Partly think it's best we are patient, and let him have the season with u21s, see how he progresses in the summer and make a decision on next season being further u21 development, a loan, or in to our first team squad.
The other part thinks we should get him in the squad now, with Miles being out, and Ahadme/Chuks not looking able to help the team in the way we need. My concern with putting Kaheim in now is that it is too soon, and we've done this several times in the past with young players when they're not ready and it's not been good for personal development.
I trust that Jones will do it properly - it’s one thing he’s truly excelled at . However , I think with Kanu and Leaburn out , we need to use Dixon.
I am of the opinion that if he's still being picked by Jamaica when he's not playing first team football, he's probably good enough for a place on the bench. When we signed Lookman he was scoring goals for fun in the unders and whilst he was undersized he had the quality to play in League 1. I think with a little run of games Dixon will be similar
I think putting Dixon into high pressure games for his first real test of senior English football could be highly irresponsible and have a detrimental effect on his confidence/development. I totally understand the reasoning and desire for him to play but I’d rather he had a summer to bulk up and a proper pre season under his belt to hopefully come back a bit like TC did last summer
I think putting Dixon into high pressure games for his first real test of senior English football could be highly irresponsible and have a detrimental effect on his confidence/development. I totally understand the reasoning and desire for him to play but I’d rather he had a summer to bulk up and a proper pre season under his belt to hopefully come back a bit like TC did last summer
I agree, if we were just coasting along in midtable with no chance of changing division (in either direction) he'd probably get a couple of cameos and opportunities but given we are/were on a bit of a run throwing him in right now seems like it could be a bit intense straight away.
I'm sure he'll get his chance in due course. NJ does use young players if he thinks they are ready/good enough so he won't be holding him back purely out of spite or complacency.
Counterpoint: we just got destroyed by a team full of players who are probably a bit like Dixon. That sort of player can cause havoc with teams who lack a bit of pace
I can see both sides of the argument ( particualrly after a loss etc) but you've got to trust the managers judgement, thats what he's paid for, and he see KD a lot more than we do, and will know if / when he's ready for the first team.
Agree with those who say keep Dixon out of it in the current climate. He’s not a bench replacement for Chuks anyway, more of a TC stand in. It’s Ahadme, basically. We just have to hope he grasps the nettle.
Counterpoint: we just got destroyed by a team full of players who are probably a bit like Dixon. That sort of player can cause havoc with teams who lack a bit of pace
Further counterpoint: Those players are young but much more experienced in senior football. Jones - 193 apps, Odoh - 180 apps, Poku 204 apps, Mothersille 81 apps. Yes they need to start somewhere but I’ll get good money they didn’t start making appearances in the play off run in
Agree with those saying trust Jones on this. He’ll use academy players when he’s confident they’re ready. Dixon has pace, a good work rate, will try something different and scores goals, but he’s still developing physically to be ready for first team football and like any young player can improve his consistency.
Counterpoint: we just got destroyed by a team full of players who are probably a bit like Dixon. That sort of player can cause havoc with teams who lack a bit of pace
Their ability/style may be similar to Dixon but their circumstances absolutely are not. He's in a new country and culture and needs to acclimatise before we start putting him into the team, especially when we haven't got the luxury of him finding his feet.
I am of the opinion that if he's still being picked by Jamaica when he's not playing first team football, he's probably good enough for a place on the bench. When we signed Lookman he was scoring goals for fun in the unders and whilst he was undersized he had the quality to play in League 1. I think with a little run of games Dixon will be similar
Hasn't Casey scored just as many yet doesn't get a thread of his own demanding he is included.
When Lookman played for the kids it was before CAT A academies I believe, so he was scoring against the best in the country. Sadly our kids now play second rate opposition, which is why they maybe don't shine in the way people expect when they step up to the first team.
Dixon himself is what he is, and he has done what has been asked of him so far. He is waspish, makes errors, assists others, and scores, and is fast, usually as fast at the end of games as at the beginning. He lacks suitable experience at first team level, and the question is when or how will he get that experience. I want him to succeed, but am also worried by the reaction of some fans of the kind they used to give to Tyreece Campbell.
