[Spireite-Karl]

dim view, on 26 October 2014 - 01:00 PM, said:

If you are asking whether a fit Roberts or Johnson should get the nod, I'd choose Roberts.

Johnson every day of the week for me; though I do like Robbo and I like his trickery and will to win; though our play is all about keeping possession and our holding lads breaking the play up to win back possession asap. Roberts puts far too much pressure on them because he's forever giving the ball away, that's why it has to be Johnson for me hands down (plus Johnson, moves the ball a lot quicker and makes better use of it, he's that much in control he seems to have extra time to do what he does (Morsy's the same); the two real quality kingpins in our side.
Okay, he hasn’t found the net, but none of our midfielders are exactly finding the onion bag with any great regularity either! In fact the onus seems to be on Doyle and this is extremely unfair on the lad as he’s not in the team to be a 30 goal a season striker. He’s there to bring the midfield into advanced positions to find goals for all of the front four and only Doyle’s knocking the goals in for all of um!
Johnson has been a bit unlucky with a few and he’s not played much first team football (his first is with us a few weeks ago), and I still believe it’s something that would come with the lad as he’s got enough quality about him to score 5-10 goals in a season at this level no problem and a good season once he’s learnt the ropes a bit more who knows?? Yes, he hasn’t scored, but he’s made many a goal for us (especially Doyle) and none of the other players have exactly scored many or assisted much, so take him out and what are we left with?? A 15 goal striker with no one to assist him that’s what! And very few goals (as Doyle was the only one scoring from Johnson’s assists).

[Goku]

This whole dropping Johnson malarkey is a bit of a farce really, I don't see how people can make excuses for it. The lad should be on the pitch for us. To not even have him on the bench is disrespectful.

[Spireite-Karl]

Goku, on 26 October 2014 - 04:48 PM, said:

This whole dropping Johnson malarkey is a bit of a farce really, I don't see how people can make excuses for it. The lad should be on the pitch for us. To not even have him on the bench is disrespectful.

Bottom line mate!

[h again]

Goku, on 26 October 2014 - 04:48 PM, said:

This whole dropping Johnson malarkey is a bit of a farce really, I don't see how people can make excuses for it. The lad should be on the pitch for us. To not even have him on the bench is disrespectful.

I'm inclined to agree with that. To have a player of Johnson's quality on loan was a real bonus, and not to use him to the full is very odd. I can only surmise that the other midfielders were bending Cookie's ear to such an extent that he felt he had to give them a go, but it doesn't seem like a PC thing to do. There must have been a major falling out somewhere between PC/the players/Johnson/ Aston Villa.
Even if he felt he had to get the team balanced to prepare for when Johnson went, he should have thought again when Roberts had to drop out. One of the two we can just manage without - we can't lose both and maintain the supply to Doyle.

[Wooden Spoon]

dim view, on 26 October 2014 - 01:00 PM, said:

If you are asking whether a fit Roberts or Johnson should get the nod, I'd choose Roberts.

either way, with Roberts injured its folly not to play Johnson.

[60s 70s Spireite]

h again, on 26 October 2014 - 05:50 PM, said:

I'm inclined to agree with that. To have a player of Johnson's quality on loan was a real bonus, and not to use him to the full is very odd. I can only surmise that the other midfielders were bending Cookie's ear to such an extent that he felt he had to give them a go, but it doesn't seem like a PC thing to do. There must have been a major falling out somewhere between PC/the players/Johnson/ Aston Villa.
Even if he felt he had to get the team balanced to prepare for when Johnson went, he should have thought again when Roberts had to drop out. One of the two we can just manage without - we can't lose both and maintain the supply to Doyle.

Its been one of the strangest episodes seen since Cook has been in charge. Presumably Gobern wont be playing on Tuesday, as he can only play three more league games before he is due to go back, and we need to plan for games without him.

[Sabreman]

60s 70s Spireite, on 26 October 2014 - 06:49 PM, said:

Its been one of the strangest episodes seen since Cook has been in charge. Presumably Gobern wont be playing on Tuesday, as he can only play three more league games before he is due to go back, and we need to plan for games without him.

Fair point, this whole none playing Johnson thing is really angering me, as much as I like Cooky this leaves a very large question mark about him for me. Some of his choices of late have been utter madness I am at a loss to be honest, I couldn't make yesterday as an impending house move it taking all my time but my mates all went.
They have said we were awful, a shadow of the team we have witnessed so far this season, yesterday was a very poor result for us. I am getting a little concerned especially in our manager, I am really not sure where he is going to go now. We badly need a positive result Tuesday night.

