Ben Nugent

Good point, slate him and destroy his confidence

Can't believe some of this criticism. The lad has been thrown into the deep end this season and has produced some solid performances when needed. Okay, he didn't have a great game last night, yet neither did our 28 year old midfielder who has in the past been voted the best player outside of the Prem. He hasn't even had a good start to the calendar year and it's now March.

Some of you sound like you expect the world from Nugent. I'll give you that his distribution was poor tonight and did look rather anxious at times. Yet, we conceded one goal and there is outrage. Maybe focus should be shifted away from our defence and onto the midfield and attack, which is in a much more dire position seeing as the midfield constantly goes missing and we are seriously lacking goals.

He's a 19 year old lad whos had to play with 3 different centre halfs over the last few games. Not exactlly easy is it. Yes he didnt have the best of games against Derby and Leicester but he's young and still has a lot to learn but there is potentiol. Writing him off at this stage of his career is ridiculous. As for blaming the loss on him and being the worst of the bunch both Whitts and Smith were much worse but they can do no wrong can they

Maybe he may be the one for the future who knows, but malky is puting him in a very bad situation you dont blood youngsters at this stage of the season and in our situation as the odds are massive now, if its right and our owners have stated malky will be backed if he wants to bring players in well in my opinion thats what he sould be doing yes i know what are lot of people will be saying WHO could we bring in, well malky has got people watching players all year round dont tell me there is not one single player out there who we could fetch in.

Another question I ask myself why would malky not want to fetch in a fresh CB who may help us, as annis would say Hmm

Looked absolutely petrified on the ball. A nervous wreck who cannot pass and is ALWAYS on the wrong side of a player when defending.

Everyone saying 'oh he's only 19' is missing the point. This is the business end of a long season with s**t loads riding on it. Personally I am not comfortable with trying out kids with 'potential' at this stage, in such big games. (Not that I've ever seen this potential).

He has to be loaned out to a lower Championship/League One side. Isn't that what you do to 19 year olds with potential? You don't shove them in the starting 11 when they're evidently not ready.

Kev, Hudson, Connolly, Taylor.

Simple. It's not worth the risk.

Spot on Ga. Spot on.

Im yet to see the potential myself tbh. Hes only looked comfortable in games with no threat from the opposition (ie: Bristol City).

Last couple of games where hes been put under pressure by the oppo, he has panicked and looks nowhere near ready.

Malky must really f*cking hate Kev. Im not Kevs biggest fan but theres no way that kid should be in the team ahead of him.

Spot on Ga. Spot on.

Im yet to see the potential myself tbh. Hes only looked comfortable in games with no threat from the opposition (ie: Bristol City).

Last couple of games where hes been put under pressure by the oppo, he has panicked and looks nowhere near ready.

Malky must really f*cking hate Kev. Im not Kevs biggest fan but theres no way that kid should be in the team ahead of him.

Exactly.

It seems the only argument FOR Nugent starting is his 'potential' which I have never seen. Also, having potential does not give you a place in the first team! You need to have proven ability surely? These are massive games coming up, not the arena for giving youngsters 'game time'. That's what reserve games and the loan market are for.

You play the best team you've got available, and if Malky thinks Nugent is a part of that it's very worrying indeed.

Anyone suggesting that he's a better option than Connolly and Kev are simply deluded.

Spot on Ga. Spot on.

Im yet to see the potential myself tbh. Hes only looked comfortable in games with no threat from the opposition (ie: Bristol City).

Last couple of games where hes been put under pressure by the oppo, he has panicked and looks nowhere near ready.

Malky must really f*cking hate Kev. Im not Kevs biggest fan but theres no way that kid should be in the team ahead of him.

Exactly.

It seems the only argument FOR Nugent starting is his 'potential' which I have never seen. Also, having potential does not give you a place in the first team! You need to have proven ability surely? These are massive games coming up, not the arena for giving youngsters 'game time'. That's what reserve games and the loan market are for.

You play the best team you've got available, and if Malky thinks Nugent is a part of that it's very worrying indeed.

Anyone suggesting that he's a better option than Connolly and Kev are simply deluded.

No one has said he should be starting just simply that its unfair to slate him. The fault lies simply with Malky for not bringing in a centre half.

10 games to go nows not the time to blooding a rookie.