Whenever we’ve needed a goal this season, we’ve gone very direct. It has mostly worked so I can’t see Jones changing that, and he will therefore want Aneke, Ahadme and Hylton on the bench before he puts Dixon there
Get the arguments about not heaping undue pressure and setting back his progress. However, now in particular if Leaburn and Kanu unavailable, we need a bit of pace and "something different" off the bench if it's not quite happening for the likes of TC and Small. Maybe it's someone else from the youth system but I think it is worth the gamble of having them available to bring on if needed. We don't have to use them just because they are there, but we can't use them if they aren't there. Albie Morgan was a young, fairly untested, player who made a positive contribution late in the season last time we were promoted. Sometimes you just have to give youth a chance and see what happens.
Whenever we’ve needed a goal this season, we’ve gone very direct. It has mostly worked so I can’t see Jones changing that, and he will therefore want Aneke, Ahadme and Hylton on the bench before he puts Dixon there
Has it worked previously ? The 3 you've named have hardly scored all season and recently Aneke has been about as much use as a chocolate teapot.
I usually get castigated for whatever I post but the adage of "if you do what you've always done you'll get what you've always got" is still true.
With Leaburn & Kanu out injured we really dont have much back up......and I dont see Aneke, Ahadme & Hylton being game changers off the bench.
I can imagine that Dixon might be bullied off the ball for 85 minutes in his current physiche, but it will be the other five where his pace will expose slow defenders. He knows where the onion bag is.
I can imagine that Dixon might be bullied off the ball for 85 minutes in his current physiche, but it will be the other five where his pace will expose slow defenders. He knows where the onion bag is.
I'll be surprised if he gets a look in now until next season. Jones is not involving him in squads.
Whenever we’ve needed a goal this season, we’ve gone very direct. It has mostly worked so I can’t see Jones changing that, and he will therefore want Aneke, Ahadme and Hylton on the bench before he puts Dixon there
Has it worked previously ? The 3 you've named have hardly scored all season and recently Aneke has been about as much use as a chocolate teapot.
I usually get castigated for whatever I post but the adage of "if you do what you've always done you'll get what you've always got" is still true.
With Leaburn & Kanu out injured we really dont have much back up......and I dont see Aneke, Ahadme & Hylton being game changers off the bench.
We’ve scored I think the most late goals in the EFL so I’d say it’s worked pretty well yes. Even if they aren’t scoring their presence is enough and they are targets to go long too. It’s not fun to watch but we’ve scored so many late goals from hoofing it, Aneke has been on the pitch for quite a few of them and even though he’s not been great it must be some use that the biggest defender marks him rather than Gillesphey, Jones, Godden or whoever.
The bench options aren’t good but the way we chase games means Jones will probably prefer them to Dixon at the moment
Counterpoint: we just got destroyed by a team full of players who are probably a bit like Dixon. That sort of player can cause havoc with teams who lack a bit of pace
Further counterpoint: Those players are young but much more experienced in senior football. Jones - 193 apps, Odoh - 180 apps, Poku 204 apps, Mothersille 81 apps. Yes they need to start somewhere but I’ll get good money they didn’t start making appearances in the play off run in
Have young players always been this delicate ? What happened to them being fearless ? He’s also playing international football - surely higher pressure on a kid than a league one promotion battle.
Counterpoint: we just got destroyed by a team full of players who are probably a bit like Dixon. That sort of player can cause havoc with teams who lack a bit of pace
Further counterpoint: Those players are young but much more experienced in senior football. Jones - 193 apps, Odoh - 180 apps, Poku 204 apps, Mothersille 81 apps. Yes they need to start somewhere but I’ll get good money they didn’t start making appearances in the play off run in
Have young players always been this delicate ? What happened to them being fearless ? He’s also playing international football - surely higher pressure on a kid than a league one promotion battle.
