 at 8:11 AM.
Wasn't at it or didn't see it but he started away at Shrewsbury today, played the full 90, played a part of that at LB and seems to have played well, forum is much more positive on what they've seen anyway. Peterborough won 1-4. The opponent are a drop in quality from the first two games, but he has had a better day.
An inverted creative right back who then switches to overlapping marauding left back that's very impressive. You have to give Peterborough credit for the work they have done with him in the last weekOriginally Posted by 2 Year Contract
After game one the manager said he'd definitely play the cup game Tuesday because he really needed minutes in the legs, and the chairman podcast midweek said something about him being nowhere near fit but would be more than fine once he was. So maybe an injury pre season at Sheffield, hopefully he didn't report back out of shape, but after two second half substitutions he finished yesterdays match and looked better. Exeter away and Wrexham home next with a week between each.
Another 90 today, another win, 1-2 away at Exeter & a cute late booking to help see it out. Up to joint sixth and a forum warming to him week by week. Wrexham at home Saturday and if its not raining and I wake up in time i'll go. Szmodics sale and Ivan Toneys likely sale will see players arrive at Peterborough so an exciting season shaping up.
Long term contract given to an academy right full back this week who the club will look to develop as well, he's 19.
Went to Peterborough / Wrexham on Saturday & Curtis started again and at RB. The stadium was close to sold out & Wrexham played right on the edge & over it when they could get away with it, pushed right onto Peterboroughs young defence menacingly, so his two early misplaced passes drew thousands of groans and jeers from the away end.
Midway through the first half he got bullied from a corner for Wrexhams second goal, close range tap in which he just has to find a way to win, or prevent the score.
Upsides, he stood up to it all but maybe should have gone down when McClean raised his hand to his head. Some good passes, some a bit sloppy, too high. Some good last ditch defending and three very effective overlaps, but had to fire it across early on one of them, he was inside the box with players to hit but he took touches & it was closed down.
Was subbed with about ten to play, it was an ugly but very effective Wrexham game plan, grizzled mercenaries V young ballers & McClean going down the shin & into the instep of a sub who was doing well summed them up. They can play, but they like to roughhouse just as much. He did ok in parts, his side got sihthoused and they lost.
Cian Hayes came on and he gets you off your seat with the wing play but he is yet to put a good ball in after getting everyone excited. Chris Conn Clarke was the sub who did really well until McClean fixed his instep for him. O'Connor, for Wrexham was good, played CB but stepped into midfield mostly, takes their corners & some frees, left footed, good player.
A guy arrived on deadline day from Man City who was on loan here last year and was excellent at RB. He's arrived as a CB, can play either role. Someone's getting dropped for him, hopefully a CB though.
Last edited by CraftyToePoke; 03/09/2024 at 2:52 AM.
& it was Curtis who missed the cut today, went to a five & played an attacking player at RWB. The Man City lad being comfortable at RB enabled that, he played right of the three. Team played well, were three up after an hour but set about pis sing it away late on. He was subbed on in the 80th minute to shore it up. Won 3.2.
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