McNaughton

[wigan white]

Whats going on with Kev? Looking at NL's comments today about how we're struggling for a right back but yet doesnt mention McNaughton at all, im guessing he doesnt rate him? Bit bizarre really considering how short on numbers we are. Can only assume he's shagged Lennons dog/gran?

[Bruce Rioja]

Weird one isn't it?! I mean, if you're a defender and you've proved that you can play on either side, yet still can't get a game ahead of defenders that have a habit of shipping in four goals a game, then there isn't really much down for you.

[Vertigo]

How shit must that make Kevin feel. I hope he's injured, for his sake. Don't think I've ever said that before lol.

[Jonah]

I assumed he was injured . I can't see how Lennon wouldn't consider him. Even if he has list some pace since being injured he's an experienced solid fullback and if I remember rightly has previously come into a hopeless Bolton defence and sorted it out to some degree . Seems like exactly what we need . The only other option is threlkeld who got one game and was dropped in favour of switching vela there .

[Dr Hotdog]

As you can see in this still (and video, if you want to click play), he was training with the first team squad ahead of Forest.....

[Jonah]

Really makes no sense then . Mcnaughton came here to play regularly so it's not like he isn't motivated . He could easily be playing for Cardiff stiffs and picking up his wages . He can even play centre half at a push and should at least be on the bench most weeks for the cover he can provide.

[wigan white]

I can only think its his "lack of pace" that puts Lennon off? Bloke in the office reckons its down to being a loanee and him havnig no chance of staying beyond this season, in that Lennon is trying people with more of a long-term future, but then again that would raise doubts about him playing Le Fondre?

[Bruce Rioja]

Really makes no sense then . Mcnaughton came here to play regularly so it's not like he isn't motivated . He could easily be playing for Cardiff stiffs and picking up his wages . He can even play centre half at a push and should at least be on the bench most weeks for the cover he can provide.

Indeed. If NL has absolutely no intention of playing him then wouldn't it have made more sense to send him back to Cardiff rather than Mason?

[wigan white]

Really makes no sense then . Mcnaughton came here to play regularly so it's not like he isn't motivated . He could easily be playing for Cardiff stiffs and picking up his wages . He can even play centre half at a push and should at least be on the bench most weeks for the cover he can provide.

Indeed. If NL has absolutely no intention of playing him then wouldn't it have made more sense to send him back to Cardiff rather than Mason?

Im not 100% sure, but I don't think you can terminate a season long loan deal early in all circumstances. I think it depends on what has been agreed on. I think with Mason, we had it that we could review the loan after 6mths but maybe the McNaughton one doesnt have that clause, so potentially, Lennon is stuck with him til the end of the season.

[Bruce Rioja]

Ahhh. That stacks up. Cheers.

[officer_dibble]

If he doesnt get a game tuesday and we get batered again lennon should be answering some serious questions imo. All for giving yoith a chance, using our own players etc etc but we need to be safe from the drop first. Its getting closer each week.

[TANGODANCER]

I'd also be getting a bit of mileage out of our short termers. Eidur and Heskey are both such and we may not have them for too long.. Saturday was unfortunate with the choice forced on N.L, but we're paying the pair of them and Eidur always looks to be the one outstanding in the training clips. Indeed, Heskey too showed a few composed touches against Forest. More than anything we need a team that we can call a first XI. Right now were a box of Christmas crackers.

[TonyDomingos]

Weird one isn't it?! I mean, if you're a defender and you've proved that you can play on either side, yet still can't get a game ahead of defenders that have a habit of shipping in four goals a game, then there isn't really much down for you.

It isn't a habit, it's a blip.

[twilight]

Is it because you can only have 5 loanees in your squad for a match? I could be making this up mind, but that explains it for Saturday;s match, though not sure about any other time?

[LeverEnd]

Is it because you can only have 5 loanees in your squad for a match? I could be making this up mind, but that explains it for Saturday;s match, though not sure about any other time?

I think it is that, but he should now have shot up the loanee priority list.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Indeed, Football League rule 52.2.1 says "A maximum of 5 loan Players (Standard, International, Emergency or Youth) can be named in the Players listed on a team sheet for any individual match played under the auspices of The League."

For the last three games (Forest, Watford and Fulham), the five loanees have been ALF, Amos, Bannan, Slavchev and Janko; the previous one, at Derby, Janko wasn't ready so Rochinha was on the bench. Presumably the five-loanees rule also explains why we haven't seen the Portuguese youngster: we already had one too many went United made that late swap-swoop offering Janko for Kellett.

As LE notes, though, perhaps McNaughton needs to vault up the priorities now. Can't drop ALF, won't drop Bannan, perhaps shouldn't drop Amos for a kid, and has been using Janko, so maybe it's Slavchev that needs to drop out of the squad: the Bulgarian has only been called off the bench once, for the second half of the Derby demolition. And we have a thousand central midfielders.

I can see why Lennon, like any manager, wants to give his signings a try. I can also see why he doesn't fancy McNaughton as a wingback. I just hope we aren't needlessly overlooking a solid defender when we need defensive solidity.

