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He didn't look out of place last night did he ? He just as easily drifted past players and made long surging runs againt top class players as he does in the championship. Maybe his final ball would be more effective with players who are more on his technical level ?
I think he has the ability of a Premier League footballer. Although, I think he should prove himself by being more dominant in games for us, firstly. I think that we may have found his position last night as a box to box midfielder; it gives him the ability to use his physique. I'd been starting to wonder if his feet are quick enough to play the 10.
Sadly it’s going to take a move away from Cardiff for this lad to realise his full potential.
Sooner he gets out of the club the better for him and his career.
I've been thinking for a while that he could thrive in a different league with a different style/pace of game. Maybe Spain or Italy.
No.
Colwill needs to establish himself properly in the Championship before he does anything else. Seven City players have made more league starts than him this season. He’s scored just one league goal.
Bellamy doesn’t pick him for the national side. That should give an indication of where he’s at right now. Lots of talent, lots of promise, but he needs to nail down a place in the City starting line-up and deliver end product on a much more regular basis before we start talking about him moving upwards.
I know what you're saying, in that playing with better players would undoubtedly bring out some of his qualities.
Of course the better quality around him would also horribly expose other aspects of his game that he hasn't quite developed just yet.
I think he has had a good season, involved far far more. I'm just still none the wiser as to where he should play. He has fantastic technique and can almost glide around but his final ball or decision making just isn't there at this level let alone the league above.
Would he have the work rate and defensive ability to be an 8?
He certainly wasn't horribly exposed by a team in the Champions League last night.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trigger
He'd obviously benefit from better coaching and players.
Saying that someone like Koumas could destroy teams at this level. Rubin is miles from that.
Well, commentators on both Tv and Radio were suitably impressed last night. I had to pop out towards end of game and listened to last knockings on the radio and Andy Townsend was very impressed. But hey, what does he know about being a midfielder or more importantly a Cardiff City footballer where since god was a boy any player who runs around like a headless chicken and flys into tackles is far more adored and revered than anyone with grace and technical ability.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trigger
Indeed. And what does Craig Bellamy know?Quote:
Originally Posted by J R Hartley
Sadly, agreedQuote:
Originally Posted by J R Hartley
Last night was pivotal.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trigger
He definitely isn't a wide player. His end product just isn't good enough and not quick enough and bad decision making to be a 10 at a decent level.
As an 8 however.......ideally alongside a tough holding midfielder and a proper number 10 with fast wide players outside of him. Yes I can definitely see that.
He's always been very similar to jason fowler. I remember Frank burrows did the same with him played him attacking midfield, defensive midfield and even put him as sweeper when that was a thing! Just to carry the ball out from defence.
Colwill as sweeper anyone?!
Ps RIP the sweeper system. Think leggy had his best season for us as "sweeper". Wonder what will be the next "thing"?
I've said for a long time that he is better from a deeper position, most players are, o dowda is, that's not a criticism, it's just that the game is in front of you as a player, you can see everything, it's much easier. The special players can play with their back to goal, paint pictures in their mind, incredibly difficult thing to do, and usually players with the highest intellect on a football pitch can play that way, i think that Colwill struggles when he's expected to play that way, although most players would, but i do think that he can exploit space in the middle third of the pitch with the game in front of him. I think that Villa offered us space last night as they just didn't see us as a threat, they knew that we would eventually go long or lose the ball because of our inferior players. Why chase it when you can get the opposition to do your work for you?
Is Colwill a premier league player? No, he isn't. but if you break his game down then there are elements that are top level, but more that aren't. It's all well and good us having these debates, but we really do have to break his game into segments before we can just say that he is a premier league player, because that's what premier league clubs would do, and for him to be given that opportunity he would have to be so very good at the thing or things that he does well in order to compensate for the things he doesn't do particularly well. That takes some doing, a player has to be very special, and it's not the 90s anymore, the game is completely different now.
