Tempting to hope that a nomadic player enjoying the best period of his career where he's finally found a home would sign a contract to carry on the good times but you just have to look at CBT to see that that isn't always the route they'll take. CBT had bounced around a few clubs before getting relegated from L1 with Tranmere playing a bit-part role and then playing even less at L2 level. He finally stayed somewhere for a while, found his form, found himself very popular with the fans and jumped ship at the first opportunity he got. He's now failing again elsewhere. I really hope Small signs an extension and is here for years to come but I've long since stopped being surprised when money and the offer of something new at a higher level wins a player over.
I would absolutely love him to sign a contract, even thought some of the criticism at the start was a bit unwarranted. If he came through our academy, he'd have never have got as much criticism I don't think.
Judging by that interview, it comes across to me he's found a home here.
He's young, has an extremely high ceiling, is the right character, and seems very well liked among his peers. He also happens to be a very decent player right now.
I'd absolutely love it if we signed him. Small, Edwards and Ramsay is genuinely such a good pool of full-backs for this level.
Come on Thierry, you know it makes sense.
Best group of full backs since Solly, Wiggins and Evina in 11/12 (plus Wilson in 12/13). Arguably better, as all three are good enough to be regular starters.
I would absolutely love him to sign a contract, even thought some of the criticism at the start was a bit unwarranted. If he came through our academy, he'd have never have got as much criticism I don't think.
Judging by that interview, it comes across to me he's found a home here.
He's young, has an extremely high ceiling, is the right character, and seems very well liked among his peers. He also happens to be a very decent player right now.
I'd absolutely love it if we signed him. Small, Edwards and Ramsay is genuinely such a good pool of full-backs for this level.
Come on Thierry, you know it makes sense.
Best group of full backs since Solly, Wiggins and Evina in 11/12 (plus Wilson in 12/13). Arguably better, as all three are good enough to be regular starters.
Yeah I'd agree with that. I think the current 3 might even be the best potentially with the way they are going. Prime Solly is still the best of the lot, but Ramsay has the potential to surpass him, ditto Edwards and Wiggins. I think if Edwards can stay injury free, he might be able to hit Wiggins level.
Either way, it's nice to have full-backs that can be in the conversation with those two. We have got it wrong so many times in that position over the years.
I would absolutely love him to sign a contract, even thought some of the criticism at the start was a bit unwarranted. If he came through our academy, he'd have never have got as much criticism I don't think.
Judging by that interview, it comes across to me he's found a home here.
He's young, has an extremely high ceiling, is the right character, and seems very well liked among his peers. He also happens to be a very decent player right now.
I'd absolutely love it if we signed him. Small, Edwards and Ramsay is genuinely such a good pool of full-backs for this level.
Come on Thierry, you know it makes sense.
Best group of full backs since Solly, Wiggins and Evina in 11/12 (plus Wilson in 12/13). Arguably better, as all three are good enough to be regular starters.
Yeah I'd agree with that. I think the current 3 might even be the best potentially with the way they are going. Prime Solly is still the best of the lot, but Ramsay has the potential to surpass him, ditto Edwards and Wiggins. I think if Edwards can stay injury free, he might be able to hit Wiggins level.
Either way, it's nice to have full-backs that can be in the conversation with those two. We have got it wrong so many times in that position over the years.
This fella is a breath of fresh air and positivity as a person and more importantly, for us, on the pitch in our sea of beige . Whatever happens he deserves to be playing Championship football next season , you only have one career , if you’re good enough you’ll be fine , roll that dice and don’t waste any more time sloshing about in the cesspit of League One and if you’re not good enough go get that contract your recent form has deserved. He who dares Rodney , he who dares …….
I couldn't see us signing him on a new contract but something seems to have changed. He really seems to be enjoying it here. Of course, money talks in football but we have a chance.
Did NJ not play him at the start of the season because he didn’t sign a new contract in the summer? (in an attempt to show the group that he will only play 100% committed players)
Was the above a good move or should NJ just have played his best players from the outset? I.e where would we be in the league if Small hadn’t been frozen out early on?
