Bottom line is ..... No contracted player should be sold until the new coach/manager has had a pre season assessment . End of .....
If he's going to be a regular starter he needs to run about a bit. He doesn't cover back, or make runs into the box. I can't see him cutting it in England. We already have Moncur.
I'd keep Potts, McGeehan and Moncur (to be used for last 20-30 mins of matches to run at teams). Mowatt & Mallan I think are surplus, especially if / when we bring in a decent holding midfielder.
Personally I think we would be mad to let this lad go anywhere, with the right manager he could be devastating in this league, which would hopefully lead to an immediate return where he could fulfill his potential in the championship!
Mcgheehan and Potts aren't going to put many decent balls in for kieffer or many delicate through balls for Bradshaw/whoever to run on to Mallan / Mowatt could. It depends on what type of football you want, winning football is priority but is that by playing football with a bit of creativity or more blood and thunder tactics. It's down to formation and whether we go back to 442 and wingers or stay with Jose's 433 where there is more flexibility to play more of our no10s. Add Knasmullner and we do have too many of this type still, but out of them I'd keep Malian and Potts the others still have to prove commitment to improving.
I think he’s got great potential and I’d love him to do well but he looks weak as piss which he’ll get away with more in this league than last.
I have a feeling they will, and the club will be happy to cut him off the wage bill especially having spunked all that cash on Knasmuller
The lads not a bad player, set pieces and attacking intent is good. If we’re basing his talent on one mistake, then Cavara,Davis,Moore,Moncur, etc have all made mistakes, in fact most of the team have dropped the preverbal bollock this season, but we tend to focus on some players more than others. Reminds me of Brian Howard, I think we should build around the lad, and let him loose, COYR
I reckon at League one if we could sign a defensive midfielder I would play 2 CMs sitting deep. One defensive and one to dictate play (McGeehan). Then I would have Mallan, Moncur and Isgrove playing higher behind Bradshaw or Moore. Mallan cutting in from left and Isgrove hugging the touchline on the right. Moncur playing in a free number 10 role. Extra Width to come from the full backs getting ahead of the CMs.
If we go to any system which involves one up front, we will need midfielders who can score regularly and Mallan has that quality, as does Moncur and McGeehan. I would be keeping all three, but with a good holding midfielder behind them, such as Gardner. I think that Mallan was a bit too inexperienced and the step up a bit too much, especially when we started to struggle and needed instant results. I can see his potential and think we should keep him at all costs and start to play him regularly. At League One level, he should have better chance to develop and then go on to Championship level when we go up again (note the optimism here!)
Problem is he doesn't run. The days of Butch Wilkins type players are over. If you compare him to top passers of the ball of recent times like DeBroyne, Gerrard, etc they go box to box. He just wants to stand in the middle of the park. This is why he has had bugger all game time from either manager and yes was dropped after a very sloppy pass (the thing he is supposed to be good at). I'm all for skilled players with flair. He definitely can hit a ball. After a year with us I'd have hoped he would improve the other aspects, but that hasn't happened.
You are not wrong but it would be nice to have one luxury player, I loved Paddy McCourt and he was hounded out for not being a grafter and with that we lost one of the most skilful exciting players to play at Oakwell, if Malian mowatt or moncur deliver the quality, flair and end product stick one in and let the others graft around them if giving them that role and if they don't deliver they have to change their game or they will be squad players or leave. There obviously isn't many box to box grafting flair players about ie Redfern, Agnew.
Thing is, if you have that talent, you should be willing to work. McCourt is exactly a comparison to Mallan. What has he done since he left? One great goal doesn't cut it. Hammill was a flair player, but he worked his knackers off for the team. Mallan needs to grow a pair quickly, or go back to Scotland and take it easy. I think he'll do the latter, but I hope I'm wrong. I agree there is a player in there, if he wants to grow up.
I don’t know what to make of McGeehan but I guess a lot depends on who’s earning what & who have clubs chasing after them
He's not been given a chance to show anything, i dont think he's come down here expecting to take it easy..... He made one bad pass and was crucified for it while others made mistake after mistake and continued playing and getting selected.
Hardly seen owt of Mallan to say one way or tother, Some good dead balls, one blunder. As for him being static in the centre, he finally got a go in the side when Hecky was at his most defensive and was possibly following his orders. Mowatt and McGeehan others aint seen enough of to give a proper opinion.