JFC - Please God make this the last time we have to watch him play in an Albion shirt...

[Brighton Mod]

JFC has broken into he first team and has been chosen by successive managers. I remember him score in in his first games under Poyet only to be consigned back to the development squad and then loaned to Oxford for no good reason. I do however suspect his ability to rise to the big game, he was way out of his depth in the first play off gam against Derby and likewise on Sunday against Arsenal. When he arrived and scored I felt we had a real talent on our hands, but he has not improved like we would have wanted, granted he has served under four managers now, but the areas that I would criticise him are his strength, speed, vision and role in the team. Its easy to criticise him as he has been playing in a team that has not been performing well, but when I constantly see his 5m passes backwards and sideways, without being aware of his surroundings, I wonder how far he will go in the game. I'll not criticise him, he is what he is, but like Solly when he first broke intothe first team, these young players appear to plateau out and not gain the potential they showed when they arrived. Is it coaching, has their flair, enthusiasm and youth been coached out of them?

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

Honestly...watch the goal again..... it really was not a hard ball to deal with, anything like a half decent hit pass from Holla would have enabled the defender to clear.... clearly Holla was to blame

If JFC had struck that pass there would have been no doubt where the blame lied.

Marshy and Rod Marsh both on here lauding JFC, are you the same person?

 

[Simster]

My issue with JFC is that he goes missing from time to time. But then again, so does Ross Barclay for Everton, and he's still only young too.

However, he's so young that even if I think he is a below average performer, I really wouldn't want him hounded out. He'll only get better. And he has got something about him, which is why he's playing for the national team.

 

[Munkfish]

My issue with JFC is that he goes missing from time to time. But then again, so does Ross Barclay for Everton, and he's still only young too.

However, he's so young that even if I think he is a below average performer, I really wouldn't want him hounded out. He'll only get better. And he has got something about him, which is why he's playing for the national team.

Barkley does go missing, but not as often as the K in his name.

 

[Surf's Up]

My issue with JFC is that he goes missing from time to time. But then again, so does Ross Barclay for Everton, and he's still only young too.

However, he's so young that even if I think he is a below average performer, I really wouldn't want him hounded out. He'll only get better. And he has got something about him, which is why he's playing for the national team.

If he went missing, like he did on Sunday, playing for the national team that would be the end of his international career. So why does he disappear when he's playing for us?

 

[Simster]

If he went missing, like he did on Sunday, playing for the national team that would be the end of his international career. So why does he disappear when he's playing for us?

I'll infer from that comment that he presumably doesn't go missing for the national team. Which suggests a) we're not set up in the same way as the U21s and/or b) he's not quite up to being #1 on the team sheet at this level yet.

Either way, I'd rather we didn't bin him, because he might well come good for us very soon.

 

[Easy 10]

I wouldn't say I'm a big JFC fan, just that I don't see him as any sort of weak link. He's been played out of his best position, I don't see him as a defensive midfielder. He is tidy on the ball, has decent vision and can execute a pass well. It's not as if he sets the world alight when he plays but he's decent and he's young. I don't understand the problem. I've found Tex frustrating to watch more often than JFC to be honest, it's just that Tex had a good impact against Ipswich and he's on loan from Liverpool rather than being a Brighton player = less abuse

All I can see as a reason for the frustration of some is that he gets more game time than others. Not really much cause for criticism is it?

I keep on seeing this "he has decent vision" claim. What are we really talking about though ? How many times has he slotted in a clever through-ball to someone, or sent a nicely weighted long ball into the channels for someone to run onto, or pulled off an unexpected pass that was outside of the obvious ball, one that changes the emphasis of attack and opened a team up ?

All I ever seem to see from him are the standard little 5-10 yard passes sideways or backwards that might retain possession and keep his pass completion % high, but do little or nothing to advance the attack. If having decent vision is successfully receiving the ball and laying it off to Dunk, Greer or Calde then I guess he's got that off to a fine art.

