17-04-2024, 06:15 PM
(17-04-2024, 04:39 PM)bluetagagain Wrote: I’m not denying that at all, he has massively improved. My criticism of him is that when the going gets tough he disappears, he does track back there’s no denying that but he rarely tackles. He’s had one great season and is nowhere the finished article. I’d be surprised if he’s first choice at Norwich next season. Personally I believe Lane is a far better prospect.
Paddy Lane is three years older and has had a lot more experience in adults football. I also think Lane is fantastic but his circumstances are very different to Kamara's. There's no evidence he disappears when the going gets tough. He's quite often produced something to get us going when games have been edgy and tight. I certainly don't want my wingers tackling unless they absolutely have to either.
My feeling is that if Kamara was one of our academy lads, there would be absolutely no doubts about him. Because he's a loanee, so young and sometimes frustrating, the goalposts get moved for him. Earlier in the season his lack of goals and assists were the stick used to beat him with. Then the goals and assists came and suddenly that small handful of naysayers would say things like 'Kamara didn't do anything apart from the goal/assist'. It feels like he is being judged to a higher standard than everyone else.
He has still got a bit to improve on, namely his right foot crossing at the byline but it has been a special second half of the season from him and denying that is denying the evidence of your own eyes and ears. That Bolton lad looked utterly terrified when Kamara was running at him for out first goal last weekend. He's made 50 appearances this season woth 40 of them being starts. He's never played this many games in a season before senior or junior. There's no way that he, Pompey or Norwich even anticipated him starting 40 odd games.