Free Agents/Midfielders

[ramAnag]

Last hurrah is basically giving him another shot to see out his career. Some player's play better with age then they do when they are younger and having a veteran midfielder in our team who knows the club inside out would be the icing on the cake to complete our midfield. More experience the better.

I know what a 'last hurrah' is thanks, and I'm sure you're right...that 'some players play better with age', though personally I can't think of many. Perhaps - excluding goalkeepers - you could give some examples of those who perform better at the end of their careers.
Either way I'm not sure Commons would be one of them. Wisdom (not Andre...or Norman) rather than fitness tends to come with age, hence I prefer a healthy mixture of youth and experience to the 'more experience the better'. Still I look forward to your examples and agree about Joe Ledley...providing we don't expect him to be available week in week out.

[Rams4Justice]

I know what a 'last hurrah' is thanks, and I'm sure you're right...that 'some players play better with age', though personally I can't think of many. Perhaps - excluding goalkeepers - you could give some examples of those who perform better at the end of their careers.
Either way I'm not sure Commons would be one of them. Wisdom (not Andre...or Norman) rather than fitness tends to come with age, hence I prefer a healthy mixture of youth and experience to the 'more experience the better'. Still I look forward to your examples and agree about Joe Ledley...providing we don't expect him to be available week in week out.

If we was going for the young and experienced then why have we not used our academy to full effect is it the simple being that the academy graduates are simply not good enough to be in the starting 11 and come nowhere near as close to being another Will Hughes? or is it the simple being we prefer professionals to graduates?

Experience or Talent the mind ponders.....

[ramAnag]

If we was going for the young and experienced then why have we not used our academy to full effect is it the simple being that the academy graduates are simply not good enough to be in the starting 11 and come nowhere near as close to being another Will Hughes? or is it the simple being we prefer professionals to graduates?

Experience or Talent the mind ponders.....

Does it?
I'd like to think a bit of both, but as regards the academy players...I guess they're maybe just not ready yet, although I think Max Lowe might be first choice if he could ever stay fit.

P.S. That's just a long list of players who might be praised for their longevity...they didn't necessarily get better towards the end of their careers.

[Rams4Justice]

Does it?
I'd like to think a bit of both, but as regards the academy players...I guess they're maybe just not ready yet, although I think Max Lowe might be first choice if he could ever stay fit.

P.S. That's just a long list of players who might be praised for their longevity...they didn't necessarily get better towards the end of their careers.

Most players in their 30's tire and lose their edge and not good as they once was when they were younger but not those player's.

[ramAnag]

Most players in their 30's tire and lose their edge and not good as they once was when they were younger but not those player's.

Sorry, there isn't one of those players who remained as good (or got better, as you claimed) with age.
To take the three examples we're all most familiar with...do you honestly think Beckham was as good at LA Galaxy as at Man.Utd, that Terry is as good at Villa as he was a decade ago at Chelsea or that Giggs was as dynamic once he began to lose his pace?
There's a reason why they step down a league and lose their international status.

[Rams4Justice]

Sorry, there isn't one of those players who remained as good (or got better, as you claimed) with age.
To take the three examples we're all most familiar with...do you honestly think Beckham was as good at LA Galaxy as at Man.Utd, that Terry is as good at Villa as he was a decade ago at Chelsea or that Giggs was as dynamic once he began to lose his pace?
There's a reason why they step down a league and lose their international status.

Beckham was good wherever he went Man Utd, AC Milan, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy & PSG. His play never died even in his 30's. Terry early doors for him yet to decide on if he will be good at Villa or not but before he left Chelsea he was as good as he had ever been right to the end. Giggs played till he was in his 40's still as creative as ever until the end when Man Utd wore out he knew his time was up he bowed out in style. Wayne Rooney was given a choice to play on for England because his form for Everton lately has been good but he chose not to and retired himself from International duty but if he continues his form he could change his mind and come back to the England squad if he get's asked again.

[ramAnag]

Beckham was good wherever he went Man Utd, AC Milan, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy & PSG. His play never died even in his 30's. Terry early doors for him yet to decide on if he will be good at Villa or not but before he left Chelsea he was as good as he had ever been right to the end. Giggs played till he was in his 40's still as creative as ever until the end when Man Utd wore out he knew his time was up he bowed out in style. Wayne Rooney was given a choice to play on for England because his form for Everton lately has been good but he chose not to and retired himself from International duty but if he continues his form he could change his mind and come back to the England squad if he get's asked again.

Have it your own way. Human beings tend to develop, peak and decline. Professional sportsmen are no exception...it all just tends to happen a little more quickly.

[Manofpride]

Beckham was good wherever he went Man Utd, AC Milan, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy & PSG. His play never died even in his 30's. Terry early doors for him yet to decide on if he will be good at Villa or not but before he left Chelsea he was as good as he had ever been right to the end. Giggs played till he was in his 40's still as creative as ever until the end when Man Utd wore out he knew his time was up he bowed out in style. Wayne Rooney was given a choice to play on for England because his form for Everton lately has been good but he chose not to and retired himself from International duty but if he continues his form he could change his mind and come back to the England squad if he get's asked again.

R4J, I disagree on this.
Ask any manager in the entire football league that if he could pick any players from those you mentioned in post 9 above, would he prefer them in their early twenties or at the ages of 30+ I know what they'd all say! oh and Commons was not cult hero at Derby more like Judas. To try and put his name along side cult heroes like Bloomer, Mackay Hector Saunders McFarland Todd George Stimac etc is just talking daft!

[Rams4Justice]

"Maybe they just not ready yet" or our recruitment has been poor.

[Rams4Justice]

Xavi, Fabio Cannavaro, Paolo Maldini, Craig Bellamy, Eric Abidal, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Antonio Di Natale, Juan Sebastien Veron, Rio Ferdinand, Emmanuel Adebayor, Esteban Cambiasso, Rodrigo Palacio, Kaka, Klass-Jan Huntelaar, Maxwell, Didier Drogba, Andrea Barzagli, Stephan Lichtstiener, Bacary Sagna, Nemanja Vidic, Xabi Alonso, Carlos Tevez, Daniele De Rossi, Ashley Cole, Francesco Totti, Dante, John Terry, Andrea Pirlo, Dani Alves, Arjen Robben, Stevie G, Robin van Persie, Yaya Toure, Frank Ribery, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Philipp Lahm. Never lost their touch in their 30's and still performed to the best of their abilities.