See. There you go. Wasn't so hard was it? I agree with a deal of what you say about the path to the first team but I'd counter that there are more successes than failures. When players have not cut it, they're quietly returned to regather confidence and typically not been pushed again until their performances on the pitch demand as much. The proof is in the pudding, I'd say, as for every Watson there's a Bird, Knight, Buchanan, Lowe, Bogle, Cashin, Thomson, Festy, Plange and so on. I'd say the ratio is pretty damn good to be honest and I need no badges to make that evaluation.
As for negative comments about Bird and Thompson, I don't dispute some have piled on but far fewer than have praised them and two wrongs don't make a right anyway. Perhaps you won't grasp or agree with my thinking, but I just think the youth teams need a 'safe space' to allow the coaches to nurture their talents and for the kids themselves to build the confidence to step up to U23 or senior football. Simply dismissing a player saying. 'they'll never be this' or 'who thought (insert the name) was ever going to be 1st team material' adds literally nothing to the debate. It actually detracts from it. Furthermore, I don't see terse one-line dismissals on social media, especially fans forums, as being remotely helpful. In so much, we'll just have to agree to differ.
As for your 'without understanding or commenting on any of the nuances' comment well that's where you fall flat on your face again, I'm afraid. You clearly imply that a lack of such posts correlates to a lack of knowledge. There are plenty of knowledgeable folk on here, it's just many choose not to make a song and dance of it. Perhaps their reasons for being on the forum then are more about the emotional side, the spirit of unity, a sense of community etc. All the notions, in fact, you feel you need to offset with your healthy doses of 'objectivity'. And tellingly, it seems to me you've just written them all off as swiftly as you do many of our youth players, but with, by your own admission, even less evidence. You say don't criticise your posts, well again, that's a door that swings both ways.
As for myself, I have written hundreds, if not thousands of strictly football related posts. If you can't find them then I'd venture you've not looked terribly hard. Whether they indicate knowledge or not I don't know, but then I do know that I'm not trying to impress anyone with my knowledge, merely sharing my thoughts and observations. What I very rarely do is rubbish players. Not because I don't note poor performances, but rather because typically there are dozens of folk like yourself already doing it. Why should I pile on too? It's just not my thing, nor what I seek from being a regular on this forum. On the odd occasions I have laid into players, I just end up feeling crap about it 30 minutes later as I've sufficient self-awareness to know that other than allowing to me to vent my spleen, it serves literally no useful purpose.
As it is, I think we understand one another's views, even if there's no accord, so I'll politely recuse myself at this point rather than hijack what has always been one of my favourite threads. Enjoy your evening.
I think we all know what the most likely outcome is, but as a football fan there is nothing wrong with living through every moment of this relegation scrap and somewhat enjoying it for what it is.
Less of the ‘I know better’ patronising stuff is needed in here and in the administration thread imo.
My favourite ever review of the following band was by David Quantick, who stated that "If music truly was their aeroplane, they'd have crashed in the Andes and eaten each other".
However, this is a great tune.
Been watching This is Going to Hurt on iPlayer.
On ep 6 now. Would certainly recommend. Lots of dry humour, as we follow a junior doctor as he slowly falls apart under the stresses of working in the NHS.
What defines Derby County to me:
The older chap who sits behind me at PPS. I asked him once at the match “how are you mate?”
“Not bad. Apart from the fact I’m here”.
Ramslad1992 reacted to Comrade 86 in Academy Thread 21/22
Ramslad1992 got a reaction from WharfedaleRam in New joke thread (trigger alert, may offend if you want it to)
