Matthew Pollock

Handyside now there's a player, Rolls Royce of a centreback, as you say everything but pace, I was still surprised he didn't make the step up to the Premiership.  Christ we used to have quality players.

Pollock can deliver a good long pass too. Not just a hulking hoof merchant.

But I agree with Pen Penfras in that Bennett was better, though markets change and we might end up getting more for him.

I remember our zealous fans saying McKeown was worth £500,000 at one time.

Don't think we ever had an offer.

The thing I like about the lad is his feet seemingly are flat on the ground and doesn’t get fazed by any speculation about his future. He turned down the opportunity to train with top flight clubs during the summer and undoubtedly has a bright future ahead of him.

It’s not always a case of selling the golden egg but seeing what hatches. The lad is learning his trade still and with some decent coaching will develop even further. And we now have a manager and assistant that can actually do some training with the players and not focused on boardroom activity and the £££££

His pace can be improved; he could shed a few pounds and could be coached about how he moves over the first 5 yards or so - a centre half doesn't often have to chase players for very long, it's more often about the striker's position and how they accelerate.
His starting position is crucial (how he reads the game) and he seems to have that already.

A big test for him at a higher level is how he deals with strikers who have strength, speed and skill. He's really only used to playing against strikers with the first 2. He'll be found out if he can't deal with a striker who turns him, accelerates quickly, holds the ball close and gets an early shot off (those strikers exist, we just haven't seen one for a long time).

Quoted from rancido

That was the whole ethos of Dario Gradi when he ran the show at Crewe for all those years. Produce one good player a year whose sale could guarantee the clubs survival - job done. Produce a second who could've then strengthen the team. I read an article about him many times years ago where he explained his whole approach to player development and Crewes' survival.

I’m not sure Dario Gradi is the best person to be aspiring to to be honest looking at what went on behind the scenes at Crewe’s youth set up

He doesn’t look like a rookie when he’s playing, he’s probably the best player in the squad and has managed 50 games at 19 even with the Covid break.

He’s totally dominant in the air, has developed really well on the ball and has an excellent attitude. His lack of pace shouldn’t hold him back greatly as he’s such a good reader of the game. He’s your Harry Maguire style centre half. I’d like to see his contract extended but I expect him to leave for well over a million.

I’ve said it before but pace isn’t everything at centre half. If they can read the game well enough and have positional sense then they’ll find themselves in the right place more times than not. Often you see a centre half with pace sprinting back to win a recovery challenge, but what’s not seen is that they’d got themselves in the wrong position to begin with. For me, Mattie has the positioning and reads the game like a 35 year old veteran. Sky’s the limit in my opinion.

According to BBC Sports, Wolves are leading the charge for Mattie. I wonder if he will go in Jan?

"Wolves are leading West Brom and Fulham in the race to sign Grimsby's 19-year-old English defender Mattie Pollock"

Think it is enviable that Pollock will be sold. All I ask for is that we learn from previous mistakes. I want to see him loaned back till then end of the season. A decent sell of fee, an international clause, a friendly and a potentially ask for another loanee to come.