Well this where the reserve football vs academy football debate comes into it. Plus Jamaica are the favourites to win lots of the games in their region and he tends to come off the bench anyway when there isn’t long left/much pressure. Coming on for 60 seconds when 2-0 up is not the same as coming on for the last 10/20 mins when we need a goal to solidify play off hopes
If you had watched him play against Dulwich Hamlet and Millwall U21s recently, you would know that he is not ready yet.
I watched both and agree. A bit too lightweight currently for L1 but if theres a place on the bench in some end of season games because Leaburn and Kanu are out injured and he gets 10 - 15 minutes it would add to his development.
I think Dixon has some fairly unique talents and it only takes one moment of brilliance to create or score a goal. Not every winger has to be raining incrosses all match.
I think Dixon has some fairly unique talents and it only takes one moment of brilliance to create or score a goal. Not every winger has to be raining incrosses all match.
He's not a winger and it wouldn't be fair on him to play him there. From watching several of the u21 streams he's a striker who will sometimes drift wide, and much more of a poacher than a creator. I'd see him coming on for TC, but he'd offer different strengths even though they have some similar qualities.
Is he too lightweight, yes. Is ready to play on the first team now, no. - but he probably has the most upside potential of anyone in youth setup ( some might argue Enselin). As prolific as Casey is, a poacher with limited athleticism usually doesn’t work out (there are exceptions). Mbick has the athleticism but is very raw.
Is he too lightweight, yes. Is ready to play on the first team now, no. - but he probably has the most upside potential of anyone in youth setup ( some might argue Enselin). As prolific as Casey is, a poacher with limited athleticism usually doesn’t work out (there are exceptions). Mbick has the athleticism but is very raw.
Have those who say he's too lightweight seen him play, I have a few times and that doesn't seem too much of a problem to me.
Is he too lightweight, yes. Is ready to play on the first team now, no. - but he probably has the most upside potential of anyone in youth setup ( some might argue Enselin). As prolific as Casey is, a poacher with limited athleticism usually doesn’t work out (there are exceptions). Mbick has the athleticism but is very raw.
Have those who say he's too lightweight seen him play, I have a few times and that doesn't seem too much of a problem to me.
Did you see him against Orient in the Vertue trophy? Not only was he lightweight, but seemed short of ideas. I described him as "a rabbit in the headlights".
Not everyone will come into the team from the academy and have an instant impact like Leaburn. (Even Scott Parker needed a loan at Norwich before he had an impact.) And, as others have said, he's had to adjust to being in a foreign country, being away from his family, etc.
We need to trust in the management team. Not just NJ, but his academy bosses. I'm sure he'll come good. He just needs time.
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I'm sure he'll get his chance in due course. NJ does use young players if he thinks they are ready/good enough so he won't be holding him back purely out of spite or complacency.
It’s Ahadme, basically. We just have to hope he grasps the nettle.
Hasn't Casey scored just as many yet doesn't get a thread of his own demanding he is included.
When Lookman played for the kids it was before CAT A academies I believe, so he was scoring against the best in the country. Sadly our kids now play second rate opposition, which is why they maybe don't shine in the way people expect when they step up to the first team.
Jones will know if he is ready or not.
He lacks suitable experience at first team level, and the question is when or how will he get that experience.
I want him to succeed, but am also worried by the reaction of some fans of the kind they used to give to Tyreece Campbell.
I usually get castigated for whatever I post but the adage of "if you do what you've always done you'll get what you've always got" is still true.
With Leaburn & Kanu out injured we really dont have much back up......and I dont see Aneke, Ahadme & Hylton being game changers off the bench.
Jones is not involving him in squads.
Not everyone will come into the team from the academy and have an instant impact like Leaburn. (Even Scott Parker needed a loan at Norwich before he had an impact.) And, as others have said, he's had to adjust to being in a foreign country, being away from his family, etc.
We need to trust in the management team. Not just NJ, but his academy bosses. I'm sure he'll come good. He just needs time.