Rotherham United – Jamal Baptiste
I know they beat us 3-0 at their place, but the player who impressed me that day, World Cup-bound Ar’jany Martha, was awful at ours. One player who was not was Jamal Baptiste, on loan from Sheffield United. He was a real force, even in the 3-0 win for us, and he stuck out like a sore thumb.
He felt like the one player who didn’t deserve to be in that pitiful Rotherham side. I noted it, Chris noted it, and I think anyone with a football brain could see he was shining bright in a team generally peddling darkness. He’s got huge potential.
Stevenage – Harvey White
Stevenage have a lot of functional players, a lot of players you wouldn’t think of as being great, but who contribute to this machine that wins games. I wouldn’t sign Piergiani, Pattenden or Earley, but all had really good games against us.
Charlie Goode, maybe, but I did like White in the centre of the park. Him and Dan Kemp looked tidy on the ball, but at 24, White is one with a better future I feel. He flourished on the ball but also didn’t look out of place in a side that used strength and force as much as ability and technique. Being able to bridge that gap is a real talent.
Stockport County – Adama Sidibeh
Hypocrite alert… when we were linked with Sidibeh, I called the rumour unfounded and felt he wasn’t a player who would fit our style.
Now I’ve seen him, I can see how he would. His energy is impressive, and he seems like a real handful, making runs, stretching defences and bagging a few goals. The obvious pick here would have been Norwood, but not for me.
If only Sidibeh were a couple of years younger, I would predict a big Championship future for him, but at 27, it really needs to be now or never. If Stockport go up, I’ll be fascinated to see how he adapts.
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