Can we get off Redmond's back now?

[hogesar]

I've consistently defended Redmond on here. So many people wanted us to sell him in the end it was beggard belief and made me think we had a fanbase who didn't recognise talent nor wanted us to develop and nurture potential talent. 

Thankfully Adams & Co thought otherwise and the second half performance today was a perfect example of why Premier League clubs were after him. He was much better disciplined but when he had the chance he took on the full back - he brought us up the pitch fantastically and his cross for Jerome was absolutely spot on. 

An exciting, pacey and talented winger who is, i'm afraid for some who don't like to hear it - considerably further in his development than Josh Murphy (who I also think can be a very good Premier League winger in the future if things go his way) 

 

[Wiz]

100% agree.

 

[Yellow Fever]

I also agree. Josh is a very exciting prospect, but Nathan is about a season ahead of him.

 

[hogesar]

To be fair Redmond has played many more games than Josh so the difference between them is not surprising.

I know we like to see home-grown players performing well for NCFC and trust me - i'm all for that. But we musn't let it overshadow the reality that in this case, at this moment, Redmond is a much better overall player.

 

[Andy]

Redders was brilliant today. I would have sold him in the window. I am a chump.

 

[hogesar]

Haha! Wouldn't say a chump - I know, or at least I think i know, why many were willing to sell. There's plenty of young players that never 'make it'. Which is self-definable but nevertheless lots of players get tagged with it.

And with rumours of an 8 mill bid - people thought well why not get that and spend a few mill on a proven Championship winger. There's some logic involved in there somewhere which is why I wouldn't say you're a chump.

I would say that Redmond however, is a little special. It's why people have such high expectations of him and those massively high expectations is maybe what's half the problem - he won't reach his best form for another 4 or 5 years probably. Thats a massive amount of development time. 150 games or more.

Hopefully - at home in particular, our crowd give him a bit of a break. I've felt certain sections around me (lower barclay) have given him a harder time than necessary.

 

[Din]

He was excellent today. If he can perform like that regularly then he'll be absolutely vital this season.

I've also always been a big defender of Redmond. Whilst Murphy is great Redmond proved last season that on he's day he's a massive asset. Now hopefully now fans will start to get off his back a little. He does have to perform how he did today more consistantly though.

 

[Keckers]

I'm a fan of what he can do, but he still needs some de-Hughton-ing. He is still hesitant in taking on defenders and going to the byline, and whipping in crosses. I think he was good today, but I don't think he was brilliant. Admittedly I was watching on a crappy stream, but he is showing what he can do in flashes rather than storming things at the moment for me.

 

[Lake District Canary]

I'm a fan of what he can do, but he still needs some de-Hughton-ing. He is still hesitant in taking on defenders and going to the byline, and whipping in crosses. I think he was good today, but I don't think he was brilliant. Admittedly I was watching on a crappy stream, but he is showing what he can do in flashes rather than storming things at the moment for me.

The hesitation is part of his play.  He knows he can beat any defender over five yards, that is his strength - and the defender knows he can go either way, so it makes him unsure which way Redders is going to go.  The net result is that Redmond more often than not will get away from the defender easily.  Redmond does not have out and out pace over distance - but over the first couple of yards his acceleration is lightning.  So I quite like it when he  hesitates because you know when he does that, that 99% of the time he has the defender beaten.

 

[Chazchalk]

Spot on OP, when Redmond's motivated and on form the most naturally gifted player at the club. He would get into every other starting 11 in the division in my opinion.

 

[Watling the Gnome]

My frustration with Redmond has always been about end product.  He's started having some end product consistently.  I am therefore no longer frustrated with Redmond.

 

[Ricardo]

The only way he'll improve is to constantly be shown where he's going wrong and I'm sure the management team are doing just that. He has great natural talent but that can easily be wasted as we've seen before with many other youngsters who have come and gone. Judging by his recent efforts he would seem to be taking that advice on board.

