So apparantly we are replacing Michael Smith (24) with 45 league goals to his name with Sam Gallagher (20) who has 1 goal to his name. Just the experience we need!
I think he's proven as this level, he certainly didn't get a decent run of games to show what he could do.
Correct Can someone explain why we brought him in to start with or was it to appease the fans on deadline day ? Never had a look in, what i saw of him weren't reight good but never had a proper chance. Absolute waste of a wage.
SO LJ and the coaching staff aren't allowed to make a decision on a player by watching them Monday to Friday and actually should play every player regardless on a Saturday so the fans can know for sure that they are *****? (and then blame LJ for playing him). Smith was a risk-free gamble. He has previously shown he can score at this level, but was out of form at the end of last season. We were smart and gave him until Jan to force his way into the side and prove he is worth a contract. He didn't manage to do that so he goes back to Swindon and we move on. I don't remember many fans complaining when we signed 18 goal Michael Smith, in fact the only grumbles were that we hadn't signed him permanently...
It aint about playing him regardless every saturday, its about giving the lad a fair crack of the whip, something some of our younger players are crying out for. You are correct that he was out of form last season but plonking him on the bench is hardly a recipe for him to rediscover it! Something would be very wrong if Johnson and his coaching staff weren't allowed to make decisions on team selections. The problem this season is they have dropped some ******** on a regular basis in that area, all managers do, but its learning from those mistakes that is key. 2016 has begun well. Long may it continue
Both have good pedegree... But unless they are given a run of games its hard to judge! Winnall has been hit and miss most of the season but stayed in the team but LJ was not as patient with others.
I get your point in theory and in an ideal world yes all new signings and young players would get their "fair chance", but we have struggled most of this season with LJ's job under a lot of pressure and relegation being a real possibility. LJ has to look at the bigger picture. He can't play Smith (or anyone else) in 4-5 consecutive games to rediscover his form if we lose those 4-5 games because that player isn't contributing enough. When Smith left he thanked everyone at Barnsley including Johnson for giving him the opportunity. I'm sure plenty of work goes in behind the scenes on every player at the club and unfortunately for Smith it just didn't work out for him. You have to earn your chance to get a run of games by showing something off the bench or in training. Doesn't mean he is cr@p, just means he might need to drop down a league to get a run of games at a level he is currently comfortable with in order to move forward. A bit like this Gallagher kid that the thread is about...
I was delighted when we signed Smith, but in the few times I saw him he looked useless. Really useless. You have to take your chances to earn a run in the team, especially when you're on loan. Smith failed to do that so has gone back. One positive of the loan system I suppose. Never heard of this new lad, his stats aren't impressive (I like strikers who score goals) but I'm not going to write him off without ever having seen him play or even heard of him.
