Jay Spearing

[PTP]

Interesting, personally I prefer that method not letting the players know well in advance.

- it happened under both rafa and hodgson, getting the teams texted around a day or so before

Now, it seems, that all week every player will have to be prepared to start at the weekend which is good - it means none of them will 'switch off' during training/game preparation.

[RedReet]

I always thought the first 11 would play together in a training match to practice certain tactics before the game. Evidentially not.

[Exiled_red]

- it happened under both rafa and hodgson, getting the teams texted around a day or so before

Now, it seems, that all week every player will have to be prepared to start at the weekend which is good - it means none of them will 'switch off' during training/game preparation.

[dww]

If he plays like he did today against better opposition, that still isn't good enough.

The thing is though that most of the league is Sunderland standard or less. Having players for those games that can help take the load off our better players can only be a good thing.

I didn't see the Sunderland game and I've been critical of Jay in the past but if he is genuinely improving then I think it is premature to write him off totally.

If we are regularly to go with formations with 3 CMs then we probably need 6 players to give decent cover. If he can kick on and become one of them that is a good thing.

I am a bit dubious, and one swallow does not a summer make, but given the limited number of competitive games Spearing has had it is a good sign that he is improving.

[lickedlollipop]

some fans are really funny... slagging him off constantly (ok, it's justified, but still), and now that lad had one good game and suddenly there is a big conversation about him...

my idea is, that he should be loaned out for 1 season to premier league team.. only then we can see his progress. (probably this summer will be crucial who will come and who goes)

[Exiled_red]

The thing is though that most of the league is Sunderland standard or less. Having players for those games that can help take the load off our better players can only be a good thing.

I didn't see the Sunderland game and I've been critical of Jay in the past but if he is genuinely improving then I think it is premature to write him off totally.

If we are regularly to go with formations with 3 CMs then we probably need 6 players to give decent cover. If he can kick on and become one of them that is a good thing.

I am a bit dubious, and one swallow does not a summer make, but given the limited number of competitive games Spearing has had it is a good sign that he is improving.

I looked at the stats yesterday and he has played less than 8 times with a full strength team around him, which given the time he's been here I was quite shocked by. In those games where he has played with regular players IMO he hasn't looked out of his depth. I'll admit he's been poor in some, but probably hasn't been much worse than some of the more established players. I too have been critical of him but I don't think he's as bad as many of us on here (myself included) have made out. I think he deserves a chance on a more regular basis between now and the end of the season, and we should judge him then.

[Mattshark]

I looked at the stats yesterday and he has played less than 8 times with a full strength team around him, which given the time he's been here I was quite shocked by. In those games where he has played with regular players IMO he hasn't looked out of his depth. I'll admit he's been poor in some, but probably hasn't been much worse than some of the more established players. I too have been critical of him but I don't think he's as bad as many of us on here (myself included) have made out. I think he deserves a chance on a more regular basis between now and the end of the season, and we should judge him then.

I can't agree, he was a headless chicken in the derby for example and did absolutely nothing. When he is in the team we can't control midfield because he isn't good enough. He needs replacing.

[Fredo]

I don't trust Spearing even if he was excellent on Sunday. He's still limited.

[Mostar]

Not enough quality to ever challenge the starting 11. He'd never made it to the bench of any of top 5 clubs ahead of us. We need better players than J.

[dww]

I looked at the stats yesterday and he has played less than 8 times with a full strength team around him, which given the time he's been here I was quite shocked by. In those games where he has played with regular players IMO he hasn't looked out of his depth. I'll admit he's been poor in some, but probably hasn't been much worse than some of the more established players. I too have been critical of him but I don't think he's as bad as many of us on here (myself included) have made out. I think he deserves a chance on a more regular basis between now and the end of the season, and we should judge him then.

Part of the problem for me is that we lack the sort of players who improve those around them (even when we have everyone available). We have no equivalent of Alonso or even Mascherano who in different ways allowed others to thrive and helped us to control where the game was played. Spearing is clearly not the answer to that but I agree with you that he probably deserves a chance with better support.

The idea of loaning him out isn't a bad one. That said I'm not sure which teams he would fit into and would gain from joining in the PL or even the Championship.

[Exiled_red]

Part of the problem for me is that we lack the sort of players who improve those around them (even when we have everyone available). We have no equivalent of Alonso or even Mascherano who in different ways allowed others to thrive and helped us to control where the game was played. Spearing is clearly not the answer to that but I agree with you that he probably deserves a chance with better support.

The idea of loaning him out isn't a bad one. That said I'm not sure which teams he would fit into and would gain from joining in the PL or even the Championship.

I totally agree with that. But I think that is perhaps a seperate issue. I'm not saying he should be a first team player, just that I think he could do a job and save us having to buy other players (Poulsen). Looking at the likes of O'Shea and Phil Neville, they weren't the best players but they were functional for Man Utd, came in did a job, saved them having to buy other players, I wonder if Spearing could perform that type of role for us.

Also look at players like Lucas and Fletcher, who play similar positions to Spearing, and see how much they were ridiculed earlier in their careers and how much they have developed since and wonder if Spearing could show a similar improvement? The reason I ask is I saw him do things yesterday that I didn't think he was capable of, now maybe everything just came together and he'll never put in another performance like that.

[danperkins]

I've never understood the kicking that spearing has taken on here. It's not like he's played a 100 games. he hasn't ****ed up in a major way or got sent off. he's a bright player that is always looking to move the ball quickly and usually forwards. he'll never be a world beater but as a back up he's more than useful. Hopefully under Kenny we'll be back to the days where if you play well you keep your place the next game. For too long its been the case that no matter how well a 'squad' player does he won't keep his place. where's the incentive?

But Spearing is similar to lucas and many of our players for that matter, in so far as they're not game changers. If the side is playing **** they can't lift the team to play better. Lucas is a good example, he rarely ever takes hold of a game and inspires us to do better. He does the same job week in week out. We need more Gerrard's and Suarez's.

[red g]

he was great yesterday so fair play to him but now we are in a better financial state I dont think he has the required quality to play him till he gets good like we did with Lucas.

Give him to Bolton or Newcastle or team of similar ilk for a season, I think he is probably good enough to be a premiership player, just not a regular for a top side a la Guthrie.

[dww]

I totally agree with that. But I think that is perhaps a seperate issue. I'm not saying he should be a first team player, just that I think he could do a job and save us having to buy other players (Poulsen). Looking at the likes of O'Shea and Phil Neville, they weren't the best players but they were functional for Man Utd, came in did a job, saved them having to buy other players, I wonder if Spearing could perform that type of role for us. .

I just think that it has been easier for those players in part because the likes of Scholes, Giggs and the various central defensive partnerships at United have been consistent, strong characters who can get the best out of players around them. Even players like Carrick (particularly in his first season) helped balance out the failings of those around him. Without a settled team who have a game plan and confidence in the way we play it puts an added burden on players, like Spearing, coming in.

Also look at players like Lucas and Fletcher, who play similar positions to Spearing, and see how much they were ridiculed earlier in their careers and how much they have developed since and wonder if Spearing could show a similar improvement? The reason I ask is I saw him do things yesterday that I didn't think he was capable of, now maybe everything just came together and he'll never put in another performance like that.

The thing is that both of those had decent amounts of game time - in Lucas's case in Brazil first then in our first team, Fletcher had cup games and games for Scotland in which to grow. I agree that Spearing could grow, my worry is that without a stronger team around him we would suffer as he did it. This season may well represent the best and perhaps only chance he will get to break through due to the difficulties we have already had.

[Neil Young]

Spearing definitely needs to grow.