Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Shackell must wait for break
Thursday 25th September 2008, 11:50AM BST.
Jason Shackell has been warned he must continue waiting for his chance at Wolves – because of the excellent form of Neill Collins and Richard Stearman.
The deadline signing from Norwich has had a bizarre introduction to life at his new club, after donning the goalkeeper’s shirt at Preston last Saturday when Wayne Hennessey was sent off, one of two brief substitute’s appearances.
Boss Mick McCarthy said: “The defenders have earned the right to be in and I thought they were excellent again on Saturday.
“‘Stears’ and Neill were brilliant against two (Jon Parkin and Neil Mellor) who have been a handful for people in the league. Neill has never done anything other than well.
“Jason Shackell has been great in training – he looks really hungry, but he also knows he won’t get in the team at the moment. He can only be ready for when his chance goes.
“He’s out of the team because we’ve got a fit team doing well and a back four playing well – it’s not like he’s been dropped or left out, he just can’t get in. That’s the same for the goalkeepers, Dave Edwards, Andy Keogh and Sam Vokes.
“Darren Ward trains brilliantly but he can’t get in, and neither can Mickey Gray. For me that’s fantastic and long may it continue.
“They want to get in the team but they appreciate with the team playing well at the moment, they can’t.”
McCarthy has revealed how work on the training ground is bringing the best out of Stearman.
The boss said: “We know we can get the best out of him – through working with him, coaching him and managing him.
“As an individual, within a pairing with Neill and as part of a back four, he’s done plenty of work since he came here. He wants to work and he wants to improve which makes him a great student to have because he wants to do well.
“He’s not just come in and thought he’s the ‘real deal’ here, because he’s signed for a decent amount of money. He’s hungry to learn and be better and I think he’s already improved.”
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For everyone who was knocking MM last season, I hope you understand now what he was trying to achieve. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and I think MM is now finally getting the rewards for his unappreciated hard work.
Give MM a 10 year contract!!
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Agree you shouldn’t change a winning team.
Still would of dropped Collins for that stupid mistake against Forest…
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1 It goes without saying that MM has “turned the corner this season” and finally we are playing with wingers down BOTH flanks and the team scoring goals etc
BUT last season, MM continued playing N Collins at full back – where he didnt do so well and S Ward at left wing – again he didnt do so well etc etc
People forget that MM actually admitted that fans had the right to complain about last season and rightfully did so – Yes he has now put that right and we and many others have said well done for it – It doesnt change what happened last season; But last season has long gone – so why carry on mentioning people knocked him last season (as if it were for no reason whatsoever?)
Rome wasnt built in a day? We played near enough down right very poor last season – it was almost cringeworthy or didnt you notice??? Sat back so deep that you didnt know who was in midfield and who played centre half – It was rare that we saw a handful of attacking and entertaining games last season
MM is being appreciated by the fans this season because he is doing what alot of us were complaining about – attacking play, not sitting back with an 8 man defence etc etc
It was well documented all last season – So why continue this petty “I told you so BS?”
Well done MM and long may it continue – lets just hope that Keogh tries to just simply shoot at the goal when the chance comes instead of trying to make 10 step overs before passing to someone else etc etc when infront of goal (Someone else said that Keogh used to make the goals for Sharp – Yes he did BUT that was in a lower league and you expect a better return from a striker than Keogh puts in) How many goals is Keogh on Vs Vokes? Yes keogh has great work rate BUT his actual prowess infront of goal lacks clinical finish – that is another reason we didnt do so well last season – As MM said very clearly at the start of this – We didnt score enough goals to win games last season and who was upfront most of the time alongside SEB – You got it – Keogh
If we won points for posing/ looking good/ step overs – Keogh would win hands down But its goals that win games – so try putting things into perspective!
UP THE WOLVES!!!
PS We cheer on the lads at games NO matter who MM picks – but it doesnt change the facts
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I agree that we should not change a winning team but ultimately most supporters know that Shackell is better than Collins. For MM to come out and say that he has always done well is nonsense. He had half a dozen bad games last season. His best form prior to this season was when he was partnered with Rob Edwards – who incidentally is playing brilliantly for Blackpool!
Keep the run going and prove us wrong!
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2 I think you’ll find the mistake was against palace not forest, and probably the only thing he’s done wrong all season.
Kightly missed a couple of good chances against palace, would you drop him as well?
Henessey fumbled for forests goal, does he need to be dropped as well?
What kind of message does it send out if we are dropping players after every mistake?
Collins is in the squad on merit and has been outstanding this season so get off his back
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1 – GIVE HIM A 10 YEAR CONTRACT???????
Thank the Lord you dont run the club. He is doing a good job but 10 years?? Somehow he wouldnt be offered that and he wouldnt sign that either.
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i think Bridget & Tony are trying to start an anti Keogh campaign, lay off him, he is doing well this season, long may that continue. He doesn’t have prem quality i admit but he will get us there with the right team around him, which he has now.
