JohnHarkes

Or maybe he's a young man struggling in life? ?‍♀️

I'm not a big watcher of the womens game to be honest but I have watched a fair few England matches and a few club games. It seems to me that there are differences to the male game, some of which are largely matter of physics. For example a 6ft 4in male goalkeeper is really not that unusual. That changes the dynamic a bit as there is a better chance of lobbing a female keeper who is typically several inches shorter. It's not just the difference in head height either, it is the proportional extra arm length that comes with being taller too, meaning that with a womens keeper there is typically a lot less keeper to beat so it seems to me that from games I've watched that you see greater success rates of more speculative ranged shooting.
Anyway, differences in the game aside, I'm not sure that I really understand the resistance to female pundits and commentators. We have had some male pundits/commentators with bags of footballing career experience who simply lack the skills to articulate their point. Equally, some of the best known and loved male commentators down the years like John Motson were not footballers but he has years of experience watching and commentating on the game at varying levels. It's not their 'maleness' that makes them good or bad.
One key thing for me is that a commentator role is slightly different to pundit in that it is partly just describing what you see and partly just capturing the essence and drama of the moment and putting on a performance. A pundit however will be put on the spot to provide an analytical assessment of why a team just threw away a 2 goal lead in a game that seemed won. That's why I guess you see a far higher proportion of ex players as pundits because they've been there and done that and can provide insight into how a game can swing and turn on a moment.
I've never played football at anything other than the most basic of amateur levels but I can remember frustration as a keeper as the defence in front of me started creeping back deeper and deeper to defend a lead and suddenly I'm having to gather crosses through a crowd of players or anticipate a shot through a forest of legs. I'm not sure that I would have even that limited insight if I hadn't played at all but in my own head it does give me at least some level of insight. Quite why then that people should think Alex Scott who played 140 games for her country is not qualified or up to the task is a little baffling. If you just don't think she's any good then that's different and all fine, we all have an opinion on football related matters and it's a game that creates strong opinions.

I think part of that was his passion, not to downplay his footballing ability, but on top of being a very good footballer I've never seen a loan player care so much. That's even considering a player like Leon Osman who pretty much single handedly saved us from relegation. If I hadn't had known otherwise I would've thought Tomori was playing for his boyhood club when he was with us!

Out of all the players we’ve been linked with he’s easily the most exciting, but I think the other are all necessary, even if they aren’t glamorous. 

Fair enough, but we hadn’t even paid our players a couple of weeks ago, we’re not in a position to be making big name signings and unlikely to be able to attract them either. We need solid, short term solutions to get us through the rest of this season. 
The club can’t afford to be paying big loan fees, or large percentages of big salaries if there’s still a chance we’ll be relegated.
Lee Gregory’s a solid back up in this league,  we need some grafters to get us through the next 4/5 months. 

Roberts is the sort of player that would excite me

Out of all the players we’ve been linked with he’s easily the most exciting, but I think the other are all necessary, even if they aren’t glamorous. 

Out of all the players we’ve been linked with he’s easily the most exciting, but I think the other are all necessary, even if they aren’t glamorous. 

Fair enough, but we hadn’t even paid our players a couple of weeks ago, we’re not in a position to be making big name signings and unlikely to be able to attract them either. We need solid, short term solutions to get us through the rest of this season. 
The club can’t afford to be paying big loan fees, or large percentages of big salaries if there’s still a chance we’ll be relegated.
Lee Gregory’s a solid back up in this league,  we need some grafters to get us through the next 4/5 months. 

Fair enough, but we hadn’t even paid our players a couple of weeks ago, we’re not in a position to be making big name signings and unlikely to be able to attract them either. We need solid, short term solutions to get us through the rest of this season. 
The club can’t afford to be paying big loan fees, or large percentages of big salaries if there’s still a chance we’ll be relegated.
Lee Gregory’s a solid back up in this league,  we need some grafters to get us through the next 4/5 months. 

He has Championship experience, and he’s a good option off the bench or in case Kazim-Richards gets injured. I think it’s a better option than playing the kids up top who would just get bullied.
I actually think Roberts is the signing to hopefully get us goals/create chances. The striker is purely back-up.

Fair enough, but we hadn’t even paid our players a couple of weeks ago, we’re not in a position to be making big name signings and unlikely to be able to attract them either. We need solid, short term solutions to get us through the rest of this season. 
The club can’t afford to be paying big loan fees, or large percentages of big salaries if there’s still a chance we’ll be relegated.
Lee Gregory’s a solid back up in this league,  we need some grafters to get us through the next 4/5 months. 

He might be Wayne Rooney, England and United’s record scorer, but we’re still Derby County, skint and 18th in the Championship.
Sturridge would be great, but when did he last play, and is he actually what we need right now?

He might be Wayne Rooney, England and United’s record scorer, but we’re still Derby County, skint and 18th in the Championship.
Sturridge would be great, but when did he last play, and is he actually what we need right now?

Beni Bangin'emin! It's a yes from me.

Beni Bangthemin... I'm a fan of his name. A defensive midfielder, probably to replace the injured Bielik. 

This deal fits to a rare category of win-win-win-situation.
We need money to address more important issues in our lineup and our need is imminent. Whittaker is someone we can sacrifice.
For Swansea, this is low-risk investment. MW might turn into a bargain.
And for the player himself this is great opportunity. Clearly not in favour of Rooney so it's good to move on.
Everyone's happy, right? 

