Holmes must start on Sat.

[sfc1971]

Made an instant impact on Sat and will give us that much needed pace and width also better delivery from corners than Punch who has been sh!t.

[Asaint4ever]

Made an instant impact on Sat and will give us that much needed pace and width also better delivery from corners than Punch who has been sh!t.

 

yup id like see him start along with do prado!

[Barry the Badger]

Made an instant impact on Sat and will give us that much needed pace and width also better delivery from corners than Punch who has been sh!t.

 

Don't neccesarily disagree overall but pace? are you sure?

[thorpie the sinner]

I know Holmes is very tricky and an asset down wing, but is he fast? just can't remember

[Northant Saint]

yup id like see him start along with do prado!

 

Hearing that!

[Miltonaggro]

No pace, but tricksy and gutsy and deserves a proper chance...

[iansums]

Yes, he mad a big impact when he came on as did Dickson. I would play them both along with Guly in a 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 formation, Guly and Oxo supporting Lambert.

[RonManager]

Holmes and Dickson, the new left side pairing, await patiently their turn on the bench against Colchester.

 

[iansums]

No pace, but tricksy and gutsy and deserves a proper chance...

 

 

... and he can take a decent corner !!!

[tisspahars]

Whilst Puncheon is a huge disappointment, to borrow a line from elsewhere - if Holmes is the answer it is a very strange question indeed.

[Turkish]

Whilst Puncheon is a huge disappointment, to borrow a line from elsewhere - if Holmes is the answer it is a very strange question indeed.

 

to be fair he's never had a decent run in the side, in the CCC he looked until getting injured at QPR away and not really played regularly since. He looked good on saturday and him and Dickson would be a good pair down the left. It's time to drop Puncheon, i am a big fan of his and have defended him on here but he is not doing it at the moment and Holmes deserves a chance. I hope he can stay fit.

[disconnect]

to be fair he's never had a decent run in the side, in the CCC he looked until getting injured at QPR away and not really played regularly since. He looked good on saturday and him and Dickson would be a good pair down the left. It's time to drop Puncheon, i am a big fan of his and have defended him on here but he is not doing it at the moment and Holmes deserves a chance. I hope he can stay fit.

 

If i'm thinking of the right one, that was a truly disgraceful challenge at QPR, how that guy didnt get sent off is beyond me! And yes, he was looking good and one of our better players until that destroyed his season.

[Turkish]

If i'm thinking of the right one, that was a truly disgraceful challenge at QPR, how that guy didnt get sent off is beyond me! And yes, he was looking good and one of our better players until that destroyed his season.

 

yep, that is the one, really bad tackle. He had looked good up until then.

[for_heaven's_Saint]

The corners he put in from the Chapel/Kingsland corner were excellent, keep putting crosses like that in the box and it's only a matter of time until we score from them.

 

It looked as if Holmes and Dickson had been told to play as wide as possible, which made the pitch bigger when we were going forward. If Sheffield Wednesday still have Jon Otsemobor at right back I'd definitely play both of them, as when he played for us he just stood off and gave the winger loads of room.

[Alanh]

Holmes made a difference on Saturday, particularly with his delivery from corners. He doesn't give us the trickery and unpredictability of Puncheon and over the season I don't think he will score as many, but he did enough to be in with a shout of a start. I would go 4-2-3-1 with Puncheon, Chamberlain and Guly supporting Lambert. If that doesn't work Barnard and Holmes are decent attacking options from the bench that can change the shape of the team.

[The Angel Gabriel]

to be fair he's never had a decent run in the side, in the CCC he looked until getting injured at QPR away and not really played regularly since. He looked good on saturday and him and Dickson would be a good pair down the left. It's time to drop Puncheon, i am a big fan of his and have defended him on here but he is not doing it at the moment and Holmes deserves a chance. I hope he can stay fit.

 

 

Made a big difference with some good crosses. Unfortunately we can't expect a long run in the side as with his track record he could pick up an injury during the warm up !! I'd like Puch to start in the middle with Hammond giving way. When we saw him palying for MK Wimbledon in that role he gave our defence all sorts of problems.

