Mandeville

[RedJ]

May was involved in the equaliser. Mandeville offered very little. Even when May doesn't score he contributes to the team's performance whereas Mandeville does next to f**k all.

[selby]

  Oh, was it May again?

[Draytonian III]

Goalscorers.....
Strikers......
Forwards.....

[andysly]

Short memories.
Last December he was going to be our saviour and people were scared he’d go to Sheffield United in the transfer window.
Million pound man, now he gets booed off, both a bit daft.

[Campsall rover]

He's never going to be a workhorse line-leader sort of player like Billy Sharp was, that much is clear. That's fine though. At his best he reminds me of a Berbatov style player, very languid but capable of magic at any moment. Far too often he just seems laboured and not fit though. Whether it's his attitude, fitness or both I'm not sure.

Technically I think he's the best player at the club bar Copps. However unlike Copps it doesn't matter because he doesn't offer much in the way of footballing intelligence or bottle.

I'd keep him for another year as it's possible he just needs to work on his fitness and develop his football brain a bit more so he can actually get into positions where his technical skills could prove useful. At the moment he just seems to hover in front of the midfield and let the game pass him by.

Having said all that booing/sarcastic cheering isn't on at all. No excuse for that.

“He doesn’t offer much in the way of footballing intelligence or bottle.
Sorry MachoMadness but what a load of boll??ks.
The two things that he has in abundance is footballing intelligence and bottle.
He must have bottle just to go on the pitch at all with some of the abuse he is receiving.
Get a grip he has hardly played this season, he played well today in the hole
( Copps position ) but he needs a long run in the team and you will then see that he is the best prospect this club has produced in many years.

[DonnyOsmond]

Thing is last season he came on and took his chance by creating two and scoring then he had the confidence to go on a brilliant run. So far this year he's not done anything to show he deserves that run in the team.

[Alan Southstand]

Selby, here we go again! I never intimated I was there and I only mentioned the Development games.

Am I right in thinking we got our goal when Alfie's shot was blocked and it fell to Whiteman to score?

Meanwhile, your mate was (apparently) cheered for being subbed! Now, let's get one thing straight, absolutely stupid from our supporters, but why the sarcastic cheering?

Look, I would love for Mande to come good, but he seems to be making a rod for his own back at the moment. I simply couldn't care less whether it's Alfie or Mande who gets the shirt, but your constant sniping at Alfie is becoming tiresome.

[RedJ]

  Oh, was it May again?

And how many did golden boy Mandeville score today?

[Lifelong supporter]

Mandeville didn't play badly at all.
He has a languid style of play which makes him look lazy next to Marquis and May who run their rocks off, sometimes to little effect.
Get behind the kid.
I still think he could become something special. 

[philsky]

I find this completely bewildering.

We are blessed that our season is back on track and have a uncovered, potentially, a gem in May and have a stuttering home grown talent in Mandy.

Get a grip.

[wilts rover]

May was involved in the equaliser. Mandeville offered very little. Even when May doesn't score he contributes to the team's performance whereas Mandeville does next to f**k all.

Is that including the 4 goals he has so far this season or ignoring them?

[Jonathan]

Any negative reaction towards Mandeville when he was subbed was fairly muted I thought. He got a decent round of applause on the whole so I doubt he heard any of the idiots over that. A largely forgettable performance from him but I think the mindless reaction must’ve been restricted to an absolute minority.

[Copps is Magic]

It's the rarest of talent that doesn't need development. In this modern footballing world where everything is either black or white and nothing in between people seem to forget that. That development can be physical, attributional, positional, technical, mental, psychological, philosophical - what ever, it will depend on the player.

We have, in Mandy and Beestin, two players, who with the right development can become very good players. Whether we have the coaching potential or overall patience as fans and as a club, only time will tell. We're seeing a lot of this 'class of 92' on the telly recently and one of the things you appreciate listening to them talking is how they all needed development. Even a player as talented as Scholes. But think of the others, the likes of Butt, the Nevilles - they were never exceptionally talented but they had the right development (mainly, it would seem, mental) to make them into a dominant side.

[RedJ]

May was involved in the equaliser. Mandeville offered very little. Even when May doesn't score he contributes to the team's performance whereas Mandeville does next to f**k all.

Is that including the 4 goals he has so far this season or ignoring them?

