No home comforts for winger on Cardiff return
Pompey's on-loan winger David Cotterill
David Cotterill returns to Cardiff tomorrow looking to inject life into his campaign against his hometown club.
Cotterill will expect to ride a gauntlet of hate as he steps out at the Cardiff City Stadium against the Bluebirds.
His association with Pompey’s opponents will count for nothing in the clash, with the home fans focusing on the fact the on-loan winger’s parent club is their hated rivals Swansea.
Cotterill has already felt the full force of the intensity of that relationship, after his parent’s home was vandalised when they previously met.
The 23-year-old will aim to find his own feet tomorrow as Pompey continue their finale to their Championship campaign.
Any lingering hopes of making the play-offs were extinguished following Tuesday’s comprehensive 3-0 defeat to Coventry.
But Cotterill and many others have plenty to play for still, as they look to catch the eye over the remainder of the season.
The Welsh international’s form has dipped after a flying start, following his arrival at the club.
Steve Cotterill puts that down to the winger’s curse of often drifting in and out of games.
However, he stated the player still has a big role to play over the rest of the campaign.
Boss Cotterill said: ‘You can be in the game and out of the game as a winger.
‘I think it doesn’t help when you are that type of player.
‘Unfortunately for him, he got taken off at Reading because I wanted to go with a 4-3-2 and keep two up top.
‘It was difficult to keep him on when we had our three in the middle already.
‘He was unfortunate with that and the goal he got against Preston was a perfectly good goal.
‘He has perhaps dipped a little bit but I think that’s what happens with those type of players.
‘He is a whippy-type winger and they can be very in and out. That’s where they are.
‘There are five games left between now and the end of the season and he’s been involved with 11 since being here.
‘That’s 11 more than he would have been involved with at Swansea.
‘He came in and started very well.
‘He scored at Ipswich and set a couple up and he was unlucky not to score against Preston.
‘He has had a quiet time of late but we will be looking at all things over the next few games.
‘There is the Easter weekend coming up, too, so all players will be used between now and the end of the season.’
Cotterill’s arrival at Pompey on emergency loan in February boosted a threadbare squad which was short of options out wide following the departure of John Utaka to Montpellier.
It also meant, however, a loan signing had to drop out of the squad, with only five of the six temporary additions allowed to be named on a matchday.
It is just another example of the juggling act manager Cotterill has had to undergo this season.
And he is determined lessons are learned on the recruitment front moving forward.
Cotterill said: ‘It’s not easy finding someone wide as we had to a few weeks ago.
‘What you have to bear in mind is that when we brought someone in we’ve had to leave players out.
‘Working with five and six loan players from August is bordering on ridiculous.
‘If you get one or two at the beginning of the season who will be good for the whole season then no problem.
‘But for all of them to be in the team you have problems if you get injuries.
‘I’d like five next season but 20 permanents before them.
‘Those loans had to be in this season’s 20 when we were getting rid of all the others.
‘Nothing’s changed really from coming out of administration.
‘From the first three months to what happened after, it hasn’t been different really.
‘The only way it would have been different would have been if we bought someone in the transfer window but we sold.
‘That was the only way we would strengthen because we couldn’t have more loans.’
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Comments
There are 17 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
MileEnder
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 04:06 PMJägermeister - LOL!!! Yeah, seen plenty of them over the years!! ;-)
Kenwright
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 02:09 PMNo reporting of the Secret Squirrel club meeting last night yet then either here or on the Trust website. How does that make those of you who paid their £5 to join but were unable to attend this meeting feel? .
MileEnder
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 01:41 PMJägermeister - LOL!!! Yeah, seen plenty of them over the years!! ;-)
MileEnder
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 01:38 PMKen - I know but its just one of them things you know you shouldn't but it just calls out to you ............"read me"!!!!! LOL
MileEnder
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 01:36 PMI would certainly change things if it went on for any length of time but I am still aware that "creative players" do not remain in a game for the full ninety minutes they drift and then produce something special ....... surely you have to agree with that??? Ken ......... , my excuse ..... I have to read your comments!!!
Appy pompeii
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 01:14 PMMILEENDER- YOU SAID ' "creative players" do not remain in a game for the full ninety minutes they drift and then produce something special ....... surely you have to agree with that??? '---- I do agree, the only problem is the last bit, producing something special LOL :)
Kenwright
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 01:10 PMMile Ender......no you dont, its not compulsory.
MileEnder
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 12:46 PMI would certainly change things if it went on for any length of time but I am still aware that "creative players" do not remain in a game for the full ninety minutes they drift and then produce something special ....... surely you have to agree with that??? Ken ......... , my excuse ..... I have to read your comments!!!
Appy pompeii
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 11:35 AMMile-ender- SC is allowed to blame everyone else! I don't I just blame him. And it's not that I want SC out I would be happy for him to stay (for 7 or 8 games next season) if he was told he was going to have an assistant. If your winger is out of the game you change things. So If you were the manager and could see a player wasn't getting involved what would you do? I myself would change the system and try and bring that player in. I take it youwould think it's all ok it's the nature of the possition! Oh there goes another goal. 2 nil down............... ----------------------------KEN POST 8 LMAO
Kenwright
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 11:02 AMMileEnder.. You've heard our excuse,what's yours?????? LoL
MileEnder
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 10:45 AMOMG!!! Well that explains a lot its no wonder we get such innane comments. Read the thing first will you we dont just want to hear your "reasoned" opinion!!! Plus Jagermeister, a winger will drift in and out of a match ...... its the nature of the position. Even the best ones due. Dont blame SC for everything just because you want him out.
Appy pompeii
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 09:44 AMken you said 'Mind you I must admit that I dont read half the stuff that the News put up before I comment on it' Brilliant :) I don't either LMAO
andi4asg
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 09:30 AMKenwright He is a Swansea player (comes from Cardiff) but as I understand it is only a Premier League rule, so he may be allowed to face SWANSEA in a couple of weeks time
Kenwright
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 09:28 AMHells Bells Jager you're right............................................................. Mind you I must admit that I dont read half the stuff that the News put up before I comment on it. Whatever made me think he was a Cardiff player........senility seems to be creeping up amd not slowly either. LoL
Appy pompeii
Friday, April 15, 2011 at 09:18 AMmorning Ken where are your reading specs ? :) 'His association with Pompey’s opponents will count for nothing in the clash, with the home fans focusing on the fact the on-loan winger’s parent club is their hated rivals Swansea.' Was barbie walking about naked or something LOL
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