There seems much discussion at the moment as to the merits of Johnnie Jackson. To me, there is nobody in the current playing squad who has given more towards the cause and continues to do so. However...............it looks as if age is catching up, and he seems to struggle to keep up with play now. I just wondered if it was me, or do others feel he doesn't have a whole game left in him anymore. Don't start me off on the state of the pitch at the Valley being responsible either !
-1
Comments
What Jacko does bring is priceless goals like today and this is especially important with low scoring strikers like ours. I think for this reason alone we need to try and fit him into the team.
Stewart goes back to Hull and Harriott is injured so we need to decide what we're going to do about the left side of midfield.
Not sure Jacko can play there these days so I'd like to see the team that finished today start vs Oxford in a 4-3-3 with Church and Cook playing either side of Yann.
He is a cultured footballer. His brain works quicker than his feet though and you can almost feel his frustration at his lack of pace.
Today was made for him. He will always get in goal scoring positions and when both ourselves and the opposition players are tired, the positions he takes up are vital.
So, not a first choice starter anymore, but a vital member of the squad.
Not sure if he's got the fitness or speed for a full 90.
That's the end of my input.
Great signing by Parky
However i was more than delighted with SCP's appointment and subsequent signings.
PP also bought the likes of Powel Abbott to the club, David Mooney and as Bollox says, Paul Benson. A trio of useless footballers
Abbott was a cheap gamble on a player that in the past had scored 20+ at League 1 level.
McCormack was proven in League 1 and has since with Swindon and now Brentford. Even played centre back for Swindon.
Francis is now playing in the Championship. Wasn't he Bournemouth's player of the year last season? Proved himself at that level and got several assists along the way.
Doherty had won promotion with Norwich the previous season. Probably one season too far but can understand why we signed him.
Benson was nothing but a goalscorer, very limited footballer but still scored around 10 for us. Parky couldn't afford someone like BWP.
Mooney has more than proven himself in League 1.
Very happy with Powell and Parky is not "some sort of messiah", just a good manager at League 1 level. Powell would have made questionable signings in League 1 with a similar budget.
A 20+ goal striker away from automatic promotion, following season a play-off challenging side with a very average squad. Later won promotion and got to a League Cup final with Bradford while in League 2.
It was right for him to go but he's clearly not the terrible manager some still make him out to be.
He clearly didn't get the best out of players like Francis, Mooney and McCormack.
Don't think he could have got much more out of Benson or Borrowdale.
Abbott and Doherty were understandable that didn't work out as hoped.
If he had a good eye for a player, was a great tactician and man manager he would still be managing in the Championship.
Powell struggled with his players and that included BWP and a few reasonable loan signings.