Colwill

[Kitman]

Re: Colwill

I always thought of Joel as more of an 8 and Rubin is more of the 10 - different playing styles.

Rubin is more of the Jason Koumas mould for us whereas Joel more of the Aaron Ramsey.

I think currently there is more of a market for JoelÂ’s position than RubinÂ’s so it wouldnÂ’t surprise me if Joel left first for a premier league club

That all could be complete bollocks of course, and full of recency bias - but in summary weÂ’ve got 2 extremely talented young Welsh midfielders and itÂ’s very fortunate position to be in.

[Bobby Dandruff]

Re: Colwill

Who this guy ? Been a fairly mediocre hard working footballer ... Suddenly he is a game changer , his work rate is incredible, his last few games he has been a revelation.

I was disappointed when they took him off for his brother today (Who was decent when he came on ). Best player on the park for me amongst a fair few top performances . Can we dispel the threat of Luton now? .... sorry William ...

He has been excellent this season and has improved significantly.

I was surprised when he was taken off yesterday (maybe to rest him as someone else said) as firstly he was having a very good game and secondly to accommodate a midfield that includes Turnbull you need two other high energy players like Robertson/Wintle/J Colwill and not a Ruben Colwill.

[NinianKnight]

Re: Colwill

He started as many games as he was sub and was rotated like he has been with us. Your statement that he “couldn’t get a game at Exeter is an absolute mystery” is more of a mystery because it’s so wide of the mark.

What was the manager thinking? Rotating a young inexperienced player new to that level of football between a starter and 20-30 minutes sub when playing 2 games a week? Hardly a mystery.

OK as usual the board police are looking for an argument. Point when I posted was I couldn't understand why he wasn't first name on the team sheet at Exeter. Minutes wise he didn't play that much which I find amazing considering Exeter were not tearing the league up. Also, I never mentioned Cheltenham you plucked that out of the air for some reason

[Garth Blue]

Re: Colwill

Why Joel Colwill couldn't get a game at Exeter last season is a absolute mystery. You wonder sometimes what the manager was thinking. In the same vain I always wonder what the York manager was doing not playing Ollie Tanner when he was there

I think the answer is neither Exeter or York were coached by BBW.

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: Colwill

I think the answer is neither Exeter or York were coached by BBW.

I think the answer is a lot more straightforward. He was 20 years of age.

Last season, Colwill's League One appearance stats for a mediocre Exeter side as a 20 year-old during half a season were:

9 starts, 9 sub appearances, 0 goals.

This season, his stats as a 21 year-old in a much better team over the course of two thirds of a season are:

16 starts, 10 sub appearances, 3 goals.

Not very different.

[Loramski]

Re: Colwill

I think the answer is a lot more straightforward. He was 20 years of age.

Last season, Colwill's League One appearance stats for a mediocre Exeter side as a 20 year-old during half a season were:

9 starts, 9 sub appearances, 0 goals.

This season, his stats as a 21 year-old in a much better team over the course of two thirds of a season are:

16 starts, 10 sub appearances, 3 goals.

Not very different.

But he was at Cheltenham for the first half of the season. League 2, of course, but that's still a higher level than Tanner was at York. Cheltenham were mediocre too but Colwill made 20 starts (in the position he's been playing for us lately) with 2 sub appearances. 6 goals and 3 assists. 2 goals in the FA Cup too. He won their young player of the season award even though he'd left four months earlier.

The Exeter manager didn't seem to have a clue what to do with him, he even started him at centre forward in the last game of the season. I don't remember him making an impact in any game but I do remember one fan comparing him to a baby giraffe.

If you think that Joel being three months older coming into this season is the simple answer then that's fine but I'd beg to differ.

[J R Hartley]

Re: Colwill

I think the answer is neither Exeter or York were coached by BBW.

Neither were coached by a Big Boobed Woman? :yikes:

When did we bring Emma Hayes onto the coaching team?

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: Colwill

The Exeter manager didn't seem to have a clue what to do with him, he even started him at centre forward in the last game of the season. I don't remember him making an impact in any game but I do remember one fan comparing him to a baby giraffe.

