FGR did us more of a favour!

[the_anticlough]

Incredibly harsh by Ruben for me. He wasn't exactly great in a Notts shirt until he worked under Burchnall. I actually remember Notts fans were questioning whether the owners, knew what they were doing regarding signings after Eli Sam and Ruben were poor under Ardley. Williams has no doubt taken the team to another level especially off the ball, but to make out IB didn't help his development is outrageous imo.

Not a good reading IMO, Kyle.
Ruben doesn't say he didn't help

I've been following Ruben's career at Notts closer than most... He WAS stunning under Ardley in those first few games - he showed in bursts that he was a clear cut above and could be the best player in the NL. It was there on film all the time. Fitness and defensive lapses caused Ardley to marginalise him. Instead of building up his fitness with game time he kept subbing or benching him, in favour of Doyle, O'Brien, Reeves etc.

Burchnall and Ross kept him out for their first 6 or 7 games too. You could argue they only brought him back to some popular demand, but more to do with the fact they were losing almost every game playing those above plus Knowles and Knight. It was a joke. Our season only got moving the first game Ruben finally got back and he drove us back into the play-off picture.

The fact that some fans were following some of the media guys in writing RR off reflects on their poor judgement only.

I think it's pretty much consensus on here that NA mismanaged RR's talents.
As for IB, he prefers LW! My guess is that LW isn't so much of a control freak, would never say nonsense like take only 8 practice free-kicks only and insist on going thru his training schedules to the last letter. Having said all that, Ruben didn't say Burchnall didn't help and I can't see anything wrong he said in that interview.

[Elite_Pie]

I've been following Ruben's career at Notts closer than most... He WAS stunning under Ardley in those first few games - he showed in bursts that he was a clear cut above and could be the best player in the NL.

I kind of agree. Right from the start Ruben's ability was plain to see, but he was often frustrating to watch because didn't use it to influence games the way he does now. He had a tendency to drift in and out of the match with frequent spells where he was anonymous. Ardley wasted him, Burchnall improved him, and Williams has improved him more. I hope we keep him for the rest of the season.

[the_anticlough]

I hope we keep him for the rest of the season.

When you have that type of talent you have to fast-track it to peak performance. They did anything but.

One way I look at it....August '21 saw the true picture....RR 100% important to Notts' season ahead. Doyle 0% finally retired after stretching out his playing career to 39/40 years of age

April '21 Doyle 100% importance to Ardley's team, Ruben 0% never gets a game.....but August's picture was true and April's was disastrous for our club.

Anyway, enough of that. The reason I only quote your last sentence is because that's probably the most important part of the interview - when he says he would regret leaving if we go on to win promotion.

He was referring to the summer but surely it's just as applicable to the January window. He wants to see out his contract.

Like you, I think that would be great news. I don't want to read on here some bean counter wanting the club to pocket 400-500K ish at the expense of losing a difference maker like Ruben.

[laddo]

When you have that type of talent you have to fast-track it to peak performance. They did anything but.

One way I look at it....August '21 saw the true picture....RR 100% important to Notts' season ahead. Doyle 0% finally retired after stretching out his playing career to 39/40 years of age

April '21 Doyle 100% importance to Ardley's team, Ruben 0% never gets a game.....but August's picture was true and April's was disastrous for our club.

Anyway, enough of that. The reason I only quote your last sentence is because that's probably the most important part of the interview - when he says he would regret leaving if we go on to win promotion.

He was referring to the summer but surely it's just as applicable to the January window. He wants to see out his contract.

Like you, I think that would be great news. I don't want to read on here some bean counter wanting the club to pocket 400-500K ish at the expense of losing a difference maker like Ruben.

Neither do I. I also don't want to see someone on here say if we don't get promoted, that the recruitment approach is not working, not generating funds because we didn't actually cash in on the likes of Ruben or Wootton during the season because instead we gave ourselves the best chance of promotion by keeping them.

[Kyle95]

Not a good reading IMO, Kyle.
Ruben doesn't say he didn't help

I've been following Ruben's career at Notts closer than most... He WAS stunning under Ardley in those first few games - he showed in bursts that he was a clear cut above and could be the best player in the NL. It was there on film all the time. Fitness and defensive lapses caused Ardley to marginalise him. Instead of building up his fitness with game time he kept subbing or benching him, in favour of Doyle, O'Brien, Reeves etc.

Burchnall and Ross kept him out for their first 6 or 7 games too. You could argue they only brought him back to some popular demand, but more to do with the fact they were losing almost every game playing those above plus Knowles and Knight. It was a joke. Our season only got moving the first game Ruben finally got back and he drove us back into the play-off picture.

The fact that some fans were following some of the media guys in writing RR off reflects on their poor judgement only.

I think it's pretty much consensus on here that NA mismanaged RR's talents.
As for IB, he prefers LW! My guess is that LW isn't so much of a control freak, would never say nonsense like take only 8 practice free-kicks only and insist on going thru his training schedules to the last letter. Having said all that, Ruben didn't say Burchnall didn't help and I can't see anything wrong he said in that interview.

I cannot disagree with what you have just said, as quite simply it's easy to misinterpret what people say at times. For me i look at it as he was throwing a dig at IB. It's no secret he and Cal Roberts didn't get on with Burchnall however i could be putting 2 and 2 together and making 5. Regarding Ruben you make a valid point, he showed 'bursts' of quality under Ardley, but not often enough. Williams deserves credit for improving us further, but whether IB was a 'control freak' or not, it was Burchnall that set up the blueprint and helped attract Cameron and Palmer.

[the_anticlough]

I cannot disagree with what you have just said, as quite simply it's easy to misinterpret what people say at times. For me i look at it as he was throwing a dig at IB. It's no secret he and Cal Roberts didn't get on with Burchnall however i could be putting 2 and 2 together and making 5. Regarding Ruben you make a valid point, he showed 'bursts' of quality under Ardley, but not often enough. Williams deserves credit for improving us further, but whether IB was a 'control freak' or not, it was Burchnall that set up the blueprint and helped attract Cameron and Palmer.

Good points. I wasn't aware of rumours that RR and IB didn't get on. Cal I get.

[the_anticlough]

Fitness and defensive lapses caused Ardley to marginalise him. Instead of building up his fitness with game time he kept subbing or benching him, in favour of Doyle, O'Brien, Reeves etc.

You mean this, Laddo....

I love revisiting these old arguments - the point is that it shouldn't have taken til May to fix.
If RR's talent had been understood, his fitness would've been much more of a priority to management. But it was all about Doyler, Ben Turner, McCrory etc back then, howay 'the lads' and away with the radar

[ThaiPie]

Jimmy Knowles, I'd forgotten about him. Briefly known as Jimmy Goals.

He's still got time to come again, but it gives perspective to our current team.