First game I've seen all season. My observations for what they're worth:
Best young prospects for a number of years. Grimes is a gem, cool on the ball, makes passing look easy, great timing in the air and what a free kick! Will get better and better.
I always thought Nichols was a prospect but his rapid progress is a welcome surprise. Non-stop intelligent runs off the ball, a delight for a midfielder like Grimes to have up front and a nightmare for defenders. He's finishing is getting stronger, I'll look forward to watching him anytime.
Wheeler whilst not from the academy is young and just the type of wide man you need in league 1/2. Strong with pace. How on earth he's started so many games on the bench I don't know.
JMT is a good young defender. Not going to make the headlines, but very competent and will do a sound job for a club like City.
Onto the slightly older locals. I've been a big critic of Bennett but always said he should play at the back and did he look comfortable, almost classy at centre half. Perhaps there may be a long-term benefit of all those midfield games.
Sercombe was poor in the first half (it was a pen and a poor decision to put the tackle in) but improved a bit later into the game. If Gill or Oakley are fit I would pair one of them with Grimes and drop Sercombe to the bench.
So lots of good young talent and some great older pros in the squad: Gill, Oakley, Gow, Baldwin & Coles (yep - nothing wrong at this level with those two central defenders). So I'm somewhat mystified why we're not 5-10 points better off and having a half decent season. I hope Tisdale realises his strongest options and we move on and up. We have the mix of young talent and experience yo do well.
I'm not getting carried away with seeing one match (on that pitch and a local derby it was never going to all be pleasing on the eye), but I can see we have a squad that should do okay and, with that young talent, continue to improve.
Best young prospects for a number of years. Grimes is a gem, cool on the ball, makes passing look easy, great timing in the air and what a free kick! Will get better and better.
I always thought Nichols was a prospect but his rapid progress is a welcome surprise. Non-stop intelligent runs off the ball, a delight for a midfielder like Grimes to have up front and a nightmare for defenders. He's finishing is getting stronger, I'll look forward to watching him anytime.
Wheeler whilst not from the academy is young and just the type of wide man you need in league 1/2. Strong with pace. How on earth he's started so many games on the bench I don't know.
JMT is a good young defender. Not going to make the headlines, but very competent and will do a sound job for a club like City.
Onto the slightly older locals. I've been a big critic of Bennett but always said he should play at the back and did he look comfortable, almost classy at centre half. Perhaps there may be a long-term benefit of all those midfield games.
Sercombe was poor in the first half (it was a pen and a poor decision to put the tackle in) but improved a bit later into the game. If Gill or Oakley are fit I would pair one of them with Grimes and drop Sercombe to the bench.
So lots of good young talent and some great older pros in the squad: Gill, Oakley, Gow, Baldwin & Coles (yep - nothing wrong at this level with those two central defenders). So I'm somewhat mystified why we're not 5-10 points better off and having a half decent season. I hope Tisdale realises his strongest options and we move on and up. We have the mix of young talent and experience yo do well.
I'm not getting carried away with seeing one match (on that pitch and a local derby it was never going to all be pleasing on the eye), but I can see we have a squad that should do okay and, with that young talent, continue to improve.
