we don't want you..............

[Micalijo]

He has not been shafted at all for me. Who has shafted him? McCabe, the famed chill wind? we had to cut back wages for obvious reasons. Surely he knew alot of what was coming when he was talked into staying - he must have asked some questions. McCabe will have said we're cutting back and selling Kyles but it wasnt a total withdrawal by McCabe - hence Evans etc.

He is in charge of a big CCC club averaging 25k and whose wage bill has been cut from very high levels to still very good levels compared with the rest of the division.

Why does this equate to being shafted? He spent big money in CCC terms on Evans, Taylor and Willo and has always been given the go ahead to bring in loan players as far as I can tell. The thing is his ability to pick the right player is terrible and is ability to improve a player seems equally as bad.

 

[LouTheBlade]

As for the players on full contracts, Evans for me is not atrocious, just like Billy wasn't they're just the wrong players for the way we play.

Lou - Reid, from what I read was handled in the right way, his family are down south and he had some family issues that also contributed to him not settling

If I had to be drawn on this one, i'd say Blackie made a good decision to loan Reid.

As for the big outlays on so called dud's its only a flop if we can't recoup the cash or he doesn't come good. Ched had a 3 year contract doesn't he? So has time

Ched is a big strong lad, who has also shown glimpses of being able to play with his feet. A player with his attributes should score goals in any team and any system. His problems are not in any way down to the style of football United adopt. He's played in sides that pass the ball and sides that play the percentages. In all of those sides he has acquitted himself well, but why not at the lane. It's about the player and his mentality, nothing convinces me otherwise.

I understand Reid being homesick and having personal issues or whatever else but it's about being professional and getting the backing of your manager/team mates through a tough time. I'm sure most of us have had difficulties in our lives at some point but it doesn't stop us doing our job. I'm not buying the idea that Kyle's personal issues are the only reason he's at Charlton.

Billy Sharp is not a victim of the way we play, he is a victim of being asked to adopt a completely alien role. If you watch footage of him playing for United and then playing for Donny you will see what I mean.......

KB persisted with playing him in the channels and pushing the ball to him in those areas. He is completely ineffectual in those areas and as a result could not play the way he is accustomed to. At Donny O'Driscoll plays him as the furthest man up the field (i.e. centre forward). As a result he gets to all the knock-ons, flicks, low crosses and deflections. Wa-laa.....what do know, he's banging in goals!

Using a player like Billy isn't difficult and he can score goals in a team playing any style of football. But he needs to be played as a centre forward or he wont.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

In defence of Billy being played wrong; should he have been our centre forward instead of Beatie?

 

[LouTheBlade]

In defence of Billy being played wrong; should he have been our centre forward instead of Beatie?

That is a perfectly valid point and one I have made before, in the sense that we shouldn't have signed both when we already had Hulse on the books. Seemed a waste of reddies to me. But Bobson had an idea in his head that he could play two out and out centre forwards in Beattie and Sharp alongside each other..........................

Of course it didn't work and over the course of the next 12 months or so, Sharp was asked to play as a foil to Beattie who occupied the centre forward role. That's where Billy's problem started.

 

[BarcaBlade]

It's a common trait of players mainly, occasionally managers.

It's actually a pretty common trait of leaders. When did you ever hear Blair or Thatcher apologise? Bush? Reagan?

 

[LouTheBlade]

It's actually a pretty common trait of leaders. When did you ever hear Blair or Thatcher apologise? Bush? Reagan?

That's true and I suppose it's due to the fact that they have to appear strong in their convictions and back up what they believe in. If they changed their minds every five minutes or constantly admitted they got it wrong, there would be up-roar.

The public are very fickle and will aim criticism at whatever direction the wind is blowing in, which presents the biggest problem. I suppose from that perspective, even at a football club you have to convince yourself as the manager that you were right.

 

[Darthblade]

He can't get us organised because he hasn't got the ability to do it with a lower class of player. You and I could get results with Kenny, Naughton, Walker, Killa, Morgan, Naysmith, Ugo etc to choose from at the back.

I'm worried Swiss that you are still showing hints of sympathy! Willo is a crock, decent player but a crock - that is not bad luck. It is desperation from a shite manager. Evans is atrocious for me, Harper is past it. Taylor will never have the physical attricbutes to hack it at top of CCC, or any level of CCC. Blackwell has got it totally wrong in vast majority of cases. Cresswell is excellent for us. Other than that nothing. Ward got sent off when it mattered and KB doesn't like him imo. He's OK, nowt special IMO but better than owt else we've got.

I'm not sure where we are disagreeing re loans because as I said KB choose the path of loans - which is what I think you are saying in your first sentence

I agree with you that Blackwell is a lower division manager and has "cocked up" on so many levels this season, but I still think that Evans deserves to be given a chance under a proper manager playing proper football, not "hoofball".
He has looked lost in so many games, BUT with the ball whistling round his ears all the time, I think Pele would struggle.
UTB