BSG. You scraped the barrel to come up with those names in fact you made my point better than I made it myself. If you look at the goalscoring greats of recent years, people like Alan Shearer and Andy Cole, they just dried up at 35. Quite simply their speed of reaction goes whatever their level of personal fitness.
All those players are playing champions league football well into their mid 30s (obviously excluding Milla) and that was simply off the top of my head, give a few minutes I could expand the list Ok Andriy Shevchenko, Francesco Totti, Fillippo Inzaghi, Rivaldo and they are just the current batch (and over 35 don't make me start looking at the 33 and 34 years old). Don't forget Finney and Bobby Charlton played well in there 30s too. Granted that many of those players weren't the players they were in their 20s but they are all doing a job at their respective clubs. And hang on are you trying to compare Andy Cole to Del Piero?! Still going... Herman Crespo, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, David Beckham
Just take the top premiership scorers who played past 35. This covers the likes of Shearer, Cole, Hasselbank, Fowler, Ferdinand etc. Only Sheringham did anything significant in terms of goalscoring after 35. More important in terms of statistics there are many who had reasonable scoring records up to their early 30s but who faded away before they got to 35. These of course are quickly forgotten. We can always find a few exceptions but the general point-that strikers decline rapidly in their mid 30s- is just inescapable. Burton may well play a useful role in creating a bit of competition up front but the club is going backwards to allow the average age of the squad to rise. Any team needs a mix of youth and experience but as the age of a squad rises a squad will decline from year to year rather than improve and whatever you may think of Hessy, he was reducing the age of the squad which was increasing the chance of improvement from last season to next.
If you knew my discrimination views, you would know that I am so strongly against ageism, however, I will admit to thinking I don't really know how this Burton signing is helping us move forward, with players like Dack and Miller waiting in the wings. Well actually I do know how it is going to help us, this is obviously just some quick fix answer in an attempt to get us out of L2, hopefully then players such as Miller and Dack will be ready for L1, either that or we will take to my normal aggrieved route of selling them to highest bidder! As for helping with the development of players such as Dack and Miller, yeah right, I better start counting now how many times he is placed alongside them in a starting L2 line up, or shall I have a pre season guess...Zero.
I am not sure we are even having the same argument here. I have agreed that as a striker gets older he isn't as agile as he was in his 20s, that much is obvious.. but I have given you more than enough world class forwards, still playing at the top level ands still scoring goals. Yes many of them are no predominantly back up players, but they are kept for a reason. Plus I would suggest that using the Premiership are the sole basis for your arguement in a blinkered view. I agree (shock horror) with your statement about a club needing a mixture of youth and experience. In my mind many of the player who left this season were the more experienced members of the team, the like of Lawerence, Fuller, Weston et al.leaving us we very little experience to help nurture the youth which is why I think MA is looking to bring experienced players
brb youth development occurs off the pitch as well as on it. The likes of Dack and Miller will learn from Burton during training sessions as well on the pitch. I am sensing that many fans are starting to prejudge MA before a ball is kicked in anger and that is wrong!!
he has to be a great catch, i know it was reported he turned down 6 months contract at MK dons but its appears Brentford and scunthorpe were all after him too. given he came here instead one of 3 league 1 options surely this is great new and thanks are owed to management for making it happen http://www.hounslowchronicle.co.uk/...lingham-for-charlton-striker-109642-31569217/
I agree, although I also believe, the introduction of Strevens & Burton, along with an already available Keds & seemingly Birchall is pushing the capable youngsters out of a first team place. I said with Rooney and Gazza we have no ambition through such sales and I continue to believe that. We are creating a quick fix, one season stop. I hope MA does make Burton apply his knowledge/skills to the youngsters on the training ground. Some how I am not so sure but never having been along to a training session, I accept my failings in that judgement.
The huge assumption you are making is that the youngsters are ready, not only for firt team football (which I agree with) but that they are capable of lasting a full season (which I disagree with). Too often you hear about youth player burn out and promising youngsters not fulfilling their potential. I admit that I have not seen Miller or Dack play but assuming that they are at a similar technuical and physical level to Essam and Davies (last years breakthrough players) I suspect that they are not quite ready to be first team regulars and need to be slowly eased into the team. Which is why I suspect that we have sign more experienced players on short term contracts to "bridge the gap" and allow the youth to develop
I never mentioned that they would last a season, my concern is that with the number of players Keds, Birchall, Strevens, Burton, where will the young lads get a look in. Remembering Hessy made the same mistakes last season, until he was forced in to change (through) injuries. Trouble is what did he do? revert to old ways with the exception of Gazza and that was not even an exception, more like the remainder of the season forced situation. Although I will accept some of my argument will fall down in regards to Burton and the training ground. But what opportunity for the younger lads? In regards to strength, I accept Miller certainly was not on par with Essam last season in that department, so that I accept but do we honestly believe that a 35 year old (or however old he is) is going to take time out around in training to nurture a youngster? What would I do... Give the young lads a run out against Bristol City, we seriously cannot risk injury in the early stages of this cup, before the season has even begun. Say to them, ok lads this your chance against a Championship side (or did they get relegated - lol - can't remember). Let's us see which one's stand out, a tough test but maybe a chance to prove to the boss, what they have to offer. If we lose so what.
You are right you didn't suggest that the youngsters could last a season but without adequate cover you could need to play them for more games that you orginally planned for which could hamper their development. The way I see it we have to first team forwards, with two established pros as backup, this way we can pick and chose the games that the youngster play in to maximise their development. Without the backup players, we could force the kids in too soon and more importantly too often if we get a serious injury to a first team player. Also the influence of Burton doesn't have to be direct either, the development of the players in down foremost to the coach so lets not pretend that Burton would be running the training sessons. But players talk, give each other little tips during games, share the benefit of their experiences the same way most of us do with the junoir members of staff we work with. It is one of the main reason clubs use for letting players train with them, i.e. Beckham training with Spurs last year, Henry at Arsenal, the good work ethic and experience rubs off on the players even if they don't play together in competative games. And don't tarnish MA with Hess' failing before the season is even started, there is no guarantee that he will make the same mistakes, but he might just give him a chance. As for the Bristol City idea, I agree it could be a good test but I would like to see a core of first team players to help guide the youngsters. A heavy defeat could demoralise them otherwise.
A fair enough response BSG, I should not tarnish MA with Hessy. Also fair points about Burton's contribution and my comments are a bit flaky. However, I stand by all previous comments even before this thread, in regards to our transfer market dealings and our younger players potential contribution.
Default " he has to be a great catch, i know it was reported he turned down 6 months contract at MK dons but its appears Brentford and s****horpe were all after him too. given he came here instead one of 3 league 1 options surely this is great new and thanks are owed to management for making it happen " http://www.hounslowchronicle.co.uk/w...9642-31569217/ You misread the article Belfast Blue. This refers to Paul Hayes NOT Deon Burton that we have signed
If he is half as good and hard working for you as he was for charlton will be a good signing. A couple of years older though now... Won't score 20 goals but will win every ball you play to him even though he's not 6ft
