Thought he was anonymous again today - was like playing with 10 men.
Leaburn made such a difference when he came on. Would like to see Kelman with Leaburn or Olaofe though, as TC / Kelman partnership was never going to be the one imo.
He just doesn’t impact the game very much if he doesn’t score. 14 touches last weekend, 11 touches today.
Tried to find the most comparable game(s) for Godden from last season - probably Birmingham and Wrexham away in which Matty had 22 and 25 touches respectively.
As NJ pointed out on the BBC interview Kelman didn’t have a preseason.
He’s also adapting to our style of play, and we’re adapting to him.
We’re strong defensively but will evolve our attacking play as the season goes on. Part of that is finding our best combination up front, both from the start and off the bench.
My view hasn’t changed, it’s still very early, he shouldn’t be written off. It’s not as if he’s missing good chances. More to come from him.
Some were right about Ahadme, but plenty never thought Gillesphey could improve, or that we could be promoted after selling May, Coventry wasn’t fully convincing to start with, Lloyd Jones wasn’t the key player he is now in his first season etc.
He knew the assignment when he signed. Lone striker leading the press. A la Godden but at a higher level. I think he's doing well enough. As I said in the post match , when the likes of him Carey,Campbell and Apter really know each others game they will be a real force.
Thought he was anonymous again today - was like playing with 10 men.
Leaburn made such a difference when he came on. Would like to see Kelman with Leaburn or Olaofe though, as TC / Kelman partnership was never going to be the one imo.
Kelman 62 mins - 11 touches
Leaburn 37 mins - 15 touches
TC 84 mins - 32 touches
I don’t want NJ to knock Kelman’s confidence because it might only take one going in for him to go on a goalscoring run but I’d much rather see TC with Leaburn atm.
In the short term I think he'll benefit from having a physical chaos agent in the attacking three, someone to win the knockdowns, or simply draw defenders away around the box. Could be Leaburn or Tanto, or even Knibbs, if he's playing the 10 role. In the long run, I think Nathan will want to turn him into a Godden Mk II, and you can see he's working on winning the aerial balls / holding the ball up a bit more already.
Thought he was anonymous again today - was like playing with 10 men.
Leaburn made such a difference when he came on. Would like to see Kelman with Leaburn or Olaofe though, as TC / Kelman partnership was never going to be the one imo.
Kelman 62 mins - 11 touches
Leaburn 37 mins - 15 touches
TC 84 mins - 32 touches
I don’t want NJ to knock Kelman’s confidence because it might only take one going in for him to go on a goalscoring run but I’d much rather see TC with Leaburn atm.
Strikers like Kelman strive off confidence. He's had no pre-season and isn't up to speed. He was never going to walk in the door and start smashing the goals in.Think Jones will persevere.
Kelman needs the ball to his feet or played down the channels for him to run into .. he done well today held the ball up laid the ball off but i don’t think Campbell helps him enough …. like last season when we saw Godden having the same issues …
Think there’s a lot of harsh criticism after two games. It’s been pointed out his lack of pre season.
If you take today’s performance… he played as a lone striker against some very physical centre halves. First half he had next to no service. When the ball was played to his feet, he usually had his back to goal and held it up quite well.
Out game improved when Leaburn and Tanto came on as it was crying out with some physicality which they both offered. I’d quite like to see Kelman up front with Leaburn. I think they’d work well together. It would definitely create space. That being said, it needs to be in the right game. Away to Bristol after they put 4 away against Sheffield Utd isn’t the game to try things.
Kelman needs the ball to his feet or played down the channels for him to run into .. he done well today held the ball up laid the ball off but i don’t think Campbell helps him enough …. like last season when we saw Godden having the same issues …
One thing I did notice was when Carey had that shot in the first half he didn't really anticipate that he might scew it wide the way he did. He looked a bit pissed off that Carey didn't square it to him when if he had gambled a bit more he might of got on the end of the poorly directed shot. These are things he'll learn from Godden.
