When TM came into the team there was an obvious joy and delight as an academy product/youth player was able to step up competently to the first team which doesn’t always happen. The downside of this is the expectation that competency early on with such a young player will only be the start of incremental improvement until such time they are world class, a continuous upward trajectory from youth.

This is not always the case however and some players actually never improve or even worse regress. A cold hearted cynic might say TM knew his place was secure, England got to his head and he’s become complacent therefore less competent in his role. Others may say he’s just been off the boil, England was a detriment or the rose tinted glasses have worn off.

Either way I think if last season’s form is to continue or decline we would definitely be weak in that position. Personally, I hope he does come back with renewed determination and therefore performance but I’m not confident of that.

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

Rather churlish to start criticism of player, just back in training. Who is playing against players who are playing their third friendly.

A lot of players regressed under Vieira, i think he is a good player going through a bad spell, lets hope Roy and Ray with their penchant for defensive organisation can put him on the right track again.

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

His stand out game for me was the 0-0 draw against City the season before last. Mahrez was in a hot run of form and both him and Walker doubled up on Mitchell. He had an utter blinder - no-one could get behind him, no-one could get past him. One of the best full back performances I've ever seen live for any team.

Since then it's felt way too easy to get a pass between him and the CB, especially for an overlapping player. He neither pushes onto the winger to make a challenge nor covers the space.

There's one hell of a player in there if someone can wake him up. The PVA competition did him good. Adaramola doesn't look like he'll cut it.

Edited by ambrose7 (14 Jul 2023 11.54am)

26th January 2010 - Enter Administration
2nd May 2010 - D-Day 1 - Survival at Hillsborough
1st June 2010 - D-Day 2 - Survival at Lloyds
7th June 2010 - CPFC2010 exchange contracts.

Their second goal last night probably wouldn't have been scored if Mitchell was in line with the defence, rather than on the halfway line, when Sheff Utd turned the ball over. Was slightly baffled as to why he was so far out of position.

I have serious question marks over his positioning in general so wondered if any of you thought that he had been instructed to push up like that (doesn't seem like Roy) or whether he was just out of position himself?

It's from about 1:12 in the highlights, in one of the angles you can see him chasing back.

[Link]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold...

Mine too. Good in defence and passing backwards which is why Roy likes him. But has no concept of going forwards. He is clueless in transitional play and attack.