Did NJ not play him at the start of the season because he didn’t sign a new contract in the summer? (in an attempt to show the group that he will only play 100% committed players)
Was the above a good move or should NJ just have played his best players from the outset? I.e where would we be in the league if Small hadn’t been frozen out early on?
I think Jones almost stumbled across Small as a RWB being exactly what the team needed.
We started the season playing the same formation but we were more defensive and it was very route one.
Jones used the 4-2-2-2 with a box midfield for a bit, but after the Birmingham game we reverted to long ball.
He tried a diamond at one point (an FA Cup game?) with Godden as a 10, and I think Leaburn and Ahadme up front. That meant we had no real pace up there. Leaburn’s the most mobile of those three, but nowhere near quick as TC and Small.
I think we then had REG and TC appear at RWB in the 3-5-2 again.
Eventually Small played RWB. From memory I think he did ok but we didn’t stick with it? But since this recent run with TC back up front and Small on the right we suddenly had pace and width on both sides and look a better team for it.
If we can get an upgrade on Berry to add more in midfield, link up more quickly with Leaburn and get goals and assists that’ll be another big improvement. Hopefully that would help Leaburn’s hold up play too, with more support and movement around him.
With Ramsay back and two games a week, Jones has tough choices on whether to stick with this team or rotate. We need to keep the balance of having width and pace on both sides. Ramsay or Edwards as one of the wide CBs may be something he tries, but we may be weaker in the air defensively if Mitchell is dropped and to a lesser extent Gillesphey.
Sadly I think he’ll be gone soon. If there’s any truth in the Preston NE link and there’s money offered I can see that happening. If not I think he’ll walk in the summer. He’s been in no rush to sign a new deal and hasn’t shown much loyalty wherever he’s been. He’s what ? 20 ? His next club will be his seventh I think.
You all laughed at me when I called him an upgrade on CBT
He's a defensive upgrade on CBT, but still yet to see evidence he's an attacking one.
CBT had how many goals from the wing?
Agree the end product isn’t there yet, but Small has far more potential than CBT. Small is performing like this at 20, CBT was 25/26 when he started scoring goals and getting assists for us. As wing back when we’re defending, he won’t be expected to score double figures like CBT was either, who got plenty of freedom playing high and wide on the left wing.
I would absolutely love him to sign a contract, even thought some of the criticism at the start was a bit unwarranted. If he came through our academy, he'd have never have got as much criticism I don't think.
Judging by that interview, it comes across to me he's found a home here.
He's young, has an extremely high ceiling, is the right character, and seems very well liked among his peers. He also happens to be a very decent player right now.
I'd absolutely love it if we signed him. Small, Edwards and Ramsay is genuinely such a good pool of full-backs for this level.
Come on Thierry, you know it makes sense.
Best group of full backs since Solly, Wiggins and Evina in 11/12 (plus Wilson in 12/13). Arguably better, as all three are good enough to be regular starters.
Yeah I'd agree with that. I think the current 3 might even be the best potentially with the way they are going. Prime Solly is still the best of the lot, but Ramsay has the potential to surpass him, ditto Edwards and Wiggins. I think if Edwards can stay injury free, he might be able to hit Wiggins level.
Either way, it's nice to have full-backs that can be in the conversation with those two. We have got it wrong so many times in that position over the years.
Credit to whoever identified the 3 of them.
I do feel we are quietly developing and building a decent squad, something we haven’t had for a while 🤷♂️
I think he's a lot fitter / slimmer than he was at the start of the season - he was struggling and was rightly dropped. He was giving the ball away a lot and wasn't getting past his opponent. The fitness and moving to the other side of the pitch has helped bring his game back up. I wouldn't move him back onto the other side but it is a conundrum because Ramsey was arguably our best player before he got injured.
