Sending Matty James back looks to be the worst decision of the season

Then why the hell are we even offering Alex Mowatt a new deal then?

 

It was common knowledge in the football world. The USMNT weren't able to select any European based players, as the friendly date wasn't a designated international window as deemed by FIFA. So clubs such as Chelsea, Juventus, Salzburg, Anderlecht weren't obliged to release the likes of Steffen, Reyna, Pulisic, McKennie, Weah, Cannon, Ream, Miazga etc. The regular players. So the friendly with Trinidad was a game that saw only US-based players in the squad, and a number were tipped to earn their first caps. Indeed, with the game being held in Orlando, it was common knowledge (even in the media - google is your friend if you want to read hundreds of articles on it) that the Orlando players would get a cap.

Lo and behold, Daryl Dike, Andres Perea and Chris Mueller all got caps.

Here's one article for example: https://www.themaneland.com/2021/1/...g-potential-usmnt-debut-in-front-of-home-fans

 

So we've got a by default international player who wouldn't otherwise have landed a U.S cap?

Brek Shea's got 34.

 

Whilst I agree with your assessment of the system - and enjoy it not much - I think Matty James is as close as you'll get at this level to the perfect player to play in the middle of midfield in that system. There are few better in the Championship at reading the game, making interceptions and picking a higher quality pass than we'll get from anyone else playing that position. I don't think it's playing to his biggest strengths (hence I suspect why some say he was better in his first spell), but I think he did a fantastic job both individually, and in leading the team.

Re: the overall thread, I think it's f***ing mental that we've let him go and join a team below us in the league. I also think he'll be joining a championship club come the summer, and if we'd kept him it could have been us. Also f***ing mental.

 

Considering most of my favourite players to represent BFC never earned an international cap, you'll be unsurprised to learn that I wasn't making any kind of statement in previous posts with regards to Daryl's ability or international football caps meaning anything other than in this instance, getting him here easier than it would have without said cap.

 

I suppose that means that getting an international cap has nowt to do with your ability.

Which is quite true.

 

I'd like to think players are always selected based on their ability. But Eric Dier has 45 England caps.

 

and Mark Wright got his debut for Crawley

 

What do you think Eric Dier is selected upon if not ability?

Same goes for Ritzmaier too as far as his selection for us is concerned, if abilty is discounted (which on consensual visual evidence it must be).

 

You’re acting like the fact we brought a camera in was random and not a decision made by the same people that decided not to retain James.

It’s not a gamble if they knew we were going to bring a striker in...

 

He was supposed to make his debut in December, but was injured and had to pull out of the squad.

There’s many posts online from US fans talking about it from December and earlier.

 

It is clearly an opinions game.

Goodnight buddy.

 

Carlton Palmer for instance........

Phil Neville got 59 caps ffs!!!

 

Those who run the club have to take all factors into consideration when making their decisions. As I said, they would have looked at James and wondered is he was the best investment for their limited financial resources, given that the 3-4-3 system does not allow him to perform to his maximum ability. They would have looked at the players that we had who were competing for the 2 available places in centre midfield, and they would have seen Mowatt a fixture in one of those places, and they would have seen 2 young players with potential who were sharing 20 minutes at the end of each game, when James was withdrawn in order to protect his past injuries, and they would have seen that neither was getting enough game time. As a permanent addition, James does not fit in with our basic plan, "buy young, improve and sell on", and that plan is needed in order to provide the financial resources necessary for financing the ongoing success of the football club. In no way does James fit in with our long term plans. If you ignore those long term plans, you are always going to find yourself in conflict with the decisions taken by those who are running the club, and personally, I see no point in that. Finance is, and will always be the main limiting factor in what they can do. In my view, it is better to accept that and to take that into account in your thinking, rather than ignore it, and continually fight against it, because you are always going to be wrong if you do.

 

I haven't ignored finance as a factor, I just don't believe Matty James will be commanding a salary beyond our means next season. And believing that as I do, my main consideration is whether he'd be a better player for us (including within this system) than Palmer, Kane and Mowatt. I think he is, and has the added benefit of experience that can help improve other players too. I'd have kept him here with the intention of signing him permanently in the summer.

If I'm wrong and he ends up on a big whack somewhere else then fair enough, but the fact it was Coventry that took him on loan after us suggests to me that's the kind of club that will be in for him in the summer.

 

Also got Styles. who, when the opportunity arises will revert to midfield when the left back situation is resolved.

 

Decent player. Why not. ?

 

DD said in his press conference first he knew was Sunday morning.

 

Geoff Thomas?

 

Sorry @SuperTyke but I had to bump this!