 

[Keckers]

The hesitation is part of his play. He knows he can beat any defender over five yards, that is his strength - and the defender knows he can go either way, so it makes him unsure which way Redders is going to go. The net result is that Redmond more often than not will get away from the defender easily. Redmond does not have out and out pace over distance - but over the first couple of yards his acceleration is lightning. So I quite like it when he hesitates because you know when he does that, that 99% of the time he has the defender beaten.

I'm not talking about the "will he / won't he" moment before he moves. I'm talking about a lack of decisive action. It is clear to anyone watching this season that he has been lacking confidence and this has shown in his indecisiveness, or choosing the wrong option. With his confidence where it should be he will get back to what he was this time last year.

 

[Monty13]

People have been on Wes's back for years, even when we were storming the league. Redmond will improve, he is such a talent, but i believe for some it will always simply be the next mistake that has them moaning again.

Theses kind of players win us games, yes they make mistakes but if they didn't they wouldn't be at our club, some people will never see that unfortunately.

 

[Surgeryman]

Redmond has loads of potential and was one of the few players who did excite during last season until his end product, which is what most people just judge him on. It is clear to see that he is getting better and will be devastating in this league when he finally gets that level of consistency we are all looking for. We would all miss him big time if he was not playing.

 

[Paul Handscombe]

one good half!

our fans are so fickle it's unreal, one good half and he is now brilliant, and the last 12 months are all forgotten.

I want to see him play like this week in week out he has the potential to take this league by storm but lets not get carried away.

 

[splutcho]

Actually he played pretty well against Ipswich and Bournemouth too. So, not just one good half. I know you don't like him but let's not make things up.

 

[Paul Handscombe]

I do like him a lot, I think he's a great lad  and have a lot of time and respect for him.

He wasn't great against Ipswich, Bournemouth I missed because of an Idiot, so I can't comment on his performance.

Hopefully it's an upward curve and he gets better and better

 

[Salopian]

I agree with Hogesar, except to say that in comparison with Josh Redders still needs to improve his shooting. I remember being impressed by Redders in his Birmingham days - a very young and exciting prospect, willing to shoot. I don't think that his shooting has improved since, which is disappointing. He has, is it one goal since he joined us, but he certainly has had many shots.

That he has talent and great prospects, no-one doubts. The problem is encouraging the development. I hope that now he is clear of the Hughton influence, he will begin to show us more regularly what he can do.

I hope that NA will do four things:

1. Somehow reduce the expected burden of defending from him. We need him up-field, where he can cause havoc.
2. Encourage him to take on the fullback more often. Other clubs will doubtless put two markers on him, but that will cause gaps elsewhere. Be ready to substitute if/when he gets tired.
3. Practice shooting and crossing, so the sublime cross to Jerome is replicated more often.
4. Never play him on the left wing, except as a temporary change during a match. He is far less effective there, having to cut in and make our attacks narrower and crosses less effective with his right foot, and also because he finds it more difficult to make crosses from the by-line when he gets there. (Bennett E, had the same problem when playing on the left.)

 

[ZLF]

He clearly has some confidence issues - it was clear that he shouldered a lot of blame for the bournemouth goal and that self criticism appeared to knock his confidence.    The fact that garrido was equally out of position (as Olsson was for the second goal against cardiff) and neither turner nor martin had any clue where wilson was in what was a long build up to that goal has been conveniently over looked. 

As far as end product is concerned this always amazes me,  last season only Elmander provided more assists and no player crossed as accurately all season - both elements he outshone Snodgrass by some margin.    Together with rarely misplacing a pass his poor end product is a myth and really just a frustration at his wayward shooting - which others are forgiven for.   He does need to technically improve this - but he has plenty of time to do so.

My real point is if he is overly self critical he will feel fan pressure more than most.   He is having a sparkling season because he is a developing greta talent not the finished article most seem to rate him as.    I hope he continues to shine brightly.