Matthew Craig

[ravenrover]

Craig and Bailey sat in allows Biggins to get up and down, in support of front 3.
Craig after a slow tentative 1st couple of games is doing the business, tremendous today

[drfchound]

Craig said in his post Salford interview that he was coming to grips with the mens game after finding the first couple of games very different to the U21’s.
He has been superb in the last three games and will be better still as time goes on IMO.
Biggins and Bailey supported him really well, today and last weekend at Grimsby.
I said three weeks ago that he might become our new Herbie and I’m more convinced of that now.

[andyst79]

Amazing what a functioning midfield gives you

A pair of centre midfielders  that actually provide some protection for the back four but can get on the ball and play also.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Craig was absolutely superb today. Ran the match.

Season long loan for next year?

[Donnywolf]

Craig and Bailey sat in allows Biggins to get up and down, in support of front 3.
Craig after a slow tentative 1st couple of games is doing the business, tremendous today

He really WAS and no wonder Spurs have him tied down for a long time. They MUST have seen the promise.

They dont all make it as JE-T on another thread , and Winks and the abysmal Harry Worley and dare I say my favourite in recent Years Herbie who I thought would be in Championship minimum and Craig might not bet what a prospect at the moment

[CJK]

Outstanding today. Him and Bailey really doing a good job in those roles.

[pib]

Looks a good find on the basis of the last few games. Just what we’ve needed in midfield. Him and Adelakun have added that bit of composure and class on the ball we’ve badly needed.

I’d like to see him back next season if he can carry on performing like he has in the last couple of weeks. Deservedly MOM today.

[Colin C No.3]

Craig was absolutely superb today. Ran the match.

Season long loan for next year?

He has ‘grown up’ very quickly & has realised that ‘pretty football’ is fine when you’re at a Premiership club but at this level you need grit & physicality to go with your parent club ask from you.

If he carries on in this vane he may well be that midfielder we’ve craved for (Close isn’t imo) this season.

I have to agree, I would love to have him for a full season.

A good post BST.

You even got a ‘like’ from hound. Well done to you.

[ncRover]

Not a chance he’s here next season.

But I would trust McCann to find another similar player.

Close is too slow, weak and not up for the battle. Let him go.

[andyst79]

Not a chance he’s here next season.

But I would trust McCann to find another similar player.

Close is too slow, weak and not up for the battle. Let him go.

I'd argue that part of our upturn in form is down to Close not being in the side also. I appreciate Woods come back & we've signed a decent keeper and got an outlet in Adelakun but more importantly we've got 2 all action midfielders in Craig & Bailey , the game was scrappy at times yesterday but these 2 rolled up their sleeves and stood firm.

[ravenrover]

Bailey put so much in that he was treading water chasing the player late 2nd half, love him

[roversdude]

Bailey has been signing of the season imo and looked to be a decent foreman (foreperson) in his acting role

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I would agree, the chances of getting Craig again on loan are slim. If he continues his good form,,Spurs will want to see him tested at a higher level. He's setting a high benchmark for someone to follow but there's plenty of time for McCann to find a replacement for next season.

It will be interesting to see how McCann integrates Westbrook back into the team whilst maintaining the midfield balance we've found in recent games.

I would agree about Close, who I do rate, but lacks the bite Craig has to his game, so I think it's quite likely, he'll move on for a fresh start elsewhere.

For the time being, let's enjoy seeing Craig  for the rest of this season.

[ncRover]

Westbrooke will be the competition for Biggins in the attacking midfield position I’d imagine. I think he used to play there for Cov and Bristol Rovers?

Then Waters can offer competition for Molyneux.

[Colemans Left Hook]

  The team he is from, and the level he played at although briefly showing they think he is near to the level they want him at at a young age, I don't think he will be here to make our bench, especially after a defeat last weekend.
  We will be a stepping stone for him to play at a higher standard next season, and if I was a betting man I would be on him to play most matches like Faal injury allowing.

Assuming that you maybe  a betting man what odds would you give him be selected more than 10 matches (from the start)?

10/1  meaning you bet £10 to win £1 and I'm being generous
it's obvious he should have gone to a League one team not a League 2 team ( let's  forget about that "dud Thomas " we signed from them who they soon released)  - Craig signed a long term deal in the Summer of 2023 as I said.

and it's obvious we splashed the cash (plus the joker card playing)  to outbid  league one teams

I have been watching Plymouth for 3 years now seeing how they splash the cash to fill half the team with top quality loanees --- GRANT KNOWS THIS TRICK AS WELL AND HAS GOT THE T_SHIRT -- easy if you have the pennies

:::Plymouth have just taken a tottenham 18 year old on loan as a couple of their loanees have been recalled :  let's call it a library book team 

remember  our joker card - in that Mason knows we are a family club with a Championship Stadium and pitch - we have a reputation for not playing "hoof ball land of the giants " football and we helped his career



the joker card ?

"In August 2010, Mason was loaned for the first time to Championship team Doncaster Rovers on a two-month loan deal,[15] and made five appearances.[16] Then in January 2011, he was loaned back to Doncaster until the end of the season[17] and made a further ten appearances.[16]

On 28 July 2011, Mason signed a new two-year contract with Tottenham, keeping him at the club until June 2013. He was then immediately loaned back to Doncaster on a season-long loan.[18][19] Mason was recalled back to Tottenham in November 2011 after making five appearances since the start of the season.[20] On 29 December 2011, Mason and teammate Harry Kane agreed a loan deal with Championship club Millwall from 1 January until the end of the season.[21]"

Mason will remember the circumstances of his recall ? (was he injured ?)

Season changing loan ??  me thinx yes

now what are those odds

if you read the above post on this thread plus my other post on this thread you will realise i said he shouldn't even be in this league and it was a season changing signing -  I mentioned about us getting a LOGOFF (LOAN ONE GET ONE FREE) he is obviously better than his brother who is at Reading

thank you once again Ryan Mason

I have told you all before that when SOD was Bournemouth Manager the club made a chance phone call to Harry Redknapp and cheakily asked if they could have an 18 year old on loan -- he scored that many goals on loan that SOD actually apologised to the opposing Manager on one ocassion (sadly can't find it )

but this is a great read about what can happen when you sign an 18 year old ringer as SOD did

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/remembering-jermain-defoe-bournemouth-a-prolific-prem-hitman-discovers-a-taste-goals

.... "Defoe wasn't even impressive in training"