[opthomps]

Think he is still in his early 20's but's had a career that's been ravaged by injury. Always showed potential, but always gets injured. something like 100 appearances in 8 years isn't exactly a good return. By all means give him a run, and every chance he will do well, but don't anyone hold your breath will you.

[dubai_phil]

I would agree but ONLY if he is really fit and ready to start AND finish a game.

 

It is too big a risk after so long out to bring him in after only 25 minutes for a full 90 where (potentially) you could have 3 other players injured or needing to be substituted.

 

Would certainly like to see him in the team and given a run, would certainly NOT drop Barnard for a one up front option though, but I think Saturday will be a game too early still to start him. Would rather take it carefully and have him as an option for the season rather than 60 minutes or so if he breaks down again.

 

When he played in the CCC we did not look THAT bad a team (not a good team, just not a BAD one), it was only after we lost him that we started to really fall apart IMHO

[dubai_phil]

Think he is still in his early 20's but's had a career that's been ravaged by injury. Always showed potential, but always gets injured. something like 100 appearances in 8 years isn't exactly a good return. By all means give him a run, and every chance he will do well, but don't anyone hold your breath will you.

 

So very few appearances over a number of years and we want him in the team.

 

Oh, you meant Holmes, not Pulis

 

[ottery st mary]

Play Dickson out left to attack and defend to support Harding...

 

Dickson will also counter the speed of Ots coming down the right..

 

Bring Holmes on again 20 to go..slowly build him back into match fitness etc...Holmes has no speed and is prone to injury etc...

 

Ox on right with Punch in the middle...but we must sort out Spiderman and Hammond...

 

If Barnard not fit ..play Rikee up front supported by Punch from the middle.

[Chez]

What pace? PMSL. Another player's ability that seems to have improved ten fold by simply not playing.

[jam]

Play Dickson out left to attack and defend to support Harding...

 

Dickson will also counter the speed of Ots coming down the right..

 

Bring Holmes on again 20 to go..slowly build him back into match fitness etc...Holmes has no speed and is prone to injury etc...

 

Ox on right with Punch in the middle...but we must sort out Spiderman and Hammond...

 

If Barnard not fit ..play Rikee up front supported by Punch from the middle.

 

| think that could be an interesting move, one which might benefit both players right now.

[doddisalegend]

He looked good when he came on give him a chance I say we can't do much worse than we've been doing and we need to try something different. Puncheon might make quite a good impact sub instead 20mins to go I doubt to many tired defenders want to deal with a fresh puncheon running at them.

[Lord Duckhunter]

He flatters to deceive and has done since coming to the Club.If he's the answer, then I dread to think what the question is. I'm not a betting man, but even I'd have a flutter that he's out injured before Xmas.

[SparkySaint]

Holmes and Dickson, the new left side pairing, await patiently their turn on the bench against Colchester.

 

This

[crouchi]

Clearly we are getting desperate if Holmes is the answer - but give him a go off the subs bench for 20mins again

[70's Mike]

What pace? PMSL. Another player's ability that seems to have improved ten fold by simply not playing.

 

beat me to it

[Saint Fan CaM]

Don't know how anyone can slate Holmes because of injury - the worst of his problems came about because he put in a full blooded tackle and got pole-axed by a foul. He can't prove how good he could be unless he's given a run in the 1st team and right now, with his fitness back he's worth a shot because if Puncheon ever possessed a football brain, he has lost it currently. When Holmes came on against Colchester he immediately made an impact - and yes he does have some pace about him, but also is able to go around defenders WITH THE BALL!!!

 

Likewise, Dickson appeared work well with Holmes...I feel Harding has a real problem finding a winning formula with Puncheon, but Puncheon is rubbish on the left anyway because he ALWAYS cuts-in and onto his weaker right foot. If only he had the pace to get to the byline or perhaps he should always be placed on the right to cut-in onto his left foot?

Edited 20 September, 2010 by Saint Fan CaM
Clarity

[eelpie]

I know Holmes is very tricky and an asset down wing, but is he fast? just can't remember

 

Sprinting is not always essential when it comes to speed on the pitch. What counts as much is the rate at which a player dribbles past the opposition players. Holmes did that well and purposefully on Sat.