 

[Marshy]

Marshy and Rod Marsh both on here lauding JFC, are you the same person?

related, but not the same person ;-) ..... and not lauding JFC, however he does get an incredibly hard time on here, just pointing out that it was a Holla error that lead to the 3rd goal..... and that had that been JFC he would have been crucified for it.

 

[footychick]

Didn't his pass lead to one of the goals?

 

[Marshy]

Didn't his pass lead to one of the goals?

Absolutely, and a fine pass it was.

 

[Horses Arse]

I keep on seeing this "he has decent vision" claim. What are we really talking about though ? How many times has he slotted in a clever through-ball to someone, or sent a nicely weighted long ball into the channels for someone to run onto, or pulled off an unexpected pass that was outside of the obvious ball, one that changes the emphasis of attack and opened a team up ?

All I ever seem to see from him are the standard little 5-10 yard passes sideways or backwards that might retain possession and keep his pass completion % high, but do little or nothing to advance the attack. If having decent vision is successfully receiving the ball and laying it off to Dunk, Greer or Calde then I guess he's got that off to a fine art.

Knackers! I thought I was the first to come up with the decent vision claim. Hey-ho. Yes he does make incisive passes, not always the type that are unexpected or carve through defences like a hot knife through butter but incisive none the less (but please don't ask me to document them). He also plays nicely weighted balls into the channels, problem being that more often than not they also have to be nicely waited as there's sometimes no opportunity for the pass to be made due to others not reading the game so well or due to the manager installing a more considered approach perhaps. That, I feel, is part of the problem. I think there's more in his locker but the team haven't been playing in the way that exploits this. Play him with better players and he'll shine even more I feel.

Tex is making unexpected passes more frequently and showing tricks and skills to attempt to beat 4-5 players and consequently losing the ball; the passes unfortunately are often unexpected by the planned recipient and he keeps the ball too much due to players not making the moves he wants and due to him not having the experience to do something more mundane for the team. CMS runs around a lot and gets criticised for it. JFC is often more considered in the way he expends energy and is criticised for it.

Tex and JFC are different players, they have their merits and are suited to different aspects of the game. I wouldn't slag off either Tex or JFC and I think people will be very surprised at what JFC goes on to achieve in his career; it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him progress further than Tex but it is JFC getting the criticism, which I feel is unfair, unwarranted and damaging.

So what does all this mean? In my opinion it means that football fans are fickle, don't really understand the game as much as they think they do and they talk shite a lot. And yes, I'm guilty of all three 'features'.

Finally, just for clarity, my name is not Nicky and I don't know (and am pretty sure I'm not related to) Marshy or Rod Marsh on here. Neither am I JFC.

 

[Rookie]

If he went missing, like he did on Sunday, playing for the national team that would be the end of his international career. So why does he disappear when he's playing for us?

Because Sunday he was playing against experienced full internationals? He doesn't go missing in games as much as you say either, during the Hyypia he was one of a few who actually looked for the ball.

 

[Marshy]

Knackers! I thought I was the first to come up with the decent vision claim. Hey-ho. Yes he does make incisive passes, not always the type that are unexpected or carve through defences like a hot knife through butter but incisive none the less (but please don't ask me to document them). He also plays nicely weighted balls into the channels, problem being that more often than not they also have to be nicely waited as there's sometimes no opportunity for the pass to be made due to others not reading the game so well or due to the manager installing a more considered approach perhaps. That, I feel, is part of the problem. I think there's more in his locker but the team haven't been playing in the way that exploits this. Play him with better players and he'll shine even more I feel.

Tex is making unexpected passes more frequently and showing tricks and skills to attempt to beat 4-5 players and consequently losing the ball; the passes unfortunately are often unexpected by the planned recipient and he keeps the ball too much due to players not making the moves he wants and due to him not having the experience to do something more mundane for the team. CMS runs around a lot and gets criticised for it. JFC is often more considered in the way he expends energy and is criticised for it.

