[longeatonspireite]

The thing for me is that on Sturday Atkinson was quickly noticed especially his accurate long balls and generally being involved and making himself available. Randall without doubt can pass very well but for me he still does not get involved enough. What I do believe is that he would good in a five man midfield. We need players that from the first touch, look to pass forward and then if nothing is on pass it sideways.

[spyright]

RPL42YEARS, on 16 September 2012 - 06:11 PM, said:

Randall is a better player than Whits and at the right end of his career.

Whits is unexceptional and flawed and at the wrong end of his career.

Lets be honest, in the unlikely event that we were to get promoted to L1 this season, Whits and Allott will be on their way anyway.

Lets not have then blocking the development of the younger players - read the future of CFC.

You might well be right about the fact that Allott and Whitaker are near the end of their careers' (I guess their respective ages might have something to do with that? )and I too can see both of them being gone at the end of the season, but before we start playing promising younger players, in League 1, we have to win promotion first. Regular posters on here will know that I'm generally not a great fan of either Allott or Whitaker, but if they are playing well, and earning their place in the starting 11, then it would be crazy to drop them simply to give experience (of losing?) to younger players. Yes, we won without them on Saturday, but it was only one game and we haven't lost in the league since the opening day of the season, so the two 'old codgers' might still have something useful to offer. I'd only drop them if we went on another lengthy losing run - but they wouldn't necessarily be the only ones, because the manager would presumably look at why we were losing and make appropriate changes (which might not include the midfield anyway!).

[Bobby Darling]

GB1984, on 17 September 2012 - 11:11 AM, said:

Have to say I just don't agree with you having watched Whittaker, Allott and Talbot last season. If you can't see that and that the Wembley pass is exactly what you can't take away from Randall - the talent that got him on to Arsenal's books - then...well fine, whatever, I'm not going to play the insult swapping game.

Randall sometimes spots and delivers a superb ball but the one at Wembley really was so simple and most players on the pitch would have picked it and had the technique to do it. It was a ball played into oceans of space made easy by Westcarr's run. Few people on here doubt Randall's technique but it appears that a lot of football people ( why didn't other clubs come in for him?) doubt his ability to make a consistent contribution to a team winning a game. Hence since leaving Arsenal he has found it difficult to get League games.

[GB1984]

longeatonspireite, on 17 September 2012 - 12:14 PM, said:

The thing for me is that on Sturday Atkinson was quickly noticed especially his accurate long balls and generally being involved and making himself available. Randall without doubt can pass very well but for me he still does not get involved enough. What I do believe is that he would good in a five man midfield. We need players that from the first touch, look to pass forward and then if nothing is on pass it sideways.

I know this may be me picking at nits a little, but I just looked on youtube at the second Wembley goal just to check that my memory wasn't playing me tricks only to find that the Randall pass was anything but simple: it was a first-touch side-foot volley perfectly weighted into CW's path. Go see it.

It suddenly struck me that this debate about Randall is one that English football has been having for 70 years at least (since the days of Len Shackleton): do we want skill? or do we want commitment. In the modern game you need both. For me, all day long, Randall has got, in spades, what no other Town midfielder has got. On paper he SHOULD be our match-winner. And I want a manager to take him in hand and get that quality out of him. What a waste if he can't. Go and look at that pass...

[JonB]

GB1984, on 17 September 2012 - 12:54 PM, said:

I know this may be me picking at nits a little, but I just looked on youtube at the second Wembley goal just to check that my memory wasn't playing me tricks only to find that the Randall pass was anything but simple: it was a first-touch side-foot volley perfectly weighted into CW's path. Go see it.

It was a simple side foot volley with a full half of Wembley to land it in and very few of the opposition to get in the way. Sorry but any half decent pro footballer should be capable of that pass.

GB1984, on 17 September 2012 - 12:54 PM, said:

It suddenly struck me that this debate about Randall is one that English football has been having for 70 years at least (since the days of Len Shackleton): do we want skill? or do we want commitment. In the modern game you need both. For me, all day long, Randall has got, in spades, what no other Town midfielder has got. On paper he SHOULD be our match-winner. And I want a manager to take him in hand and get that quality out of him. What a waste if he can't. Go and look at that pass...

Yes he probably should be our match winner but for some reason he isnt and its partly because a few half decent passes in 90 mins is not enough. To be a match winner he needs to be involved and he drifts out of games far to much for it to happen. It would be good to have him in the side because it adds things like dead ball delivery etc to the team but at the moment there is very little to justify selecting him. I think part of what annoys a lot of people is that they can actually see he has talent but struggles to apply it and its not through a lack of chances. We were actually warned by Millers fans that he wasnt that great and it says a lot that his loan spells during his career started with a Championship club then league 1 then league 2...which is probably the wrong way round if a player is that decent.