Beggars belief Malky starts with him, and Conolly rb with Kev on bench.

I have to say that this statement is very true. I do think that given time he could be a worthwhile Championship defender. I've seen much worse centre backs than him this season but this stage at the season for a club in our position is not the right time to give him game time.

I know McNaughton hasn't been great but McNaughton gets criticised for things that other players do regularly when he does it now and again (except his crossing which is awful but at least he tries to put the balls in to the danger area).

It's just another example of Malkay getting the team selection from the start wrong which he has done repeatedly for the past couple of months.

Nugent not good enough! He's raw talent yes but he should be nowhere near a promotion chasing team like our self at this moment of time. Need an emergency loan i think..

Not read all thread but thought he was like a rabbit in the headlights last night, noticed in recent games he gets caught on wrong side quite easily, he holds on a lot too.
He gave the ball away a fair bit last might and as a result Leicester were quite happy for him to be the spare man and have possession after that. Can remember a few times when he just passed sideways to Taylor a few yards away from him.
No doubting he's got potential as he's shown previously, hopefully just a blip in confidence but a gamble to play him now with what's at stake.
Our upcoming opponents would have been scouting last night and they wouldn't need to be too smart to notice potential weakness.

Spot on Ga. Spot on.

Im yet to see the potential myself tbh. Hes only looked comfortable in games with no threat from the opposition (ie: Bristol City).

Last couple of games where hes been put under pressure by the oppo, he has panicked and looks nowhere near ready.

Malky must really f*cking hate Kev. Im not Kevs biggest fan but theres no way that kid should be in the team ahead of him.

Exactly.

It seems the only argument FOR Nugent starting is his 'potential' which I have never seen. Also, having potential does not give you a place in the first team! You need to have proven ability surely? These are massive games coming up, not the arena for giving youngsters 'game time'. That's what reserve games and the loan market are for.

You play the best team you've got available, and if Malky thinks Nugent is a part of that it's very worrying indeed.

Anyone suggesting that he's a better option than Connolly and Kev are simply deluded.

And anyone suggesting he is the reason for our poor team performances are also simply deluded.

Spot on Ga. Spot on.

Im yet to see the potential myself tbh. Hes only looked comfortable in games with no threat from the opposition (ie: Bristol City).

Last couple of games where hes been put under pressure by the oppo, he has panicked and looks nowhere near ready.

Malky must really f*cking hate Kev. Im not Kevs biggest fan but theres no way that kid should be in the team ahead of him.

Exactly.

It seems the only argument FOR Nugent starting is his 'potential' which I have never seen. Also, having potential does not give you a place in the first team! You need to have proven ability surely? These are massive games coming up, not the arena for giving youngsters 'game time'. That's what reserve games and the loan market are for.

You play the best team you've got available, and if Malky thinks Nugent is a part of that it's very worrying indeed.

Anyone suggesting that he's a better option than Connolly and Kev are simply deluded.

And anyone suggesting he is the reason for our poor team performances are also simply deluded.

Has anyone suggested this? Ever?

Spot on Ga. Spot on.

Im yet to see the potential myself tbh. Hes only looked comfortable in games with no threat from the opposition (ie: Bristol City).

Last couple of games where hes been put under pressure by the oppo, he has panicked and looks nowhere near ready.

Malky must really f*cking hate Kev. Im not Kevs biggest fan but theres no way that kid should be in the team ahead of him.

Exactly.

It seems the only argument FOR Nugent starting is his 'potential' which I have never seen. Also, having potential does not give you a place in the first team! You need to have proven ability surely? These are massive games coming up, not the arena for giving youngsters 'game time'. That's what reserve games and the loan market are for.

You play the best team you've got available, and if Malky thinks Nugent is a part of that it's very worrying indeed.

Anyone suggesting that he's a better option than Connolly and Kev are simply deluded.

No one has said he should be starting just simply that its unfair to slate him. The fault lies simply with Malky for not bringing in a centre half.

Why is it unfair to criticise a sh**e performance? He's a professional, in with the big boys, and in my view should be treated as such. Not wrapped up in cotton wool whilst everyone makes up excuses for him because he's 'only 19'.

We have a centre half called Matthew Connolly. He's 10x better than Nugent and there's a perfectly suitable right back on the bench to slot in.