Tex and JFC are different players, they have their merits and are suited to different aspects of the game. I wouldn't slag off either Tex or JFC and I think people will be very surprised at what JFC goes on to achieve in his career; it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him progress further than Tex but it is JFC getting the criticism, which I feel is unfair, unwarranted and damaging.

So what does all this mean? In my opinion it means that football fans are fickle, don't really understand the game as much as they think they do and they talk shite a lot. And yes, I'm guilty of all three 'features'.

Finally, just for clarity, my name is not Nicky and I don't know (and am pretty sure I'm not related to) Marshy or Rod Marsh on here. Neither am I JFC.

Thank you. I really didnt have the energy to write a post like that and just spend the next 2 days being shouted at, but I whole heartidly agree with you.

 

[symyjym]

An in form Tex is better than an in form JFC, but an out of form JFC is better than an out of form Tex.

At only 20, JFC has a tough task having the responsibility of carrying the team as a creative midfielder and we need someone better in that role. With Kayal signing for us and if Tex can consistently perform, I am not sure if JFC could make the bench, but he does have time on his side.

He can still have a good influence and learn from playing in the Dev squad and come back an improved player.

 

[El Presidente]

In an ideal world, we would have had Stephens, Crofts, Marsh and KLL fit for most of the season. In that case JFC would have had a few matches, been on the bench for others, and would not have had the spotlight on him to the same degree.

Instead he has played nearly every match, his shortcomings and inexperience have been exposed, and now he's the subject of a lynch mob mentality from some.

IMO he's okay, would like us to have been in the position to bring on someone better at times, but honestly can't think who else we would have played instead. It's a bit like playing Barnes as the sole striker last season when Ulloa and CMS were injured/suspended. Not brilliant, but better than the alternatives on offer at the time.

 

[Triggaaar]

So what does all this mean? In my opinion it means that football fans are fickle, don't really understand the game as much as they think they do and they talk shite a lot.

No shit.

 

[One Teddy Maybank]

An in form Tex is better than an in form JFC, but an out of form JFC is better than an out of form Tex.

At only 20, JFC has a tough task having the responsibility of carrying the team as a creative midfielder and we need someone better in that role. With Kayal signing for us and if Tex can consistently perform, I am not sure if JFC could make the bench, but he does have time on his side.

He can still have a good influence and learn from playing in the Dev squad and come back an improved player.

Well said.

 

[theonesmith]

An in form Tex is better than an in form JFC, but an out of form JFC is better than an out of form Tex.

At only 20, JFC has a tough task having the responsibility of carrying the team as a creative midfielder and we need someone better in that role. With Kayal signing for us and if Tex can consistently perform, I am not sure if JFC could make the bench, but he does have time on his side.

He can still have a good influence and learn from playing in the Dev squad and come back an improved player.

But he's 20, as you say. Tex is 22. And a Liverpool youngster. Who couldn't get into the Brentford team in league one last year. Jake has plenty of potential by comparison..

 

[sir albion]

But he's 20, as you say. Tex is 22. And a Liverpool youngster. Who couldn't get into the Brentford team in league one last year. Jake has plenty of potential by comparison..

He didn't play much at brentford because of their style of play in which didn't suit him...To compare caskey to tex is ridiculous as tex has far far more potential than Caskey who offers jack shite.

Caskey went to Oxford on loan and was useless and still is...He will never make a decent championship player and will be league 1 at best.

 

[Acker79]

Didn't his pass lead to one of the goals?

You haven't quoted anyone. Are you referring to JFC since the thread is about him, or Holla since the last few posts veered towards him? If the former, no, it was Holla, if the latter, yes. Also, it was Rosicky who skied the ball to the edge of the arsenal box in the build up to our first goal. So both seemed to make mistakes and make amends.

Highlights here: