Kaheim Dixon - on a season long loan to Crawley (p25)

stoneroses19 said:

I'm on the fence with what we do with Kaheim. 

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

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 

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.

sam3110 said:

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.

Jones will know if he is ready or not.

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.

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.

golfaddick said:

NabySarr said:

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. 

If you had watched him play against Dulwich Hamlet and Millwall U21s recently, you would know that he is not ready yet.

killerjerrylee said:

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. 

Gisappointed said:

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.