Surely it is all academic unless Taylor leaves...which at the moment is a rumour. He is getting regular games in a struggling team...which surely has some value to the parent club...wherever MB takes us.
I’d be very disappointed if we were dependent on any of those three at left back.
Grimmer has been outstanding for most of his time here, both as an attacking right back/wingback and as a right sided central defender (albeit, I think, mainly on the right of a central defensive trio).
McCarthy has had some nightmares playing at left back and, as @HolmerBlue and @Vital have suggested, Kane Vincent-Young has not demonstrated much in the way of defensive qualities. On a couple of occasions, he has come on as a substitute right wingback and shown flashes of pace and skill but that’s about all.
I agree with all those who have suggested that Luke Leahy is wasted at left back. I’d like to see a specialist in that position. I’m not sure that JJ’s legs have gone but this looks almost certain to be his last season and he’s very unlikely to play more than two or three consecutive games so, unless MB has another existing member of the squad in mind - Jasper Pattenden, just possibly - he surely needs to sign someone. Jasper did well there in one of the early trophy matches I seem to recall and had been acquitting himself pretty well on the right before his injury.
Charlton site suggesting that Uche is not going to them. The Twitter account they reference is that of the sports editor of their local rag, for what it's worth.
Last 16 starts on the 28th, but I'm sure it's possible to sort a transfer while the tournament's in progress. Easy enough to do a medical from afar these days.
Fair point @Commoner. We seem to be well served for wide midfielders - Kodua played mainly in left midfield for West Ham U21, very impressively too. Then we have McCleary, Sadlier, Pattenden (?) and Campbell. So Leahy would have to play in a more advanced central midfield position (if, as you say, Potts and Scowen are both available). Number 10 perhaps.
i would be worried if leahy was our 10, lets not glow him up into something hes not. Hes a good pro, hard working leader who is a defensive mid or left back, not some creative force.
Doesn't that say more about the rest of the team? Leahy has made a great contribution so far but if we are to be successful more players will have to chip in- especially those in advanced positions on the pitch.
You make it sound like corners or crosses that lead to goals and penalties are not to be considered in assessing a player’s contribution to the team. In my opinion Leahy has the ability to play as an attacking midfielder and I would put him up there with Scowen as our most consistent player this season.
just think its a too simplistic metric to look at and say most goals and assists so should play in the 10. His skill sets and outputs point to having a good delivery of a ball, which i would prefer to have deeper or wider. where i see a 10 having a different skill set to what leahy possesses, like being agile, quick feet, cute little passes all operating in tight spaces between the lines.
does it matter if they are pens/corners, his stats are there to be seen , its a massive waste paying for him if we just play him as a left back ?! he needs to be a number 10 ...I would replace Taylor for Leahy ...at least he has the guile for defence splitting passes...Taylor just works hard....that is not enough
By all means knock down that straw man of your own making. I was simply pointing out that to describe the player who has contributed the most goals and assists as 'not some creative force' might be thought by some to be a mischaracterization.
I don't really mind where he plays, but he's in our best eleven for my money.
Gosh ! Wasn’t expecting to set the hares running on this scale (and my “Number 10 perhaps?” was said with minimal conviction) .
The fact, as we suspected and now know, that four of Luke’s goals have been from the penalty spot does detract from any argument about his suitability for the number 10 role but I don’t think it should be ruled out.
The interesting thing for me is that it's Wheeler keeping Leahy out of the midfield at the moment. Is that because Matt thinks Wheeler is the better midfielder? Or because he doesn't want to play JJ left back and Leahy is the best other option. If it's the latter I'll be surprised if we don't sign a left back this window, especially given Leahy was very clear in the summer that he was moving to Wycombe so he didn't have to play left back any longer.
Having said all that, Wheeler has been excellent in central midfield since Scowen was suspended and it will be harsh on him to drop him from that slot when Scowen returns.
Comments
My assumption that any 'loan recall deadline' is agreed on a contract by contract basis rather than a league wide rule.
It certainly seems to make sense though to all parties to have such a deadline earlier in a window
I assume if there’s a league wide rule the contracts have to work within that.
Surely it is all academic unless Taylor leaves...which at the moment is a rumour. He is getting regular games in a struggling team...which surely has some value to the parent club...wherever MB takes us.
Ronan Curtis (linked with us at some point in this thread) signs for AFC Wimbledon.
Oh @Midlander You HAD to jinx that! I'm now fearful for the rest of the transfer window!
Wonder if that's because AAH2 is off somewhere this window?
I’d be very disappointed if we were dependent on any of those three at left back.
Grimmer has been outstanding for most of his time here, both as an attacking right back/wingback and as a right sided central defender (albeit, I think, mainly on the right of a central defensive trio).
