Portsmouth eyeing Wootton swoop

[St Kitts Magpie]

Yes, noted and respected. The odds are actually against it now (making an impact).

Here's mine though - Eli Sam has actually got more potential to be the promotion winning striker we need than Kyle Wootton.
The heights he could potentially reach are higher than the level Wootton could ever aspire too. There's something of the Thierry Henry about his style and there's no doubting he has better technical ability than many forwards we've had at Notts over the years. There are many things getting in the way of this, including confidence, lack of determination as well as us not being able to afford giving a player 5-6 games to find his feet.
I think we've been wasting a talent and a hundred comments telling me I'm wrong won't change my mind about that

Agree wholeheartedly...Potential is definitely there. It wasn't long again the same sort of criticism was coming the way of Ruben as one of those unreliable flaky foreigners. Even when we have been chasing games lately , he cant get on , i cant remember against who , but IB brought on Cameron rather than Sam and also could have used more subs against Rochdale at home but chose not to bring him on. I Cant really explain it without thinking there must be more too it.

[the_anticlough]

Agree wholeheartedly...Potential is definitely there. It wasn't long again the same sort of criticism was coming the way of Ruben as one of those unreliable flaky foreigners. Even when we have been chasing games lately , he cant get on , i cant remember against who , but IB brought on Cameron rather than Sam and also could have used more subs against Rochdale at home but chose not to bring him on. I Cant really explain it without thinking there must be more too it.

Good points there.
It's been encouraging to see that when you break from the conventional party line, there are quite a few people who also don't follow it

[Elite_Pie]

Agree wholeheartedly...Potential is definitely there. It wasn't long again the same sort of criticism was coming the way of Ruben as one of those unreliable flaky foreigners. Even when we have been chasing games lately , he cant get on , i cant remember against who , but IB brought on Cameron rather than Sam and also could have used more subs against Rochdale at home but chose not to bring him on. I Cant really explain it without thinking there must be more too it.

My guess is that Eli Sam hasn't done enough in training or in his minutes on the pitch to deserve a place in the team.

No mystery, simple as that.

[Masson4]

This is pretty well where I am with Eli Sam. Yes he needs opportunity to shine but a player can only earn that and then grasp that opportunity with both hands when it comes along. I don't feel Eli has been able to show that. I'm not terribly optimistic of that happening but he needs a little more of a chance to get himself into games and show more than the odd flash of ability to be fair.

Regards Kyle Wootton, I'd say that with the current squad, his absence would be more of a blow to Notts' hopes than practically any other squad member. That is with great respect to Rodrigues who is obviously on a productive streak making great progress and is a joy to watch. Notts of course have the opportunity to offer him a new contract but League 1 and League 1 wages will obviously be a draw. He seems happy and content at Meadow Lane though and just maybe, he'll want to delay his decision to see how this season plays out before committing his future.

For the role he plays I'd certainly consider him reasonably 'free-scoring', finishing with 18 and 19 goals in the past two seasons. He shoulders a great deal of weight up front, works extremely hard and contributes well in helping the defence out at set pieces too. I think Notts are quite fortunate to have him actually.

[queenslandpie]

My guess is that Eli Sam hasn't done enough in training or in his minutes on the pitch to deserve a place in the team.

No mystery, simple as that.

In the games I saw him play last season there was an air of disinterested about him a lot of the time. A lack of determination as mentioned previously. I don't think you can bolt such an attribute onto someone either you are determined or you aren't and it appears he is not. If he isn't then he is not going to work at Notts and on that basis alone I woiuld get rid as quickly as possible especially with the small squad. Even send him out on loan back into Europe or whatever. Its not a question of ability there is obviously some, but if he isn't going to put a shift in what's the point. i would sooner have a workhorse who puts a shift in that a massive talent who doesn't especially at this level. with the small squad size we don't have room for passengers.