SHA Small Heath Alliance

Mithrandir

If this is all true then it looks very negatively against Davies in my opinion.

Blind favouritism has no place in competitive sport, especially teams.

It’s not blind favouritism, it’s picking the players you think are best to play. As a manager that has every place in what you should be doing, as it’s your job.

I accept your argument if we assume that Paik is always in good form, which hasn't been the case.

Charcy

It’s not blind favouritism, it’s picking the players you think are best to play.

It is when you're picking players when they aren't fit, or bringing them back straight in when they aren't back to full fitness.

And it definitely is when you play them every single game during a hard run and end up flogging your fave like davies did last xmas period.

Nikola Zigic

I accept your argument if we assume that Paik is always in good form, which hasn't been the case.

Nor is it the case for Leonard, we need a better alternative to Paik. Let Leonard move on let’s see if he goes and starts regularly for a top 10 Championship club or whether perhaps it’s vindicated and we need better players. He didn’t make an impression in the best team ever to play in the league below.

It’s an odd one for me because Leonard to me seems like an ideal CD player … short passes , keep the ball , move forward, repeat ad nauseum. Neat and tidy but nothing special

At 24 Leonard should be beyond the "potential" and "player we can develop" stage.

I think it's fair to say that he was disappointing last season in League 1 so it is not surprising that he is not considered by the head coach to be good enough for a team aiming at the upper reaches of the Championship.

Shows the difficulty of recruitment as we were all generally happy when he was signed but then failed to deliver.

Best for all to call it quits.

Meadey

It’s an odd one for me because Leonard to me seems like an ideal CD player … short passes , keep the ball , move forward, repeat ad nauseum. Neat and tidy but nothing special

I don't think he has the control CD wants, doesn't seem as strong nor reads the game as well. Though the latter is something he could improve the more he plays... trouble is it doesn't make sense to drop Paik to try and develop someone who isn’t as good.

Paik is essential because of his ability to take the ball in tight situations around our box and either get into space or safely lay it off to generate space - I don't think Leonard has it, he always looks as bit panicked and too often just sends the ball back where it came.

I think Leonard will be a decent to good Championship for someone, just not someone playing our style.

Completely agree, he did fine when Paik was injured, and dropped as soon as Paik returned, its the lads career if he's not getting playing time then its best for him and Blues, if he moves on.

TBH, i think the fundamental issue is where Leonard fits into davies preferred 4231.

He's not a defensive midfielder as one of the 'two' and he doesn't fit anywhere in the 'three'.

And the manager doesn't really change the formation unless he really, really has to.

His stats over a load of metrics have him as one of the best 'CDM's in the league. He can play that role.

Small sample size obviously.

He’s a decent player, I’m ok if he stays, also not arsed if he leaves. In some starts he’s been good, in some he’s been quite poor. Don’t really see him as someone who’s gonna move the dial in terms of us going up

Le Mod

In some starts he’s been good, in some he’s been quite poor.

Applies to a lot of them, that does!

I wouldn't mind a loan to an Oxford or somewhere so he can get 6 months of regular championship football on our behalf until the summer.

I do like Leonard but he isn't in our best midfield.

His biggest weakness is his mobility, with the same said for Doyle, so you can't play them together.

Davies doesn't seem willing to rotate, to the detriment of the team, and explains why some players are unhappy at the lack of game time they're getting. There are definitely Arteta vibes with him.

Rasputin

newblue

But Paik is a better player.

Paik is a different player.

We don't know whether Leonard is a true alternative because he gets minutes here or there.

I think we know Paik is a better player for the team to be picked ahead of Leonard. You can argue Leonard is a better player if you wish, but I think the evidence of watching both play would be against you.

I think he’s ok and has never let us down but he’s not as good. I appreciate it’s an opportunity to criticise the manager for something, but criticising him because he thinks one player is better than another is a bit odd to me. It’s actually his job.