[GB1984]

JonB, on 17 September 2012 - 01:09 PM, said:

It was a simple side foot volley with a full half of Wembley to land it in and very few of the opposition to get in the way. Sorry but any half decent pro footballer should be capable of that pass.

Disagree 100%. You won't see - you don't see - side-foot volley through-ball goal-making passes like that in the PL, never mind in the bottom 2 Leagues. And I've watched both for donks, so I don't understand where your head's at. One of us is delusional and it's not me - yes, it is, - no, it's not - you say potato, I say poh-tah-toe, repeat to fade and let's move on.

[Radders]

boot, on 17 September 2012 - 11:56 AM, said:

Your inference then is that he can put a shift in - I have not seen the evidence to support that.

Yes I believe he can, regardless of what level you play, premier all the way down to Ryman - players will need to be able to do that. I really don't think he would have got this far if he hadn't be able to do that

[Goku]

Radders, on 17 September 2012 - 01:23 PM, said:

Yes I believe he can, regardless of what level you play, premier all the way down to Ryman - players will need to be able to do that. I really don't think he would have got this far if he hadn't be able to do that

How far has he got? From Premiership to Championship to League 1 to League 2. Following his career patten, where's the next step?

[Wooden Spoon]

GB1984, on 17 September 2012 - 12:54 PM, said:

I know this may be me picking at nits a little, but I just looked on youtube at the second Wembley goal just to check that my memory wasn't playing me tricks only to find that the Randall pass was anything but simple: it was a first-touch side-foot volley perfectly weighted into CW's path. Go see it.

It suddenly struck me that this debate about Randall is one that English football has been having for 70 years at least (since the days of Len Shackleton): do we want skill? or do we want commitment. In the modern game you need both. For me, all day long, Randall has got, in spades, what no other Town midfielder has got. On paper he SHOULD be our match-winner. And I want a manager to take him in hand and get that quality out of him. What a waste if he can't. Go and look at that pass...

One pass in how many games?

How much off the ball work does he do?

Watch Messi when he does not have the ball, he works his balls off till he does get it so the skill or commitment argument falls flat.

[JonB]

GB1984, on 17 September 2012 - 01:21 PM, said:

Disagree 100%. You won't see - you don't see - side-foot volley through-ball goal-making passes like that in the PL, never mind in the bottom 2 Leagues. And I've watched both for donks, so I don't understand where your head's at. One of us is delusional and it's not me - yes, it is, - no, it's not - you say potato, I say poh-tah-toe, repeat to fade and let's move on.

Sweet lord....he makes one pass and all of a sudden he is the new Xavi and your throwing insults around because i saw it differently. For what its worth my brother who is a decent footballer himself and was there for the day out despite being and Owls fan, if you are throwing around Derby County reserves to back you up i thought i would get a neutrals opinion as well, and he said it was a decent pass but nothing that you expect to see repeated for hours on end on the telly or anything like that.

Trust me i dont want players to fail in a town shirt as that would mean they arent helping us win games but i struggle to see what Randall is going to offer unless he bucks his ideas up and gets more involved in games. It wouldnt be so annoying if he hadnt shown in a couple of games what he's capable of but unfortunately they appear to be the exception not the rule. Its like the argument about Griffiths attacking prowess and all we get is stuff about that one Gillingham game...with Randall all we get is that one good but not anything outstanding pass.

[Town_Fan]

It was a great pass and it is indicative of the lads talent. I'd also advise others to look for his pass for our first away at Yeovil as another example of what he can do. My fear is his passing ability (picking and seeing a pass specifically) is where the majority of his talents lay and he doesnt offer a great deal else.

It's a shame we can't mix the best bits of Randall and Niven as I think you would have a right player then.

The problem is as R2D2's love child he's already fighting a losing battle here. Many want to see Randall fail just to see RPL-IQ42 brought down a notch or two (if such a low place actually exists).

[JonB]

Town_Fan, on 17 September 2012 - 02:32 PM, said:

It's a shame we can't mix the best bits of Randall and Niven as I think you would have a right player then.

I suspect if that happened said player wouldnt be in league 2!!

[GB1984]

JonB, on 17 September 2012 - 02:13 PM, said:

Sweet lord....he makes one pass and all of a sudden he is the new Xavi and your throwing insults around because i saw it differently. For what its worth my brother who is a decent footballer himself and was there for the day out despite being and Owls fan, if you are throwing around Derby County reserves to back you up i thought i would get a neutrals opinion as well, and he said it was a decent pass but nothing that you expect to see repeated for hours on end on the telly or anything like that.