Put it another way: On Saturday, at right-back Lennon selected our usual left-back (who isn't really a left-back) - a questionable decision, but perhaps an understandable one if it was done to put our paciest defender against their nippy left-winger, having seen what Watford did to us down that flank the previous week. I can forgive that, but what was more worrying was on the other side: instead of bringing in the orthodox senior left-back, he instead played an inexperienced central midfielder who just happens to have played under him elsewhere. You can imagine the reaction if Freedman had done that.

Not everything in the Forest defeat was down to that initial selection, and Lennon was quick to change things during the game - which is an admirable trait, but worrying when it becomes frequently necessary. Moxey came on and f*cked up as badly as Twardzik had for the first goal. And while we're on the subject, Matt Mills reacted to that Twardzik slip by absolutely bollocking the kid, losing his head, f*cking up for the second goal, getting a yellow card, getting told at half-time to calm down, immediately getting a second yellow, and throwing his armband at the fourth official. Absolute tw*t-bag of a show: he shouldn't get that armband again.

[Jonah]

Indeed, Football League rule 52.2.1 says "A maximum of 5 loan Players (Standard, International, Emergency or Youth) can be named in the Players listed on a team sheet for any individual match played under the auspices of The League."

For the last three games (Forest, Watford and Fulham), the five loanees have been ALF, Amos, Bannan, Slavchev and Janko; the previous one, at Derby, Janko wasn't ready so Rochinha was on the bench. Presumably the five-loanees rule also explains why we haven't seen the Portuguese youngster: we already had one too many went United made that late swap-swoop offering Janko for Kellett.

As LE notes, though, perhaps McNaughton needs to vault up the priorities now. Can't drop ALF, won't drop Bannan, perhaps shouldn't drop Amos for a kid, and has been using Janko, so maybe it's Slavchev that needs to drop out of the squad: the Bulgarian has only been called off the bench once, for the second half of the Derby demolition. And we have a thousand central midfielders.

I can see why Lennon, like any manager, wants to give his signings a try. I can also see why he doesn't fancy McNaughton as a wingback. I just hope we aren't needlessly overlooking a solid defender when we need defensive solidity.

Put it another way: On Saturday, at right-back Lennon selected our usual left-back (who isn't really a left-back) - a questionable decision, but perhaps an understandable one if it was done to put our paciest defender against their nippy left-winger, having seen what Watford did to us down that flank the previous week. I can forgive that, but what was more worrying was on the other side: instead of bringing in the orthodox senior left-back, he instead played an inexperienced central midfielder who just happens to have played under him elsewhere. You can imagine the reaction if Freedman had done that.

Not everything in the Forest defeat was down to that initial selection, and Lennon was quick to change things during the game - which is an admirable trait, but worrying when it becomes frequently necessary. Moxey came on and f*cked up as badly as Twardzik had for the first goal. And while we're on the subject, Matt Mills reacted to that Twardzik slip by absolutely bollocking the kid, losing his head, f*cking up for the second goal, getting a yellow card, getting told at half-time to calm down, immediately getting a second yellow, and throwing his armband at the fourth official. Absolute tw*t-bag of a show: he shouldn't get that armband again.

Mills certainly seemed to come into the game anxious to make the big difference . As you say lost his head as soon as the first went in . Bollocking a youngster for a slip won't help him !
It's possible le fondre won't start tonight if gudjohnsen is in . May even be rested entirely which may allow mcnaughton to start.we have a lot of cm s but two aren't looking confident and one is a show pony so slavchev could yet be involved . It's hard to see how the Portuguese lad can get a game largely due to key players who were dependable when he arrived losing form . Not really a time for talented lightweights .
It's also possible he may keep the same midfield and give them a chance to prove they can do what is expected . Might be good man management for the likes of bannan but if he may not get many more chances if he continues to prance about . He's nit good enough to get by on doing things prettily and needs to show some grit or continue drifting down the leagues .

[Bruce Rioja]

Bollocking a youngster for a slip won't help him !

No, it won't. It didn't help Oscar Threlkeld either when we played Crewe in the cup.

When Mills sorts his own game out he might be better placed to start dishing out the feedback. Until such time he needs to realise that it's entirely counter-productive.

[Enoch]

When Mills sorts his own game out he might be better placed to start dishing out the feedback. Until such time he needs to realise that it's entirely counter-productive.

I wonder if it's a case of monkey see, monkey do?

[Jonah]

When Mills sorts his own game out he might be better placed to start dishing out the feedback. Until such time he needs to realise that it's entirely counter-productive.

I wonder if it's a case of monkey see, monkey do?

I'm hoping not. Lennon's man management appeared brilliant when he first came in . Some of the post match sabre rattling surprised me . We don't know who it's aimed at but you've for to assume he knows who needs a bollocking and who needs an arm and has the whit to address this one to one where necessary .
There aren't many folk who benefit from a public bollocking and its a risky strategy in terms of losing credibility . Players on contract are in a pretty secure situation .