OoooMarkWright

I’ll try and be brief without using one liners or being too controversial….don’t want to upset the apple cart further ?
My biggest bug bear is immediate and over the top reactions to players on their first few appearances and the subsequent questions / criticisms that arise a few games later about what they can’t do. It’s so typically ‘English’ and it’s so dated and archaic.
The easiest games a young player will ever play as a pro, are his first 2/3. He’s driven on adrenalin, enthusiasm, no fear and a complete lack of any kind of expectation from those watching. Everything he does is a bonus and his focus and eagerness to do the right thing and follow instructions overrides everything.
After that it only gets harder until you have played 60/70 games! Those next 30/40 are riddled with ups and downs and more and more public criticism than they’ve ever had in their lives and more than most slip away and never have a career. 
Im critical and I’ve seen the process many times, which is why I try not to fall into the ‘sweeping statements’ camp early on. 
My other bug bear is when there is no understanding of the players capabilities or their limitations and after the initial few appearances of doing the simple things….or the things they are capable of…people then criticise them for not doing things they’ve never done in the first place. A prime example being when people started to question if Thompson could score goals or if he had a shot on him…..
I think we have to be realistic and say that not one of them would have in normal circumstances have had their chance this early had it not been for the circumstances and probably realistic to say they wouldn’t have commanded a regular place at any other Championship side. However it’s probably also fair to say that in the short term none of them have looked out of place or been anything other than a credit to themselves or the club.
I include the lads early season that played Carabao Cup games in that too and in many of those cases they out performed some of their counterparts but were never given other opportunity's.

Realistically, Festy is the only one I’d consider a serious contender for selection each week with a fully fit squad. I have my reservations on Festy however and much depends on where he wants to end up playing. If he wants to be a full back, the skys the limit. He reminds me a lot of Reece James with a more devastating turn of pace. Defensively that’ll put him on the Ashley Cole category and I think he’ll play in the Prem. As a winger though I’m not so sure. I don’t think he has the technical ability to mix up his game and he doesn’t have the touch and awareness to play inside the wide areas like many wide attackers are asked to do. 
Plange is a player I highlighted as someone I liked early on this season. Before he scored regular goals in the 23s and long before he was anywhere near a 1st team picture. However I don’t see him as a no 9. He doesn’t have either the pace to really trouble top defenders in behind and he’s not proficient enough in the air to provide an alternative to that. He does have great technical ability though and I see him as an inside forward….a 7/10/11 playing in pockets.
My other observations may not be popular….
Cashin I’m not convinced is a Championship player. Saturday as I said will be the easiest game of his football life and Peterborough the kindest of opposition for any debut making Centre back. I think he’ll have a pro career but maybe not in the Championship. 
 
Liam Thompson did brilliantly for several games but if I’m honest the reaction was way over the top and we’re largely driven by the occasion - Bournemouth on live TV - and the result - a cracking win! Another example of the first few games being the easiest. When questions were asked of him and other teams put more pressure on him in possession he’s found it difficult. He still has lots of developing to do but there are lots of players that play his role and and I’m not sure what will set him apart from others….funnily enough it’s done him a favour being at Derby and how they play and in the championship. League 1 or 2 will have seen him swallowed whole.
Another factor largely driving fans perception of player performance, particularly on young players is the result! A 3-0 drubbing gives nowhere near the same perception of an individual performance as a hard earn 1-0 win….regardless of individual player input…as players like Brown, McDonald, Watson, Hutchinson found after the Carabao Cup loss to Sheff Utd.

