The missing link........Shorey????

[ynot_forest]

Not made the last couple of games, so not had a chance to see Nick Shorey in actions.

His 2 outings for us has changed our goal difference by 7 - but all the highlights on TV are at the "right" end of the field for me and so have not seen him kick a ball.

However, what difference has he made? How has he played - I was sure our defenders always gave Cohen a little extra support, consideration, cover and that sometimes led to a little conservativeness in our play in and around the back.

Do we now have the confidence that our left back can cope! releasing players for "other" attacking/defending duties?

Is he the a piece of the jigsaw that fits? .................the missing link?

 

[cmw]

Nowhere near the player I thought he would be but its early days and I think you have a point about the other defenders covering Cohen.

 

[marshal99]

Cohen also covered for the other defenders plenty of times , how many times have you seen him make a last ditch clearance when the other central defender failed to clear the ball away from the striker they are marking.

Don't think Shorey make a lot of difference to our teamplay and our recent scorelines , i believe it's due to a couple of things - the change of formation back to 4-4-2 , the return of dexter blackstock from injury and the return to form of earnie.

 

[tcred1]

However there was the time when near the dug outs he jinked and moved away making a lunging sliding Leicester midfielder looking very shite indeed as he missed both ball abnd man by a mile.

 

[Benchwarmer]

There is no doubt that hes still quite a way off being fully match fit.

Hes not the strongest in the air and has made a couple of mistakes, but considering that he isn't match fit, Id still be looking at extending his stay in January.

 

[Jelly Bean]

Well i think he's been superb. Didn't give the ball away once that i can remember yesterday - a class act at this level

 

[Al LeftLion]

He's clearly not yet at full match fitness, and i get the feeling he's been asked to just concentrate on defending, i'd certainly expect him to start getting forward a bit more over the next few games. He looks good at the back though and i'm pretty sure once settled down we'll see his real quality both defensive;y and going forward. You'd think he'd fancy staying if offered the chance now too.

 

[T.B.T.]

I agree with Jellybean. I though Nicky Storey's contribution was fantastic yesterday.

His positioning, passing and his general awareness is representative of his experience and he controls the game at a steady pace allowing intuitive and creative forward flowing football.

It takes a little time to settle any new player and, although we don't have much time at the moment, I'm hoping that we'll make him a permanent offer in the January sales.

 

[dbarraclough]

If he was in any doubt whether to stay or not, then the last 2 results might swing it for us.
The only worry will be if Villa look like getting into the top 4. The dream of Champions league football may be too much for him. That's if he has a say in the matter

 

[adam09]

He's not been tested much defensively, but has done his job when he has. He's also been very competent on the ball, and a very good passer too... played some superbly weighted balls down the sideline for others to chase yesterday.

 

[Tommy1drop]

I agree with Jellybean. I though Nicky Storey's contribution was fantastic yesterday.

His positioning, passing and his general awareness is representative of his experience and he controls the game at a steady pace allowing intuitive and creative forward flowing football.

It takes a little time to settle any new player and, although we don't have much time at the moment, I'm hoping that we'll make him a permanent offer in the January sales.

Totally agree, i to hope he stays permanently, i think once he gets a few more games under his belt we will see a truly class player, so i hope that he wants to stay with us and that a deal can be done with Villa come January.

 

[weasel]

To come in for two games after not having played in ages and produce such effortless performances says a great deal about his quality.

As he gets fitter and settles in we'll have a player on our hands who is certainly a contender for best defender in the league.

 

[RICH1977]

hes comfortable with the ball and doesnt rush his clearences think there was 1-2 that didnt go to a red shirt, both games he has won his fair share of headers.

 

[Nick.]

Done well over the two games he has played in, Let's hope it continues

 

[Jimbo L]

I agree with most, Shorey has shown signs of his quality, and will only get better with more games.

His transfer fee would be > 2m I would imagine if we were to sign him. My only concern would be wages, as he must be on 20k + a week at Villa.

 

[Cooky]

Shorey has that rare attribute where he makes it look so easy. Nothing he does is laboured or rushed. Every time he won a header from one of Lesta's hoofs, he almost always nodded it straight to a red shirt.

He's clearly got a lot of quality and I'd love him to sign permanently in January

 

[Baronvon]

Shorey has looked effortlessly comfortable in the past two games. Cohen's done an admirable job filling in at left back but the difference an actual quality left back makes is outstanding.

Pretty similar to when we replaced Chambers with Gunter.