Sarpreet Singh

So we had a boy named Rojas whom got some minutes, turned out to be good and disappeared before we utilised him to the best of his ability and just played him.

Now we have a boy named Singh. Any parallels?

Singh's getting his wages paid on time, unlike Marco, which is why he went to Victory

Too early to say for me. I guess we'll see if he gets decent minutes over the rest of this season. Finkler going might give him more chances too. He should be ahead of Rufer and Ridenton for the attacking mid spot now I reckon. Looks more dangerous than either of them in the attacking third

What's Kalezic's record on playing youth?

And prior that would have been playing more but for injury troubles.

Marco left because he wanted to be at a bigger club but I'm sure now we have the Martin Luckie park facilities Singh won't be going anywhere.

As said above, that wasn't the story of Rojas, it was the story of Kosta's original stint though. 

Maybe the problem with getting Singh getting game time is we haven't been ahead enough in matches, because... Singh when you're winning, you only Singh when you're winning.

I think Singh will be a better player for NZ - mainly because of the role he will likely have in the future.

Marco is suited outwide with the ball at his feet looking to take players on, whereas Singh is the guy whose more likely to hurt you with a no look pass or a clever dink over the top. In his brief cameo last week, he showed the ability to not only pick out a pass, hold possession and provide some forward thrust, he's got a decent shot.

Colvinator is right - that was Kosta's problem (Ricki did not play him enough so he went to Brisbane).

In contrast, Marco Rojas played for us enough, but his Dad wanted bigger and better things for him than the ol' Nix, so he got him over to Melbourne (much gratitude that was, for YF scholarship).

I do not know enough about Singh's circumstances to comment, but he clearly is promising, so I quietly hope this is an opportunity that won't get squandered.

Yep,   Terry even offered Marco the youth marquee spot that existed back then,.

Not to be nitpicky but could the mods change the title of this thread to Sarpreet Singh? Idk why but the misspelling is annoying me haha.

You should change your signature. You put Coldplay on the same step with Nazis, it is not funny.

Wow. You play for Wellington United and you are coaching?

I get that some topics shouldn't be joked about, but I didn't realise that sharkty pop music was one of them

Tone  of the Thread has changed

I like Singh at #10 in a 4-2-3-1

Not sure signing Burns  helps

Agree Foal. Question is, does the coach see him as our 2nd #10 and a development project; meaning he should regularly play off the bench, until form or injury allows him a start?

I reckon he would also probably be a better RW option than Parkhouse too

I know the point you’re really making in parkhouse should be on the left; but isn’t Singh almost exclusively a central player? I wouldn’t be chucking him into a wide role at a higher level if he’s never played there before. 

I know he’s “capable” of playing wide (just as Fenton was capable - depending on your viewpoint - of playing fullback, or parkhouse is of playing right wing) but the point is he’s something special for his age, at #10. Play him there, where a) he’s most comfortable and b) will also help the Nix  the most - creativity in front of goal. 

If he can play 10 that's great and I'd definitely prefer him there to on the wing but if that's where the gap is I don't think we should shy away from playing him there for fear of ruining him as a 10. I don't think it's like Fenton - the demands on a fullback defensively are quite different to a winger because there's no one behind you, and. Fenton never showed great defensive chops as a winger. Comparatively Singh does have the skkill set to play wing and positionally/tactically the roles are close

We will have to agree to disagree that wing and 10 are close positionsllt/tactically; they are totally different on many levels.

When you say “where the gap is” is the discussion now “best XI’ vs ‘best 11 players’ ? Tonight maybe he’s in our best XI (at 10 in my opinion), but with new signings he’s neither at this stage. After tonight, if everyone is fit, he’ll be on the bench. I hope he gets to continue his development in a CAM role from there, each week - effectively our ‘go to’ attacking sub. But let’s see how good this 2nd Serbian is first, ae?

10  and wing are closer than say, DM and wing. Or striker and FB. It's not uncommon in football to see guys who can play those two roles. Even if they're better at one than can do a job at the other. This thread started as a comparison with Rojas and he's a guy who looks better on the wing but can play 10, for instance. WeeMac is another example. At a much higher level Phillipe Coutinho is a guy who switches between the two pretty regularly. David Silva used to play on the wing a bit when he was younger and quicker.  If you've got the vision and creativity and match awareness to play 10 you can adapt to the wing if you have the pace and cross IMO. 

I'm trying to think of the celebrated NZ playmaker. 

I mean at striker- Rufer, Wood. Defender: Nelsen, Reid. Mid- Elliot, Thomas, Tim Brown (heh calm yourselves)

Who is our famous creative midfielder? Can't think of one off the top of my head. Weemac arguably and I've really enjoyed watching him play, but can't think of an example of the NZ number 10. 

Also, if you've got a full vid of last weeks game against Sydney with Singh playing please post. 

I think he has the skill set but could do with more bulk to stand up to some of those A league nasties.

Rojas is a far better winger than 10, and he’s struggling to make a go of that in Holland. Aside from when he played wide at CCM weemwc is also much better playing centrally ( he did a great job for the AWs there recently). My point is that whilst players can play a secondary position (and I agree Singh might make a fist of wing), that is merely a way to play your best 11 players; and Singh isn’t one of our best 11 yet. So let’s develop him as a 10, by  playing him as a 10; off the bench, regularly, until he’s ready to start or injury gives him the chance. 

Safe to say this thread can go into hibernation while kalejic is in charge. Singh should look elsewhere - ACFC? 

M McGarry had some creative skills

Historically we don't develop creative #10 and when we do actually find a kid that wants to pass the ball we beat any style out of them with huffing and puffing

Then we go to WC's and wonder why we can't make chances.

I presume we set up 433 with the new mid, Paracki and McG.  Singh gets time after McG.  Ridenton gets time after the other two mids. If Singh shows enough and is physically strong enough he gets to start ahead of McG or the new mid. 

I'd be happy enough to see him developed that way,  optimistically coming on when we are 2-0 up with 15 or 20 to play. 

Thomas will become our best ever DM, not our missing #10

He's not a DM per se and doesn't play there for Zwolle, he's kind of their Makelele in that he sweeps up everything in the midfield and launches attacks from centre mid. Often launches forward a whole lot too, so I'd label him more of a creative CM, not a DM or #10. Have high hopes that he'll become our best ever midfielder, Makelele himself played at the highest level until 38 so here's hoping Thomas can prove himself to be that in the next 15 years :)

AM: Steve Sumner

Yeah, I put in "from centre mid" but probably didn't make it clear enough, sorry! I meant to say he operates/plays like Makelele did except further up the park, he can really do anything for Zwolle