Whelan was Cook's first signing. He can play anywhere in midfield. Yesterday he played deeper for Aldershot, was very good and they did win 5-1.
Whelan's major fault is trying to win free kicks by simulation. He should just get on with it and stay on his feet. And stop thinking about ref'ing the game just cos he went to Millfield.
As to our surplus ..... Asante is injured, Tshimanga is injured, we don't seem to trust Gyasi, Rowe is on the coast, Uchegbulam, who caused Jeff Steeling enormous pronunciation problems when scoring, is a really a wide man. So we've got Quigley. If we've got a surfeit of anything, it isn't Lampreys, it is potential full backs. Sheckleford and Clements are nowhere near a game, Miller can play there, so can Cooper, and Maguire has played left back a lot and Jo Cook is a very spare centre back ......
Akinola OUGHT to be better than Whelan. If he isn't then his Arsenal prospects are way below zero. But Akinola proved terminally fragile in his last loan, whilst Whelan is mostly up for a game at the drop of a hat .... and that's what you need in the National League.
Oldaker better than Whelan? No one would have said so until this season. I still wouldn't.
Whelan's major fault is trying to win free kicks by simulation. He should just get on with it and stay on his feet. And stop thinking about ref'ing the game just cos he went to Millfield.
As to our surplus ..... Asante is injured, Tshimanga is injured, we don't seem to trust Gyasi, Rowe is on the coast, Uchegbulam, who caused Jeff Steeling enormous pronunciation problems when scoring, is a really a wide man. So we've got Quigley. If we've got a surfeit of anything, it isn't Lampreys, it is potential full backs. Sheckleford and Clements are nowhere near a game, Miller can play there, so can Cooper, and Maguire has played left back a lot and Jo Cook is a very spare centre back ......
Akinola OUGHT to be better than Whelan. If he isn't then his Arsenal prospects are way below zero. But Akinola proved terminally fragile in his last loan, whilst Whelan is mostly up for a game at the drop of a hat .... and that's what you need in the National League.
Oldaker better than Whelan? No one would have said so until this season. I still wouldn't.