Jakub Sokolik

[Ironshrimper]

I really rate Sokolik, and was delighted to have him back. He did do well when he was here before with Egan, and there is no doubt that they complimented each other well. Different styles of players though, and for my money, I preferred Sokolik. I'm fully prepared to accept that some of this may have been down to the romance of us giving him his first chance at actual football after all those years at Liverpool, but I also really liked his desire to try to make things happen from the back. You could see his frustration when we weren't going forward or were chasing the game, and he would look to surge out of defence with the ball at his feet, trying to get us to push up and looking for a pass rather than a clearance.

Of course he will make mistakes, but he shows more than enough class for me to hope we see a lot more of him in this team, hopefully with a view to him establishing himself as a long-term signing.

With regard to the points previously made about him not being good enough for Liverpool, well, no he isn't, and the fact that he learnt his trade at a premier club may actually be a hindrance to him at the lower levels. I spoke to a manager recently of a lower league club, and he actively stated that he is not interested in whether a player has come from a premier league club. Failed youth prospects are touted by their agents all the time, but this manager found that because they'd learnt to play premier league football, they were actually useless in the lower leagues, where the game is played in a completely different way, and different qualities are required for success. Footballing intelligence and pace will transfer down the leagues, but ingrained tactics almost certainly will not. Sokolik will have had to re-learn and adapt elements of his game to play lower down, and I hope he continues to do so with us.

the remark was not about being good enough for Liverpool, but the worry was released by Yeovil...

 

[Timlin1]

Thought Sokolik was really good against Bolton saved our bacon a couple of times. Also he was the fastest centre back out of the three that played. Sorry to upset some but think he is a vast improvement on Thompson.

 

[Greebosan]

the remark was not about being good enough for Liverpool, but the worry was released by Yeovil...

Yep, point taken, but I don't think we can worry too much about players leaving other clubs and their relative quality based on that. Whatever I've seen of him with us, I like. The club environment and system they play can have a major impact on the performance of a player, and I have been left mystified more than once at players Mr Brown has released (and some he hasn't)- but then we don't know what goes on behind the scenes.

 

[Fairport]

Sokolik seems to be far more comfortable on the ball than Thompson and Barratt. IMO he needs to know when to control the ball or when to hoof it into row Z. He can get caught in possession sometimes but there is a bit of quality about him.

 

[C C Csiders]

When Jakub Sokolik was first with us on loan I thought he was a real prospect, and I would have loved to have him permanently with Southend. That didn't happen and from then on his career development has been on hold it seems, for a variety of reasons.

Now he is finally back with us as a real Blues player, and based on what I have seen so far, and from reports from those that have seen him away from home, he is now growing again in the footballing sense and it will be very interesting to see if PB shares my view that he should be a first team starter. We are now a bit spoilt for choice where CBs are concerned, but if Phil continues with five across the back, then I would make Jakub a regular and perm the rest of them with him. I haven't seen Inniss play yet so I don't have a view there but I think Sokolik is worthy of starting with any of the other CBs.

Incidentally, he is not the finished article by any means. He will make mistakes but with the other more experienced players next to him I think he will become a class defender and he is my main preference in defence.

Views?

Good luck with Adam Barrett on that one.

 

[Angell Delight]

Thought Sokolik was really good against Bolton saved our bacon a couple of times. Also he was the fastest centre back out of the three that played. Sorry to upset some but think he is a vast improvement on Thompson.

Spot on in my opinion.

 

[Angell Delight]

Yep, point taken, but I don't think we can worry too much about players leaving other clubs and their relative quality based on that. Whatever I've seen of him with us, I like. The club environment and system they play can have a major impact on the performance of a player, and I have been left mystified more than once at players Mr Brown has released (and some he hasn't)- but then we don't know what goes on behind the scenes.

To be fair he was played at RB for some of his time at Yeovil, which he is certainly not.

 

[Barry.C]

I am sure Ferdinand has immense experience to pass on, but equally Barratt will show considerable mentoring and leadership as well. I noted Innis said Barratts influence on him ,when he was at Gillingham on loan, was a main reason for coming here

 

[ooh-andy-ansah]

Williams looks mean....... But.

Williams looks like a lard arse

 

[ooh-andy-ansah]

You'll soon find most are playing at non-league level for an obvious reason....and 'hungry' sure doesn't ensure any quality or natural ability....

Chris Smalling

 

[RHB]

Good luck with Adam Barrett on that one.

That's the beauty of SZ, I can make changes to the side without any responsibility! That said, if I was doing it for real then I would bench the two Adams if Ferdinand and Inniss were both fit.

 

[rigsby]

That's the beauty of SZ, I can make changes to the side without any responsibility! That said, if I was doing it for real then I would bench the two Adams if Ferdinand and Inniss were both fit.

Fortunately we have a manager who won't be benching his captain and MOM on Saturday....Adam Barrett. Plus he covered nicely for young Harry when he was caught out a few times, just before half-time.

 

[RHB]

Fortunately we have a manager who won't be benching his captain and MOM on Saturday....Adam Barrett. Plus he covered nicely for young Harry when he was caught out a few times, just before half-time.

Which is why PB is paid money to make those decisions and I'm not. Doesn't change my opinion on what I would do.

 

[Ironshrimper]

Williams looks like a lard arse

Yep....I'm deffo not a fan, and can't understand the 1 year deal, even as cover.

 

[Ayrshire Blue]

Yep....I'm deffo not a fan, and can't understand the 1 year deal, even as cover.

The Williams experiment has well and truly failed. Time to give one of the other youngsters the chance

 

[rlb999]

Spot on in my opinion.

.....but certainly not in mine. Equally I'll reserve judgement on Ferdinand until I've seen him play a few games - not sure that signing is the wonder deal that some are making out.

 

[rigsby]

It does worry me that Yeovil would just release an X Liverpool player, if he is not good enough for them.. But he is for us. I know we need players NOW, but like a few on here, I'd rather we scouted the (wait for it Hungry) non league players, and improve them, I think they are out there.

Yep....I'm deffo not a fan, and can't understand the 1 year deal, even as cover.

Why don't you just pretend we signed JW from Chelmsford. You would be much happier.

 

[mfurok]

The Williams experiment has well and truly failed. Time to give one of the other youngsters the chance

The experiment that gives him a few minutes each game to catch up on the speed of the game. You must be right.

He should have started against the Brighton Under 12s - that would have given him a reasonable opportunity to work his way into a game.

 

[Ayrshire Blue]

The experiment that gives him a few minutes each game to catch up on the speed of the game. You must be right.

He should have started against the Brighton Under 12s - that would have given him a reasonable opportunity to work his way into a game.

He's had more than enough opportunities now and hasn't produced a single thing. The fact he didn't play in the Mickey Mouse game is actually quite telling

 

[Jam_Man]

Im sure Williams has enough forum time, this is a Sokolik thread....

Create a new thread if you want to discuss him.