If you read what I put, I said when he doesn't score. When Mandeville isn't scoring goals he offers absolutely nothing to the team.

But yes, I wouldn't  count either of the Football League Trophy ones as they're glorified reserve games. That and they don't count towards official statistics, do they?

[Campsall rover]

Oh why oh why do we always have to have a whipping boy.
It’s unbelievable. We have just taken 10 points from 4 games and put ourselves into a healthy league position and yet one of our own players that has come through the youth system is being subjected to so much unwarranted abuse.
I really despair at times. Get behind the lad, he is only 20years old and some of you are trying to destroy him.
I hope he doesn’t read this forum. If he does he will be wanting away.
He may well make some of you look very stupid if he goes elsewhere.

[anne honemous]

Crazy that. He could be our best player. A young kid and he gets that - crackers.  Why are football fans generally lacking brain cells?

Yeah, he could be our best player if we entered a team in the Doncaster & District Sunday League Sixth Division (and even then I wouldn't bank on it) as I think Big Dave from the Fox & Hound's second team would be a better signing. 

I wasn't there today and I agree that booing players is absolutely ridiculous, but if he's going to become a proper footballer and not one of these players who has a season or two out the academy and then gets released and ends up at Goole Town or wherever, he needs to take it on the chin.

However, his performances are generally poor and it's happening more and more frequently... so it's coming to a point where he's either good enough or he's not good enough.

Technically good? Yes.
Technically good enough for mens football? No.

I wouldn't be bothered if we released him tomorrow.

I am sorry Anne but yes you are entitled to your opinion of course but your assessment of Mandeville is so far off the mark it’s untrue.
As you say you were not there today so you cannot comment on his performance.
Well let me tel you this as I was there today. Mandeville played well, not brilliant but very well.
Two missed placed passes in total. His awareness as to what is around him and vision is very good for a 20 year old.
I really don’t know what you and some of the “so called supporters” are watching but it is certainly not the same as some of us who can see a very gifted lad who is trying to make a name for himself at Rovers.
The abuse he is receiving from a section of our “”support” is nothing short of disgraceful.
Those people that booed him when he was substituted should be ashamed of themselves.
What do you expect from him when he hasn’t had a consistent run in the team this season.
I don’t think he has started in 2 consecutive matches yet.
If we lose him to another club your comments may well make you look very stupid indeed.
Be careful what you wish for.

I base my opinion of Mandeville on having watched him at youth, reserve and first team level.

Technically, I don't think you'll find anyone who'll disagree that he's got some talent. However, when it comes to producing the goods - at youth level he was fine, at reserve level he's okay, but at first team level he's gone missing more often than not and it backs up a nagging belief in my mind that his good form last season was nothing more than a purple patch.

You say he hasn't had a run of games this season... fair point... but is there an underlying reason why he's not had a run of games this season? You have to ask yourself that because when he's got back in the side and had chances to cement a place, he hasn't exactly grasped them opportunities either.

If Mandeville repeats his form of 2017 in 2018, then he's going to be released. That's for certain and I don't think he's capable enough in mens football.

IMO, he'll be lucky to end up in the Conference Premier/Conference North if he was released now. The only way he'd get back in the league is if he scored a load of goals for a Halifax type team and they fluked promotion or he got a move to League Two, this being a number of years down the line.

If I were DF, I'd be more inclined to put Will Longbottom ahead of Mandeville in the pecking order. He's a different kind of frontman if you haven't seen him before but offers more bravery and would probably do more to seize any opportunity that comes his way.

I also agree that booing is totally counter productive btw.

[selby]

 Alan,I was there, I am telling you what happened, the header that he missed was shocking, and should be on the highlights for you to see.
   Rowes reaction and better shooting position is on the highlights, the easier chance that could have been for Marquis in the first half is also not in the highlights, but Marquis went berserk with him.
    This is a full thread headlined Mandeville, who did not play badly today, but got undeserved abuse from idiots when substituted, and this thread started out abusing.
  I am telling you facts of incidents that happened in the game, not dishing a player that parts of the crowd including yourself and Anne seem not to like.
  I will have my say, nobody admires effort and tenacity by Alfie more than I do. But you want to dish the lad and give an opinion,and have a go at someone who disagrees. If you don't like what I have to say don't  read my posts. Our equaliser today is visual evidence of the fact he has to have a touch, and we got lucky with the rebound to Whiteman.
  And wilts rover, if it had been Mandeville would it have been a bad miss instead of  being involved in the build up. It is a great run to me, and again a poorish finish that could have cost us a point, all there on the short highlights for you to see, and deny if you want to
  Alan, don't tell me to stop sniping when you, and others think it is open house to do it to Mandeville.