He seems to have settled at Charlton and a run of games has undoubtedly helped his development. He still needs to work on his end product and hopefully we will see more sharpness with his final ball.
If he makes the wrong move in the summer I do worry he'll end up as a bench warmer at a Championship club. He seems to have had trouble settling in the past.
When asked if the centre-back committing his future was a signal of intent with recent players leaving on free transfers, Jones said: “I can’t speak historically.
“But that’s not going to happen anymore. We have got a real plan here and we’re well ahead of the game here in terms of stuff.
“We have good players and we’re delighted that Lloyd signed. He showed his intent.
Funny thing is I don’t think, playing the way he does, he’d be as effective (yet).
He’s beating his man a lot of the time through sheer power and pace. Level the playing field on that front a bit at the next level and he would have to solve a different set of challenges.
He could definitely step up and take to it comfortably, but it’s not guaranteed.
He isn't hurrying so much and he's not blasting over or wide as much.
V Rovers his shots were low and mostly on target albeit straight at the keeper.
He's also going outside the full back and crossing with his wrong foot more which means the defence has to worry about which way he will go.
His right foot shots are less powerful but more consistent than the ones on his stronger left foot. Maybe it's because he has to concentrate more on them, rather than just blasting.
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Either way, it's nice to have full-backs that can be in the conversation with those two. We have got it wrong so many times in that position over the years.
Credit to whoever identified the 3 of them.
Whatever happens he deserves to be playing Championship football next season , you only have one career , if you’re good enough you’ll be fine , roll that dice and don’t waste any more time sloshing about in the cesspit of League One and if you’re not good enough go get that contract your recent form has deserved.
He who dares Rodney , he who dares …….
Did NJ not play him at the start of the season because he didn’t sign a new contract in the summer? (in an attempt to show the group that he will only play 100% committed players)
Was the above a good move or should NJ just have played his best players from the outset? I.e where would we be in the league if Small hadn’t been frozen out early on?
We started the season playing the same formation but we were more defensive and it was very route one.
Jones used the 4-2-2-2 with a box midfield for a bit, but after the Birmingham game we reverted to long ball.
He tried a diamond at one point (an FA Cup game?) with Godden as a 10, and I think Leaburn and Ahadme up front. That meant we had no real pace up there. Leaburn’s the most mobile of those three, but nowhere near quick as TC and Small.
I think we then had REG and TC appear at RWB in the 3-5-2 again.
Eventually Small played RWB. From memory I think he did ok but we didn’t stick with it? But since this recent run with TC back up front and Small on the right we suddenly had pace and width on both sides and look a better team for it.
If we can get an upgrade on Berry to add more in midfield, link up more quickly with Leaburn and get goals and assists that’ll be another big improvement. Hopefully that would help Leaburn’s hold up play too, with more support and movement around him.
With Ramsay back and two games a week, Jones has tough choices on whether to stick with this team or rotate. We need to keep the balance of having width and pace on both sides. Ramsay or Edwards as one of the wide CBs may be something he tries, but we may be weaker in the air defensively if Mitchell is dropped and to a lesser extent Gillesphey.
CBT had how many goals from the wing?
If he makes the wrong move in the summer I do worry he'll end up as a bench warmer at a Championship club. He seems to have had trouble settling in the past.
When asked if the centre-back committing his future was a signal of intent with recent players leaving on free transfers, Jones said: “I can’t speak historically.
“But that’s not going to happen anymore. We have got a real plan here and we’re well ahead of the game here in terms of stuff.
“We have good players and we’re delighted that Lloyd signed. He showed his intent.
He’s beating his man a lot of the time through sheer power and pace. Level the playing field on that front a bit at the next level and he would have to solve a different set of challenges.
He could definitely step up and take to it comfortably, but it’s not guaranteed.
He isn't hurrying so much and he's not blasting over or wide as much.
V Rovers his shots were low and mostly on target albeit straight at the keeper.
He's also going outside the full back and crossing with his wrong foot more which means the defence has to worry about which way he will go.