[ Sat 24th Jan ] v Holbeach Utd, KO 3pm UCLP AWAY

[Pigman]

I've seen ELJ play once, he was absolutely DIRE, and I trust the majority consensus on here.

Is it obvious to some of you why he's still being picked, and is it for the same reason we signed him in the first place? Has Peaks got the bottle to show his assistant who is the Manager of this football club is?

I think that's a tad unfair, he's also put in some good performances and on occasions some of his play has been exceptional, but he is young and fades in and out of games - I'm in the start Matt Gearing camp, but I think ELJ can have an impact as a sub, plus if he can learn to put right some of his faults he will develop into a great player!

Oh and Brownie, everyone knows there is 4 v's ;)

[Formic]

I honestly hadn't realised how polarised views could get on a single player.

Perhaps those of us that stand at the side at the D&D get a better impression than those behind the goal or in the stand, because at times EL-J has been unplayable down the flank. I accept he can't produce that form all the time - but who can at this level? I commented on the knockers having a go at him at the Harrowby away game back in early September, yet despite that he's continued to provide a significant threat at times - with more assists than any Diamonds player this season, and with a total already that has only been beaten once in a season. The challenge for the management is to decide how best to use his talents - and how to cope with those who protest audibly during games they can run the team better - without allowing the atmosphere to become even more poisonous, and having an even greater impact on team morale.

Some stats from the past three seasons for five or more assists make interesting reading

2012-13
Jake Newman 13
Jack Wisniewski 11
Matt Gearing 10
Alfie Taylor 10
Chris Hope 10
Jake Gillingwater 9
Joe Merrill 8
Ben Morgan 7
Sam Brown 6
Sean McBride 5

2013-14
Russ Dunkley 27
Fazel Koriya 13
Matt Gearing 11
Alfie Taylor 10
Sam Brown 10
Joe Merrill 7
Greg Ling 7
Nat Liburd 5
Aaron King 5

2014-15
Elliott Lamb-Johnson 16
Matt Gearing 9
Adam Confue 7
Jason Turner 7
Russ Dunkley 6
Fazel Koriya 5

[Pigman]

Some interesting stats there Formic - I haven't looked, but how does the "contest" between ELJ and Gearing stack up on games played? With 16 and 9 assists respectively, how does that work with the ratio of games played?

[SouthRushdenJFC]

I've seen ELJ play once, he was absolutely DIRE, and I trust the majority consensus on here.

Is it obvious to some of you why he's still being picked, and is it for the same reason we signed him in the first place? Has Peaks got the bottle to show his assistant who is the Manager of this football club is?

And we wonder why players don't want to come here or leave rather than endure this rubbish.

For chuff's sake it's UCL football. You aren't in the Conference any more these are part time players, get used to it.

[AdamSRJFC]

I've seen ELJ play once, he was absolutely DIRE, and I trust the majority consensus on here.

Is it obvious to some of you why he's still being picked, and is it for the same reason we signed him in the first place? Has Peaks got the bottle to show his assistant who is the Manager of this football club is?

What a stupid post.

You've seen him play once, the reason why Elliot is picked is that he had a very good year at Cogenhoe, is quick and can beat players, and defenders hate playing against him.

You've crossed the line of idiocy

[fentiger79]

Quite agree, absolute nonsense. I went to watch Barcelona once and messi was average, get rid of him.

[Oundle Diamond #2]

None of you have engaged with my point. It was only a question. If the majority consensus on this forum is Gearing is better than ELJ, then why as fans on an unofficial fans forum can we not ask why ELJ is starting? I'm pretty sure 15 years ago if Daniel Talbot was starting ahead of Paul Underwood, fans would not be villified for asking the question, I merely suggested a logical potential answer for this dichotomy between fan and managerial opinion.

[Pigman]

I guess the main difference there is that ELJ does have some talent, whereas young Daniel had none ;)

I think Peaksy is his own man and picks what he thinks is the best team, opinions will always differ I guess and it's okay to question, I don't think anyone says it isn't - but shouting profanities at players isn't on really is it? Sure people abused Daniel, I remember one such incident away at Barnsley I think it was where he had an atrocious game, he was so far out of his depth, a section of the crowd abused his every touch (or should I say mistake) but they were a few voices in a large crowd, our attendances these days are a little more intimate and therefore the destructive force of the vitriol is far more damaging.

I want to see young players like Elliott flourish and grow - he does have talent, he just needs to learn when to release the ball and how to look up and be aware of the options around him. As has been said already, if he was the finished article he'd be plying his trade far higher up the pyramid. Support the lad when he plays and see if he can develop - but again, Matty to start for me every time at the moment.

[SouthRushdenJFC]

Is it the majority though? Number of calls for ELJ to be benched against numbers of fans at games? I think it would be a single figure percentile.

[Pigman]

Is it the majority though? Number of calls for ELJ to be benched against numbers of fans at games? I think it would be a single figure percentile.

But quite a noisy single figure percentile ;) :lol: