Jordan Cousins was a defender coming through our academy; first at CB then moving over to RB. He was also a fixture through the grades in the England youth teams, from time to time skippering those teams.
Evidently he impressed at the time.
It was Chris Powell, I believe, who saw his potential as a box-to-box midfielder, no doubt because of his terrific engine and ball winning ability.
The only question mark was sometimes his passing could go awry and 1st touch too heavy. And there were times when he looked very much a defender playing further forward. But he made a very decent impression at Championship level, and certainly gave height, physicality, and energy to midfield.
After our relegation, QPR wanted him badly enough to warrant paying a reported £1.35m fee for him.
He went straight into that QPR team but eventually picked up a serious injury that kept him out for a long time. And he picked up another injury 3 weeks ago, stretchered off in their game v Blackburn.
More than welcome back in my eyes. Cullen, Bielik and potentially Williams all gone next season, they will need replacing. He's still only 24, plenty of time to improve and under a manager like Bowyer it is likely.
Discussions like this often appear when one of our old players becomes available. But how many previous players have we re-signed over the years? I can only think of Hales, Flanagan and Gritt off the top of my head. There must be more but it's not a common occurrence.
Discussions like this often appear when one of our old players becomes available. But how many previous players have we re-signed over the years? I can only think of Hales, Flanagan and Gritt off the top of my head. There must be more but it's not a common occurrence.
There’s probably loads, Humphrey and Mortimer are two that immediately spring to mind.
Definitely one of the more interesting ‘would you have him back’ cases.
Under another manager, I think the answer may not be yes. But his hard working nature and great energy off the ball, means that I think under Bowyer and Jackson he could really improve. He wasn’t ever the most gifted player we’ve ever had but was pretty decent in a struggling team.
Think he’d be close to the best midfielder we can get in Roland’s price range of £0 - £0.
I would have him as an auxiliary right back, right hand side of a 3 and back up midfielder. Obviously the wages would have to match that so its unlikely. No way would he get in our midfield atm.
Agree. But the certainty is that we won't have the same midfield next season.
Discussions like this often appear when one of our old players becomes available. But how many previous players have we re-signed over the years? I can only think of Hales, Flanagan and Gritt off the top of my head. There must be more but it's not a common occurrence.
We had John Vaughan (a keeper) on loan in the early 80's for a little while and we signed him years later, although he only played a few games.
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He was also a fixture through the grades in the England youth teams, from time to time skippering those teams.
Evidently he impressed at the time.
It was Chris Powell, I believe, who saw his potential as a box-to-box midfielder, no doubt because of his terrific engine and ball winning ability.
The only question mark was sometimes his passing could go awry and 1st touch too heavy.
And there were times when he looked very much a defender playing further forward. But he made a very decent impression at Championship level, and certainly gave height, physicality, and energy to midfield.
After our relegation, QPR wanted him badly enough to warrant paying a reported £1.35m fee for him.
He went straight into that QPR team but eventually picked up a serious injury that kept him out for a long time. And he picked up another injury 3 weeks ago, stretchered off in their game v Blackburn.
Mind you I met his girlfriend at the gym, she can comeback anytime!
Under another manager, I think the answer may not be yes. But his hard working nature and great energy off the ball, means that I think under Bowyer and Jackson he could really improve. He wasn’t ever the most gifted player we’ve ever had but was pretty decent in a struggling team.
Think he’d be close to the best midfielder we can get in Roland’s price range of £0 - £0.
With Morts, Humphrey, Bennett and Williams it was if Curbs was trying to recreate the Lennie team!
Agree. But the certainty is that we won't have the same midfield next season.
Then again, I'd have literally anyone in a heartbeat, given the contract situations of most of our squad come June 30th.
We had John Vaughan (a keeper) on loan in the early 80's for a little while and we signed him years later, although he only played a few games.