McCarthy has had some nightmares playing at left back and, as @HolmerBlue and @Vital have suggested, Kane Vincent-Young has not demonstrated much in the way of defensive qualities. On a couple of occasions, he has come on as a substitute right wingback and shown flashes of pace and skill but that’s about all.
I agree with all those who have suggested that Luke Leahy is wasted at left back. I’d like to see a specialist in that position. I’m not sure that JJ’s legs have gone but this looks almost certain to be his last season and he’s very unlikely to play more than two or three consecutive games so, unless MB has another existing member of the squad in mind - Jasper Pattenden, just possibly - he surely needs to sign someone. Jasper did well there in one of the early trophy matches I seem to recall and had been acquitting himself pretty well on the right before his injury.
All will be revealed in due course, no doubt.
If Potts and Scowen are available they start in midfield, Leahy goes to left back.
If one of them is unavailable, JJ at left back and Leahy to midfield.
I would not have Leahy ahead of Scowen and Potts.
Would they work as a three better than having Taylor, Kodua or Kone off Vokes. Maybe we need to find out.
Charlton site suggesting that Uche is not going to them. The Twitter account they reference is that of the sports editor of their local rag, for what it's worth.
https://intothevalley.proboards.com/thread/27495/january-window-2024-page-180?page=261
Whenever I click through to other club fan chat sites I’m reminded how smart (aesthetics & content) our Gasroom is.
I love the original story of Charlton winning "the race" for Uche, as if there is a stampede of clubs towards Vale Park for his...one goal.
Must depend in part on whether he gets back from the Asian Cup in time. Iraq beat Japan in a major upset today, although AAH2 was an unused sub.
Last 16 starts on the 28th, but I'm sure it's possible to sort a transfer while the tournament's in progress. Easy enough to do a medical from afar these days.
Fair point @Commoner. We seem to be well served for wide midfielders - Kodua played mainly in left midfield for West Ham U21, very impressively too. Then we have McCleary, Sadlier, Pattenden (?) and Campbell. So Leahy would have to play in a more advanced central midfield position (if, as you say, Potts and Scowen are both available). Number 10 perhaps.
i would be worried if leahy was our 10, lets not glow him up into something hes not. Hes a good pro, hard working leader who is a defensive mid or left back, not some creative force.
He's our top goalscorer, and he's got the most assists so far this season.
he's got the most goals, must play him up front then....
Doesn't that say more about the rest of the team? Leahy has made a great contribution so far but if we are to be successful more players will have to chip in- especially those in advanced positions on the pitch.
i would happily wager majority of his assist are from corners or crosses and majority of his goals are pens
4/7 of his goals have been pens, not sure about the assists
But he can absolutely play in a more advanced role - he's done that effectively before
You make it sound like corners or crosses that lead to goals and penalties are not to be considered in assessing a player’s contribution to the team. In my opinion Leahy has the ability to play as an attacking midfielder and I would put him up there with Scowen as our most consistent player this season.
just think its a too simplistic metric to look at and say most goals and assists so should play in the 10. His skill sets and outputs point to having a good delivery of a ball, which i would prefer to have deeper or wider. where i see a 10 having a different skill set to what leahy possesses, like being agile, quick feet, cute little passes all operating in tight spaces between the lines.
does it matter if they are pens/corners, his stats are there to be seen , its a massive waste paying for him if we just play him as a left back ?! he needs to be a number 10 ...I would replace Taylor for Leahy ...at least he has the guile for defence splitting passes...Taylor just works hard....that is not enough
hell lets play him up front then, hes scored the most.
By all means knock down that straw man of your own making. I was simply pointing out that to describe the player who has contributed the most goals and assists as 'not some creative force' might be thought by some to be a mischaracterization.
I don't really mind where he plays, but he's in our best eleven for my money.
Gosh ! Wasn’t expecting to set the hares running on this scale (and my “Number 10 perhaps?” was said with minimal conviction) .
The fact, as we suspected and now know, that four of Luke’s goals have been from the penalty spot does detract from any argument about his suitability for the number 10 role but I don’t think it should be ruled out.
The interesting thing for me is that it's Wheeler keeping Leahy out of the midfield at the moment. Is that because Matt thinks Wheeler is the better midfielder? Or because he doesn't want to play JJ left back and Leahy is the best other option. If it's the latter I'll be surprised if we don't sign a left back this window, especially given Leahy was very clear in the summer that he was moving to Wycombe so he didn't have to play left back any longer.
Having said all that, Wheeler has been excellent in central midfield since Scowen was suspended and it will be harsh on him to drop him from that slot when Scowen returns.
I thought Rishi currently occupied the number 10 role!
And ‘stealing a living’ doing so. Role on the next ‘transfer window’.