87 | James McAtee - 2024/25

Alan Harper's Tash said:
Pep obviously sees him in training and doesn’t fancy him at present.

He was in and out of Sheff U’s side, so no surprise he’s finding it tough to get game time here.
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Thing is with Pep he expects our academy players to have an instant impact. If they don't they get benched and it's tough for them to get any minutes from then on. In recent seasons he'd sometimes bring our youngsters on second half when we were 3 or 4 goals up but we rarely have been this season.

I think we have to be realistic in winning the league, top 4 CL qualification is far more realistic and achievable. CL is beyond us I think, maybe we can win the FA Cup. If not we simply have to accept that we're past our best and build for the future.

Since losing Rodri we haven't had his reassuring steady influence and our injury situation has meant no stability in the team. Also several players aren't performing anywhere near their true capability. Walker has lost his pace, Gundo is well off pace, De Bruyne has been injured too often and needs several games to get up th on speed. That said he's unlikely to dominate midfield like he did due to age and constant niggling injuries.

I'd like to see McAtee get starts and minutes off the bench but he has to impose himself and make an impact, like Bobb did at Newcastle for instance. He definitely needs a chance to prove himself but Pep can be a stubborn so and so and maybe he regrets not letting him stay at Sheff United.
 
BlueMoonRisin’ said:
Thing is with Pep he expects our academy players to have an instant impact. If they don't they get benched and it's tough for them to get any minutes from then on. In recent seasons he'd sometimes bring our youngsters on second half when we were 3 or 4 goals up but we rarely have been this season.

I think we have to be realistic in winning the league, top 4 CL qualification is far more realistic and achievable. CL is beyond us I think, maybe we can win the FA Cup. If not we simply have to accept that we're past our best and build for the future.

Since losing Rodri we haven't had his reassuring steady influence and our injury situation has meant no stability in the team. Also several players aren't performing anywhere near their true capability. Walker has lost his pace, Gundo is well off pace, De Bruyne has been injured too often and needs several games to get up th on speed. That said he's unlikely to dominate midfield like he did due to age and constant niggling injuries.

I'd like to see McAtee get starts and minutes off the bench but he has to impose himself and make an impact, like Bobb did at Newcastle for instance. He definitely needs a chance to prove himself but Pep can be a stubborn so and so and maybe he regrets not letting him stay at Sheff United.
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A lot that I agree with there. The biggest issue is that McAtee isn’t a midfielder. He’s only ever played senior football as one of the front line.

Now, he might take to being an 8 in our system like a duck to water, but he didn’t dominate the game against Watford.

He’s not particularly quick or strong. He’s great on tight spaces and has a good shot on him,

I’ve not seen enough to see what his defensive play is like, but it hasn’t stood out at SU or his fleeting minutes here.
 
Alan Harper's Tash said:
A lot that I agree with there. The biggest issue is that McAtee isn’t a midfielder. He’s only ever played senior football as one of the front line.

Now, he might take to being an 8 in our system like a duck to water, but he didn’t dominate the game against Watford.

He’s not particularly quick or strong. He’s great on tight spaces and has a good shot on him,

I’ve not seen enough to see what his defensive play is like, but it hasn’t stood out at SU or his fleeting minutes here.
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Too early to say whether he stays with us but young James really needs to impress Pep when he next gets on the pitch which can't be easy for him being scrutinised by the world's best manager, especially when he's not been able to get a run of games.

Pep brought him back for a reason and has praised him, but it's baffling why he brought him back and won't play him. Now is a good time to see what he can do and whether he has a future for us, otherwise he'll be playing in the shop window for other clubs to take interest in him.
 
BlueMoonRisin’ said:
Too early to say whether he stays with us but young James really needs to impress Pep when he next gets on the pitch which can't be easy for him being scrutinised by the world's best manager, especially when he's not been able to get a run of games.

Pep brought him back for a reason and has praised him, but it's baffling why he brought him back and won't play him. Now is a good time to see what he can do and whether he has a future for us, otherwise he'll be playing in the shop window for other clubs to take interest in him.
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Feyenoord for sure, maybe not at Klanfield.
 
Alan Harper's Tash said:
I really hope he takes his chance. He was superb in the EDS.

I just don’t see him as the guy to wrestle back control.
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We've had plenty of kids who've been superb in EDS, mate, but very few will establish themselves in our first team. He surely must start Tuesday night. He can't be any worse than Lewis or Foden right now.
 
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