[RoversAlias]

Too many people want instant success now, instant development. Mandeville is 20 years old, had a few injuries and can't get a regular run in the team. He was terrific this time last year and since then everyone expects him to be scoring every week and looking like a world beater. No patience at all in football fans anymore.

Our current three-man strike force is a better crop than at several points in the last 10-15 years, unquestionably.

[selby]

  Agreed.

[Bentley Bullet]

Selby, I was there and one thing definitely more shocking than May's miss is your unhealthy narrow-minded unfairness towards him.

[Campsall rover]

I know Selby is in agreement with me about Mandeville but it is re assuring to know there are others on here who feel the same.
Anne for you to say he isn’t good enough to play in “ men’s football “ well sorry, unbelievable.
Your opinion of course, but it is strange isn’t it that he was the one kept on for a pro contract when so many of his contempories were released.
Ask Paul Stancliffe if he thinks he will make it in the men’s game. I think he will know more than you or me about the development of youth players. I am pretty sure I know what he will tell you.

[MachoMadness]

He's never going to be a workhorse line-leader sort of player like Billy Sharp was, that much is clear. That's fine though. At his best he reminds me of a Berbatov style player, very languid but capable of magic at any moment. Far too often he just seems laboured and not fit though. Whether it's his attitude, fitness or both I'm not sure.

Technically I think he's the best player at the club bar Copps. However unlike Copps it doesn't matter because he doesn't offer much in the way of footballing intelligence or bottle.

I'd keep him for another year as it's possible he just needs to work on his fitness and develop his football brain a bit more so he can actually get into positions where his technical skills could prove useful. At the moment he just seems to hover in front of the midfield and let the game pass him by.

Having said all that booing/sarcastic cheering isn't on at all. No excuse for that.

“He doesn’t offer much in the way of footballing intelligence or bottle.
Sorry MachoMadness but what a load of boll??ks.
The two things that he has in abundance is footballing intelligence and bottle.
He must have bottle just to go on the pitch at all with some of the abuse he is receiving.
Get a grip he has hardly played this season, he played well today in the hole
( Copps position ) but he needs a long run in the team and you will then see that he is the best prospect this club has produced in many years.

lol calm down. I agree he is a great prospect, but I'd like to see him become more than just a prospect. He isn't blessed with pace or physical strength so he needs to be smart with his energy and his positioning, which he tends not to be, hence the game passes him by at times. I sense if he does make it as a pro he will be a Heffernan type player, one who does many brilliant things the fans don't notice but will always pop up with a moment of class in a game and usually get a goal. It'd be nice if these moments of class were getting more common and not less common.

Granted he has had an injury but pretending there aren't issues with his game isn't going to help him become a better player. Having said that again there is a massive difference between that and booing a 20 year old off the pitch, which is not on.

[RedJ]

For the record, I think Mandeville will make it. At the moment he's hardly setting the world alight but I think he'll come good. I just don't understand the "yeah but May isn't scoring many either" argument. How on earth is that a defence of Mandeville?





He wasn't booed off by the way, it was ironic cheering - which is also unacceptable, of course, but not quite as bad as being booed IMO.

[Campsall rover]

Selby, I was there and one thing definitely more shocking than May's miss is your unhealthy narrow-minded unfairness towards him.

We all love Alfie May because of his undoubted enthusiasm.
The fact is he is very much work in progress. His awareness on the pitch and his decision making at the present time is way behind that of Mandeville.
His shots to goals ratio is also way behind that of Mandeville. These are facts not fiction.
I love Alfie May and I hope he improves where he needs to improve over the next few months, then we will have a good player on our hands.
Mandeville doesn’t run at 100 miles an hour, as that is not the type of player he is.
What he does do is use his football brain, awareness of what’s around him, vision, and instinctive scoring ability.
At the present time he is streets ahead of Alfie May. DF obviously prefers to play May as a striker at the moment and he will have his reasons for that. It would seem DF & Mandy have had ‘words’ so to speak some weeks ago, and Alfie is ahead in the pecking order at the moment.

