I think P'boro they are better than us man for man, and with more senior starts. They certainly have more pace than us, and a positive culture throughout the club, top to bottom. I'd rip their arms off for Lewis, Tomlin, Boyd, Frecklington..in fact their entire midfield and attack would get in our side, with just Lukas keeping his place!
Of course what a lot of it comes down to with us is that our younger guns deserve their place as the so-called senior pro's have been poor. Sheff is all washed up, and he was our most effective player in the diamond under Thorn last year who remains at the club. A shadow of his former self is being unkind to shadows everywhere! A lot of that is maybe fitness based. Who are our other experienced pros? Keogh, Cranie and Lukas are still relatively young. Wood? Just not good enough, never was. McPake? Crocked. Platt? Tries, but never Championship level at his age, only as an impact sub, really. Bell? Hardly a leader, constantly getting crocked, and even those who once rated him will agree that he's struggling to string 2 acceptable performances together now. That just leaves Sammy-played great for the first month, then playing through injury and having to try and lead the saplings took there toll. A Doyle or a Carsley, whatever you thought of them, were better leaders than him and would have both shared the burden if still at the club. Even Osbourne and McIndoe may have helped.
The only real times Cyrus could have been rested are with Keogh at RB-meaning Wood/Cameron at CB. And AT has made that move several times. Course it doesn't help that Cyrus is also 2nd choice LB and Huss has missed games..Clarke has been another huge miss.
Honestly, Wood (v Forest?) and Cameron have had maybe 1 good game each this season. Wood is certainly no LB, and has been injured or returning from injury for much of the season. I think he's maybe a bottom-end Champ CB at best, which is partly highlighted by lowly Chesterfields interest. Cameron I want to do well, but he just isn't cutting it this season..he looks like he's trying too hard and panicking too easily; the rub being that youngsters make more mistakes when confidence and morale is low than senior pro's do. But when your experienced players are crap..well they make mistakes too. Even the good ones eventually crack (Sammy).
McPake just aint an option at this stage. Love him to bits and he is both the leader and strong CB we lack, but he is absolutely miles off being able to play Championship football right now. I don't think he will be until he's had a full preseason; same probably goes for Cody.
