Just remember Matt you were the one to say Mozica was our saviour hope I spelt it right.ferrarilover wrote: But it is up to me (and any other individual) what my opinion of the potential signings is. If Stevens was lined up to be signing for, say, Burton or Newport or Bury or any other L2 side, I'd laugh my socks off and I'd be commenting (probably on the Ex-Gull thread) that I thought he was sh*t and that he's a poor signing. That he's signing for Torquay doesn't change my opinion of him as a player.
And for the 90 minutes of a match, that is precisely how it shall be. I make absolutely no secret of the fact that I detest Rene Howe as a footballer, but for the hour and a half each week that he was my team's centre forward, he was the best player in the league and I would shout and cheer myself horse in support of him. Same goes for this lot. All the while this remains the internet and not some official channel directly to the players' E-Mail inboxes, I shall criticise the idea of signing a player who, in my view, simply isn't anywhere near good enough. If I meet Danny down the pub or in the street or he's wearing TUFC yellow, then he shall be given all the encouragement and good wishes that I can muster. The same goes for the management team. If Chris signs a bloke, then he has done the right thing all the while it matters. When it doesn't matter (ie, on the internet) then I'll voice an opinion, just like everyone else.
True enough, but not relevant. We're not moaning at them, we're moaning about them in a setting they are unlikely (and unwise) to venture into. We're all offering opinions based on what we know of Danny. He's too small, he's too slow and he's not got enough talent to make up for his physical shortcomings. I'm not basing this on Football Management, or unqualified statistics, I'm basing it on a general knowledge of the game and having spent 5 years watching him every week. No, I don't have the UEFA Pro licence, I haven't played professionally, but I can still tell you that Ronaldo is the world's best player and that Lee Mansell isn't going to be on the jet to Brasil. I know this because of what I know about the game and what I've seen. The same knowledge and experience which tells me that Danny Stevens isn't going to make any significant impact on our season and, as the situation exists at this moment, that is what we need.
And a 5th choice winger/grossly inexpert back-up to some other midfield positions isn't going to change that situation. Danny would be no better than third choice in any position on the pitch (GK: 5, LB: 3, CB: 10, RB: 4, LW: 5, CM: 10, RW: 5, CF: 6). Quite how that is an effective use of our minute budget is entirely beyond me, I'm afraid.
Which is fine, at Ryman Premier level, where no one has even a modicum of talent, but sadly, at FL level, this isn't enough. Just running about a bit and "working hard" isn't enough. If it were, I'd be at Man Utd. No one will run about a bit as much as me, I'm the King of running about a bit. At FL level, you need a dose of talent to go with work rate. While working hard can make up for a low level of ability, it won't mask a total absence. Watching Danny pick up the ball, run 30 yards down the wing with it, then turn round and pass it back to O'Connor who is 10 yards further back then where Danny started certainly represents good work rate, but it's absolutely pointless. Contrast this with Chaps or Bodin who will carry the ball 30 yards, then skip past their attending defender and get in a cross. Working hard needs to be combined with a level of aptitude which Danny, demonstratively, does not have.
This, patently, is bollocks... for about a million reasons.
So no, thanks Noodle, I won't be rolling out the bunting and tying a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree to welcome back either Danny or Scotty. They're neither one of them good enough and I'm happy with my decision to disagree with Jesus and Lee. Of course, this comes with the proviso that I don't want to be right. I want to be catastrophically wrong. I want to be as wrong as Neville Chamberlain. I want to be as wrong as Michael Fish. I want to be as wrong as William H. Stewart. Sadly, like those three men and countless others through history, I really don't think I am.
Matt.
Priceless! (No offence to Potnoodle, just laughing with FL's sense of humour)
Also, is this thread the most off-topic this year ? ^.^