Okay, I'll rephrase. Sounds a bit bitter when talking about a 16 year old boy... and his advisors. Hoping he 'enjoys 7-8 years of under 23 football and a move to Shrewsbury' sounds like it's aimed less at his advisors, however.
Besides, I think his advice is sound:

"Do you wanna sign a professional contract here at Derby, or for a team called Liverpool FC in a rather wet corner of England?"

"Hmmm... not sure. How good are the offers?"

"Well, Liverpool will pay you more, but you might have to do a few years in the U18s and U23s. Whereas Derby are far more likely to give you first team experience within the next year. However, getting paid isn't actually guaranteed..."

Okay, I'll rephrase. Sounds a bit bitter when talking about a 16 year old boy... and his advisors. Hoping he 'enjoys 7-8 years of under 23 football and a move to Shrewsbury' sounds like it's aimed less at his advisors, however.
Besides, I think his advice is sound:

"Do you wanna sign a professional contract here at Derby, or for a team called Liverpool FC in a rather wet corner of England?"

"Hmmm... not sure. How good are the offers?"

"Well, Liverpool will pay you more, but you might have to do a few years in the U18s and U23s. Whereas Derby are far more likely to give you first team experience within the next year. However, getting paid isn't actually guaranteed..."

Sounds a bit bitter when talking about a 16 year old kid. Loyalty in football only extends to fans being loyal to their club and that's it. We're happy enough to bin players off if they're not playing well, and even happier to shout abuse at them in the stands and on social media.
He's been given a chance to join the champions of England, who do actually try to bring youth through - Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Rhys Williams, Neco Williams etc. I'd think differently if he was joining Chelsea's young perpetual loanees.
The best players don't get to where they are by going for the safer option, he has to believe he's good enough to break into the side in a few years time. If he does, then who knows what he's capable of achieving, maybe he'll be a Sterling or a Sancho. And if he doesn't, he knows there's plenty of clubs willing to sign ex-Liverpool youth players... like us for example! Seems like it's a risk worth taking.

Sounds a bit bitter when talking about a 16 year old kid. Loyalty in football only extends to fans being loyal to their club and that's it. We're happy enough to bin players off if they're not playing well, and even happier to shout abuse at them in the stands and on social media.
He's been given a chance to join the champions of England, who do actually try to bring youth through - Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Rhys Williams, Neco Williams etc. I'd think differently if he was joining Chelsea's young perpetual loanees.
The best players don't get to where they are by going for the safer option, he has to believe he's good enough to break into the side in a few years time. If he does, then who knows what he's capable of achieving, maybe he'll be a Sterling or a Sancho. And if he doesn't, he knows there's plenty of clubs willing to sign ex-Liverpool youth players... like us for example! Seems like it's a risk worth taking.

There's a lot of animosity towards Kaide on here, which is sad. He's a brilliant young player, and he may make it at Liverpool, who knows? 
He might look at his brother Kellan's career path; he chose to stay at Derby, never got a real first team chance, left I think on a free transfer and is now plying his trade for young Nigel over at Mansfield. Great lad, earns a living from the game, but if I was him, I'd be telling Kaide to go for it. There are no definites in football, wherever you end up - why not go and try to compete with the very best? 

Sounds a bit bitter when talking about a 16 year old kid. Loyalty in football only extends to fans being loyal to their club and that's it. We're happy enough to bin players off if they're not playing well, and even happier to shout abuse at them in the stands and on social media.
He's been given a chance to join the champions of England, who do actually try to bring youth through - Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Rhys Williams, Neco Williams etc. I'd think differently if he was joining Chelsea's young perpetual loanees.
The best players don't get to where they are by going for the safer option, he has to believe he's good enough to break into the side in a few years time. If he does, then who knows what he's capable of achieving, maybe he'll be a Sterling or a Sancho. And if he doesn't, he knows there's plenty of clubs willing to sign ex-Liverpool youth players... like us for example! Seems like it's a risk worth taking.

I think it's hard to compare what I'd do now as opposed to what a 16 year old would do, because I'd certainly be lot less cautious at 16, and most kids believe they're indestructible and aren't as aware of life's potential pitfalls. I don't doubt those advising him are maybe seeing pound signs either, but even then it's exciting - life's short and if he doesn't take this chance he may be left questioning 'what if' later down the line. Of course that also applies if it doesn't work out at Liverpool, but it's all a gamble and I hope for him it works out.
I was being a bit facetious regarding him being paid here, he wouldn't be a high earner even after signing a pro contract and I doubt (hope) Derby's struggles won't last for too much longer.
I do understand the frustration when/if you see players like Delap and Gordon succeed elsewhere, especially if they're sold for tens of millions of pounds later down the line - it's always galling when young talent is poached by these huge clubs, but as you say it's part of the football food chain and their scouting network is designed to recruit them when they're at an age where they don't have to pay huge sums.
I try to take to comfort from the fact that our academy players are attracting such interest though, because there's not been many times in the club's recent history where our young players (or any former players) have gone on to bigger and better things. And it's all part of the business model, sell the best talent to the big clubs, and build a good team with the rest whose value will increase later on. It certainly beats splooshing £4/5m on average 28 year olds then letting them go on a free.
Fingers crossed for the sell on fees though!