Hall Of Fame
Afternoon,
It's been about 2 years since my last post as I just found this board to be a little to emotionally pessimistic at the time, however, given our current trajectory, I thought I'd pop up like a former drug addict finding a baggy on the floor.
Question.
As Alan Smith and Mike Edwards left in the summer, did that leave a huge void (experience and knowledge) that is the catalyst for our current form?
Trialist
Don't post on here as much as I used to either. I would say losing Smith, Edwards, Ameobi, O'Connor and Dickinson has left a huge void In changing room. All 5 of them are big characters with lots of experience. The main catalyst Is our Recruitment during the last 2 transfer windows has been awful. All well and good signing Enzio, Hemmings and Dennis, but we sadly forgot the other end of the Pitch not to mention being left with a paper weight Centre Midfield.
Hall Of Fame
It can't have helped, that's for sure. Anyone who has had the misfortune of watching this team can tell that there are no characters or leaders there. Smith and Edwards should have stayed on as coaches, Shola should have been given a player-coach deal (how we could do with him off the bench!), and O'Connor and Collin should have been retained. Dickinson wasn't really good enough, but yeah, he was better than Jones.
Hall Of Fame
Absolutely we miss them. I alluded to this in a post earlier on this season that a big part of the support structure Kevin Nolan had was removed from the club in the summer.Originally Posted by Adi87
I don’t know why Smith, Edwards and Ameobi were allowed to simply leave unless they wanted to pursue alternative paths in which case it would be selfish to hold them back.
Many people used to complain about the likes of Smith but we are talking about a former England international who had played at the highest level and for Man Utd. That wealth of knowledge and experience is priceless to a club like ours.
Likewise with Ameobi again someone who had played at the top his whole career and was a fans favourite. I would have given him another year and a coaching role much like Smith where he makes the odd cameo.
Then we had Mike Edwards, knew the club inside out and had been there and done it with the club. Our fitness seems to have suffered since.
Taking three senior pros / coaches out of the club has obviously had a big impact in terms of the lost knowledge and experience along with their characters in the dressing room.
Now there are rumblings about Stead who again has been there and done it at the highest level. Trying to get players out of the club just because they are in their mid 30’s who have played at the highest level has got to stop.
Last edited by MAD_MAGPIE; 27-12-2018 at 05:50 PM.
Hall Of Fame
This obsession with age is something I don't understand. Every player is different, but to many it seems that once they reach 32 years of age "their legs have gone". I remember when the subject of Neal Bishop was discussed pre-season that I was in a very small minority who would have loved to have him back, the majority saying he was much too old and past it. It annoys the hell out of me having to listen how he's dominating games for Mansfield every time I drive home after seeing what we have to put up with in midfield.
Hall Of Fame
Yes and who kind of replaced them ?
A couple of ex red dogs that are completely detached from Notts County football club, they have never played for us, only against us and have absolutely no feelings for our great club !
Throughout all the different managers since Sheridan then crossley has remained whilst he’s spouted pro florest rubbish on his twitter account !
The sooner these pair are out of our club the better ! No time for hangers on
Hall Of Fame
Bit of retro fitting of facts here. Other than last season, weren’t we terrible for all of the time Alan Smith was at the club?
No idea what influence he and the others had behind the scenes, but I think the stats show we play fewer younger players than any other League 2 club. It seems we need more good young players rather than more old players or more coaches. David Vaughan?
Hall Of Fame
Before anyone argues even our florest poster that’s decent just ask yourself ....has the club improved since employing them ....the answer is no it has deteriorated completely !
Hall Of Fame
Same here I don’t understand either. These days with fitness regimes, healthy eating and general good lifestyles players who look after themselves and who have been lucky to avoid serious injury can easily do a job upto their mid 30’s and beyond. You tend to find these are the ones that have also grafted throughout their careers and love the game and love playing the game.
I note Kevin Ellison at Morecombe scored against us this season. He’s 39. Gary Thompson still plays as well also at Morecombe and he’s 38. He left us three years ago. Neal Bishop is 37 and is doing a job for Mansfield and I’d have had him here in the summer.
We have our own Jon Stead who is 35 and does a good job. Last season we had Shola Ameobi he was 36 and did a job. He was worth another year in my opinion to be used sparingly.
There is talk of Akinfenwa on another thread. He’s 36 and again I think he could do a job for us. So would welcome him here.
Hall Of Fame
This seems a good thread to mention getting in a veteran 'keeper too. What price a Carroll or Hoult shouting at the back right now?
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