[derry]

If we are going to play a passing game, then what question does Puncheon answer because he hardly ever passes without trying to beat men first? Holmes has a football brain and his crossing, corners and free kicks are spot on. We looked a better team with him on. Not quick but sharp.

[modern matron]

If we are going to play a passing game, then what question does Puncheon answer because he hardly ever passes without trying to beat men first? Holmes has a football brain and his crossing, corners and free kicks are spot on. We looked a better team with him on. Not quick but sharp.

 

Yes he did ok, but isn't this a bit over the top? Lee Holmes is not the answer. Perhaps start him and see but I reckon he'll be the usual Holmes not in the game and never beating anyone. It was Dickson who was attacking well, he does need to start!

[L1Minus10]

He deserves a game because he had a good 20 minutes and Puncheon has been woeful but that is all. If he gets picked it's because he's not as bad as Puncheon, not because he's any good.

[Stanley Saint]

Always looked a decent player to me. Interesting how some players are brought in 'from the cold' when a new manager arrives.

[St Landrew]

Holmes and Dickson, the new left side pairing, await patiently their turn on the bench against Colchester.

 

 

LOL. I'd like Antonio and/or Papa Waigo to start, please.

 

Ta.

[Chez]

Always looked a decent player to me. Interesting how some players are brought in 'from the cold' when a new manager arrives.

 

before eventually discovering all the shortfalls that the previous manager was all too aware of and the reason they were not picked. The lad has a decent touch and a left foot, but tracking an overlapping fullback, I don't think so. If the shape of the side is such that he doesn't need to, then perhaps he can do a job. Dickson seems to be the player that deserves more game time to me.

[NickG]

been impressed by Holmes and Dickson, Holmes has always looked like he has ability if fit

[Berkers]

We have been clearly lacking pace and width this season. Holmes is the best crosser of a ball in the club so deserves a chance. Not about guly though.

[davej27]

Holmes has always been in and out of the treatment room since he has been here, has to prove his fitness to stay in side

[Chez]

Holmes has always been in and out of the treatment room since he has been here, has to prove his fitness to stay in side

 

he got fit last season but Pardew didn't rate him so didn't pick him.

[St Landrew]

he got fit last season but Pardew didn't rate him so didn't pick him.

 

Last season, Pardew had better options.

 

You know what, I may make the subject of Antonio/Papa Waigo my Dalek2003/Hoddle obsession.

[OldNick]

I suggest that Holmes should be in the team in Chamberlains place. He has done well but needs to be nurtured not overplayed.

[saintmatt]

punch is ten times the player holmes is, or will ever be. and that's a fact

[Chez]

I suggest that Holmes should be in the team in Chamberlains place. He has done well but needs to be nurtured not overplayed.

Holmes on te left and Puncheon on the right?

[jam]

Last season, Pardew had better options.

 

You know what, I may make the subject of Antonio/Papa Waigo my Dalek2003/Hoddle obsession.

 

You might not be as lonely a voice on that one..!

[Dellman]

If Holmes starts, how many minutes before he is off injured?

[The Kraken]

Last season, Pardew had better options.

 

You know what, I may make the subject of Antonio/Papa Waigo my Dalek2003/Hoddle obsession.

 

I don't think the Antonio/Waigo factor was in any way influential to Holmes lack of chances. As opposed to Puncheon who is left footed but has typically played on the right as he cuts in, Holmes is a bit more of an old fashioned left winger. As a consequence it was a direct fight between Holmes and Lallana for the left sided spot; Lallana barely missed a game last season so it was only natural that Holmes was going to play second fiddle to him for so long.

[iansums]

punch is ten times the player holmes is, or will ever be. and that's a fact

 

A fact that appeared to be false on Saturday.

[OldNick]

Holmes on te left and Puncheon on the right?

 

why not , I think both can switch wings

[OldNick]

If Holmes starts, how many minutes before he is off injured?

that is one of the reasons AP lost patience

[beancounter saint]

It's an awful lot easier to look good (and relatively pacy) when you come on for 20 mins at the end of a game than if you start, as we've seen before, notably with Waigo and Wright Phillips. Having said that, he probably does deserve a go, given the way some of the other players are performing. I wouldn't hold my breath though!