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Thierry Small - signed a 4 year deal with Preston (p36)
Comments
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XG comes into it as well.killerandflash said:
Presumably playing on the left tonight. I still think that having to play on the right as an inverted winger/wingback was a major reason why he left us, as he sees himself as a left sided player.Callumcafc said:0 -
I think a major reason he left us was he was offered a lot more money. Preston seem to have made the call to pay high wages rather than transfer fees.4
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Exciting player to watch.4
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Tempted
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I actually think his absence or somebody like him/ the subsequent absence of Apter has contributed to us looking more jaded attacking wise in recent games, Bree is class but he is not quick / can’t drive or stretch teams so essentially the lopsided 532 /433 hybrid thing is no longer there which doesn’t help our attacking threat, makes it harder for TC to make an impact and means we have moved back towards more of the lumping approach over recent games , something for Jones to think about IMO if we want to trouble opposition defences a bit more which I think we are capable of14
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Was also thinking we need speed on both wings2
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Appreciate he chose to go. Would have been a great replacement option though, given Edwards’ injury and now Bell too. Left-footed players are always difficult to find. All hindsight so no criticism of the gaffer intended.2
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Someone who can bring that vital bit of chaos would probably be useful sometimes. Maybe not Small himself but it does feel like we've fallen into a bit of a pattern (albeit an effective one so far.)
More teams recently seem aware of what we do/how we do it so having someone a bit less predictable might be a useful card to play. Possibly Fullah can be that card?4 -
It’s the downside of playing Bree over Apter, Hernandez or Fullah. Great deliveries and a good well rounded and reliable player, but he’s not going to add that pace or flair that makes us less predictable.thenewbie said:Someone who can bring that vital bit of chaos would probably be useful sometimes. Maybe not Small himself but it does feel like we've fallen into a bit of a pattern (albeit an effective one so far.)
More teams recently seem aware of what we do/how we do it so having someone a bit less predictable might be a useful card to play. Possibly Fullah can be that card?
I’d say it’s about using all three of them when we need to add that to the team, and sometimes that should be from the start of games.3 -
I was excited when Hernandez was named as the starting LWB on Tuesday night as him and TC on the same side of the pitch should have been exciting. Instead neither of them really stretched the opposition. Small was very useful for that, and being doubled up on meaning Godden and Berry had a lot more space to work in, given they also doubled up on TC the other side.2
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I'm happy to see him on the bench for England u21 against Slovakia.3
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Thought appropriate to bump this on the evening that his £2m replacement departs on loan to Bolton.
To repeat my post from Apter thread:
We had a a player who actually fitted the system to which Jones is resolutely committed, possibly the only player really in the entire squad, and Jones decided to release him and instead fork out a very substantial sum on a player who was well recognised as being none of the things which Jones wants; a wing back, defensively sound, strong or physical.
An unbelievable combination of decision making.6 -
Jones didn’t decide to release him though? If we could have kept Small then we would have donepaulsturgess said:Thought appropriate to bump this on the evening that his £2m replacement departs on loan to Bolton.
To repeat my post from Apter thread:
We had a a player who actually fitted the system to which Jones is resolutely committed, possibly the only player really in the entire squad, and Jones decided to release him and instead fork out a very substantial sum on a player who was well recognised as being none of the things which Jones wants; a wing back, defensively sound, strong or physical.
An unbelievable combination of decision making.
