Ashford

[Porth Pouncer]

Re: Ashford

The clowns will probably loan him to our Belgian cousins!

[Tuerto]

Re: Ashford

Interesting stuff and it’s taken me almost a lifetime to realize it, but your line about what football clubs like and what fans like is absolutely spot on. I’m still not convinced that the clubs are 100 per cent right and fans 100 per cent wrong by any means though as it breeds a cautious approach that I’d argue has held City back when it comes to attitudes towards younger players especially. Ashford is combining what the two parties want as he is good at the off the ball work that Colwill gets criticised about. As for Colwill, I’m loath to be critical about him for his performances in the last few games because he’s being asked to do a job that specialists in the striker’s position have failed with at Cardiff, but I believe he’s struggling currently because he’s lost confidence in his finishing and is trying to integrate some of the things football clubs want from their ‘flair” players.

Good post. I really do like Ashford, he's unassuming, and if he continues to progress there will be clubs higher up who will want to take him, because he's the type of player who learns and adapts in my opinion, that's a Coaching dream. He has a great attitude as well. I think Colwill needs a goal or two to reset him. I was thinking the other day, he was playing well under Bulut and wasn;t really given a run at things, then he started the season well but the confidence seems to have drained from him. I actually feel a bit sorry for him in the 9 position and i wont be critical, he's at his best with the game in front of him. I think that you're right in saying that Colwill is trying to be more of an orthodox footballer, and he really does deserve praise for working so hard at that side of the game, although it doesn't come natural, his size and shape goes against him as well, although going orthodox affects what he does well, but i doubt he'll find a manager who will allow him not to do all of that dirty stuff. He's hit a bit of a wall, i'd like to see him a little deeper stepping in with a couple of players willing to do some of his running.

[Rjk]

Re: Ashford

Good post. I really do like Ashford, he's unassuming, and if he continues to progress there will be clubs higher up who will want to take him, because he's the type of player who learns and adapts in my opinion, that's a Coaching dream. He has a great attitude as well. I think Colwill needs a goal or two to reset him. I was thinking the other day, he was playing well under Bulut and wasn;t really given a run at things, then he started the season well but the confidence seems to have drained from him. I actually feel a bit sorry for him in the 9 position and i wont be critical, he's at his best with the game in front of him. I think that you're right in saying that Colwill is trying to be more of an orthodox footballer, and he really does deserve praise for working so hard at that side of the game, although it doesn't come natural, his size and shape goes against him as well, although going orthodox affects what he does well, but i doubt he'll find a manager who will allow him not to do all of that dirty stuff. He's hit a bit of a wall, i'd like to see him a little deeper stepping in with a couple of players willing to do some of his running.

seems like Colwill's form took a dive around the time he was dropped down to Wales u21s.
it's to be expected with young players though, Ashford will have plateaus and periods of poor form as well

[Tuerto]

Re: Ashford

seems like Colwill's form took a dive around the time he was dropped down to Wales u21s.
it's to be expected with young players though, Ashford will have plateaus and periods of poor form as well

yes, but Colwill is fast approaching 23 and he's been on the scene since he was 18, so not so young really. Someone has to be brave with him, and in the modern game managers aren't afforded that amount of time, creative players are usually the first to be sacraficed it's just easier, wrong, but easier. I'd like to see him in a more withdrawn role, carrying the ball into the 2nd third of the pitch, because he has vision and the ability to stroke a through ball, that's his main asset, i don't know why the club don't concentrate on it.

[splott parker]

Re: Ashford

yes, but Colwill is fast approaching 23 and he's been on the scene since he was 18, so not so young really. Someone has to be brave with him, and in the modern game managers aren't afforded that amount of time, creative players are usually the first to be sacraficed it's just easier, wrong, but easier. I'd like to see him in a more withdrawn role, carrying the ball into the 2nd third of the pitch, because he has vision and the ability to stroke a through ball, that's his main asset, i don't know why the club don't concentrate on it.

True, if he happens to pick the ball up in, say, the centre circle area, should someone make a run he invariably picks them out, whether there’s opposition players in the way or not. His passing ability, both long & short range cannot be doubted.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Ashford

yes, but Colwill is fast approaching 23 and he's been on the scene since he was 18, so not so young really. Someone has to be brave with him, and in the modern game managers aren't afforded that amount of time, creative players are usually the first to be sacraficed it's just easier, wrong, but easier. I'd like to see him in a more withdrawn role, carrying the ball into the 2nd third of the pitch, because he has vision and the ability to stroke a through ball, that's his main asset, i don't know why the club don't concentrate on it.

We’ve mentioned it before, but Loramski and I used to compare Colwill to Jason Fowler when we first saw him playing for the under 18s seven or eight years ago and what you’re saying got me thinking of the time Frank Burrows experimented with Fowler in an old fashioned sweeper role. It didn’t work, but, even at the time, I thought it was something worth trying. Whitts sometimes used to play in a quarterback type position because he was able to dictate games from there - just because someone is a creative player, it doesn’t mean they have to play in forward positions and the current version of Colwill with his under achieving in terms of goal scoring, could benefit from playing deeper, why not use him as one of the central midfield two at Stoke in the cup?

That said, I maintain that there are “luxury” players who a team will accommodate because they are so good. I think there are less of them about these days and the truth is that, even at City, where you could argue he was the most creative player we’ve got, he’s not good enough to be carried in such a way.

[Tuerto]

Re: Ashford

True, if he happens to pick the ball up in, say, the centre circle area, should someone make a run he invariably picks them out, whether there’s opposition players in the way or not. His passing ability, both long & short range cannot be doubted.

Absolutely.

[BlueArmy 86]

Re: Ashford

It wasn't. There seems a tendency for young players to do things with the ball that are completely unnecessary, and very annoying, and more importantly, not in any way productive or helpful. Ashford doesn't do that because he seemingly has a brain, he's comfortable and mature in his game, he doesn't take the extra touch when he doesn't need to, he doesn't attempt things that have a low chance of coming off, he looks to play the simple ball when it's on and he takes risks when the risk factor is I. His favour. He's intelligent. That's not to say that he doesn't make mistakes and is still developing, but he seems to understand his abilities and his shape and he can pop up with a goal or two. Football clubs like players who can do all of that stuff,football fans like players who don't, but look like they're actually being creative when they're not. We are suckers for it, and why not I suppose...

I thought your comment ‘he doesn't think that he has to do something special every time he receives the ball’ applied to Colwill, and it has been the case at times. But I think he’s working harder for the team now and I’m hoping he effects games more, like we’ve seen him do in glimpses.

Totally agree with your comments about Ashford. He’s the most exciting youngster we’ve had since Ramsey in my opinion.

[Tuerto]

Re: Ashford

I thought your comment ‘he doesn't think that he has to do something special every time he receives the ball’ applied to Colwill, and it has been the case at times. But I think he’s working harder for the team now and I’m hoping he effects games more, like we’ve seen him do in glimpses.

Totally agree with your comments about Ashford. He’s the most exciting youngster we’ve had since Ramsey in my opinion.