Stepping up
Talking Point š£ļø
We all know it was only the first game, and there are 45 to play, but Iām still wallowing a little bit from Saturdayās win over Watford. Back to earth tomorrow though when we host Stevenage in the Carabao Cup, and whilst we hadnāt played Watford since 2015, this is our 7th meeting with Stevenage in less than three years.
It will be interesting to see who plays tomorrow night. Youād think Nathan Jones would be keen to get more minutes into Knibbs, Kelman, Berry, Rankin-Costello and Leaburn.
Iād think we may also see Mannion, Alex and Zach Mitchell, Anderson and hopefully young Fullah.
Anyway, I did want to dwell a little bit on Saturday. Lots of discussion of course about the new boys, seven ended up getting debuts, however I wanted to focus on a few players that helped us get here in the first place.
You never quite know who will make the step up, although Luton and Ipswich in recent seasons have plenty of examples of players that moved from tiers 3 to 1.
L1 to The Championship alone is a massive jump up in quality as we saw in the technical ability of some of the Watford players on Saturday. Hard graft and giving 110% doesnāt cut it at this level, the game moves quicker, players are stronger, fitter and more athletic. Technique will trump vigour nine times out of ten.
Jones has a reputation of ātaking players with himā and he will have high hopes that a core of last seasonās group settle and thrive at this level.
Three players that delivered so much last season were superb on Saturday. Josh Edwards, Kayne Ramsey and Lloyd Jones had played just 4 games in The Championship between them previously (L Jones in 2019/20).
Jones reads the game so well and is very physical. Twice he almost scored, he made Knibbs goal and youāll currently find the 6ft 6 Luca Kjerrumgaard in his pocket with a host of L1 strikers.
Ramsey is an incredible athlete. He has a great build and is very perceptive in his play and has that wonderful faculty that canāt be taught, time. I love watching this boy play, I really do.
Lastly Josh Edwards. My group cast doubt over him being able to step up in the summer, but I have to say he was fantastic on Saturday.
The Scot is a great competitor and never knows when he is beat. Kwadwo Baah is one of this divisionās biggest handfulās and Edwards mastered him all game, until Baah was hauled off.
His positioning is very good, and he getās physically close up to players despite his size. Deceptively quick as well. Weāve had some terrific left backās over the last 40 years, Iām hopeful Josh can join them.
The final thing about these three – they are all great characters. Attitude, personality and ability will take them far.
Spot on CA. All three players mentioned did tremendously well. In particularJosh Edwards, he was my favourite player last season and looks like he will continue in that role season. Ramsay and Jones are Championship quality players. In the case of Josh he’s a little unknown at this level but he will be fine. He has Baah in his pocket all day long.
There was a youtube post by Knibbs after the game where he revealed that he is not fit because he did have a proper pre-season. So we must not expect too much in the short term. He will probably be limited to 15-20 minute cameos.
As for your question on your previous post regarding possible loans for academy players. NJ seems reluctant to loan out too many youngsters. I think Bower needs to be tested in senior football and not spend his final U21 year in the U21s. Kedwell has left for Salford City and I wish him good luck as I thought he was promising in the defensive midfield role, but was not given a chance in the senior team. There are several players who could benefit from short term loans e.g. Gough, Fullah, Mwamba, Mbick, Hunter. and Hobden.
Toby Bower went to Farnborough on loan in the National South.
Totally agree with you CA on Ramsey, Jones and Edwards, those were the three definates we picked out at the end of last season, being good enough for the Championship, plus Leaburn if he can stay fit! Small was the other, but unfortuantely he’s gone.
The rest of the old squad will be hit or miss but time, hopefully not too long, will tell if they are up to the challenge of the Championship, but I think quite a few will fall be the wayside, including a some of the new players brought in. Though we may also see a few of the fringe players &/or under 21’s now promoted to the First team, suddenly come through which would be great!
Just as long as we keep our place in the Championship and try to play some decent football for this season, unlike our previous experinces of going straight back down again, that will be enough and we can then move on from there!
I would take survival and playing ugly football.
I think we are in a better position than last time we were in the championship. Although the quality has improved and it will be tough. It is marathon not sprint, and we should not be panicking early in the season. As we saw last season we got better, the players we brought in are better than what we released in my opinion. It was interesting to see Small getting outmuscled against QPR. All players will get better as they get fitter. Although I do think some will not make the grade and we saw glimpses of that on Saturday. Still it is early to say, and I remain hopeful that the majority of the players we have and brought in are upto it. COYR !
Sometimes we get blinded about some things! It’s unfair to judge with our new players and our wonderful players from our players from league 1 really guy’s stop moaning about things l understand our last ten years focus on how we’ve got here and believe and have hope because we’re on a new fantastic journey