If I was an ageing slightly flat footed full back (which I actually am at amateur level) I’d be much more fearful seeing DJ the other side of the halfway line at KO than I would Kirk.
DJ has his limitations but he's skilful, tenacious and gets involved. Twice on Saturday he won the ball high up the pitch and went on a threatening run. He won at least two yellow-card fouls. He got an assist and got in a good scoring position. He almost set up Stockley at the end of a flowing move - he got the pass wrong but he was in a position to make it. He's not perfect at all, or as quick as you might hope, but he contributes. Kirk thus far for us has been nothing but a weak, graft-shy showpony with about two signature moves, neither effective. I literally cannot believe that numerous people are saying he's preferable to DJ, let alone saying he should START for us. DJ can come out of the starting XI when we sign a wing-forward, as we're clearly trying to do. There's just no place for Kirk.
To me both DJ and Kirk in their own ways have been disappointing, considering both came in for decent fees for L1 and given long contracts. It say something about our transfer failings that our best winger CBT came to us as a triallist, and earned a contract that way.
I don’t want either Kirk or DJ starting. I am fine with them as reserves but neither are good enough if you want to be a promotion winning side. Right now we have three wide forwards/wingers (CBT, Kirk and DJ). Leaburn is a center forward who is playing out of position. Given how thin we are out wide, do we really want to sell either until we are certain we have at least one and preferably two wide players coming in? CBT has been very good but given his style of play, he burns out after 45-60 minutes.
Gilbey? What about Gilbey? I would tell those interested parties they could have Gilkirk at a reduced fee, buy one get one free as it were. But not Jake Forster Caskey. There are others more deserving than him who should be ahead of JFC at the departure gate.
DJ has his limitations but he's skilful, tenacious and gets involved. Twice on Saturday he won the ball high up the pitch and went on a threatening run. He won at least two yellow-card fouls. He got an assist and got in a good scoring position. He almost set up Stockley at the end of a flowing move - he got the pass wrong but he was in a position to make it. He's not perfect at all, or as quick as you might hope, but he contributes. Kirk thus far for us has been nothing but a weak, graft-shy showpony with about two signature moves, neither effective. I literally cannot believe that numerous people are saying he's preferable to DJ, let alone saying he should START for us. DJ can come out of the starting XI when we sign a wing-forward, as we're clearly trying to do. There's just no place for Kirk.
DJ can only play well for a half. Was the same last season but thought that was just due to him having to do more running playing at wing back. When he starts a game he always looks knackered in the second half and doesn’t affect it at all, was the same on Saturday. He’s also had a lot more chances than Kirk has, only got given a brief go under Adkins in what was a terrible team. Look at his past for Crewe and he has a higher ceiling than DJ if we can get the best out of him, he even played in the championship last year and has interest now again from that level showing he is rated higher
I guess the thing we learned from the Accrington game is that Kirk isn't in competition with DJ, he's in competition with CBT. Garner evidently wants his left-sided wingers cutting in on their right, and CBT currently holds the shirt with his pace. It's a shame in a way as I think I'd like to see pace on one wing and craft on the other, but that's not how we're playing it. DJ currently doesn't have any competition on his side unless Garner decides he wants to start Leaburn as more of an inside forward and less of an out and out winger. CBT will get his injuries and we will need Kirk to come in and offer something different. I'd really like to keep him, especially as there will be games where an intelligent winger will be needed to unlock defences rather than someone with explosive pace. What we need to do is complete on getting a right winger who is a goal threat, then DJ can be the backup on that side.
I think ideally we would have both DJ and Kirk, they are very different players. Kirk is a lot calmer on the ball than DJ he can get round a player and put a well thought out ball into the box or score from distance. Last season no-one was making intelligent runs into the box it was 'run like hell down the wing and just hope that a cross reaches Stockley'. Hopefully if our passing game continues to improve there will be many more well timed assists leading to goals and Kirk would have a part in this.
If we’re moving anyone on, the choices for me are Gilbey & JFC.
It might not be about choices though. Supply and demand. Are there any takers for those two at the moment? Perhaps we need to move sharpish to secure the striker we want and Kirk has the most interest of the saleable players. 🤷🏻♂️
Yep agree Id like to Mckirdy and the Palace lad coming in to replace DJ and Kirk as our wingers if we have any serious asperations of promotion
Both reportedly have Championship interest so will be pretty tough to get either.
I would rather we get, and are more likely to get JRS than McKirdy.
I would expect our salary restrictions against our turnover to mean we could probably afford to take on one rather than both and I bet the wage demands for McKirdy would be out of our budget when we're competing with other Championship clubs - McKirdy also seems like the type to go to the highest bidder primarily.
Whereas I think JRS (or whatever his codename is) will go where Palace think he has the best chance of progressing, in a system they want him to play in, where he's going to get maximum game-time, under a manager they know and have a relationship with. I think we tick those boxes well.
Comments
Think he suits Garnerball far more too.
Plus there is interest in Kirk and possibly a fee so happy to him move on.
If we can get back the money we spent for him it's a win.
Exactly, at least give Kirk a decent run in the side under Garner and let's see what's what. Wouldn't mind starting him Saturday.
I would tell those interested parties they could have Gilkirk at a reduced fee, buy one get one free as it were.
But not Jake Forster Caskey. There are others more deserving than him who should be ahead of JFC at the departure gate.
We also have Clayden along with the option of Leaburn and Payne who aren't wingers but can playing in the front three
But we need depth amongst the squad
Its easy to talk about the squad that won us promotion in 2018/19 - But the likes of George Lapslie still played nearly 30-games
I would expect our salary restrictions against our turnover to mean we could probably afford to take on one rather than both and I bet the wage demands for McKirdy would be out of our budget when we're competing with other Championship clubs - McKirdy also seems like the type to go to the highest bidder primarily.
Whereas I think JRS (or whatever his codename is) will go where Palace think he has the best chance of progressing, in a system they want him to play in, where he's going to get maximum game-time, under a manager they know and have a relationship with. I think we tick those boxes well.