It was good that Gumbs performance was recognised by the Echo with a MoM award while I read that Pilling featured in the NLP team of the week.
Micky's approach towards the youngsters has frustrated me up to now. Carden did the difficult thing with Mitch Duggan and actually gave him some playing time, initially in midfield and later as right-back. He looked capable in both roles, having spent last season mostly playing at right-back while on loan. However MM almost immediately shipped him out again, with what sounded like a weak excuse about needing to work out what his best position was (what's wrong with versatility?). He's not the finished article and there may be issues with discipline, as he's been sent off a couple of times at Warrington or the manager may have other reservations, but I do feel his energy in midfield could have been useful in the run-in, while had he been available, arguably a better bet for right wing-back than Buxton now Vaughan is out.
Omotola is out on loan with Witton making the play-offs, while Askew seems to have totally disappeared off the radar, was he injured yesterday? Clarke and Croughan made the bench at Chelmsford, but the former went off presumably injured at Maidstone. Of the rest aside from Fleming, who'd played reasonably in a pre-season friendly at Lairds, not seen any of the others in action.
While I don't expect to see those who starred at Maidstone parachuted into the play-off squad, there is a strong case for Gumbs inclusion. Longer term, I hope MM has become more open minded and receptive to giving the youngsters some opportunity. In particular, I would prefer to see a balanced bench with young players rather than a bench full of forwards simply because of their experience and regardless of likely need during a game.
On the short goalie issue, Paul Cooper at Ipswich was a great keeper from that era too despite a lack of inches.