Small is also dividing opinion at Preston now after a strong start, he’s now on the bench most games. He’s not a consistently good championship player either17 -
He wasn’t released, he took the money and went to Preston14
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Perhaps we could have spent the £2m on Small rather than paying a transfer fee on Apter?Rothko said:He wasn’t released, he took the money and went to Preston3 -
Important to remember this.Rothko said:He wasn’t released, he took the money and went to Preston3 -
Christ on a bike, maybe 13k a week over 3 years is still less than what he’s on Preston.SELR_addicks said:
Perhaps we could have spent the £2m on Small rather than paying a transfer fee on Apter?Rothko said:He wasn’t released, he took the money and went to Preston1 -
Then add on Apter's wages.Rothko said:
Christ on a bike, maybe 13k a week over 3 years is still less than what he’s on Preston.SELR_addicks said:
Perhaps we could have spent the £2m on Small rather than paying a transfer fee on Apter?Rothko said:He wasn’t released, he took the money and went to Preston1 -
Not like Small is having the best time at the moment either though last assist was in December and last goal was in November. Not played more than 45 mins in the last 3 matches either7
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Correct.SELR_addicks said:
Perhaps we could have spent the £2m on Small rather than paying a transfer fee on Apter?Rothko said:He wasn’t released, he took the money and went to Preston
In my view if Jones had really wanted to keep the player, we could have done so with a better offer. PNE have one of the lower budgets in the division and we didn't match them, instead spending £2m on Apter, and I suspect Jones also indicated to Small that he wasn't his priority no1 RWB, or at least didn't make him feel definitively wanted.0 -
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Wasn’t it mentioned recently that Small had made his mind up on Preston before the season ended? In that respect, there was never a direct choice between him and Apter.
And in reality, both have turned out to be good players so it’s not like Apter isn’t worth the fee spent.9 -
2 points here:NabySarr said:
Jones didn’t decide to release him though? If we could have kept Small then we would have donepaulsturgess said:Thought appropriate to bump this on the evening that his £2m replacement departs on loan to Bolton.
To repeat my post from Apter thread:
We had a a player who actually fitted the system to which Jones is resolutely committed, possibly the only player really in the entire squad, and Jones decided to release him and instead fork out a very substantial sum on a player who was well recognised as being none of the things which Jones wants; a wing back, defensively sound, strong or physical.
An unbelievable combination of decision making.
Small is also dividing opinion at Preston now after a strong start, he’s now on the bench most games. He’s not a consistently good championship player either
1) Small is a RWB. Better than any other RWB we've had at the club all season (*we haven't had a RWB at the club all season).
2) He is also still only 21 years of age.1 -
3) He wanted to leave and and had already decided to do so long before the season ended.paulsturgess said:
2 points here:NabySarr said:
Jones didn’t decide to release him though? If we could have kept Small then we would have donepaulsturgess said:Thought appropriate to bump this on the evening that his £2m replacement departs on loan to Bolton.
To repeat my post from Apter thread:
We had a a player who actually fitted the system to which Jones is resolutely committed, possibly the only player really in the entire squad, and Jones decided to release him and instead fork out a very substantial sum on a player who was well recognised as being none of the things which Jones wants; a wing back, defensively sound, strong or physical.
An unbelievable combination of decision making.
Small is also dividing opinion at Preston now after a strong start, he’s now on the bench most games. He’s not a consistently good championship player either
1) Small is a RWB. Better than any other RWB we've had at the club all season (*we haven't had a RWB at the club all season).
2) He is also still only 21 years of age.7 -
Possibly a bit like the Dobson scenario though - where the club made it clear to the player that they were not prepared to pay what the player (and at least one other club) felt they were worth.southamptonaddick said:
3) He wanted to leave and and had already decided to do so long before the season ended.paulsturgess said:
2 points here:NabySarr said:
Jones didn’t decide to release him though? If we could have kept Small then we would have donepaulsturgess said:Thought appropriate to bump this on the evening that his £2m replacement departs on loan to Bolton.
To repeat my post from Apter thread:
We had a a player who actually fitted the system to which Jones is resolutely committed, possibly the only player really in the entire squad, and Jones decided to release him and instead fork out a very substantial sum on a player who was well recognised as being none of the things which Jones wants; a wing back, defensively sound, strong or physical.
An unbelievable combination of decision making.
Small is also dividing opinion at Preston now after a strong start, he’s now on the bench most games. He’s not a consistently good championship player either
1) Small is a RWB. Better than any other RWB we've had at the club all season (*we haven't had a RWB at the club all season).
2) He is also still only 21 years of age.1 -
He doesn't seem a very intelligent player. He sometimes (too often?) keeps his head down with one thing in mind; run toward goal and get a shot off, regardless of who might be around him. Can be fantastic when it pays off, but it generally doesn't come to much. Having said that, I loved him playing for us lolNabySarr said:
Jones didn’t decide to release him though? If we could have kept Small then we would have donepaulsturgess said:Thought appropriate to bump this on the evening that his £2m replacement departs on loan to Bolton.
