FGR did us more of a favour!

[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.

[laddo]

Exactly, totally agree. Ardley wasted him, Burchnall (hugely) improved him, and Williams has improved him (even) more.

Although that view is slightly simplistic as it puts all the responsibility, credit and blame on the head coaches and not the player. Same applied on here with Eli Sam M'lord, no blame attached to the player if attitude not the best, or not fit enough for 70+ minutes. Unless you are reguarly viewing training sessions you are part guessing a fan and left with a little rumour and innuendo.

[1955pie]

That's a great piece. RR and Maca must be the 2 most feared players in the NL.

I believe Ruben when he says he would've moved on, but I think that might reflect what the squad think in general about IB's departure.

They gave their all to the promotion campaign, had key injuries for the Grimsby game, were devastated, and would know what we've all worked out - IB was committing to his new job just as we were preparing for that game of the season. To leave so quickly after the final whistle, I'm off to L1, you guys didn't even get out of NL to L2, see ya - might not have inspired all to think 'best of luck' even if they had to say it.

^^^ This ^^^

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[optipez]

Rodriguess has always shown talent but he was gasping by half time when he first signed. Him and Sam were nowhere near the fitness levels required and it took them most of their first season to get up to speed. Ruben couldn't do what's being asked of him this season then, he just didn't have the stamina.

[laddo]

Rodriguess has always shown talent but he was gasping by half time when he first signed. Him and Sam were nowhere near the fitness levels required and it took them most of their first season to get up to speed. Ruben couldn't do what's being asked of him this season then, he just didn't have the stamina.

Thank you Optipez for mentioning that, it's something that was well-known that first seasoon and absent from AC in-depth analysis.

[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