You've probably noticed that players like Andros Townsend, Barry Bannan, Jake Livermore are now highly thought about Prem players. Yet we saw them as average or worse, so how does it make you feel when you see these players leave us and start pulling up trees back at their clubs. All walk into the International teams etc. So what's the problem, are they too fragile at championship blood and guts level or do we think the manager doesn't have a clue as to where to play them. Grayson never played Livermore and had bannan sat on the bench. Warnock hardly used Townsend and probably because he's never had a player with skill and pace before .... Or is it something in the psyche of these players who think they're too good to play at this level?
Sometimes the player just doesn't match the club. Livermore had spells on loan at other Championship sides and did pretty well by all accounts. Bannan spent time on loan at Blackpool and helped get them promoted. From what I remember, Townsend really didn't get on well here at all, something about him being unhappy here, I don't remember. But all three had successful loan spells in the Championship, so I doubt it has anything to do with their commitment or desire.
Kiwi that's my recollection also, which means that it's down to the manager. I remember Btaes gave Grayson a bollocking in the media because he brought in loads of loan players and sat them on the bench. Only Eric got regular game time under Grayson
Something I've been thinking on recently. When looking at the QPR game at the weekend, the play was so congested with no space for quality players to have much effect. Fast forward 24 hours to Scum and Liverpool and there was bloody acres of space. Players receiving a ball with no one within ten metres of them and time on the ball. If this is typical, and I suspect it is, no surprise the Championship doesnt suit everyone. Remember Bale and Byram last season? Bale got no space and looked very ordinary did he not
Wright-Phillips was the only QPR player who seemed to always be in space. Just a shame (for them) he has absolutely no technical ability whatsoever, some of his efforts were dire
Hes too small anyway for the Championship. People say Dawson needs to bulk up but Ive seen bigger Jack Russels than Wright Philips
This is why Premier League teams often come unstuck in the cups against Championship opposition. They get caught in possession often thinking they have more time on the ball.
So why did Grayson bring Bannan and Livermore in? It got him the sack because he didn't use them Peacock Ross, so should the England manager pick his team from the championship as it'll really surprise Spain, Brazil and Italy at least we wont come home with our tails between our legs. Our national team will come home battered and bruised and either victorious or gallant losers
A lot of Championship players have a tendency to run around a lot, closing down and harassing players, getting drawn into areas they don't need to. A lot of following the ball as well. In the Premiership you don't see that as much, players close down when it suits them to, they don't get dragged into silly areas. Even less so at international level. Look at Spain. When they lose possession, they spend 5 seconds harassing, and if they don't get the ball back straight away, they drop deeper and only press when necessary, waiting for that dodgy pass for them to intercept.
We had both Livermore and Townsend on loan and while they both looked like 'quality' in terms of ability something was amiss.. Neither of them set the world alight and i think we ended up sending them both back as they simply weren't playing. Livermore I remember hearing had a ****ty attitude and didn't train particularly well and Townsend was arrogant by all accounts.. This coming from our manager at the time, Roy Keane
It was SG. Bannan was plucked from Villa's reserves and promptly plonked on our bench. I remember when we went to Palace in need of a result, at least a draw to keep our play off hopes alive, Bannan was an unused sub, even though the side was crying out for creativity, which he would've provided. We ended up losing 1-0, and I really believe Grayson had lost the plot by then. That team had Paynter starting, with a fit Somma warming the bench. Also in the team were loanees Lichaj and Livermore.
Hi Shako! As LIE noted above, he was poorly treated. So he may have been fully justified. Not a smart way to handle oneself but what do kids know? I think LIE is right, SG had lost it by then
Managers were shocking ... fcuk me Ross Barkley was quality yet all he got was splinters!! Bet if we played him regularly we would probably have been able to buy him. Grayson ... Warnock ... both total idiots who simply can't see quality if it stood up and kissed them on the mouth. Wakners!! I watched Bannan destroy Forest at ER in a 4-1 hammering, yet Grayson thought he wasn't good enough. Colin couldn't fit quality into his team because he's clueless ... look at how he treated McCormack. Nope, Wise was better than the chuckle brothers Larry & Colin ... probably because he had Gus guiding him.