Kelman needs the ball to his feet or played down the channels for him to run into .. he done well today held the ball up laid the ball off but i don’t think Campbell helps him enough …. like last season when we saw Godden having the same issues …
I think kelman will come good and just needs to get games under his belt and adapt to the team but you could level it the other way what did kelman do for Tc who was the better player today.
We currently have 5 strikers for 2 positions. I think he's the long term replacement for Godden. Once the sniffer dog is back in training and showing Kelman how it's done, he will learn loads from him. Between that and getting up to speed physically there's a lot more to come. I dont think he's been great, but today was an improvement on last week so he's trending in the right direction. Im just not sure he deserves to start over leaburn. Maybe next game it's Kelman that comes on for the last 30
We currently have 5 strikers for 2 positions. I think he's the long term replacement for Godden. Once the sniffer dog is back in training and showing Kelman how it's done, he will learn loads from him. Between that and getting up to speed physically there's a lot more to come. I dont think he's been great, but today was an improvement on last week so he's trending in the right direction. Im just not sure he deserves to start over leaburn. Maybe next game it's Kelman that comes on for the last 30
Alfie May started poorly with us and finally scored in his 5th game
CK was isolated and had very little service. I agree Leaburn looks a different proposition this season so maybe him and CK could be tried to give defenders something else to think about
We currently have 5 strikers for 2 positions. I think he's the long term replacement for Godden. Once the sniffer dog is back in training and showing Kelman how it's done, he will learn loads from him. Between that and getting up to speed physically there's a lot more to come. I dont think he's been great, but today was an improvement on last week so he's trending in the right direction. Im just not sure he deserves to start over leaburn. Maybe next game it's Kelman that comes on for the last 30
I do not mind Leaburn coming on for the last 30. His build and height gives tiring defences all sorts of issues which is why I think Nathan sets up this way.
Kelman still needs to get used to how we play and will get better over the coming weeks. Today was an improvement against a very good Bristol team.
I do agree with your reasoning though, on the basis of play Leaburn probably does deserve to start.
I mean when someone like Knibbs can come on and in both games put himself in more dangerous areas in the box than Kelman has for two games. Is there something Kelman needs to work on? Or do our wide players need to work on their delivery into the box?
I mean when someone like Knibbs can come on and in both games put himself in more dangerous areas in the box than Kelman has for two games. Is there something Kelman needs to work on? Or do our wide players need to work on their delivery into the box?
Probably a bit of both.
That's not really the fairest comparison - Knibbs has spent most of his career as the kind of player whose job is specifically to arrive in dangerous areas at the right time. Kelman has not - until now he has had success by attacking placed passes through the defence more than crosses or long passes from deep.
Does he need to improve on this particular skill, probably yes. But he's literally learning it on the job and that's the only way he's going to improve it.
NJ told Kelman he'd start him every game. I'm not sure why you'd say that when you have the striking options we do.
Wasn’t that Wellens when he joined Orient on loan last year?
I could have been mistaken, thought he was talking about NJ, but I can't find the quote now.
I think you mean this from Cawley’s Substack article.
It has been widely reported that Kelman promised Orient’s boss that he would net 20 goals if he was a mainstay of his side.
“That wasn’t the actual truth, because I don’t think him saying he will score 20 goals is controllable,” said Wellens. “He might hit the post or goalkeepers might pull off brilliant saves. I promised him if his press was right and his work ethic was right, then the majority of the games I would keep him on for 90 minutes.
“He, off the back of that, said if you do that then I will promise you goals, which he did.
NJ told Kelman he'd start him every game. I'm not sure why you'd say that when you have the striking options we do.
Wasn’t that Wellens when he joined Orient on loan last year?
I could have been mistaken, thought he was talking about NJ, but I can't find the quote now.
I think you mean this from Cawley’s Substack article.
It has been widely reported that Kelman promised Orient’s boss that he would net 20 goals if he was a mainstay of his side.
“That wasn’t the actual truth, because I don’t think him saying he will score 20 goals is controllable,” said Wellens. “He might hit the post or goalkeepers might pull off brilliant saves. I promised him if his press was right and his work ethic was right, then the majority of the games I would keep him on for 90 minutes.
“He, off the back of that, said if you do that then I will promise you goals, which he did.