To repeat my post from Apter thread:
We had a a player who actually fitted the system to which Jones is resolutely committed, possibly the only player really in the entire squad, and Jones decided to release him and instead fork out a very substantial sum on a player who was well recognised as being none of the things which Jones wants; a wing back, defensively sound, strong or physical.
An unbelievable combination of decision making.
Small is also dividing opinion at Preston now after a strong start, he’s now on the bench most games. He’s not a consistently good championship player either
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We were a L1 club at the time. If Preston offered Small a good wage and we could only offer something on the basis that we went up and even then it would likely still be less than an established Championship team then what can the club realistically do?Weegie Addick said:
Possibly a bit like the Dobson scenario though - where the club made it clear to the player that they were not prepared to pay what the player (and at least one other club) felt they were worth.southamptonaddick said:
3) He wanted to leave and and had already decided to do so long before the season ended.paulsturgess said:
2 points here:NabySarr said:
Jones didn’t decide to release him though? If we could have kept Small then we would have donepaulsturgess said:Thought appropriate to bump this on the evening that his £2m replacement departs on loan to Bolton.
To repeat my post from Apter thread:
We had a a player who actually fitted the system to which Jones is resolutely committed, possibly the only player really in the entire squad, and Jones decided to release him and instead fork out a very substantial sum on a player who was well recognised as being none of the things which Jones wants; a wing back, defensively sound, strong or physical.
An unbelievable combination of decision making.
Small is also dividing opinion at Preston now after a strong start, he’s now on the bench most games. He’s not a consistently good championship player either
1) Small is a RWB. Better than any other RWB we've had at the club all season (*we haven't had a RWB at the club all season).
2) He is also still only 21 years of age.7 -
In hindsight (wonderful thing!) probably not spend £2M on Apter!Garrymanilow said:
We were a L1 club at the time. If Preston offered Small a good wage and we could only offer something on the basis that we went up and even then it would likely still be less than an established Championship team then what can the club realistically do?Weegie Addick said:
Possibly a bit like the Dobson scenario though - where the club made it clear to the player that they were not prepared to pay what the player (and at least one other club) felt they were worth.southamptonaddick said:
3) He wanted to leave and and had already decided to do so long before the season ended.paulsturgess said:
2 points here:NabySarr said:
Jones didn’t decide to release him though? If we could have kept Small then we would have donepaulsturgess said:Thought appropriate to bump this on the evening that his £2m replacement departs on loan to Bolton.
To repeat my post from Apter thread:
We had a a player who actually fitted the system to which Jones is resolutely committed, possibly the only player really in the entire squad, and Jones decided to release him and instead fork out a very substantial sum on a player who was well recognised as being none of the things which Jones wants; a wing back, defensively sound, strong or physical.
An unbelievable combination of decision making.
Small is also dividing opinion at Preston now after a strong start, he’s now on the bench most games. He’s not a consistently good championship player either
1) Small is a RWB. Better than any other RWB we've had at the club all season (*we haven't had a RWB at the club all season).
2) He is also still only 21 years of age.2 -
That threat of pace created space for others though, and it could push the opposition back to defend against it, or let us get in behind if they pushed higher up. It got us attacking with a higher tempo which made us more dangerous going forward.Gribbo said:
He doesn't seem a very intelligent player. He sometimes (too often?) keeps his head down with one thing in mind; run toward goal and get a shot off, regardless of who might be around him. Can be fantastic when it pays off, but it generally doesn't come to much. Having said that, I loved him playing for us lolNabySarr said:
Jones didn’t decide to release him though? If we could have kept Small then we would have donepaulsturgess said:Thought appropriate to bump this on the evening that his £2m replacement departs on loan to Bolton.
To repeat my post from Apter thread:
We had a a player who actually fitted the system to which Jones is resolutely committed, possibly the only player really in the entire squad, and Jones decided to release him and instead fork out a very substantial sum on a player who was well recognised as being none of the things which Jones wants; a wing back, defensively sound, strong or physical.
