Lincoln City
Reaction to December and January
By Nathan Jackson
January 30 2008
It's been a while since I wrote one of these so there are quite a few points to bring up, including Jamie Hand's seeming colour-blindness, goalkeeper gaffes and Dany's arrogant attitude. For the first time I will also be commenting on the performances of each of the players that have made an appearance since the start of December....this could get interesting.
PERFORMANCES
I feel that performances in general have improved under Jackson, granted it's not the hardest thing to improve on the performances of the Schofield era. We look far more threatening and the fact we're forcing over 10 chances every away game is a sign that we are improving....the only problem being that we aren't converting those chances.
It is exceedingly worrying that we are quite literally following every win with a defeat. The only consistant thing is the inconsistancy. We've also got into a trend of playing rubbish and winning, but then playing well and losing, the recent games against Dagenham and Mansfield were fine example of those.
If we continue these performances that have picked us up 13 points since the opening day of December (not a bad total considering where we are in the League) then we should be generally ok, but a bottom third finish is almost certain.PLAYERS
Where better to start than the goalkeepers. I swear to god I've never seen a more useless goalkeeper than Ben Smith. I've seen guy's with broken hands catch crosses better than him. And Marriott has had pretty much sod all to do since returning and yet conceded 5 simply goals. His contract is coming up at the end of the season and I get the feeling that he'll be given a new contract simply for sentimental reasons.
Marriott has been poor since the Playoff Final against Southend back in 2005. Since then he has made very few "big" saves, and his reputation of "makes the hard look easy and the easy look hard" has definitely returned. Personally, speaing completely honestly, I don't think he's done anything during this current 3 year contract to justify keeping him on the books at the end of the season.
Speaking of players who don't justify themselves, WE PLAY IN RED AND WHITE JAMIE!!!! I'm assuming you're not blind Jamie but quite frankly if you can't tell the difference between a red and white STRIPED shirt and a PLAIN light blue shirt, you really shouldn't be playing professional football. He is quite frankly the worst passer of the ball I've seen in ages and doesn't deserve even a place on the bench.
From a player that can't pass to a player on his own team, to a player than won't pass at all. Dany N'Guessan clearly thinks he is better than he is and strikes me personally as an arrogant player who thinks his team-mates are nothing compared to him. He shows such disrespect to his team-mates by not passing to them when he's surrounded by 5 players.
Quite frankly I've had enough of this "he's got potential" bollocks. Potential is a word made up by those who are born to fail. Stephen Hawking has the potential to run on the pitch in the middle of the FA Cup final to score the winning goal, but it doesn't mean it's going to happen. Potential means absolutely sod all, you're either good enough or you aren't, and Dany isn't.
Another excuse that's often given for his rubbish performances is that he is young. It's much like when the Arsenal players lose in the Carling Cup. Whenever things are going his way you alway hear "this kid is fantastic" and "this kid will go places" ... but as soon as things start going badly all you hear is "he's only a kid." I'm sorry, but age is irrelevant, if he was good enough then he would be consistant, don't give me the "he's young" shite.
An incident in the home defeat to Mansfield completely changed my opinion on a certain player. Scott Kerr gave the arrogant French player a right bollocking for seemingly not giving a damn that he'd lost the ball. I've question Scott's passion in the past but last night's incident shows that he genuinely cares.
Anyway, those are my main comments on certain players, here are the comments on the rest.
PLAYERS NOT MENTIONED ABOVE | |
Paul Green | Paul has arguably been the most consistant player during the past few months and has arguably been the best. His crossing is fantastic and he's starting to show the skill that convinced the John's to buy him last year. Could he turn out to be the best signing that Schofield and Deehan made? |
Gary Croft | I don't think Croft is as bad as he is made out to be. However, he does hesitate way too much and that has caused several goals to be scored down his side of the pitch. His contract is up in the summer and I think he'll be let go. |
Adie Moses | I've always been a fan of Adie. In my opinion he is our best cental defender and we look stronger whenever he is in the side....but he is far too injury prone and is rarely involved these days. His contract is also up in the summer but I can see his contract being renewed because whenever he has been fit, he has been used. |
Lee Beevers | It's amazing how a player who looked like a Championship-class defender last season, looks like a deer in headlights this season. I think when he is playing well then he is arguably our best player, however he seems to have a short attention span on the pitch and has cost us several points during the past 2 months. |
Nat Brown | Much like Brown he seems to have a short attention span on the pitch. One minute he is a good defender but the next he's in the middle of no-where and has left Beevers with 3 strikers to deal with on his own. |
Lee Frecklington | The midfield simply looks lost without him. |
Jamie Forrester | Still a good finisher of the ball as has come back to life after his City career had seemingly died a long time ago. Arguably the best striker at the club and the most intelligent footballer in the squad. His contract expires in he summer and I think he'll be offered a new one. |