We currently have 5 strikers for 2 positions. I think he's the long term replacement for Godden. Once the sniffer dog is back in training and showing Kelman how it's done, he will learn loads from him. Between that and getting up to speed physically there's a lot more to come. I dont think he's been great, but today was an improvement on last week so he's trending in the right direction. Im just not sure he deserves to start over leaburn. Maybe next game it's Kelman that comes on for the last 30
I do not mind Leaburn coming on for the last 30. His build and height gives tiring defences all sorts of issues which is why I think Nathan sets up this way.
Kelman still needs to get used to how we play and will get better over the coming weeks. Today was an improvement against a very good Bristol team.
I do agree with your reasoning though, on the basis of play Leaburn probably does deserve to start.
I think selection could get a lot harder once Godden returns. TC or Tanto on one side, and Kelman or Godden the other, with Leaburn coming on to cause havoc? I mean what a problem to have compared to previous seasons. I suppose it all comes down to who's on form and getting the goals.
I don't understand the comments about a Kelman partnership with Campbell not working, Kelman has not been playing up front in a two he plays through the middle on his own, as a lone striker.
Campbell plays wide left, Kelman through the middle and Apter plays wide right replacing Small.
Kelman will be fine, yes Leaburn made more of an impact but he has the height to win headers that Kelman doesn't. No concerns on Kelman for me.
Kelman is very much a confidence player. Wellens at Orient essentially said the same thing and after following the kid for several years, I totally agree. Once he gets that first goal, he will be fine.
Any who are calling for him to be benched or he is a bust already, are morons.
I don't understand the comments about a Kelman partnership with Campbell not working, Kelman has not been playing up front in a two he plays through the middle on his own, as a lone striker.
Campbell plays wide left, Kelman through the middle and Apter plays wide right replacing Small.
Kelman will be fine, yes Leaburn made more of an impact but he has the height to win headers that Kelman doesn't. No concerns on Kelman for me.
Which is exactly why Leaburn is more suited to play the role in the team than Kelman is at the moment, with the way we are set up. We aren't the sort of team that's going to dominate possession, we need a striker to hold the ball up, to scrap and battle for it
Comments
Tried to find the most comparable game(s) for Godden from last season - probably Birmingham and Wrexham away in which Matty had 22 and 25 touches respectively.
He’s also adapting to our style of play, and we’re adapting to him.
We’re strong defensively but will evolve our attacking play as the season goes on. Part of that is finding our best combination up front, both from the start and off the bench.
My view hasn’t changed, it’s still very early, he shouldn’t be written off. It’s not as if he’s missing good chances. More to come from him.
Some were right about Ahadme, but plenty never thought Gillesphey could improve, or that we could be promoted after selling May, Coventry wasn’t fully convincing to start with, Lloyd Jones wasn’t the key player he is now in his first season etc.
As I said in the post match , when the likes of him Carey,Campbell and Apter really know each others game they will be a real force.
Leaburn 37 mins - 15 touches
TC 84 mins - 32 touches
I don’t want NJ to knock Kelman’s confidence because it might only take one going in for him to go on a goalscoring run but I’d much rather see TC with Leaburn atm.
today held the ball up laid the ball off but i
don’t think Campbell helps him enough …. like last season when we saw Godden having the same issues …
These are things he'll learn from Godden.
Olaofe should start as partner for Kelman
CK was isolated and had very little service. I agree Leaburn looks a different proposition this season so maybe him and CK could be tried to give defenders something else to think about
Kelman still needs to get used to how we play and will get better over the coming weeks. Today was an improvement against a very good Bristol team.
I do agree with your reasoning though, on the basis of play Leaburn probably does deserve to start.
Probably a bit of both.
Does he need to improve on this particular skill, probably yes. But he's literally learning it on the job and that's the only way he's going to improve it.
Campbell plays wide left, Kelman through the middle and Apter plays wide right replacing Small.
Kelman will be fine, yes Leaburn made more of an impact but he has the height to win headers that Kelman doesn't. No concerns on Kelman for me.
Any who are calling for him to be benched or he is a bust already, are morons.