Delph

[nigel]

He's, arguably, been one of our best performers over the last 4 or 5 games.
As PWS says, he seems to be playing further forward, which suits him better.
He was an attacking midfielder at Leeds when MO'N bought him, then oddly decided to turn him into a DM!!

[myf]

Started to play with confidence, decent runs forward taking people on and getting stuck in when needed.  Easily one of our better players at the minute

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Now he's having a good run in the team hes starting to show us how good he is and why we signed him. He is definitely our best midfielder

Careful - you'll have "Can Bent Be Bothered" after you.

I think somebody should tell him, in the Democratic Republic of H&V, he's allowed to change his mind.

[villan from luton]

He is starting to look lke a proper player, lets hope it continues, I think he can be a premiership player

[atticus snood]

I have high hopes for him. I think he's overcome some very tough hurdles.

[evalast1910]

What I think is nice, even if we do go down, we could have a midfield three of:

Delph - Westwood - Gardner

To me that is such a well balanced midfield that could be our '3' for the next 5-6 years!

[ozzjim]

We have the making of a very, very decent team, and Delph epitomises that. Talented very clearly, committed, hard working. But so far very inconsistent, but has been excellent now for 4-5 games. Hope he can stay fit.

The only gripe I have with him is when he runs the ball out to be careful on touch 3-4, where he often over runs it and has to tackle rather than make a pass.

[PaulWinch again]

We have the making of a very, very decent team, and Delph epitomises that. Talented very clearly, committed, hard working. But so far very inconsistent, but has been excellent now for 4-5 games. Hope he can stay fit.

The only gripe I have with him is when he runs the ball out to be careful on touch 3-4, where he often over runs it and has to tackle rather than make a pass.

Hmm not sure about that Ozz. We need several additions before we'd have a very decent team. I wouldn't want the likes of Baker and Bennett having to play a sequence of first team games.

[Ross]

Yep credit where it is due. Seems more settled and relaxed, that he belongs and it is showing. Starting to show really good signs - maybe losing the cert bet for a yellow card?

[ozzjim]

We have the making of a very, very decent team, and Delph epitomises that. Talented very clearly, committed, hard working. But so far very inconsistent, but has been excellent now for 4-5 games. Hope he can stay fit.

The only gripe I have with him is when he runs the ball out to be careful on touch 3-4, where he often over runs it and has to tackle rather than make a pass.

Hmm not sure about that Ozz. We need several additions before we'd have a very decent team. I wouldn't want the likes of Baker and Bennett having to play a sequence of first team games.

Bennett will come good trust me, there is a player in there too.

[not3bad]

Delph couldn't do anything right for the guys sitting behind me.

[sonlyme]

I believe that Delph is good enough - then again I think the vast majority of our young players are good enough.  There are exceptions.  Lichaj is a solid enough player - but I think he is at the top of his development.  Given, Ireland, and Bent can all go to pastures new in the summer for me.  I think the kids have what it takes - sure they'll make silly mistakes - but that is only down to a lack of premiership experience - something they didn't get enough of under both Houllier and McRubbish - who preferred experienced journeymen over raw promise.

This season alone - for all the horrible thrashings - I have seen them get better and better.  Today they managed to defeat a West Ham team that played both Andy Carroll and Carlton Cole up front and simply pumped the ball into the box.  Two months ago West Ham would have got something for their long balls.  Today they didn't.

Delph was enormous today.  He showed himself to be quick, tricky, and aggressive - yet played within the laws.  OK, once or twice he over-ran the ball again - but that doesn't take away from his contribution.  He will learn to break forward with more composure and when he does I think we will have a real player on our hands.  I may also add that Baker was immense today - as were Clark and Lowton.  Young men really working hard to earn their place in the team.

Yet how often have we heard the lament that these young men are not good enough.  It is myopic negative rubbish.

The sad fact is that some who follow our great club know very little about how to progress in football - or indeed about how to progress in anything.  Progress doesn't come from seeking someone to blame, for scapegoats,  or from continually sacking managers.  It comes from being supportive, learning from mistakes, being honest with oneself and one's colleagues, and working hard toward a shared goal.  Albeit - with no guarantees.

We may not be out of the woods yet - but recent performances suggest a corner has been turned on the park. I hope a corner has been turned among message boarders too.

We should be proud of our young exciting team - show the world we are proud of them - and roar them up the table - and on to even greater glory.

UTV

[Jockey Randall]

Delph is in the same boat as 80% of the current side, in 5 years time they'll be better than they currently are. The defenders especially.

[Greg N'Ash]

Still not convinced considering what we paid for him. It seems mental he's been here 3 and a half years and still hasn't made 40 appearances. Okay he had a bad injury but he's been back 2 years now. Needs to do more than shine in a few games a season before he gets transferred from the considerable "MON's transfer mistakes" list to the much more select "MON's transfer successes" one.

[Chipsticks]

Still not convinced considering what we paid for him. It seems mental he's been here 3 and a half years and still hasn't made 40 appearances. Okay he had a bad injury but he's been back 2 years now. Needs to do more than shine in a few games a season before he gets transferred from the considerable "MON's transfer mistakes" list to the much more select "MON's transfer successes" one.

As far as I'm concerned MON will have nothing to do with any success Delph has. Sure, he brought him to the club but did very little to develop him. TSM did more for his career than him.