⚽ Match Thread vs. Maidenhead Utd. 06/08/22 [NL]

[durhampie]

Good way to start the season and good to see Langstaff on the scoresheet.

If we would have had Langstaff last season instead of Wootton we would have gone up..

[BigFatPie]

Ha ha! Yep.

I had to smile when after 90 mins of praising Langstaff's movement and finishing, Stallard said in his summing up that if we could get a player like Wootton back it would strengthen us.

I don’t think I've ever seen a player whose reputation among commentators and pundits (and most fans) was so detached from reality.

Haha yeah I heard that as well. Stall’s a good summariser, but you’ll never hear anyone on local radio call a player ‘massively over rated’.

A bit mixed today. Langstaff is clearly a class forward whose pace and movement is going to cause all sorts of problems this season. What a goal that near miss would have been. The rest of it is hard to judge because Maidenhead were terrible. I thought JOB did very well, as did Sam Austin, but there was a lot of sloppiness, and let’s be honest, we could have doubled that score if we were properly on it. I hope that’s not a sign of the lack of intensity we had under Burchnall.

Much bigger tests to come next week and the week after.

[drillerpie]

Funny isn't it? At the start i liked Wootton, by the end i couldn't wait to see the back of him. Massively overrated and it seems Stockport fans are sick of him already. I wouldn't be surprised too see him at Solihull or Wrexham by the end of the season.

Yep, he was the fans' boo-boy at Scunny when they were at the bottom of League 2. And the early signs at Stockport are not good.

For us he was hardworking and honest but never really decisive or lethal. He is an old fashioned no.9 but he's slow in thought and deed, is easy to mark, is easy to foul and draw fouls from, and misses lots of chances. Even his heading is quite poor.

IMO the number of goals he scored was more down to playing for one of the best and most attacking teams in the division than anything else.

I very much doubt he will be quality in League 2. He'll be doing well of he's still in the starting 11 by Christmas.

When this board was going into full melodrama meltdown after he refused the contract, I stuck my neck out and pointed out all the above, and said I was actually excited about him going as we might sign a nippy striker who would make us less predictable.

I think about 4 or 5 people agreed with me while most were talking about not renewing their STs due to lack of ambition, and saying Wootton could sign for a Championship team!

[Kyle95]

Yep, he was the fans' boo-boy at Scunny when they were at the bottom of League 2. And the early signs at Stockport are not good.

For us he was hardworking and honest but never really decisive or lethal. He is an old fashioned no.9 but he's slow in thought and deed, is easy to mark, is easy to foul and draw fouls from, and misses lots of chances. Even his heading is quite poor.

IMO the number of goals he scored was more down to playing for one of the best and most attacking teams in the division than anything else.

I very much doubt he will be quality in League 2. He'll be doing well of he's still in the starting 11 by Christmas.

When this board was going into full melodrama meltdown after he refused the contract, I stuck my neck out and pointed out all the above, and said I was actually excited about him going as we might sign a nippy striker who would make us less predictable.

I think about 4 or 5 people agreed with me while most were talking about not renewing their STs due to lack of ambition, and saying Wootton could sign for a Championship team!

Spot on with your assessment, he's a very limited player that misses far too many chances. Ask any defender what they'd rather play against a big number 9, or a quick player that will have them running towards their own goal. The answer to me is simple. Yes i remember talk of 'Championship clubs being interested' I must admit i chuckled when i found out it was the EFL, and not the Scottish Championship that were apparently interested. Fair play to him though, his agent got him a huge deal at Stockport, the word is after signing he went and bought a new 40k Mercedes.

[IluvNotts]

If we would have had Langstaff last season instead of Wootton we would have gone up..

I agree. Wootton was hardworking but rarely delivered and actually missed a lot of easy chances.

[countygump]

[durhampie]

I agree. Wootton was hardworking but rarely delivered and actually missed a lot of easy chances.

With the pace of Langstaff we can be more direct at times, whereas Wootton didn't have the pace to get away from his marker. That's why our build up play was at times slow and laborious..

[optipez]

Yep, he was the fans' boo-boy at Scunny when they were at the bottom of League 2. And the early signs at Stockport are not good.

For us he was hardworking and honest but never really decisive or lethal. He is an old fashioned no.9 but he's slow in thought and deed, is easy to mark, is easy to foul and draw fouls from, and misses lots of chances. Even his heading is quite poor.

IMO the number of goals he scored was more down to playing for one of the best and most attacking teams in the division than anything else.

I very much doubt he will be quality in League 2. He'll be doing well of he's still in the starting 11 by Christmas.

When this board was going into full melodrama meltdown after he refused the contract, I stuck my neck out and pointed out all the above, and said I was actually excited about him going as we might sign a nippy striker who would make us less predictable.

I think about 4 or 5 people agreed with me while most were talking about not renewing their STs due to lack of ambition, and saying Wootton could sign for a Championship team!

It's all about opinions but this trashing of our top scorer three year running seems unduly harsh. He held us together at times and worked like a dog. He's good in the air, often he was starved of service and was too often left completely isolated by himself and expected to get back for all set pieces and when we were under the cosh.
Away from home Langstaff would likely be grateful to have Kyle Wootton holding the ball up for him and sharing the load when he's getting bounced around by some big old units.
Maybe L2 is a stretch too far but for us he was great and I'd take him back in a heartbeat.

[Kyle95]

It's all about opinions but this trashing of our top scorer three year running seems unduly harsh. He held us together at times and worked like a dog. He's good in the air, often he was starved of service and was too often left completely isolated by himself and expected to get back for all set pieces and when we were under the cosh.
Away from home Langstaff would likely be grateful to have Kyle Wootton holding the ball up for him and sharing the load when he's getting bounced around by some big old units.
Maybe L2 is a stretch too far but for us he was great and I'd take him back in a heartbeat.

Funny you should mention his hold up play actually. I've had a read of the Stockport forum and they are slagging of his hold up play. One even said a guy his size shouldn't get bullied the way he does. Another said they should pay us money to take him back. As you said though i guess it's all about opinions. Wootton for me is what i'd call a streaky player. He was capable of scoring 4 in 4, then he'd go 5-6 games offering very little. Wootton scored 19 last season, which isn't bad at all. However when you consider Ruben as a 10 scored 19, and Cal who was injured and out of position scored 16, you'd expect more from your out and out number 9.

[durhampie]

It's all about opinions but this trashing of our top scorer three year running seems unduly harsh. He held us together at times and worked like a dog. He's good in the air, often he was starved of service and was too often left completely isolated by himself and expected to get back for all set pieces and when we were under the cosh.
Away from home Langstaff would likely be grateful to have Kyle Wootton holding the ball up for him and sharing the load when he's getting bounced around by some big old units.
Maybe L2 is a stretch too far but for us he was great and I'd take him back in a heartbeat.

Wootton was good for us in the 3 years that we had him. But I'm not sure he would be as effective, with us now playing a more direct style with added pace..