Just been reading the Danny Graham conversation and someone mentioned young Jamie Mackie, and it got me pondering... Do Gary O'Neal or Yossi Benayoun bring anything to the team that young Jamie didn't? From watching all three I don't think there's much in it. I think Gary and Yossi can make the game look a bit easier than Jamie did, but his hard work and dedication more than covered his slight lack of ability. Jamie provided many a fond memory during our promotion season and was one responsible for a few bright moments during our short stay up top. Had he stayed would he have displaced these journeymen from our team or has his slight lack of ability started to catch up with him? He doesn't seem to be making the Forest first XI these days... I know it's hardly a question to get the blood racing but there we have it! Any thoughts welcomed...
Good solid pro. Good enough for the championship but not a Prem player. Then again, those signed to replace him haven't exactly been fantastic either.
O'neil and Benyoun are far better players, they have situational awareness for starters. Unfortunately its like this, asking a player who is used to playing in the premiership to step down and keep playing at the best of their abilities is a big ask, some will step up and be professional and others will just shake their heads and say what's the point? Bit like having had a beautiful fit bird who goes like the clappers, then shagging a old fat bird, you just don't put as much effort in. O'neil seems to be able to put in a good performance around 1/10 games. Benayoun was signed having hardly played for 18 months, if he keeps his place his quality will start to show more and more, as long as he doesn't see us as a big, fat and old bird!
I saw Mackie at the Forest game a few weeks ago, still underwhelming I'm afraid. He wanted to leave and Harold was happy to let him go. Wrong sort?
When you get in certain age you would be happy with shagging a old fat bird. Usually its all you get, if you are lucky
They are the best! They are so grateful and do everything to please you. Just smashing, never ever would change for the young fit bird with nice pair of .... and thight....,...Well, who am i kiddin! Of course i would!!!!! Sorry beth
Would prefer Mackie over Oneill, Benayoun and probably hoilett on his current form. He may not be a PL player but neither are the ones above and the first 2 listed dont even look like championship players.
Effort and desire can outshine skill, more often than not. I would prefer 11 Mackie's to 11 Krankys; but a mix of both is the ideal
11 mackie's make up a team thats more than their combined parts. 11 Hughes signings play nowhere near their talent level. the former will beat the latter.
As I understood it, Jamie Mackie signed a contract before promotion that had both promotion and relegation clauses. As such, he cashed in and doubled his wages from £14-16k to £28-32k per week (if I recall correctly). As such, he was unhappy to see his wages drop to £14-16k in the Summer whilst other Mark Hughes signings retained their contracted salary (presumably negotiated without relegation clauses). At the time, some were believed to be as much as four times the value of Jamie Mackie's adjusted salary. I am only summising here, but Jamie Mackie probably asked for the relegation clause to be revoked, was refused and felt slighted; hence his desire to move to another club where he could negotiate an improved salary (albeit perhaps only marginally more) but retain his motivation. Whilst he was not necessarily the 'wrong sort' - he is perhaps the only player that could understandably be found lacking motivation given the circumstances. After all, it wouldn't do well for team spirit to have Jamie Mackie watching an unfit Bobby Zamora pick up £40k+ whilst he busts a gut. My take on a window into the internal politics at QPR. Illustrating where it requires more than just a case of Harry Redknapp giving a Churchillian speech to motivate players and instil a team spirit.
exactly, no one blames him for leaving as I'd have done the same thing. why bust your balls when people on 4 times your salary swan around without a care in the world? thats the whole root of our problem when we went up. signing players like SWP who was no better than mackie and on 60 k a week.
I can understand Mackie being unhappy earning far less than his colleagues. Surely, pride and professionalism should overcome that and a player ought still to want to put in a proper performance, perhaps if only to attract another team. Problem for Mackie was that he was being left out of the first team too. Anyway, he was never any worse and indeed was better than much of what we signed during the past 2 years.
