iamborome
Well-known member
Interesting to see how very recently the board was writing off LL and saying that the team's recent success was down to Coburn. I think Josh is a great young prospect and a run in the starting eleven has done him the world of good. However I think LL is further down the development path and is more likely to deliver the goods in the near to medium future. It has to be very difficult coming to Boro as a young player from another country, a different league and a different kind of football. Apart from anything else there is the personal and emotional aspect - you have settle in, adjust, make friends as well as getting to know your team mates. I remember that took Juninho a season to settle in. In his second season he was terrific, scoring 15 goals from midfield.
Handling players in a squad is one of the most important aspects of good management and is often overlooked by the fans. How do you keep players motivated, happy and confident, especially when they are not first choice in the starting eleven. I think Carrick is excellent in this respect, which is why we are able to maintain performances when so many first choice players are out injured. I think Carrick gave Coburn a good run in the starting eleven to boost his experience and confidence, while taking the pressure off LL during a period when he was still settling in. Now he has decided that it is time to play LL as the first choice centre forward and it must have very rewarding for Carrick to see his performance yesterday. I predict that LL will kick on from here and start producing the goods on a regular basis. That being said I am sure that Carrick will continue to encourage Coburn and give him opportunities. He may even experiment with playing them together. Some people have suggested that he might play LL out wide and Coburn in the middle. That might work, with LL's pace, but I think he will be most dangerous in the middle with his movement off the ball.
Handling players in a squad is one of the most important aspects of good management and is often overlooked by the fans. How do you keep players motivated, happy and confident, especially when they are not first choice in the starting eleven. I think Carrick is excellent in this respect, which is why we are able to maintain performances when so many first choice players are out injured. I think Carrick gave Coburn a good run in the starting eleven to boost his experience and confidence, while taking the pressure off LL during a period when he was still settling in. Now he has decided that it is time to play LL as the first choice centre forward and it must have very rewarding for Carrick to see his performance yesterday. I predict that LL will kick on from here and start producing the goods on a regular basis. That being said I am sure that Carrick will continue to encourage Coburn and give him opportunities. He may even experiment with playing them together. Some people have suggested that he might play LL out wide and Coburn in the middle. That might work, with LL's pace, but I think he will be most dangerous in the middle with his movement off the ball.