Will Smallbone

Eoink21 wrote: Analysis: Outstanding Will Smallbone transforms Stoke and stakes claim for Irish call-up https://the42.ie/5835857 Looks like Smallbone is playing in a role where he can compete with Knight and, to a lesser extent, Molumby for a spot in the senior side if he can build on the weekend.  Looked great for the 21s so allying club form with those performances gives him a real chance.

Crawford has a big call to make next month when picking his midfield for the playoff. We looked more balanced and threatening when Smallbone played deeper instead of Kilkenny. Would like to see him go back to the way we lined up against Bosnia with one of Coventry or Kilkenny in midfield rather than both starting.

Lad would likely be playing for Southampton only for injuries holding him back! Just pray to the gods he will get an injury free season now and regular football. If he can stand out for Stoke he will get his chance at Southampton with experience under his belt too!

Watching the Stoke v Middlesbrough game to see how smallbone is getting on.

Liam Green wrote: Technical_method wrote: Watching the Stoke v Middlesbrough game to see how smallbone is getting on. Middlesbrough far and away the better team with smallbone playing Central midfield being largely a passenger in the game. But he's not the only Stoke player not really.getting into the game. Hes covering a lot of ground bit misplaced most of the few passes he's made. End of the first half he had a good shot on target from a tight angle but that's all to report in this half.  Hopefully gets better in the second half  What channel are you watching it on

watched the first 15 mins of second half, stoke are awful. watched the first half of west brom v cardiff, much better game, great we have Irish players in nearly all the championship matches

Starting today.

Watching the Stoke vs. Reading game. 

You Tell Me wrote: Technical_method wrote: For what it's worth, Liam Deleap doesn't look ready for this level yet, at 19 he's in a very similar position and age as when parrott went to millwall.  Interesting to see Delap today, first time seeing him playing senior football. To be honest he was miles off it, doesn't look any more ready for the Championship at 19 than Parrott looked when he went to Millwall at 18. Being English and a Man City youth player scoring loads of PL2 goals leads to the hype but there was absolutely nothing of substance to back it up. And that was against one of the weakest Championship teams, on paper at least. Looked like he should be down in League 1 or League 2 learning the game. Probably relevant in terms of Evan Ferguson who is 18 months younger than Delap - I'd like to see him go out on loan in January, but League 1 would be plenty for him for now. See how he gets on at that level before sending him anywhere near the Championship. Neither Smallbone or Hendrick have stood out today, both fine but no more than that. Nothing to suggest that Hendrick should be starting against Scotland or that Smallbone should be anywhere other than the Under 21 squad for now.

With the intensity you'd want your midfield to bring to the Scotland game wouldn't be starting Hendrick but he's gonna be a good sub to bring on in the second half.

When lads are tired and he can pass it around a bit and how you'll want someone that can hang on to the ball when trying to retain possession late in the game. Think Browne would be another great guy to come off the bench with around a half hour to play but you also know if he were to start he'll put a shift in and could pop up with a goal. Probably the only midfielder you'd say could pop up with a goal and with tired legs in second half might find more space in the final third.

You Tell Me wrote: Technical_method wrote: For what it's worth, Liam Deleap doesn't look ready for this level yet, at 19 he's in a very similar position and age as when parrott went to millwall.  Interesting to see Delap today, first time seeing him playing senior football. To be honest he was miles off it, doesn't look any more ready for the Championship at 19 than Parrott looked when he went to Millwall at 18. Being English and a Man City youth player scoring loads of PL2 goals leads to the hype but there was absolutely nothing of substance to back it up. And that was against one of the weakest Championship teams, on paper at least. Looked like he should be down in League 1 or League 2 learning the game. Probably relevant in terms of Evan Ferguson who is 18 months younger than Delap - I'd like to see him go out on loan in January, but League 1 would be plenty for him for now. See how he gets on at that level before sending him anywhere near the Championship. Neither Smallbone or Hendrick have stood out today, both fine but no more than that. Nothing to suggest that Hendrick should be starting against Scotland or that Smallbone should be anywhere other than the Under 21 squad for now.