McNaughton

[jaffka]

Well he has shown that he can get shut of players, ones who may have assumed they were pretty safe as well.

I liked what he said a few weeks ago. Some of the players need to decide if they are going to come along on this ride.

[Enoch]

I remember that interview. A brave statement I thought when you're limited to shopping from the bargain bucket.

Players that have hunger, fight and ability are rarely, if ever, going to be found touting themselves for a cut price contract any summer soon.

By the by, I remember Freedman assuming the same high ground on occasion.

[Jonah]

True which is why we need to nurture and develop hungry young players more than trying to recycle players on the way down . Not that I'd put Heskey and eidur in that bracket . The likes of bannan have a chance to revitalise their career if they have the mentality to do it .

[Enoch]

I can't say players like Gudjohnson have nothing to offer, though I believe it will necessarily be limited, particularly in a poor side. Sadly, the type of player within our compass likely never had the qualities we're lacking to begin with.

I do think youth has a part to play, but limited in a world where so much talent is hoovered up by the money.

The challenge looks to be finding a system and style that makes best of limited talent. Early doors Lennon scored well with a simple 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2 and a high energy pressing game. 12 weeks in and half the crew are knackered one way or another and it all falls apart.

I feel for Lennon, but he's not the first to find it ain't as easy as telling them what to do. I just hope he has a chat with himself and comes up with a workable plan. Reading folk their fortune week in week out won't work.

Welcome back love child.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Early doors Lennon scored well with a simple 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2 and a high energy pressing game. 12 weeks in and half the crew are knackered one way or another and it all falls apart.

Generally agree with your post but for the record, it seemed to me we worked best playing a 4-2-3-1 hinged on Cravies as the hard-working 1.

We can't play that now because Cravies is injured and ALF deserves to start (and just isn't that sort of player).

We have also, as you note, lost others that made that formation work (Clayton wide, Chungy in the hole); however, while we have other options in the 3 (Bannan left or centre, Clough/Eidur as No.10, Janko/Feeney/Rochinha wide), we haven't got the type of centre-forward who makes that system work - almost always a physical presence as much as anything else (think Drogba in his prime).

As an aside, I applaud Lennon's attempts to diversify with a back three more than I do his dogged determination to make it work. I wonder whether he's got overly excited by its success with his mate and compatriot Brendan Rodgers, who has a rather different talent pool in which to dip.

[Enoch]

I wonder whether he's got overly excited by its success with his mate and compatriot Brendan Rodgers, who has a rather different talent pool in which to dip.

I confess that thought occured to me. I wonder if Brendon's on Neil's "Friends and family" list.

[Prufrock]

Surely he wouldn't "not call"?!

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Well, it would appear from this that McNaughton is on the naughty step...

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... es-8722616" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

Lennon says he's not fit enough and not 100% all the time. The implication is he's not working hard enough, but maybe that's the angle the reporter decided on...

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Tell you what doesn't work well enough: playing anybody else at right-back... but I suppose the gaffer has the right to make these decisions, just as each fan has the right to disagree.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

He's played Heskey and Eidur when they've not exactly been bursting with fitness, so I don't see why he can't with McNaughton in what must class as an equal or greater emergency.

[LeverEnd]

He's played Heskey and Eidur when they've not exactly been bursting with fitness, so I don't see why he can't with McNaughton in what must class as an equal or greater emergency.

I think they were trying, his comments suggest Kevin is not.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

He's played Heskey and Eidur when they've not exactly been bursting with fitness, so I don't see why he can't with McNaughton in what must class as an equal or greater emergency.

I think they were trying, his comments suggest Kevin is not.

Doesn't seem like the same chap we had last season then. Always seemed to put the effort in.

[LeverEnd]

I thought so too last season. Although he did seen to have lost an edge earlier this season when freedman played him. But then I didn't think much of it as they all looked shite!

[Jonah]

Disappointing but at least it's an explanation. Can't really pick him if he doesn't seem to be keen. Means we don't really have a proper right back

[thebish]

Disappointing but at least it's an explanation. Can't really pick him if he doesn't seem to be keen. Means we don't really have a proper right back

or... misinformation put out by a management that doesn't like McNaughton... or a newspaper misinterpretation of management's comments...

either way - as you say, disappointing...

[Jonah]

Don't think it's reporter spin . The quotes seem pretty clear and while its possible it could be management justification I can't see why they'd want to make those statements when they could so with a decent right back.
I suppose from mcnaughton's perspective he's gone from being a Cardiff hero to third choice , got farmed out to us had a few injuries and again found himself down the order . Maybe he will respond to lennon's comments or maybe he's had enough and doesn't fancy slipping down the levels . A shame either way as he is a solid full back with a cool head.

[officer_dibble]

At least its an answer. I do like that about Lennon.

My gut is there is a falling out behind this, not fitness issues. Kevs been in recent training videos. Same with a few others as well, spearing for one. No issue with that but he's got to replace like for like in the summer. Can't just sign another 642 creative midfielders.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Can't just sign another 642 creative midfielders.

Or loan in defensive ones and leave them on the bench...

[wigan white]

At least its an answer. I do like that about Lennon.

My gut is there is a falling out behind this, not fitness issues. Kevs been in recent training videos. Same with a few others as well, spearing for one. No issue with that but he's got to replace like for like in the summer. Can't just sign another 642 creative midfielders.

Haven't we signed a Portuguese Right-back on a pre-contract for next season - Paulinho iirc.

[thebish]

At least its an answer. I do like that about Lennon.

My gut is there is a falling out behind this, not fitness issues. Kevs been in recent training videos. Same with a few others as well, spearing for one. No issue with that but he's got to replace like for like in the summer. Can't just sign another 642 creative midfielders.

Haven't we signed a Portuguese Right-back on a pre-contract for next season - Paulinho iirc.

hmmm - good memory!

there WAS this post by Sponge:

Not January, but according to Sky:

"Bolton will snap up Dutch centre-back Nick Kuipers & Portuguese right-back Paulinho in a double deal this summer. (The Sun)"

did it actually happen?