If you think that Joel being three months older coming into this season is the simple answer then that's fine but I'd beg to differ.

I was aware that Joel Colwill played for Cheltenham in League Two during the first half of last season, but thanks for the valuable reminder.

The original question was why the player couldn’t get a game at Exeter last season. GB suggested it was because they were not coached by BBM.

Colwill joined Exeter on 12/01/2025. Subsequently, they played 22 League One matches before the end of the 2024/25 campaign. Joel’s stats in those matches were:

9 (+9) appearances, 0 goals

This season, under BBM’s guidance, Joel’s stats in City’s first 22 League One games were:

11 (+7) appearances, 1 goal

So, 18 appearances in 22 league games for both clubs, but two more starts and one goal at Cardiff. Very similar records indeed.

I’ll have to bow to your greater knowledge of the Exeter manager’s abilities last season. I was too busy watching Omer Riza make an unholy mess of things at Cardiff City to worry about what was happening at St James Park.

I believe Colwill Jnr is improving with age and experience. Perhaps you don’t, it’s unclear from what you’ve posted.

[Rjk]

Re: Colwill

I think the answer is neither Exeter or York were coached by BBW.

Also there is a very different dynamic when you're playing your own player coming through and when you're playing a loanee.

There is a famous Arsene Wenger quote:

"You pay for the education of young players with points.
I play a young central defender of 20 years old, I know he will cost me points during the season, and I have to stand up for that.
If I play a 28-year-old centre-back, maybe less talented, he would cost me less points.
And at some stage, as a manager, I must say that sometimes, you feel lonely to stand up there and say that 'no', I want this boy to play, because he deserves it.
He will make mistakes because he learns his job, there will be ups and downs, but at the age of 23/24, you have a player."

The young players will make mistakes and cost you points, if they're your own player at least you might get some benefit from it in the long run.
If you only have them on loan you're naturally going to be less inclined to tolerate errors and poor performances - it's quite possible that Ollie Tanner will go on to have a better career than any of his former York teammates, but also that he wasn't what they needed at that moment.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: Colwill

Did the Colwill brothers' father ever play football at a decent level?

[PhyllisStant]

Re: Colwill

It's been the very definition of a break trough season. So much so I think he arguably he now improves the national team too - with our genuine midfield options pretty slim there he's in the mix up alongside James and Sheehan for a starting slot on current form.

[Trigger]

Re: Colwill

Has the attributes to be a quality player at least at championship level.

Has shown he has good technique, and can score a goal. His work rate and aggression though is fantastic, really showed itself when he had to cover the extra ground at Rotherham and basically covered the ground of 3.

[Rjk]

Re: Colwill

He was very good in league 2 last season, and has now started turning in some very good performances in league one.
hopefully that trajectory can continue and he'll be very effective in the championship before long.

Obviously there are plenty of players who drop off significantly when going up to the championship - the likes of Mark Harris, Gavin Whyte etc (who coincidentally also have work rate as a big part of their game) - I don't think it's really possible to tell which players will do that, and which will continue to grow. On the plus side we have a manager and coaches that are actively trying to develop and improve the players, so there's every chance the younger players will be able to reach their full potentials.

[Don Corleone]

Re: Colwill

He was very good in league 2 last season, and has now started turning in some very good performances in league one.
hopefully that trajectory can continue and he'll be very effective in the championship before long.

Obviously there are plenty of players who drop off significantly when going up to the championship - the likes of Mark Harris, Gavin Whyte etc (who coincidentally also have work rate as a big part of their game) - I don't think it's really possible to tell which players will do that, and which will continue to grow. On the plus side we have a manager and coaches that are actively trying to develop and improve the players, so there's every chance the younger players will be able to reach their full potentials.

This is the key, we now seem to have a manager and coaching staff that have a way they want to play and improving the players in that system

It struck me yesterday watching the FA cup highlights that Ciaran Brown and Will Vaulks are still playing in the Championship, I have to think that Joel Colwill and Dylan Lawlor will be better players than them in the Championship

[WJ99mobile]

Re: Colwill

Let’s not forget that this style will suit some players more than others.

If this was a Warnock team I can’t imagine he’d be playing much.