The way it is, you have to back your manager and DOF - im not a fan of either - just to be clear.
But if you want to play this game coherently and consistently its the only show in town as a philosophy- both will be praised or critiqued on their decisions.
If they see value in AMN and Rondon, in terms of squad progression - you have to back it and accept it.
I think AMN is a curious one, Wenger is no fool and he developed and played him, sometimes players need trust and a home - Gray (so far) is a case in point.
ANM has five full England caps, European experience and some Wiley managers have brought him in, the Dude can cover a hell of a lot of positions, so i see the lgoic - we've always in our most successful years have had a utility player.
Yes good post.
I also think players get to a certain point where the penny drops and they are ready to kick on. When you're probably a bit older than being a prospect, and a big younger than being right in your prime. That 23-25 age bracket. Lots of players get hyped at 18-21 and not that many make it. Many get lost in that time. To a degree Gray and Maitland-Niles fit that.
I think Maitland Niles agent is speaking to him to look to convince him, longer term his best prospects may well be converting to play at right back. Arnold did this at Liverpool and it was a very good career decision. To be fair to him he had that maturity at 17/18 to make the switch which would benefit his career.
We targeted that age group really well under Moyes. Players who clearly had talent, but for different reasons had fallen by the wayside a little bit. Baines, Jagielka, Lescott, Arteta, Peinaar, Cahill, Howard were all good examples of being in that age range when we signed them and came in and did well.
As a club and a crowd we are not the most forgiving of players from say 18/19 through. I don't think we tolerate poor performances well, or acknowledge it takes time. The positive about getting say a 23/25 year old is that they have made their mistakes elsewhere and you are dealing really with very little downside risk, even if you have to sacrifice some upside potential.
For Maitland Niles, if he can't get a game in CM over El Neny or Xhaka or whoever the option of playing regularly at right back for Everton should be one he gives a lot of consideration to. No it's not his 1st choice, but by nearly 24 you'd hope he can see he's not in the world of 1st choices now and this is probably a very good backup option for him.