[frearsghost]

Sabreman, on 26 October 2014 - 07:31 PM, said:

Fair point, this whole none playing Johnson thing is really angering me, as much as I like Cooky this leaves a very large question mark about him for me. Some of his choices of late have been utter madness I am at a loss to be honest, I couldn't make yesterday as an impending house move it taking all my time but my mates all went.
They have said we were awful, a shadow of the team we have witnessed so far this season, yesterday was a very poor result for us. I am getting a little concerned especially in our manager, I am really not sure where he is going to go now. We badly need a positive result Tuesday night.

There was also the Radio Sheffield interview. Cook talks alot about respect but he didn't show much to the guy interviewing him who was only doing his job.

[Wooden Spoon]

60s 70s Spireite, on 26 October 2014 - 06:49 PM, said:

Its been one of the strangest episodes seen since Cook has been in charge. Presumably Gobern wont be playing on Tuesday, as he can only play three more league games before he is due to go back, and we need to plan for games without him.

is there a "political" element to this?

[60s 70s Spireite]

a kick in the balls, on 26 October 2014 - 08:18 PM, said:

is there a "political" element to this?

We probably need Paxman to get to the bottom of it.

[fatfrank]

frearsghost, on 26 October 2014 - 08:07 PM, said:

There was also the Radio Sheffield interview. Cook talks alot about respect but he didn't show much to the guy interviewing him who was only doing his job.

To be honest if it had been me I would have banned radio Sheffield from the stadium after their fawning over Clough and not giving Cookie a chance to reply.

[Dotty Com]

Goku, on 26 October 2014 - 04:48 PM, said:

This whole dropping Johnson malarkey is a bit of a farce really, I don't see how people can make excuses for it. The lad should be on the pitch for us. To not even have him on the bench is disrespectful.

Isn't it the case that you take loan players knowing that you may or may not be able to sign? extend? To refuse to play a quality player, and in effect spit your dummy out, sends a poor signal to other potemtial suppliers of quality loans. The issue of giving players pitch time exists with or without Johnson. Paul Cook looks very silly on this occasion.

[Phil V 72]

Dotty Com, on 27 October 2014 - 11:05 AM, said:

Isn't it the case that you take loan players knowing that you may or may not be able to sign? extend? To refuse to play a quality player, and in effect spit your dummy out, sends a poor signal to other potemtial suppliers of quality loans. The issue of giving players pitch time exists with or without Johnson. Paul Cook looks very silly on this occasion.

Why wasn't Johnson playing? I genuinely don't know, does anyone else?

[brianclose]

Phil V 72, on 27 October 2014 - 11:06 AM, said:

Why wasn't Johnson playing? I genuinely don't know, does anyone else?

Giving Gardner a chance?

This doesnt explain why he wasnt even on the bench.

Will be interesting to see what part he plays in this weeks home games...

[Humpalumpa]

Cook came out with the excuse of giving 'others' minutes on the pitch, ready for Johnsons departure some 3 weeks & 4 games down the line.

Johnson was /would / is / has been available for Colchester, Walsall, Swindon and Yeovil.

He should have been starting in these games and then taken off later, as per Oldham, thus giving those 'others' coming back from injury etc, those gradual increase in minutes on the pitch which Cook has spoken of.

Seems such a waste of talent.

Some strange comments coming out at the moment, just go back to what's been successful to date.

Thought Roberts also had a 'Hamstring', or didn't he fancy the long trip to Colchester? !

He did have that fancy blue tape on his leg again (CPS says does nothing) when he came on at Walsall, that tape must have had an impact pulling that chance wide at the end!!

Thought I saw him, DJ, on the pitch at Walsall during half-time?

Makes you wonder of Dummy & pram on someone's part??

This post has been edited by Humpalumpa: 27 October 2014 - 11:43 AM

[azul]

60s 70s Spireite, on 26 October 2014 - 06:49 PM, said:

Its been one of the strangest episodes seen since Cook has been in charge. Presumably Gobern wont be playing on Tuesday, as he can only play three more league games before he is due to go back, and we need to plan for games without him.

In wouldn't surprise me if Cook does revert to 4231 at home, that Gobern replaces Ryan

He isn't going to stop tweaking

This post has been edited by azul: 27 October 2014 - 11:52 AM

[BLUE SINCE 62]

PC talk's about having a balanced side and a settled side yet he is the one that does all of the swopping and changing.
Please can somebody tell me why we are risking player's who are not fully fit?
PC wants to add some steel to the midfield yet Boco can't get a game, a player who can tackle, track back and put in a very good cross when given the chance.

I think PC needs to go and have a good think about Tuesday night's team selection, I know it's still early in the season but we need a result.

[dim view]

Dotty Com, on 27 October 2014 - 11:05 AM, said:

Isn't it the case that you take loan players knowing that you may or may not be able to sign? extend? To refuse to play a quality player, and in effect spit your dummy out, sends a poor signal to other potemtial suppliers of quality loans. The issue of giving players pitch time exists with or without Johnson. Paul Cook looks very silly on this occasion.

Ah, another one who thinks Hunt should replace Tommy.