You’ve looked through my last 15 posts on one thread? Well that’s balanced.
Because I choose to make informed, balanced comments based on my own opinion from watching the games, instead of using over inflated, over excited hyperbole to describe someone I’ve read about on Twitter or seen as a sub for 3 mins when we were 3-0 down?
Funnily enough I checked out your posts from the previous twenty pages of just your posts…..and it seems you have an opinion on everything from Covid, to admin, to TV to the weather. Granted you’ve contributed articulately and thoughtfully on all those, but the one topic I’ve barely seen you post an opinion on the actual football match or the footballer other than post match ratings where it’s acceptable to mark a player out of 10 without understanding or commenting  on any of the nuances that contribute to it.
You may not agree with my comments or indeed like them but all I’m doing is posting an opinion and while it’s sometimes harsh it’s never scathing, abusive or vindictive. But it is after all a football forum and honest opinions, even if unpopular, are what it is for. However none of my comments on young players are even close to some of what I’ve read on matchday threads when things are going badly including some aimed at one or two of the younger players.
You may not like them but my comments are anything but ignorant or ill informed. I’ve been inside pro football as a player and a coach. I’ve coached several current pros inc premier league players and been in youth development at a Category 1 academy. I could discuss the finer points all day long but in a forum it often comes across differently in short one line observations.
But fwiw, our predicament at the moment is in danger of harming as many players as it aids. Players fast tracked into 23s or 1st team football too soon often on the back of some promising performances at U18s level isn’t always good. Robinson for example may well end up a decent player but trust me when I say he’s finding U23s football hard and keeping his head above water by keeping the game simple and trying not to make mistakes isn’t good for him on the long run and in 2/3 years time when someone is criticising him for not having more tools on his toolbox of game skills and asking why he doesn’t play forwards more often, or break lines with his passing it’ll be because he was being asked to play at a level too high too soon and wasn’t able to take risks, try things out, spend time on the ball and make mistakes. He’s not the only one either.
This is the very reason why someone like Louie Watson isn’t being rushed into the first team where the pressure to retain possession and not ‘cost the team’ by taking a risk is much greater and as much as he may not like it right now, he’ll be a better player for being given a little more time where he is. I’ve seen the criticism of Max Bird…and it won’t be long before the same people say the same things about Liam Thompson. 
I’m happy to talk football all day. But don’t expect to like or agree with me, which is fine, but likewise don’t criticise me for how I express an opinion. 

It is. I’ve never known an atmosphere like the last 5 at Pride Park today. Boincing. The whole ground absolutely buzzing. IF we pull this off, it will be  unbelievable scenes. I chuffin love it!! Jammied first class on the train, even that was rowdy as. The togetherness between players and fans is something I’ve not experienced before. Long May it continue! Allez Allez Allez… 

It is. I’ve never known an atmosphere like the last 5 at Pride Park today. Boincing. The whole ground absolutely buzzing. IF we pull this off, it will be  unbelievable scenes. I chuffin love it!! Jammied first class on the train, even that was rowdy as. The togetherness between players and fans is something I’ve not experienced before. Long May it continue! Allez Allez Allez… 

It is. I’ve never known an atmosphere like the last 5 at Pride Park today. Boincing. The whole ground absolutely buzzing. IF we pull this off, it will be  unbelievable scenes. I chuffin love it!! Jammied first class on the train, even that was rowdy as. The togetherness between players and fans is something I’ve not experienced before. Long May it continue! Allez Allez Allez… 

It is. I’ve never known an atmosphere like the last 5 at Pride Park today. Boincing. The whole ground absolutely buzzing. IF we pull this off, it will be  unbelievable scenes. I chuffin love it!! Jammied first class on the train, even that was rowdy as. The togetherness between players and fans is something I’ve not experienced before. Long May it continue! Allez Allez Allez… 

It is. I’ve never known an atmosphere like the last 5 at Pride Park today. Boincing. The whole ground absolutely buzzing. IF we pull this off, it will be  unbelievable scenes. I chuffin love it!! Jammied first class on the train, even that was rowdy as. The togetherness between players and fans is something I’ve not experienced before. Long May it continue! Allez Allez Allez… 

It is. I’ve never known an atmosphere like the last 5 at Pride Park today. Boincing. The whole ground absolutely buzzing. IF we pull this off, it will be  unbelievable scenes. I chuffin love it!! Jammied first class on the train, even that was rowdy as. The togetherness between players and fans is something I’ve not experienced before. Long May it continue! Allez Allez Allez… 

Is it?
It shouldn't be. But when was the last time you felt this togetherness? When did the lifelong pessimists last become blind optimists? When did the early leavers need to be asked to go home? When did we last stop bickering and all decide we're a big family?
This relegation battle beats the bloody promotion battles!!

