Jack Sparkes

[SEA Grecian]

Jack has played well in the two League games so far….he links up so well with Hartridge and has been very good at carrying the ball out of defence deep into the opposition’s half…he makes up for little lack of pace with his trickery on the ball.

Exactly this. I get so frustrated when people focus on the negatives about a player rather than all the excellent things they can do.

 

[Martin Lawrence]

Exactly this. I get so frustrated when people focus on the negatives about a player rather than all the excellent things they can do.

Completely agree. Jack has great balance and can go inside and outside his full back. If he had pace, he definitely wouldn't still be with us.

 

[IndoMike]

Two things, either you're quick or you're not and no amount of training is going to make a massive difference. Secondly athletics sprinting is very different to football sprinting because of the element of the football. Athlete's run through their whole foot to generate their power and speed, ie the heel goes down first and you roll your foot across the ground before pushing off through the front of the foot. Footballers tend to to run off of the front end of their feet because it is nigh on impossible to control a ball running at speed using the sole of your foot to control the ball.

Next post

 

[IndoMike]

Two things, either you're quick or you're not and no amount of training is going to make a massive difference. Secondly athletics sprinting is very different to football sprinting because of the element of the football. Athlete's run through their whole foot to generate their power and speed, ie the heel goes down first and you roll your foot across the ground before pushing off through the front of the foot. Footballers tend to to run off of the front end of their feet because it is nigh on impossible to control a ball running at speed using the sole of your foot to control the ball.

Spot on again, except when it comes to chasing down a long ball in a race with a defender

 

[grecIAN Harris]

Spot on again, except when it comes to chasing down a long ball in a race with a defender

You do what naturally/habitually to you which would suggest he would sprint on his toes in that situation also.

 

[IndoMike]

You do what naturally/habitually to you which would suggest he would sprint on his toes in that situation also.

The good thing is that Sparkes has direct competition from Caprice, so that should really keep him on his toes.
Would you play the same team for the next league match, Harris, or make some changes? I was thinking really about Matty Jay. The gauntlet has really been thrown down for him.
And do you reckon he could play as line striker? I don't, but I'd like your opinion, which I value but often differ with.

 

[Super Ronnie Jepson]

He seems to have been around for ever but only turns 22 today. Happy birthday Jack.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1575376101253210112

 

[MJP_Exeter]

He seems to have been around for ever but only turns 22 today. Happy birthday Jack.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1575376101253210112

Was it really 6 years ago her came on at Swindon and clipped the post? That is scary. He has become integral to what we do down the left.

 

[Billy The Fish]

If only he hadn't suffered those long term injuries. Hope they are all behind him now.

 

[andrew p long]

Was it really 6 years ago her came on at Swindon and clipped the post? That is scary. He has become integral to what we do down the left.

just over 5 years. He was 16 in August 2017, due to turn 17 the following month, for that Swindon game.