[Bentley Bullet]

Facts according to who?

[anne honemous]

I know Selby is in agreement with me about Mandeville but it is re assuring to know there are others on here who feel the same.
Anne for you to say he isn’t good enough to play in “ men’s football “ well sorry, unbelievable.
Your opinion of course, but it is strange isn’t it that he was the one kept on for a pro contract when so many of his contempories were released.
Ask Paul Stancliffe if he thinks he will make it in the men’s game. I think he will know more than you or me about the development of youth players. I am pretty sure I know what he will tell you.

Harry Middleton was kept on. Billy Whitehouse was kept on. Matty Davies was kept on. Lewis Ferguson was kept on.

Where are they now?

Earning a pro contract is one thing. Becoming an established seasoned professional footballer at a respectable level is an entirely different thing.

[Campsall rover]

I know Selby is in agreement with me about Mandeville but it is re assuring to know there are others on here who feel the same.
Anne for you to say he isn’t good enough to play in “ men’s football “ well sorry, unbelievable.
Your opinion of course, but it is strange isn’t it that he was the one kept on for a pro contract when so many of his contempories were released.
Ask Paul Stancliffe if he thinks he will make it in the men’s game. I think he will know more than you or me about the development of youth players. I am pretty sure I know what he will tell you.

Harry Middleton was kept on. Billy Whitehouse was kept on. Matty Davies was kept on. Lewis Ferguson was kept on.

Where are they now?

Earning a pro contract is one thing. Becoming an established seasoned professional footballer at a respectable level is an entirely different thing.

You have just answered your own question. They have gone now though haven’t they.
Mandeville is still here.

[Alan Southstand]

When and where have I sniped at Mande?

I've certainly offered up a theory as to why his progression seems to have stalled this season. Some people might call it constructive criticism. And I certainly don't think it's 'open season'. I do object to undeserved criticism of a young player who has come on in leaps and bounds since Fergie brought him in.

I think, nay hope, that Mande comes good, but for me, and it's only an opinion that I am entitled to, he has gone backwards this season and I don't go to all matches, but I do attend some Dev games and that is what I base my opinions. For as much as he has natural talent (no-one is arguing that fact) he does seem to have a problem with his desire.

Neither you or me are the manager and we have to have faith in DF getting his judgement right where player selection is concerned.

I'll just offer up one more theory on why Alfie just might be getting the nod - our style of play this season. By that I mean our high pressing game, where it is incumbent on both frontmen to press the opposition defenders when they are in possession. This is why we watch JM and AM running around like headless chickens every week. This is not Mandeville's game in the slightest. If he did that, he'd be done for before half time! The rules don't allow us to bring on Mande just to take a chance that may have been created by defenders mistakes when being pressed by said 2 frontmen.

I rest my case, mi lud.

[anne honemous]

I know Selby is in agreement with me about Mandeville but it is re assuring to know there are others on here who feel the same.
Anne for you to say he isn’t good enough to play in “ men’s football “ well sorry, unbelievable.
Your opinion of course, but it is strange isn’t it that he was the one kept on for a pro contract when so many of his contempories were released.
Ask Paul Stancliffe if he thinks he will make it in the men’s game. I think he will know more than you or me about the development of youth players. I am pretty sure I know what he will tell you.

Harry Middleton was kept on. Billy Whitehouse was kept on. Matty Davies was kept on. Lewis Ferguson was kept on.

Where are they now?

Earning a pro contract is one thing. Becoming an established seasoned professional footballer at a respectable level is an entirely different thing.

You have just answered your own question. They have gone now though haven’t they.
Mandeville is still here.

It still doesn't mean anything. How many seasons was Middleton here for, and where exactly is he now? Same with Whitehouse!

If Mandeville wants another contract, he needs to get off his backside, step up to the plate and grasp one of these opportunities when he's in the team and show enough potential to convince the manager to convince him to give him another contract.

Or alternatively, he can continue the way he's going on and make it an easy decision for the manager...

[RoversAlias]

I still don't understand why talking up one striker means having to pull down the other? It's quite clear to me that May is already a good player, hence his significant contribution to a League One side this season. He and Mandeville are different types of players with different strengths. All this direct comparing is getting us (as a fanbase) nowhere.