A great player he will come good
This is a really good post. We have been judging him when the team has players in positions that are either poor or don't fit the system. A number 10 or even an 8 need fast and mobile runners ahead of them. Willock, El Ghazi and Meite have not offered that this season. Colwill has always looked best when the direct Tanner has been on the pitch. Futhermore, Siopis didn't offer much of a shield behind him. Mannsverk and Chambers offer so much more in that regard. The signing of Mannsverk and getting rid of Siopis (who wasn't good enough and was a high earner with 18 months left on his contract) is a very underestimated success of the January transfer window.Quote:
Originally Posted by Father Dougal
On balance this is most aligned with what I think. Tuerto’s comments about him playing with the game in front of him resonate too… some of the balls he played yesterday were special and his feet are sometimes next level. He’s perhaps not a ‘paints pictures with his back to the game’ special player, that feels like it’s an innate talent, but he is more special than most I’ve seen in a City shirt.Quote:
Originally Posted by J R Hartley
The gap for me is work rate which I’d guess is where Bellamy wants more but I saw hints of that too yesterday.
Don't pretty much all top defenders start off as strikers then move back through the pitch ending up eventually in defence?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuerto
Colwill won't be a centre half but more likely to have a successful career deeper in midfield than higher up.
Interestingly though don't pretty much all footballers think their best position is just behind the striker?! Even as a fan it's the position you could imagine yourself playing in. :hehe:
It may have changed a bit now, defenders are coached from a young age i think, but there's no better grounding fora young player than to be creative, comfortable on the ball, brave in possession, and that's more prevalent in more advanced positions. It's so much easier playing a more withdrawn position, with the game in front of you, playing with your back to goal is hard, and it takes a completely different set of skills. One thing that makes me chuckle is when defenders are praised from the rooftops for reacting or just stopping good players, it's not that difficult to do in most cases in my opinion, just stopping players isn't really technical, it's reactive, and by having the game in front of you it's easier. Being creative is the hardest job on a football pitch, taking responsibility, etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by Father Dougal
I have been impressed with his stamina last few games and last night particularly. He put a right shift in and usually heÂ’s either taken off or blowing a bit.
Still feel he holds onto the ball longer than he needs to and the momentum of a movement and possession is usually lost
Craig Bellamy wants his football played a certain way , it would appear Colwill doesn’t fit that particular style .Quote:
Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman
Colwill won’t suit ever club in the premier league , but he has the talent to play there .
Rangers recently had Cantwell who plays with a very similar style to Colwill .
The manager didn’t want him because he wouldn’t play to his rigid style .
Like Colwill I liked watching his skills every time he played .
I am happy to pay my money just to watch these youngsters developing ( not Colwill , can’t be a youngster at 22) .
Why would you think that ?Quote:
Originally Posted by delmbox
We are playing a much more open style these days, which should suit him ?
It's because he likes to travel with the ball, and sometimes he doesn't need to, two touches are enough, because when he goes on those runs he sometimes doesn'r really have much of an idea where he's going to end up, or what will be at the end of it, then he has to start the thinking process all over again when he finally arrives at his destination. That's why we see him (On times) wasteful in possession, it's because he hasn't thought things through or taken the right option earlier in the move. That's why people say that his final ball can sometimes suffer etc, he sometimes needs to release the ball much earlier, change the direction of play etc. People blame others around him, but if you have no idea what someone is going to do then it's difficult to legislate for them.Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ-Q
Poor old Rubin, it seems he's always playing in the wrong position / wrong team / wrong division / wrong country / with the wrong players / under the wrong manager (delete as applicable).
I speak as someone who generally enjoys watching Colwill play, but some of the excuses that are made for him are frankly ridiculous.
I’m glad someone else has noticed this. When Colwill first broke into the under 18s it looked like a lack of stamina was an issue with him and, speaking for myself, it’s a feeling I still had a few weeks ago. However, in the last month he’s played 120 minutes at Stoke (he was out on his feet at the end mind, but still scored the match winning penalty), 90 minutes against the wurzels and last night he went on a forty yard run down the right wing, beating a couple of opponents and knocked a great cross field pass to Isaak Davies I think it was - this happened is the ninetieth minute.Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ-Q
I’ve also heard it said on a podcast that Colwill’s figures for winning the ball back in the opposition’s defensive third are the best at the club - I don’t have access to such stats, so cannot confirm that this is the case , but he’s definitely improved in this facet of the game in the last year in my view.
Colwill had a poor spell in the lead up to Christmas, but I think he’s played well lately and am wondering what people are thinking of as of now when they talk about the weaknesses in his game? For me, he put an awful lot of work in for very little reward against the wurzels, so I can understand people saying he shouldn’t be taking as many touches as he does. However, I strongly believe that over the course of this season, he’s established himself as someone who should be in our strongest team on merit.