Trust me i dont want players to fail in a town shirt as that would mean they arent helping us win games but i struggle to see what Randall is going to offer unless he bucks his ideas up and gets more involved in games. It wouldnt be so annoying if he hadnt shown in a couple of games what he's capable of but unfortunately they appear to be the exception not the rule. Its like the argument about Griffiths attacking prowess and all we get is stuff about that one Gillingham game...with Randall all we get is that one good but not anything outstanding pass.

My cousin's married to Pep Guardiola's sister who's just shown Pep the goal on youtube and he thinks it's magic.

In other words, "whatever."

[Goku]

Town_Fan, on 17 September 2012 - 02:32 PM, said:

The problem is as R2D2's love child he's already fighting a losing battle here. Many want to see Randall fail just to see RPL-IQ42 brought down a notch or two (if such a low place actually exists).

I don't believe any of our fans would want one of our players to fail simply because someone on our forum rates him.

Or would they?

[boot]

Radders, on 17 September 2012 - 01:23 PM, said:

Yes I believe he can, regardless of what level you play, premier all the way down to Ryman - players will need to be able to do that. I really don't think he would have got this far if he hadn't be able to do that

And when did you see him 'put a shift in' ? " Yes I believe he can" says that you haven't.

[shaun1866]

GB1984, on 17 September 2012 - 02:38 PM, said:

My cousin's married to Pep Guardiola's sister who's just shown Pep the goal on youtube and he thinks it's magic.

In other words, "whatever."

It's an opinion, MHO is he will never make our squad or any other out side the conference on a week in week out regular starter.

[Sabreman]

It seems rpl has been recruiting someone to fight his cause regarding Randal, they seem to post in the same manner intriguing. The simple truth about Randal, he's a very talented footballer thats obvious, however what is more obvious is he's no where near physical enough for this division or the one above. He simply isn't interested in mucking in, he hasn't got it in him.
He gives the ball away more than he finds his teammates, he was our worst player at Wimbledon, dire is being kind. Thus far besides a friendly against Derby he has been average at best, the truth is he won't make an impact in our side as he doesn't want it enough, his career is going one way.
He should have been released any other manager would have, Sheridan made a mistake offering him another year along with a couple of other players. I have no idea how much Randal will be on but with such a small squad he's stealing a wage and should be offloaded asap.
In all his time here I have seen nothing to suggest he is remotely interested in holding down a regular starting position, however he made a single good pass at Wembley give me strength.

[Radders]

boot, on 17 September 2012 - 03:15 PM, said:

And when did you see him 'put a shift in' ? " Yes I believe he can" says that you haven't.

Last season against Wednesday I thought he ran the midfield for 75 minutes. That would have been a shift but wasn't he subbed? The thing is he has hardly played so is not a bit unfair to class him as not good enough. If he got a run in the side and didn't cut it then I'd put my hand up and say - fair play - we gave him a go and it didn't work. But to play him once then not have him in the side for a month and then give him 20 minutes is hard for anyone to make a judgement

[dim view]

Sabreman, on 17 September 2012 - 03:25 PM, said:

The simple truth about Randal, he's a very talented footballer thats obvious, however what is more obvious is he's no where near physical enough for this division or the one above. He simply isn't interested in mucking in, he hasn't got it in him.
He gives the ball away more than he finds his teammates

Yep. We've got a couple of posters on here who claim to be the World's best Coach, yet we never hear from them what technically is wrong with Randall.

You provide 2 thoughts on this.
I personally think that it's his decision making that's deficient - which is why Les thought he might be able to get inside his head.
Too many casual flicks, turning into trouble, 1 - 2's in dangerous areas etc etc - all stuff that ought to be coachable, given his natural ability, and yet it has never sunk in at any club he's been at.

[shaun1866]

Radders, on 17 September 2012 - 03:25 PM, said:

Last season against Wednesday I thought he ran the midfield for 75 minutes. That would have been a shift but wasn't he subbed? The thing is he has hardly played so is not a bit unfair to class him as not good enough. If he got a run in the side and didn't cut it then I'd put my hand up and say - fair play - we gave him a go and it didn't work. But to play him once then not have him in the side for a month and then give him 20 minutes is hard for anyone to make a judgement

Radders he has never got the opportunity of a good run in the side in my opinion because he will have a good game then a shocker and doesn't deserve his place in the next game.