Mark Stallard | One game he's fantastic and the next you wouldn't know he was there. Although he still has the ability to score a lot of goals at this level, his body is starting to let him down and he's now seemingly unable to out-run defenders. I'd be surprised if he was offered a new contract when his current one expires in the summer. |
Ben Wright | He reminds me a lot of GTF in his first season. He'll score here and there but never really go on a really consistant run of goalscoring. He still has a good shot on him and wins a lot of headers, but needs to start converting chances to goals if he hopes to stay in the squad. |
Owain Warlow | Compared to Jamie Hand this guy is brilliant. However, compared to most other players he is distinctively average. He's a good cross of the ball but that's the only thing he really has going for him. |
Shane Clarke | Had a rather anonymous debut at Rochdale before diving in like a nutter against Rotherham. Doesn't look too bad but I doubt he'll be a first team regular. His contract is up in the summer and I think he'll be gone. |
Hamza Bencharif | Looks like a bull that's about to run around in a China shop. Good young defender that is pretty consistant. His loan deal expired but hopefully we will try and sign him permanently in the summer. |
Daniel Hone | Looked very comfortable in the back 4 and formed a very decent partnership with Hamza when the two played together. He has mysteriously disappeared without explanation since the Darlington game, but certainly one for the future. |
Lenell John-Lewis | Quick young striker but the finish of a constipated pigeon. His effort can't be questioned and he is obviously a talented player, but I personally don't think he's good enough to be a first teamer....YET. |
Louis Dodds | Mr Anonymous himself. Runs around for 90 minutes but doesn't actually seem to do a lot. His loan deal is up at the end of the season and I'd be surprised if we try and bring him in on a permanent basis. |
Lee Ridley | Seemed to be a good player, hard to really make an opinion based on so few appearances, but possibly one to look at bringing in permanently. |
Adam Smith | Unfortunately he hasn't been given his fair chance. He looked useful against Rochdale but that's all you can really say about his cameo appearances. |
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Green - agree - I would like to see him on the left of a 3 man midfield myself, with Freck and Kerr.
Croft - seems sound, but not pacy - I prefer Ridley.
Moses - IMHO our best defender
Beevers - don't think he will make a centre half, better at right back
Brown - think he will make a centre half, with patience.
Freck - worth half a mill
Forrester - age is beginning to tell, but I think he is the one player who can keep us up - if he gets injured I will become very worried.
Stallard - great football brain, reminds me a bit of Sheringham, just wish he was a bit pacier and better in the air.
Wright - not convinced yet.
Warlow - needs work, and a cool head
Clarke - haven't really seen him
Bencherif - sign him quick
Hone - Great prospect
Lewis - Very strong and quick - I think he will make it
Dodds - bit anonymous but probably our coolest player when he gets a chance, but having said that he has missed afew lately. I would keep him.
Ridley - sign him quick
Smith - haven't seen much of him
Hand - I liked him when he first came, thought he played well in front of the defence - however he seems to have been found out - can't pass straight unless its less than four yards (but that never stopped John McGovern for Cloughie in the Forest team) He does have a bit of bite though.
DNG - unless someone can get him to change his attitude and the way he thinks, he is doomed to failure IMHO. Reminds me of a very raw Ronaldo a couple of years ago who never passed it even though three players were in better positions.
Kerr - I have to be honest and say that under Keith I had every respect for kerr, but under the later John Schofield I thought he was poor. Seems to have rediscovered his form under Jacko. But I did wonder whether the DNG episode the other night was for the benefit of the crowd.
Finally - a word about Ollie Ryan. I hope we keep him. His time will come.
Good article Nathan. Keep up the good work.
![[:wor kid:]](/phorum-5.1.15/mods/smileys/images/13.gif "[:wor kid:]")
Mazza - once a quality keeper, and only a big mouth and a couple of inches in height from playing much higher. Now a shadow of that and should be let go in the summer
Green - improving every week and will get even better but probably more suited to a midfield role for me
Beevers - is probably our best player, Freck aside. But, why can't managers see he is a right back not a centre back?
Moses - along with Morgan part of our best pairing in the middle for 2 years. Sadly, too injury prone and must go
Brown - wins most in the air but play with his feet like they are tied together
Hone - looked excellent in his first few games and rightly being given a break. Could be a big money seller
Ridley - better than Croft but would prefer Mayo back
Croft - quality player with the ball, but as a defender without the ball not good enough
Dodds - adequate out of position, would like to see him get a run up front
N.Guessan - frustrating and downright idle, sell if we can get a buyer
Warlow - lightweight and not up to it
Freck - prized asset and quite rightly, will be sold in the summer to finance a new squad. Midfield lacks any kind of creativity without him
Kerr - hard worker and decent enough
Hand - perhaps if he was allowed to use them he might get the ball to another red shirt!
Clarke - worth another year and possibly a few months on loan elsewhere to get some real match experience
Stalls - gone I'm afraid, but thanks for last season, wish we'd had you and Jamie under Keith we would have gone up no doubt
Jamie - losing his legs but still capable, should be played in the hole
Wright - good enough for this level and will get better next season
Ryan - no hope, will never score a first team goal. Mettam was better
All in all, we are as near to being a good side as we were last Christmas, and that was a very long way off, regardless of the league position at the time!
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