An unbelievable combination of decision making.
Small is also dividing opinion at Preston now after a strong start, he’s now on the bench most games. He’s not a consistently good championship player either
Replace that with someone like Bree and you'll have a steadier more reliable player who makes fewer mistakes, but the whole team suffers when TC is our only attacking player with pace.
As others have pointed out in the Fevrier thread, at least it shows Jones has recognised we need more pace and width. Apter was a threat going forward, but his game wasn't really about pace.4 -
Been trying to write this on various threads, but yes, Fevrier brings a pace similar to Small's that we've lacked this season. I don't know that Fevrier will start, or even that he'll come good, but I think he's the closest to a Small replacement we've had. You hit the nail on the head, Apter has a decent change of pace but he wasn't knock it and run type of pace. And we've missed that directness given how we play.Scoham said:
That threat of pace created space for others though, and it could push the opposition back to defend against it, or let us get in behind if they pushed higher up. It got us attacking with a higher tempo which made us more dangerous going forward.Gribbo said:
He doesn't seem a very intelligent player. He sometimes (too often?) keeps his head down with one thing in mind; run toward goal and get a shot off, regardless of who might be around him. Can be fantastic when it pays off, but it generally doesn't come to much. Having said that, I loved him playing for us lolNabySarr said:
Jones didn’t decide to release him though? If we could have kept Small then we would have donepaulsturgess said:Thought appropriate to bump this on the evening that his £2m replacement departs on loan to Bolton.
To repeat my post from Apter thread:
We had a a player who actually fitted the system to which Jones is resolutely committed, possibly the only player really in the entire squad, and Jones decided to release him and instead fork out a very substantial sum on a player who was well recognised as being none of the things which Jones wants; a wing back, defensively sound, strong or physical.
An unbelievable combination of decision making.
Small is also dividing opinion at Preston now after a strong start, he’s now on the bench most games. He’s not a consistently good championship player either
Replace that with someone like Bree and you'll have a steadier more reliable player who makes fewer mistakes, but the whole team suffers when TC is our only attacking player with pace.
As others have pointed out in the Fevrier thread, at least it shows Jones has recognised we need more pace and width. Apter was a threat going forward, but his game wasn't really about pace.3 -
The concern for me is if he's up to the Championship then why hasn't he started more often for Stockport.SDAddick said:
Been trying to write this on various threads, but yes, Fevrier brings a pace similar to Small's that we've lacked this season. I don't know that Fevrier will start, or even that he'll come good, but I think he's the closest to a Small replacement we've had. You hit the nail on the head, Apter has a decent change of pace but he wasn't knock it and run type of pace. And we've missed that directness given how we play.Scoham said:
That threat of pace created space for others though, and it could push the opposition back to defend against it, or let us get in behind if they pushed higher up. It got us attacking with a higher tempo which made us more dangerous going forward.Gribbo said:
He doesn't seem a very intelligent player. He sometimes (too often?) keeps his head down with one thing in mind; run toward goal and get a shot off, regardless of who might be around him. Can be fantastic when it pays off, but it generally doesn't come to much. Having said that, I loved him playing for us lolNabySarr said:
Jones didn’t decide to release him though? If we could have kept Small then we would have donepaulsturgess said:Thought appropriate to bump this on the evening that his £2m replacement departs on loan to Bolton.
To repeat my post from Apter thread:
We had a a player who actually fitted the system to which Jones is resolutely committed, possibly the only player really in the entire squad, and Jones decided to release him and instead fork out a very substantial sum on a player who was well recognised as being none of the things which Jones wants; a wing back, defensively sound, strong or physical.
An unbelievable combination of decision making.
Small is also dividing opinion at Preston now after a strong start, he’s now on the bench most games. He’s not a consistently good championship player either
Replace that with someone like Bree and you'll have a steadier more reliable player who makes fewer mistakes, but the whole team suffers when TC is our only attacking player with pace.
As others have pointed out in the Fevrier thread, at least it shows Jones has recognised we need more pace and width. Apter was a threat going forward, but his game wasn't really about pace.
Hopefully he can make an impact just as Small and CBT did. Both came in with low expectations, but were good fits for us.1
