He is a very good player. We've found an exciting replacement but Small is still very good.
Exactly this - I think we signed Edwards last season as back-up to both Small and Gillesphey, and it just happened that Edwards played so well he took that LWB slot and Jones moved Small to the right, it worked and that was that.
Likely we'd have happily kept Small as competition for Edwards and Apter (and the squad would have been better for it), but I suspect he felt Preston were more likely to start him more, he had more chance of playing on the left, and likely were offering to pay him more as a result.
Doesn't mean Jones didn't want to keep him.
And his reported wages at Preston will be in the upper 1/3 of our player wages, which does not fit for a backup / utility player. Apter is a much better overall choice I feel.
He is a very good player. We've found an exciting replacement but Small is still very good.
Exactly this - I think we signed Edwards last season as back-up to both Small and Gillesphey, and it just happened that Edwards played so well he took that LWB slot and Jones moved Small to the right, it worked and that was that.
Likely we'd have happily kept Small as competition for Edwards and Apter (and the squad would have been better for it), but I suspect he felt Preston were more likely to start him more, he had more chance of playing on the left, and likely were offering to pay him more as a result.
Doesn't mean Jones didn't want to keep him.
I don’t think Edwards was signed to be back up.
Nathan Jones wanted to build a solid foundation. The problem Thierry had as a young and exciting, flair player was consistency and that’s what Nathan Jones needed in the position over a 46 game season. A position was later found for Thierry where his defensive inconsistency was covered by the monster that is Kayne Ramsay.
Edwards started the last two pre season friendlies and was replaced by Thierry for the last 20 of each and we already had LB back up in Tayo Edun. He also started the season as first choice and then came straight back into the team as soon as he recovered from injury, by that point he was clearly the preferred choice.
At just 20, I think Thierry Small will make great strides this season and seeing him on the left and making an accurate 25 pass for Osmanic to run on to score was impressive for Preston against Leicester in the 85th minute.
Rob Apter is a different type of player to Thierry and at 22 is more controlled and less erratic than Small was last season. My tip before the first league game was Apter would be the best of the new boys. With Ramsay having his back, any defensive short comings for Rob haven't been exposed up to now. Great start to his CAFC career and will be a fans favourite 👏🏼
Comments
Rob Apter is a different type of player to Thierry and at 22 is more controlled and less erratic than Small was last season. My tip before the first league game was Apter would be the best of the new boys. With Ramsay having his back, any defensive short comings for Rob haven't been exposed up to now. Great start to his CAFC career and will be a fans favourite 👏🏼
And as fans you tend to remember the magic moments more than the dross.