Is he good enough for the Premier League at the moment? Probably not, but he’s a lot better than bottom six in the Championship.
In general, I agree he has had excuses made for him when, in truth, he needed to improve aspects of his game.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman
Last night however, in a position that may well suit him better, he put in the best all-round performance I have seen from him.
No goal, no assist, no clinical passes…just effectively chasing back and carrying the ball back upfield with poise.
I really hope he gets another opportunity to try that again…and develops into that role.
Premier league? Nah, not yet.
“I probably have a bit more of an indication with Rubin because of the years I’ve seen him. Since he was 12, I’ve seen his development, I’ve been a part of his development,” said Bellamy.
“He’s a player I would have expected more [from] but we all develop at different stages, different moments. My development really came probably when I was 22, so he’s a similar age, that area where he can push on.
“A lot of the habits I haven’t quite seen I feel he’s trying to bring to his game. If he keeps on that track… I see different areas for Rubin as well.
“His engine, his volume of running is more than his high intensity, which is a different part of the game. So with Rubin, I don’t just see him in the front lines, I see him being able to play deeper as well. He’s going to need a bit of help with that.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football...rent%20moments.
What are the lottery numbers Craig?
People will deny it now they've seen him with wales but there were definitely posters here who didn't fancy bellamy as our manager. Concerns of being a hot head etc......Quote:
Originally Posted by llan bluebird
It's frightening what he could have done with likes of colwill, bagan, davies etc......
A lack of end product in terms of goals and assists at Championship level.Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
His last Championship goal was scored against Plymouth on 19/10/24 (his only league goal this year).
His last Championship assist came in the 2-2 draw at Coventry on 20/11/24.
I don't think Bellamy would be suited to club management, at least not yet. He almost said as much himself while he was at Burnley working under Kompany.Quote:
Originally Posted by Father Dougal
Also, he doesn't do anything with Colwill at international level. He doesn't play him.
It's not just rubin though. I don't think our academy is that bad but the outcomes have been awful. Very few players have kicked on and made the transition. In that context rubin has done remarkably well he is still a professional footballer as most of our high hopes from the academy aren't by the age of 22.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman
I know all clubs struggle but we have been particularly bad over the last decade if not more.
If we can just about stay up even someone like yourself must surely give riza a tiny bit of credit for making it seem more likely our academy products may come through, be given a chance and develop? Whether he should stay or not is up for debate but he deserves that acknowledgement for me.
To be fair, he’s also got four in five Cup games this season.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman
And i don't think he's a 10, i never did, yet people were screaming on here for him to play that position when it was clear that he isn't quick enough for that role. He's got a stride like a giraffe, not blessed with pace, but legs that can open up, which means that exploiting space (something he has always been good at) is his type of game, and that's always going to be from a deeper position, becaue that's where the space is, it doesn't have to be worked like in the final third.This may sound odd, but last night wasn't a championship game where there's less space, players cancel each other rather that allow each other to play, there's no space in midfield sometimes in a championship game, and things only really open up as a reaction to a goal or how long is left to play in a game. I think that he would benefit from a deeper position, it's down to him though, how disciplined is he to hold his position, release at the right time etc. He certainly has the ability, does he have the discipline?Quote:
Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman
If we can stay up a colwill and colwill midfield next year could be interesting.
If we go down it could be also actually l!
He has bob, but again, they're games where space is allowed and teams are just out for the win, nobody is keeping it tight. I think that he should play a deeper role, if he can break lines with 15 yards of movement with the ball then it'll be something that we haven't had at the club since god knows when...Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
As long as he doesn't dye his hair again, because that was ****ing scary.Quote:
Originally Posted by Father Dougal
Jordon Mutch I’d say.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuerto
That's a good shout. He wasn't particularly quick from memory but had a decent brain on him. What happened to him?Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
Based on his social media posts he's applying for a place in the trump cabinet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuerto
He has, in open matches where both teams are playing a mixture of first team, reserves and under-21 players.Quote:
Originally Posted by the other bob wilson
Colwill hasn't done enough in the games that matter most this season - the bread-and-butter Championship matches where the opposition is at full strength. I don't think even his biggest fans could argue with that (although I've no doubt they'd try...).
Really? He doesn't post on here, does he?Quote:
Originally Posted by Father Dougal