FGR did us more of a favour!

[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.