Collins is looking solid at the moment apart from that one mistake against palace the other week. Remember it was Collins and Edwards who were the centre halves 2 seasons ago who put together that fantastic run we had feb/march time. Edwards was the rock last week for blackpool who kept brum at bay. Although steerman is better i hope. Anyway, tarra
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Ragster-What goes around comes around-Not wanting to dispute your claims BUT Is this not the new dare I say FR——- story starting to re-emerge- in new member purchased at a considerable cost-Forgive me mate but Collins has played well but not that good–This lad was the Captain of his team, he has to be better–I certainly hope so and I hope he has a lot of understanding to sit on the bench-I for one would like to see him play and replace Collins–Thats my view- not anti MM but glad to see Collins doing better- but expensive buys with a good antecedents has a player should not be on the bench–Crazey Dave
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Yes, 10 years is too much :) So far, so good. A couple of seasons in the bottom of Premier, without progress, might be enough to awake all the moaners at Molineux. 3 years at a time is enough – at least before he has established us in the top flight in premier league.
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3 Well said
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1. Ragster
Ten years? Get real, this is football! Even the immortal Stan Cullis got the sack after failing to deliver.
Alex Ferguson could be sacked next year if he wins nothing this and next year, and offers little hope for the next season.
Managers know that sooner or later they will fail and move on while a different coach tries his formula.
10 years… silly billy!
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I agree, a winning should not be changed. However, there’s still a long way to go and the reality is that players get injured and some have a run of form that ends.
The positive here is that Mick has some great players to fill in almost everywhere if needed, something that was missed last year.
My only worry is how long can you keep young, hungry, upcoming players on the bench and in the reserves??
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Truth of the matter is this. Even if MM gets us up this season or next or when ever – he has to be sacked then. Why – cos he has an awful record in the premiership.
Sorry MM – harsh but fair comment :-)
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Fans were right to knock MM last season, the football was crap at best for 95% of it. Still, he seems to have learnt his lessons and has agreed with the fans and of the frustrations felt about the criticism he got last season. So we have all moved on now, players who cannot get into the starting X1 know its because the players already there are doing a sterling job. Last season there were players out there playing crap and others not given a chance to prove they could have done better. This season the likes of Keogh/Vokes now have 3 games to prove themselves to do even better than Iwelumo. If they cannot do that then Iwelumo will be straight back in after his ban. Different kettle of fish with the goalies, Wayne only has a one match ban and I’m sure that as has been publicly broadcast he is No.1 here with Murray when fully fit No.2. That surely means that Ikeme will goout on loan, preferably to another Championship club. He could still do us a favour there and would not be allowed to play against us. So why fix something that is not broken, what has been broken so far this season has been fixed ie Craddock and Elokobi. We have bought back-up but the stand-ins have done a great job since the injuries and are going to be hard to remove. Long may this type of spirit continue
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7 No Anti Keogh campaign whatsoever – just facts – Keogh is well known to want to almost “pass the ball” into the net and lots of people make excuses for him when he constantly does this!
As a striker the “expectancy” is heavy on any players shoulders and Keogh we’re afraid plays like an attacking midfield player – choosing to pass and want to take on a player – rather than shoot first when the chance presents itself
Dont know about anyone else; but as far as we are concerned a decent striker should be scoring goals for fun – a regurlar return of 15-20 plus goals a season as a bare minimum!
When we were thrashing Forest, Keogh was right infront of the goal and instead of looking up and taking a shot – he appeared to almost “panic” to find someone to pass the ball to – like a “hot potato” WHY? Nerves? We were winning in style – no pressure whatsoever with the goal begging? One of many times he does this – we believe its because he doesnt have a clinical finish instinct – or not really a striker!
Keogh was the one who opened his mouth and stated that he was gonna score 20 goals this season for the “real fans” – he later apologised for this – Well personally Mr Keogh come on then – show us all these 20 goals THIS season or are you just a POSER?
NB* Thats not being anti Keogh – simply asking him to make good his promises or did he really mean what he said???
PS It was actually Mick McCarthy who stated that we didnt score enough goals last season and please remind us all who was upfront most of the time??? Give you a clue – SEB was the leagues Top scorer so it wasnt SEB???
The No9 shirt comes with a loaded expectancy – that expectancy is GOALS – not excuses
Keogh puts in a “shift” and passes and runs all day long’ BUT he doesnt score often enough and hides behind his self created role of “provider” – So what exactly is Kites and Jarvis for??? and who exactly are they providing service for??? Just SEB? Or BOTH strikers???
Come on Keogh Lets have the 20 goals you promised THIS season!!! We’re ALL behind you lad!!!
UP THE WOLVES!!!
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I think shackell is a much more solid and consistent defender than collins and it won’t be long before collins make yet another boo boo. i think once shackell gets in the first team that will be the end of collins this season. lets just hope the boo boo that collins makes dosen’t cost us the game…
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Collins has been soild but is prone to mistakes. Think it will be only a matter of time before Shackell has his shirt.
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15 Even better said.
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Collins & Ward in the team is an accident waiting to happen ! Has any one else noticed how opposing teams target our weak left side ? Change this and its certain promotion – UP THE WOLVES !!!
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yeah well said !
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