Lawrence does give 100%. He’s very hard working, and in fact always has been. His running stats have always been high. He tracks back and works hard for the team. His attitude seems off because of his body language, but for an attacking player his work rate can’t be questioned. Rooney would be delighted to keep him, as would I. 

Lawrence does give 100%. He’s very hard working, and in fact always has been. His running stats have always been high. He tracks back and works hard for the team. His attitude seems off because of his body language, but for an attacking player his work rate can’t be questioned. Rooney would be delighted to keep him, as would I. 

Lawrence does give 100%. He’s very hard working, and in fact always has been. His running stats have always been high. He tracks back and works hard for the team. His attitude seems off because of his body language, but for an attacking player his work rate can’t be questioned. Rooney would be delighted to keep him, as would I. 

Lawrence does give 100%. He’s very hard working, and in fact always has been. His running stats have always been high. He tracks back and works hard for the team. His attitude seems off because of his body language, but for an attacking player his work rate can’t be questioned. Rooney would be delighted to keep him, as would I. 

Lawrence does give 100%. He’s very hard working, and in fact always has been. His running stats have always been high. He tracks back and works hard for the team. His attitude seems off because of his body language, but for an attacking player his work rate can’t be questioned. Rooney would be delighted to keep him, as would I. 

Lawrence does give 100%. He’s very hard working, and in fact always has been. His running stats have always been high. He tracks back and works hard for the team. His attitude seems off because of his body language, but for an attacking player his work rate can’t be questioned. Rooney would be delighted to keep him, as would I. 

Lawrence does give 100%. He’s very hard working, and in fact always has been. His running stats have always been high. He tracks back and works hard for the team. His attitude seems off because of his body language, but for an attacking player his work rate can’t be questioned. Rooney would be delighted to keep him, as would I. 

Lawrence does give 100%. He’s very hard working, and in fact always has been. His running stats have always been high. He tracks back and works hard for the team. His attitude seems off because of his body language, but for an attacking player his work rate can’t be questioned. Rooney would be delighted to keep him, as would I. 

Lawrence does give 100%. He’s very hard working, and in fact always has been. His running stats have always been high. He tracks back and works hard for the team. His attitude seems off because of his body language, but for an attacking player his work rate can’t be questioned. Rooney would be delighted to keep him, as would I. 

Lawrence does give 100%. He’s very hard working, and in fact always has been. His running stats have always been high. He tracks back and works hard for the team. His attitude seems off because of his body language, but for an attacking player his work rate can’t be questioned. Rooney would be delighted to keep him, as would I. 

Lawrence does give 100%. He’s very hard working, and in fact always has been. His running stats have always been high. He tracks back and works hard for the team. His attitude seems off because of his body language, but for an attacking player his work rate can’t be questioned. Rooney would be delighted to keep him, as would I. 

Lawrence does give 100%. He’s very hard working, and in fact always has been. His running stats have always been high. He tracks back and works hard for the team. His attitude seems off because of his body language, but for an attacking player his work rate can’t be questioned. Rooney would be delighted to keep him, as would I. 

Lawrence does give 100%. He’s very hard working, and in fact always has been. His running stats have always been high. He tracks back and works hard for the team. His attitude seems off because of his body language, but for an attacking player his work rate can’t be questioned. Rooney would be delighted to keep him, as would I. 

Adam Murray??
Great debut vs West Ham. Looked very promising and then obviously had his personal issues. 

I don’t see how a Reading win is a positive for us. We don’t want them extending their advantage. The only positive is there manager may get a stay of execution. A draw would be good. A P’Boro win not a disaster, but that will give them confidence going into Saturday. 

Peterborough have sold about 1,400 tickets so far. I think, given the magnitude of the game, it’d be disappointing if we didn’t get around 29,000+ for this game. Every Saturday game should be 28+ now.