When you think that it was Ledsons debut and that he is only seventeen it was a marvellous performance. You forgot that he was a footballing baby and just accepted that he was a premiership footballer. I was also a little surprised at how physically well developed he is. He didn't look like a youngster playing in a mans game.
I thought that Dowell did look a bit like a youngster playing in a mans game. But, he is obviously a talented youngster and the game on Thursday night will show him where his performances need to be if he is to play first team football. I think he has to mature a little more before he is ready.In time he may prove to be the kind of playmaker that we need at present.
Browning is a good athlete and a no-nonsense defender. Physically he is ready and it is now about getting a level of first team football under his belt to give him the experience needed. I think a loan move to a good championship club and playing twenty plus matches would benefit him hugely.
McAleny,to me, was disappointing in certain facets of the game. He missed the opportunity to make passes that would have set up very dangerous situations. He was almost guilty of trying too hard. It looked as if he wanted to be the matchwinner. It is understandable as he is at an age where many players are established first team players.
I don't think he is ready for the first team at the moment and desperately needs to play every week. He badly needs to be sent out on loan,again, and hope for better luck this time.
If he were playing every week, he might lose some of that desperation to do well personally and he might benefit from it as a player.
I would not be nearly as critical of Robles as many others. I think with experience he will become a very good goalkeeper.
I thought Kone looked really well, but that Oviedo still needs to lose a little weight and is a bit off his best just yet.
