Are you able or willing to expound on that ?

Interesting. Suspect you're saying he was asked to play in a way that didn't suit him? But wouldn't Potter change that?

I'm not sure what style suits him. He's not a particularly strong runner and if he's more of a playmaker we don't see it or he isn't allowed to play that role (but if he was that good surely he'd have been given a chance by now?).

I don't really know what Donaldson's best position / role is.

He's not big enough for a strong running second row type player, and I've never seen anything in him to suggest that he's a ball playing loose forward - even though he was touted as that when he first came.

If he's not careful he's going to end up another Matt Cook - lots of potential that never really gets fully realised

I can see the likeness with Cook. You can also see why the club are often reluctant to bestow young academy players with plaudits. It can put too much pressure on them. Seems they've done that with Donaldson. I hope he comes good. After all he could be a late developer. Over at Leeds there was plenty of sniping at the likes of Burrow, Diskin, Jones Buchanan etc when they were just coming through. I bet they're glad they were patient with them.

So you are saying the promise we saw in his debut has been coached out of him, massive shame if true. Can't help but think you are right

I suspect, to some extent, this is a bit of over analysis of a situation where a young player comes into the side and plays well and then has a serious injury which knocks him backwards.

So, he's been pushed back in the pecking order by Danny Addy; I say good for you Danny, bloody well played, you deserve all the accolades you're getting and now we have two great prospects, both of whom certainly have bags of ability but [istill [/imight or might not become stars of the game in the future.

To be honest I think talking about a teenager having all his ability 'coached' out of him is very premature.

I didn't say that, promise does not equal 'all his ability'

One of them is a great prospect, the other one..not so much.

Mick, could you do a quick comparison of Addy vs Donno from your perspective? So we can see the reasoning? Being serious - I'm quite interested. I have a gut feeling Addy will turn out to be quite a star for us if we can keep him but I also see in Donno very much a "thinking" player who - in due course - could turn games by playing smart. I was pretty impressed with him last year before his injury. Give us a for-and-against as you see it?

I was quite impressed with Donoldson last year but thought his size might hold him back. Perhaps if he developed as a Sinfield type player that might be his best option?

Yes, Addy is a player that can make something happen, he's got better vision and looks for something and works to make it happen. He looks for space and gets into it, he busts a few tackles and finds the smart pass. Probably doesnt get through as much work definsivley as Donaldson but when he's called upon to defend he makes the tackles usually. Donaldson on the other hand, doesnt offer us anything going forward, he doesnt make ground, doesnt get into space and his only hope going into a tackle is ducking under it. I haven't seen anything in Donaldson that leads me to think he could turn a game, where as Addy has already shown he can do it. Donaldson isnt big enough for the role he's being asked to play, he doesnt crash through tackles on the edges, he doesnt step around anybody and he doesn't break the line. There's more than likley a reason he isnt being asked to play a role like Sinfield does, and it's probably because his skills arn't good enough for it, and IMHO his skills and attributes arn't suited for the role he's playing now either.

Addy, Olbison and Whitehead are all heads and shoulders above Donno IMO. Haven't seen enough of Batemean, but I'd probably opt for him before Donno. I really don't rate him.

What have you seen from Donno that makes you think in the future he could turn games in the future? I mean he hasnt done anything as yet with the ball in hand has he?

Although the constant barrage of criticism aimed at Donaldson is, frankly, getting a bit tiresome, I find I agree with most of your points here....

Sibbit does a lot that goes unnoticed defensively, and is always ready to carry the ball. A very useful squad player to have in place until the younger guys are ready.

and besides all that donno refused to pick you up and give you a lift to that match last year